I’ve never been much a fan of Carlos Mencia’s comedy, but stealing jokes from other comics just isn’t cool. And, of all people, wouldn’t stealing from Cosby only make it all the more obvious?
What I do find amusing, however, is that his real name is Ned Mencia (and, no, that’s not a joke). (Via: Digg)
Mencia’s not his real name either. It’s something like Ned Holness? He’s not Mexican, either.
Karen: Indeed, he was born “Ned Mencia” to his mother Magdelena Mencia and his father Roberto Holness. And, Wikipedia also mentions that his mother was Mexican and his father was Honduran.
Really? So, is Holnes a Honduran or Mexican name? I can edit Wikipedia. You’re citing the version that Mencia’s people edited. Mencia’s father was a German man named Holnes. There is nothing Mexican about Mencia. Everyone that knows him, knew him as Ned Holnes and that he always claimed to be German and Honduran until he started doing stand up.
I get sick and tired of, one after another, this comedian and that comedian whining that “Oh no, that guy stole my material because he used one of the same words I did on my show.†Or “That comedian stole my material because he talked about the same subject.†The comedians that start this kind of garbage were just spoiled little brat kids that got everything handed to them on a silver platter, and when they see someone that got something that they wanted, they throw a tantrum.
Think about this people…
In all of comedy history, in one way or another, it has already been said. In that case, if Carlos Mencia is a thief, then that would make every comedian a thief throughout all of history right down to the first comedian. I have been a fan of comedy since I can remember and I have seen comedian after comedian talking about the same subjects, using similar words, but they all have a slightly different approach and execute it differently. I like Mencia’s raw nature and approach.
Get real and grow up people.
recycling is good?
John, that is crap. From the clips from his show and the comparison to the Original comedians telling the jokes, there is no way you can tell me that he was not OBVIOUSLY stealing jokes. Especially the Cosby football hero joke. It is stealing, whether it is paraphrased or not. IT IS STEALING.
Mencia clearly ripped off Cosby, as well as a number of other angry comedians. It’s not a conspiracy against Mencia. These people don’t like him for a reason – he steals their creativity and then takes credit for it. I have lost all respect for “Carlos Mencia”.
I used to actually be a fan of him and watch his shows. I got my dad to watch him, too, but I noticed that my dad didn’t like them as much. I said “dad, lighten up. The racist stuff he’s saying is true.”
My dad said, “I know, but I’ve heard nearly all of his material before.”
My dad and I are big comedy central fans and can list off comedians by the dozen from their material. I’m not as skilled as my father, but he has shown me videos of old comedians doing the same act. Sure Carlos, or whoever, puts more energy to it, but it’s still the same bit. Also, I am a fan of Joe Rogan, and I completely agree with him. Carlos Mencia does steal. I believe he is funny, but come on. Can’t you be creative?
I don’t even really care that his name really isn’t Carlos Mencia. Many comedians change their names for showbiz. Pauly Shore’s real name is Fred,and he’ll tell you up front his real name is Fred. but “Carlos” Will say that’s his rel name, when actually it’s Ned HOlness or something. Get your own material dude. He also ratted himself out by saying he came up with something called the “stereotype olympics” when actually radio dj’s from Miami came up with it, and Carlos announced it right to them. So he was practically caught in the act of stealing. He’s a good guy and very funny, but I can’t respect him for it.
Carlos may not be perfect and may have used some one elses material, but so has every one. You pussy’s out there just dont like the fact that he has the balls to say what is true and you dont. WHO OWNS JOKES? He just wants to make us laugh. Seriously? What is so bad about that? see you people out there are like “but it’s wrong to steal.” Well I bet 99% of you have told a joke you heard somewhere else. Can you say dee dee dee? Chill out and have fun!!!
I don’t know, this whole thing sprung up from
talent-lacked individuals bent in running a
smear campaign against a good performer.
Mencia (or Holness, whatever) may plagiarize
but please, raise your hand if you’ve NEVER
plagiarized ONCE in your life.
His talent is in the irony and energy which he
uses to tell his jokes – people point at the
“overuse of stereotype” but almost every good
comedian out there has used stereotypes, yet
perhaps not as direct as Carlos.
If Mencia wasn’t having the success he now
enjoys, this little high-school war would’ve
never started.
ridiculous…to think that some people don’t care that he is stealing- effing ridiculous..i had an argument with a guy about this issue.. he said “yeah, he may steal jokes…but it’s his delivery..he delivers!” thats retarded…if somebody whoops the ass of the pizza guy outside my house and gives me the pizza…if i knew about it, i wouldn’t pay him…sure he “delivered” but i know someone else put in all the effort… stealing jokes isn’t like anything else…its not like doing a cover of a song…you can hear songs and enjoy them again later…once someone in my audience hears a joke..that is it…i can’t get a laugh from them with that joke again..no one will be able to get that reaction from them again…even the author
You’re absolutley right Gonzo. But there is an exception: covering songs is only cool if you do it within a creative and original context, which begs the question: is it okay to use a joke if you tell it in an original way, and in a different and unique conext? I, personally, don’t think Mencia is all that funny. I think, in fact, that he is the best example of a popular plagiarist that I’ve ever seen. And the fact that he’s garnered praise via his Comedy Central show and special(s) is despicable. Anyway, to answer my original question: I think it is okay to tell a joke; as long as you do it in a unique and original way, which, apparently, Mencia is not able to do. I mean, he didn’t even change the sport (in that Cosby joke) for christsake…
To all the people who are saying ‘Oh well everyone plaigerizes; what comic doesnt?’, there is a huge difference from stealing a few jokes and stealing most of your jokes. It would be a completely different story if he were to have worked off of just a few jokes by adding more or going in a different direction, but obviously he wasn’t creative enough to do that. At least he could have admitted to some of the things that he did, or own up to his real name and nationality, instead of lying to everyone and hanging up on radio interviews because he is a rancid pussy. And Brandie, ‘Carlos’ didn’t make up the DEEDEEDEEEE. The State did. His trademark was even stolen. How pathetic!
[…] had Shark Week, and I lost interest. Comedy Central is inexplicably in love with Carlos Mencia (who steals his jokes, by the way, worthless idiot). And my Astros aren’t doing too hot, so FSN is usually more depressing than […]
He also ratted himself out by saying he came up with something called the “stereotype olympics†when actually radio dj’s from Miami came up with it, and Carlos announced it right to them. So he was practically caught in the act of stealing.
If Carlos Mencia is just plain ripping off other people creative works then that’s just downright pliagrism. He’s gonna lose much of his fan base, what happens to his own creativity I’m sure he’s had experinces to draw upon, that’s what makes a lot of stuff even more funny the fact that others can relate to it.
Bill cosby tells it bad though.
Carlos has a more appealing form of telling jokes. Besides hear those people laughing? Throw away your comp and play a sport guy.
I really could care less if Ned (carlos) is Hundurus, German, Mexican, American, or Chicano. Real Comedians are original and creative, like Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy,Sam Kinison, Rodney Dangerfield, and so on..For a person to steal other materials from someone, it reminds me of a hit pop band in the 80’s called “milli Vanilli”. Carlos not only stole from Bill Cosby, but he also stole from Aris sharrif, Sam Kinison (the sketch when Jesus had a nagging wife), George Lopez, his good friend Bobby Lee, the Phrase DEE DEE DEE he got it from the show “The State”, the stereotype olympics he got it from some Dj’s in Miami, and I even originally thought that Mind of Mencia was just a Rip-off of the Chapelle Show. I wonder if all of his materials is Original. Even though I think Joe Rogan just stood up to Carlos just so he could show off, and try get noticed more, because the only hit show that jerk off ever had was “Fear Factory”, which all he did was fight with the cast, he actually made carlos admit he steals jokes, it’s on Youtube if yall wanna check. I guess if Milli vanilli could win a Grammy for Lip singing, Carlos could get a Hit show for using other Comedian’s materials. I guess Carlos just proved that the phrase “Lie, Cheat & Steal” could actually get you somewhere in life. For me Carlos Mencia is always gonna be known as “The Milli Vanilli of Comedy”.
Stop FUKIN hatin’ on him dont like him dont talk shit bout him then..aand who gives a shit if his name is carlos mencia or not so stop being a bitch bout it…..
-not a fan
I’m going with John on this one. Comedians have been stealing each other’s material ever since the first comedians of the world. Every one of them have their own ways of delivering it, and alot of people like how Carlos is because it’s raw, and probably the first of this generation how he does it. You retards who are gasping and pointing fingers and going on stupid crap like “that isn’t his name” or “he took that from this comedien who took it from the other one!!!” need to just grow up, and move on. And that guy who was more open on this subject, Joe something, he and the other comedians envy Carlos (Ned from the dee dee dee’s), and they need to quit hating on him.
*GASP* I said dee dee dee, and it belongs to Carlos!!!! Oh my goodness. please……..
well, there’s nothing wrong with retelling a funny joke you heard in an every day setting, but if you make money telling jokes, and you’re stealing the jokes from other people that make their money making those jokes, that changes it, and it’s not very fair. to be honest, it’s just not very respectable. the fact that he actually got famous, and all that comedy central love from using other people’s material is pretty disappointing.
wait wait, i saw John’s comment. first of all, those comedians that are “whining” that carlos stole their joke, not all of them are spoiled. is george lopez spoiled? no, george lopez beat up Ned Holness for that, Neddy stole 13 minutes of GEorge Lopez’s Material. George Lopez is not spoiled, retard. He grew up with a tough childhood because his grandma would never let him do ANYTHING, birthday party? no, and not only that, she beat his ass a lot. so don’t even say SHIT about George Lopez when you know NOTHING about him son of a bitch.
All of you motherfuckers that are bending over and defending Carlos Mencia must be just as talentless and have the same lack of creativity as he does. I heard a lot of people here saying that many comedians stole from another, that may be true, but name one of these jerkoffs that made an impact in the comedy business!!! Plus the comedians that steals, at least tries to make the jokes different, Carlos on the other hand don’t even make the effort of switching the jokes, he tells it exactly the same. I swear, all of you bitches that are defending Carlos should just kneel down behind him, stick out your tongue, and slowly start licking his balls all the way thru his asshole!!! I think the more into the future that we are getting in, more and more people are just getting dumber and dumber. For all of you motherfuckers that are defending carlos let me ask yall a question, let’s say for some miraculous reason, yall invent something new that will make you lots of money. Since yall like to kiss Carlos ass so much, yall would event the “Ass potion number 9” is similar to the “love potion number 9” but how it works is a little different, and it works as follow: The group of people that this product is target for, is for all the people that have no talent. What they would do, is spray some of that shit on their ass, they don’t have to go crazy with it, just a substantial amount. As he is sitting on a bus full of people or any public place unnoticeably, all of a sudden he passes gas. All of the people that are just as mindless that are around him, would all of a sudden line up one by one, pucker their lips, take a nice long wiff, and give it a nice long kiss on their talentless asses making that particular loser the most popular person in the whole community. Shit!!!! that would make millions!!! But!!! some other bumfuck goes ahead and steals your idea, and make lots of money doing so, while you are still sitting home, on your ass thinking of new mindless shit to invent….Tell me yall wouldn’t be pist!!!!!
I could give a rip if he stole a joke from another comedian who told the joke in the 80’s. I never heard the joke from Cosby when Bill first told it. Should I miss out on that craziness because I’m to young to have heard it in the 80’s? Ned also changed the joke, a little anywayz, and delivered it with the enthusiam and attitude that my generation likes. Artists have been stealing “recycling” material since time began. Red Hot Chili Peppers doing a Stevie Wonder song… I didn’t like the original from Stevie but loved the remake. Get over it everyone.
Answer this…If you had an opportunity to make yourself rich…better support yourself/family…wouldn’t you steal jokes too? Do you really think that this celebrity cares what most people think? He’s dee, dee, deeing all the way to the bank! They take comic books and turn them into movies, they remake the same movies over and over, bands do cover songs…the list goes on and on. “Imitation is the best form of flattery.” Personally I think he’s funny. Never heard his jokes before and could care less what Fear Factor Joe has to say. Speaking of…seen Joe on UFC? Obviously steroids! Oh…but wouldn’t that mean he stole that idea from body builders??? (GASP!!!)
daniel c…your an idiot! you have way too much time on your hands…..lay off the crack!
Marianne, maybe if Carlos took some crack he would probably be more creative…lol.. Listen, If your not good at your job, you’ll get fired, and if you steal, you get arrested. Everyone who has a family, has to support their family, but if either of does two thigs are done, they wouldn’t be able to, would they. The difference with musicians taking other musicians songs, is that they actually purchase the copyright to the songs and acknowledge the original artist. Their was another idiot called “Vanilla ice” Who took the beats from the song “Under Pressure” by “Queen and David Bowie” and didn’t acknowlege it, not only did he almost got sued, but does anybody knows where he is right now???? Carlos doesn’t even give credit to the original comedians when he steals their jokes. That’s not a comedian that’s a thief. I understand that comedians have taken a few jokes from another and changed it a little bit, but carlos performed an HBO special with nothing but other comedians jokes!!! I don’t think one joke belonged to him. I thought he was a comedian not an interpreter. For someone to call themselves an artist, they have to be original and creative, otherwise that person is not an artist, he is a fraud. Which is exactly what Carlos is!!!!!!
Look, its not right to defend Mencia by saying “Everyone steals.” Just because everyone does it, does not make it right. And there was a comment that asked “Who owns jokes?” The writers own jokes. Its called copyright, or intellectual property. Mencia should be careful with his BS, because he can seriously be sued over that. Hell, Comedy Central could be sued for it. As blatant as Mencia is, I wonder why the comedians don’t sue him. As for Joe Rogan’s only hit show being on Fear Factor. Umm, Rogan is a commentator on UFC, he’s an MMA fighter himself (although not by anymeans pro) AND he’s a comedian. Its one thing to use inspiration and change it around to make it your own, its quite another thing to take and recite another person’s joke word for word and claim it as your own.
First I have to say this has been the best site for comments about carlos mencia so far. Everyone here has different views about this situation and is cool as fuck…Shit!!!I was even called an idiot by this chick, because of what I wrote earlier. I checked other sites, but everyone seemed to be one sided about the issue and that is boring. Anyways let’s get back to topic. I never wrote drunk and fucked up before, but this will be the first time. I have talked a lot of shit about Carlos and how he steals jokes and how he is not creative, well I thought i’ve been a little judgemental and cruel against Carlos and his fans about the issue of plagiarism in comedy and then I was thinking a little harder and decided I wasn’t cruel enough!!!!FUCK CARLOS!!!!! FUCK HIS SHOW!!!!!FUCK HIS STAND UP COMEDY!!!! AND FUCK HIS PLAGIARISM ASS NICE AND HARD!!!!!!Anyone in the entertainment business that needs to copy others to be funny or be notice is a fucking fraud. Everyone should do the same thing that George Lopez did to Carlos, beat the shit out of him!!!!
PS. Dave Chapelle needs to come back!!!!
what you people that are saying what’s the big deal? it’s just jokes dosen’t get, is this is peoples jobs, how would you feel if you showed up at work and takes your job out from under you, most of the jokes ned steals arent from famous millionaires, there from struggling comics in bars and clubs working hard to make name for themselfs. there out there busting thier butts every night, for ned to come and pull there jobs out from under them, shame on him, and shame on you for giveing him a smack on the hand.
haha, Eddie is so wild! I love him.