Okay guys,
Before I ask this I will admit to being extremely new. I've wanted to do comedy forever, and finally did an open mike in Philly last month. I bombed royally, so I've taken to studying comedy to see how it works.
I found the article on the comedy albums, and found a lot of them in my parent's collection. I've been listening like a fiend, then watching the stand-up shows on comedy central and BET's comic view. Here's my question: do the guys on the new shows know that they're doing the jokes from the older guys albums? It may be rewritten, or disguised, but more then half of what they're doing on TV is just a rehashing of old stuff.
Pryor gets ripped off the most, followed by Cosby, Klein, and Carlin. I listened to my Mom's Freddie Prinze album (After having to sit and listen to her tell me that he was soooo cute) then turned on Que Locos and saw a guy do his roach bit word for word.
I thought we were supposed to do our own stuff. Am I missing something?
Stupid Question
Moderators: bingolong, Jennifer, tamra
Forum rules
Spam is not allowed. All spammers will be blocked and reported to appropriate agencies.
Spam is not allowed. All spammers will be blocked and reported to appropriate agencies.
-
NickFlanagan
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2004 12:47 pm
- Contact:
Re: Stupid Question
Sunset, it's what i was just saying in 'damn shame'--it's damn hard not to rehash--I once had a joke that I thought was so rad, and then it turned out to be a reworded version of Steve Martin's "One Way To Leave Your Lover". Doh! 
People seem to either subconsciously redo jokes or just out and out rip shit off. The former is forgiveable but the other ain't so much, unless you're paying royalties; it's lame and it's such an ignorant denial of the past comics' skills. The most frustrating thing is that the dudes they rip off remain fairly contemporary--I mean, 20 years is like nothing in the grand scheme of things! Comedy is not pretty.
People seem to either subconsciously redo jokes or just out and out rip shit off. The former is forgiveable but the other ain't so much, unless you're paying royalties; it's lame and it's such an ignorant denial of the past comics' skills. The most frustrating thing is that the dudes they rip off remain fairly contemporary--I mean, 20 years is like nothing in the grand scheme of things! Comedy is not pretty.
Re: Stupid Question
Sunset,
Its called hackory and its killing the art! People like that are just trying to make a quick buck and they are not comics there joke thief's.
If you really love comedy you'll right your own jokes
Its called hackory and its killing the art! People like that are just trying to make a quick buck and they are not comics there joke thief's.
If you really love comedy you'll right your own jokes
"I'm on the Zoloft to keep from killing y'all"
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
-
SweetLuchia
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 4:30 pm
- Contact:
Re: Stupid Question
smjmcomic,
[Font size=6 face=t color=blue]AMEN!!![/font]
[Font size=6 face=t color=blue]AMEN!!![/font]
Luchia,
~As long as there's laughter, there's HOPE~
~As long as there's laughter, there's HOPE~
Re: Stupid Question
Sunset,
No this is not a stupid question just a repeated question. We all on this site particularly realise this is the major trend of comedy today and I think everyone at one time or another has thought to his/her self "mmmm So and so has been dead now for x number of years what if I redid his/her stuff no one would know." but if you want to be a true comic you have to tell the truth and stealing someone elses stuff is not the truth. I couldn't sleep with myself at night to think that I was quoting someone elses material word for word. I won't even do it to unknown comics so I sure as hell won't do it to well known comics. There are many jokes I think "Damn I wanted to do something on that subject" but he/she beat me to it. But I read in a book once that nothing is new under the sun. If you do a topic believe me someone else has already talked about it. The key is to do it with your own comic voice and point of view and passion. If you are telling it like it is from your heart then you aren't stealing anyting from anyone. I also believe that the more of your personality that comes out the less it is likely that anyone can steal your stuff. One of my favorite act outs that Richard does is when he does animals. Anyone could steal that stuff from him if they wanted to (and have) you know when he does his monkeys, the lions in Africa, dogs. But even in a general obeservation HIS OWN UNIQUE GENIUS comes out in the act out because they are based on HIS experiences and no one elses. That is what makes the difference. At the end of the day anyone can steal but they will be found out and just be lumped into the mediocre comics pile. If you woodshed and work hard on your craft and really want to creat a great peice of art. Something that people take away with them and talk about to their friends. You know, "Oh my gosh I saw this great comic he did this bit on ... it was hysterical I almost peed my pants" that is comedy that is what we are all here on this forum trying to create. Good on you for figuring out the bullshit so early on. It took me years and my husband going, "What you like Eddie Murphy? Please, let me get you a Richard Pryor tape out and you will see the truth." And I did thank God and now I am preaching it everywhere I go. The truth will set you free!! Keep doing it baby and stay plugged into Jen and Rich they are the truth tellers!!!!!
xoxox
Daria
No this is not a stupid question just a repeated question. We all on this site particularly realise this is the major trend of comedy today and I think everyone at one time or another has thought to his/her self "mmmm So and so has been dead now for x number of years what if I redid his/her stuff no one would know." but if you want to be a true comic you have to tell the truth and stealing someone elses stuff is not the truth. I couldn't sleep with myself at night to think that I was quoting someone elses material word for word. I won't even do it to unknown comics so I sure as hell won't do it to well known comics. There are many jokes I think "Damn I wanted to do something on that subject" but he/she beat me to it. But I read in a book once that nothing is new under the sun. If you do a topic believe me someone else has already talked about it. The key is to do it with your own comic voice and point of view and passion. If you are telling it like it is from your heart then you aren't stealing anyting from anyone. I also believe that the more of your personality that comes out the less it is likely that anyone can steal your stuff. One of my favorite act outs that Richard does is when he does animals. Anyone could steal that stuff from him if they wanted to (and have) you know when he does his monkeys, the lions in Africa, dogs. But even in a general obeservation HIS OWN UNIQUE GENIUS comes out in the act out because they are based on HIS experiences and no one elses. That is what makes the difference. At the end of the day anyone can steal but they will be found out and just be lumped into the mediocre comics pile. If you woodshed and work hard on your craft and really want to creat a great peice of art. Something that people take away with them and talk about to their friends. You know, "Oh my gosh I saw this great comic he did this bit on ... it was hysterical I almost peed my pants" that is comedy that is what we are all here on this forum trying to create. Good on you for figuring out the bullshit so early on. It took me years and my husband going, "What you like Eddie Murphy? Please, let me get you a Richard Pryor tape out and you will see the truth." And I did thank God and now I am preaching it everywhere I go. The truth will set you free!! Keep doing it baby and stay plugged into Jen and Rich they are the truth tellers!!!!!
xoxox
Daria
-
Reg_Man_98
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:00 am
- Contact:
Re: Stupid Question
Daria,
Exactly. How many comics have talked about race, sex, politics, relationships, and mundane everyday happenings? No comic should have the monopoly on any of those topics. But the key is that if you're going to cover well-worn (and, in some case, done-to-death) subjects, at least put your own unique spin on it. Being influenced by the greats is fine, but imitating them without bringing any of your own unique insights to the table is unacceptable. Exhibit A regarding the latter: Compare Richard Pryor's classic take on Africa with Jamie Foxx's extremely derivative version on his most recent HBO special. (No disrespect to Mr. Foxx, as he is a talented guy, and, as was proven in the film "Ali," he CAN act; but I've never been into him as a stand-up.) Most post-Pryor comics wear the Pryor influence on their sleeves to varying degrees, and with varying results. When I see/hear most of them, I think, "He/she got that from Richard." Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But when I hear Richard Pryor (even though he was influenced by those who came before him as well), I don't think of anyone but Richard Pryor. That is the difference between talent and genius.
Exactly. How many comics have talked about race, sex, politics, relationships, and mundane everyday happenings? No comic should have the monopoly on any of those topics. But the key is that if you're going to cover well-worn (and, in some case, done-to-death) subjects, at least put your own unique spin on it. Being influenced by the greats is fine, but imitating them without bringing any of your own unique insights to the table is unacceptable. Exhibit A regarding the latter: Compare Richard Pryor's classic take on Africa with Jamie Foxx's extremely derivative version on his most recent HBO special. (No disrespect to Mr. Foxx, as he is a talented guy, and, as was proven in the film "Ali," he CAN act; but I've never been into him as a stand-up.) Most post-Pryor comics wear the Pryor influence on their sleeves to varying degrees, and with varying results. When I see/hear most of them, I think, "He/she got that from Richard." Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But when I hear Richard Pryor (even though he was influenced by those who came before him as well), I don't think of anyone but Richard Pryor. That is the difference between talent and genius.
Re: Stupid Question
Sunset, in a word, INSPIRATION !! Atrue comic, in my humble opinion, listens to all that is being said and going on around him, an ALLOWS his creativity to turn all that into humor. It is never forced. Richord Pryor was able to take some of the most taboo subjebts of his day and put humor on them. I don't believe he had to wrack his brain for the humorous side of racism, integration, or politics. It simply CAME to him ( inspiration) and he let it flow. I have know doubt you are a comic at heart. But, let it come to you. D'ont force a comedic line that you, yourself, do not actually find funny. Remember the magic word....INSPIRATION...... you will do well...
Re: Stupid Question
Reg_Man_98,
Thank you-that was just a horrible thing to do-ripping Richard's Africa bit off-ya know!I was there with RIchard and with that creation-and for Jaime to have taken that simply cause he's has employed Richard's former boydguard, Rashon, is really low-life-fucking ghetto shit!!
Fuck him-i don't care how talented he is -he has no intergrity!!!
Thank you-that was just a horrible thing to do-ripping Richard's Africa bit off-ya know!I was there with RIchard and with that creation-and for Jaime to have taken that simply cause he's has employed Richard's former boydguard, Rashon, is really low-life-fucking ghetto shit!!
Fuck him-i don't care how talented he is -he has no intergrity!!!
