Comments on: “Stealing Jokes” – My Thoughts http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/archives/stealing-jokes-my-thoughts/ Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:00:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 By: Sam Verello http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/archives/stealing-jokes-my-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1727 Sam Verello Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:37:47 +0000 http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/?p=1617#comment-1727 Great points on joke stealing... I always tell my students that a comic worried about other people stealing their jokes is a person who was not meant to do comedy.. There are so many Negatives in this business and that happens to be one of them... Imitation truly is the greatest form of flattery.... Sam Great points on joke stealing… I always tell my students that a comic worried about other people stealing their jokes is a person who was not meant to do comedy.. There are so many Negatives in this business and that happens to be one of them… Imitation truly is the greatest form of flattery….

Sam

]]> By: Tim http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/archives/stealing-jokes-my-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1719 Tim Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:44:39 +0000 http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/?p=1617#comment-1719 Again, another good insight. What I've noticed is some comedians will have similar jokes and they attribute it to "parallel thinking". While there is such a thing, the real reason I think is that the comedian hasn't dug deep enough to find his point of view. A good example is your bit about your Russian family. When a comedian has a joke that is close to one of mine, I just take it as a challenge to carve out my point of view even further. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. Again, another good insight. What I’ve noticed is some comedians will have similar jokes and they attribute it to “parallel thinking”. While there is such a thing, the real reason I think is that the comedian hasn’t dug deep enough to find his point of view. A good example is your bit about your Russian family. When a comedian has a joke that is close to one of mine, I just take it as a challenge to carve out my point of view even further. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.

]]> By: Andrew Mac http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/archives/stealing-jokes-my-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1575 Andrew Mac Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:37:45 +0000 http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/?p=1617#comment-1575 Excellent article. Although at the end of the article where you wrote "In communist Russia joke steals you..." seems like something I once saw Yakov Smirnoff do. Excellent article. Although at the end of the article where you wrote “In communist Russia joke steals you…” seems like something I once saw Yakov Smirnoff do.

]]> By: The Weekend Pilots http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/archives/stealing-jokes-my-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1548 The Weekend Pilots Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:24:29 +0000 http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/?p=1617#comment-1548 I just reread this article and had a new realization: No wonder Lisa does the same material at every single roast. She's crossing out all her new jokes so we just get the honor of hearing her talk about having sex with black dudes again... ---- As far as stealing jokes goes, you mentioned hack jokes get rewritten independently but the cold truth is so do original jokes. It's shocking sometimes to hear someone else had your same thought, but there really are only so many jokes in the universe...and even the good ones get repeated with no theft involved. ---- Good article :) I just reread this article and had a new realization:

No wonder Lisa does the same material at every single roast. She’s crossing out all her new jokes so we just get the honor of hearing her talk about having sex with black dudes again…

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As far as stealing jokes goes, you mentioned hack jokes get rewritten independently but the cold truth is so do original jokes. It’s shocking sometimes to hear someone else had your same thought, but there really are only so many jokes in the universe…and even the good ones get repeated with no theft involved.

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Good article :)

]]> By: Ben http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/archives/stealing-jokes-my-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-767 Ben Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:50:41 +0000 http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/?p=1617#comment-767 Nice zinger, and it's a close call -- it depends on how you count it and when Conan's last show will be. I was in the program for 6 miserable weeks before dropping out but I legitimately spent the summer learning math. I went through a Calculus book, a stat book and a linear algebra book - I'm not sure if the NBC execs did that much analysis before axing Conan... Nice zinger, and it’s a close call — it depends on how you count it and when Conan’s last show will be.

I was in the program for 6 miserable weeks before dropping out but I legitimately spent the summer learning math. I went through a Calculus book, a stat book and a linear algebra book – I’m not sure if the NBC execs did that much analysis before axing Conan…

]]> By: Boris http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/archives/stealing-jokes-my-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-766 Boris Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:35:06 +0000 http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/?p=1617#comment-766 True...by the way, what lasted longer: your PhD program or Conan's hosting the Tonight Show? True…by the way, what lasted longer: your PhD program or Conan’s hosting the Tonight Show?

]]> By: Ben http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/archives/stealing-jokes-my-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-765 Ben Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:29:08 +0000 http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/?p=1617#comment-765 You'd also have more street cred with the more Russian sounding name of "Boris." However, knowing you in real life, there's no way an audience would believe you got into a PhD program :) You’d also have more street cred with the more Russian sounding name of “Boris.”

However, knowing you in real life, there’s no way an audience would believe you got into a PhD program :)

]]> By: Boris http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/archives/stealing-jokes-my-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-764 Boris Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:21:04 +0000 http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/?p=1617#comment-764 I can steal the hell out of your Russian family material. Thanks for the idea! I can steal the hell out of your Russian family material. Thanks for the idea!

]]> By: Ben http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/archives/stealing-jokes-my-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-763 Ben Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:58:37 +0000 http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/?p=1617#comment-763 Hey Jay, I agree that a strong point of view makes any topic easier and more interesting to write about. I find it easier to develop a point of view when doing personal material. I'd think this would apply to most newer comics, figure out what's important and funny about yourself first, see what kind of persona or viewpoint that creates, then write every other topic you address from that view point. If you look at Carlin's body of work you'll notice he first focused on himself for years, and only later did he move on to politics and the like. Cheers, Ben Hey Jay,

I agree that a strong point of view makes any topic easier and more interesting to write about.

I find it easier to develop a point of view when doing personal material. I’d think this would apply to most newer comics, figure out what’s important and funny about yourself first, see what kind of persona or viewpoint that creates, then write every other topic you address from that view point.

If you look at Carlin’s body of work you’ll notice he first focused on himself for years, and only later did he move on to politics and the like.

Cheers,
Ben

]]> By: Jay http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/archives/stealing-jokes-my-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-760 Jay Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:19:02 +0000 http://www.bigbencomedy.com/blog/?p=1617#comment-760 You make excellent points, I agree with almost everything you said here. What fun is talking about that though? So instead, I'll add in my halfway off topic tangent: "Hint: It usually involves pain. A comic, I forget who once told me, “comedy = pain + time” and “until you’re at George Carlin’s level, nobody gives a shit about your political opinion.” I agree: focus on your unique life situation and figuring it out how to get the audience to connect with it." People don't care any more about Carlin's opinion on politics than anyone else's. The thing with politics jokes is they should STILL focus on your unique life and situation just like you suggest on the other material. It's all about POINT OF VIEW, having a strong one, that's interesting enough for others to listen to. Carlin's was the best, so he could cover politics, as well as any other issue under the sun (his god) ... and every damn second was compelling. What I'm trying to say is, great post :) You make excellent points, I agree with almost everything you said here. What fun is talking about that though? So instead, I’ll add in my halfway off topic tangent:

“Hint: It usually involves pain. A comic, I forget who once told me, “comedy = pain + time” and “until you’re at George Carlin’s level, nobody gives a shit about your political opinion.” I agree: focus on your unique life situation and figuring it out how to get the audience to connect with it.”

People don’t care any more about Carlin’s opinion on politics than anyone else’s. The thing with politics jokes is they should STILL focus on your unique life and situation just like you suggest on the other material.

It’s all about POINT OF VIEW, having a strong one, that’s interesting enough for others to listen to. Carlin’s was the best, so he could cover politics, as well as any other issue under the sun (his god) … and every damn second was compelling.

What I’m trying to say is, great post :)

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