# How do standups keep track of "their" jokes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 17, 2019, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958 "2019-01-17T23:37:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/1 "2019-01-17T23:37:28Z")
Earlier today I told someone that if they were going to have a python they might as well get it reticulated, it’s expensive but worth it in the end. That is a joke, it is not my joke, I have no idea where I stole it. I have found that jokes I was sure I had come up with are actually from movies I watched years ago. Thing is, nobody’s paying me and nobody’s going to sue. How and to what extent do standups keep track of whether the idea’s theirs or something they encountered and it’s just lost its nametag? ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/2 "2019-01-17T23:42:46Z")
I think some ideas especially if it’s pop culture or stuff in the news can occur to two different comedians simultaneously, and also have heard totally different stand-ups do this there was a good example that I can’t quite think of at the moment but I don’t think either one stole it. Some stand-ups are known to do jokes they didn’t invent but they might put their own unique twist on it or tell it in the style of another comedian as sort of a nod to them. I think comedy is also like music in some ways where there’s an infinite number of ways to do it but most people stick to certain formulas or in music notes or chord progressions, certain dynamic changes so I think it would be relatively easy to subconsciously lift material from another comedian without intending to directly plagiarize although that also happens a lot in comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/3 "2019-01-17T23:53:50Z")
Their audiences reaction will let them know. If they are retreading someone else’s material, eventually they will get caught. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/4 "2019-01-17T23:56:33Z")
> [@3trew](#): > > Thing is, nobody’s paying me and nobody’s going to sue. How and to what extent do standups keep track of whether the idea’s theirs or something they encountered and it’s just lost its nametag? I mean, no one’s going to sue a comedian for stealing jokes either. I guess maybe if they were repeating a long joke word for word you might have a copyright claim. But mostly the consequences for “stealing” jokes are social/professional pressure, not legal. Most comedians are going to work on a joke for a while. Like the first funny part that pops into your head is not likely going to be the finished product. So they’re going to play with it, test out different forms, bounce it off other comedians and try it out at clubs. At some point in there, someone else is going to notice that they’ve heard the joke before. At that point (most) comedians will either change the joke enough that it’s their own, or they’ll just drop it. Some will just tell it anyway and not care. These days with the internet, it’s not that hard to search either. I’ve had ideas for jokes before and searched for a few keywords and (often) found that someone beat me to the punch. Maybe I heard it before and misremembered, or maybe it’s just kind of an obvious joke. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/5 "2019-01-17T23:58:42Z")
Which is something that they doubtless would want to avoid. So how do they? ---
**Author:** ![andrea\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@andrea\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrea_green)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/6 "2019-01-18T00:07:37Z")
Would anyone be so kind as to explain the joke? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/7 "2019-01-18T00:22:44Z")
> [@andrea\_green](#): > > Would anyone be so kind as to explain the joke? A “reticulated python” is a species of python [Reticulated python - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticulated_python) - but the phrase “reticulated python” seems like a description of a python that has had some sort of procedure (“reticulation”) done to it. Thus the suggestion that someone should have their python reticulated… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/8 "2019-01-18T00:49:13Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I mean, no one’s going to sue a comedian for stealing jokes either. I guess maybe if they were repeating a long joke word for word you might have a copyright claim. But mostly the consequences for “stealing” jokes are social/professional pressure, not legal. Pretty much. There have been a few cases where it got out of hand. Robin Williams, for example, was infamous for it, for example, to the point when he entered a comedy club the comedian on stage would stop telling their ‘A’ material. Countering this was that it was also alleged that if you accused him of stealing your material he would apologize and whip out his checkbook. Carlos Mencia, was given a real drubbing by the internet a decade ago when there were (and probably are) many youtube examples of him stealing jokes. He was nailed for stealing jokes from Cosby, which, prior to Bill’s recent conviction, was unthinkable. Carlos was confronted about this multiple times by comedians and other about his theft. Allegedly some of the altercations got physical. These days, the Internet may make it harder to steal stuff, but I’m sure it happens. The worst I ever saw was in the 80’s on whatever Fox Network had as their night show prior to getting Arsenio Hall up and running: Some lame juggler prop comedian who looked like the low-rent version of Carrot Top (if such a thing was possible). The guy was repeating jokes from Letterman’s Top Ten list from a couple nights before. ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/9 "2019-01-18T01:26:34Z")
Dane Cook supposedly stole jokes from a lot of comics and despite being very popular (primarily with college-aged audience) his was so persona non grata within the community he flamed out early. There’s an episode of Louie about it that’s pretty good, if you can watch it remembering who you thought LCK was then instead of knowing who he is now. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/10 "2019-01-18T15:23:55Z")
There was an associate of now retired talk radio guy Don Imus who got pilloried because on the radio he told comedian John Pinnette’s routine about a fat guy being barred from a Chinese buffet. He pretty much told the routine line for line and didn’t mention the fact it wasn’t his own material. He did this while Pinnette was still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/11 "2019-01-18T16:13:30Z")
> [@pool](#): > > I think some ideas especially if it’s pop culture or stuff in the news can occur to two different comedians simultaneously, and also have heard totally different stand-ups do this there was a good example that I can’t quite think of at the moment but I don’t think either one stole it. Yeah: A simple joke, like the one in the OP, is basically just an _idea for a joke_, worked out in a competent but relatively obvious manner. I have no doubt that such a joke could be independently thought up by more than one person. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/12 "2019-01-18T16:48:57Z")
Was listening to Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup Channel on Sirius/XM, and they played a bit from one of those “Deep South Country Boy” comedians who was big in the 60’s (I’m guessing). His bit was a self-referential dig at his speech; he talked about words they have in the South, like “Djeet yet? Naw, djou?” when discussing food. Or how his dad, when confronted by coons on his porch, would yell “Gehonouttahyah!” Then he said everyone was going to be surprised when they arrived at the Pearly Gates and St. Peter has a thick country accent and tells everyone “Come on 'yall, we’re going up to the Big House!” Foxworthy did the same bit, almost word-for-word, on his 1993 album \*You Might Be A Redneck… \* I wish I could remember the guy’s name, so I could send Foxworthy’s lawyer the clip. Or maybe Foxworthy already wrote the guy a check… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/13 "2019-01-18T17:00:01Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > There was an associate of now retired talk radio guy Don Imus who got pilloried because on the radio he told comedian John Pinnette’s routine about a fat guy being barred from a Chinese buffet. He pretty much told the routine line for line and didn’t mention the fact it wasn’t his own material. He did this while Pinnette was still alive. I’m surprised anyone would attempt that. Maybe I listen to XM too much, but I thought that was a pretty well known joke. Did he call himself Free Wirry too? ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/14 "2019-01-18T17:56:09Z")
I’ve gathered that it happens a lot where comics will subconsciously crib material at times or may even just write a joke similar to another comic’s bit, and other comics will try to let them know. It happens enough that saying, “You know, your bit about Denny’s sounds a little like X’s bit about Golden Corral” isn’t seen as confrontational and most comics take the craft seriously enough that they will appreciate the head’s up. I’m not a comic and could be wrong, just the impression I’ve gotten listening to a lot of comics being interviewed and knowing a few open mic folks. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/15 "2019-01-18T18:09:54Z")
I’ll say this: jokes come from the shared experience, so it’s hardly out of the question that two comedians will come up with the same thing organically. Hell, I’ve got a funny bit about taking a shit that I may deliver if I ever get the balls to do an open mic night. I seriously doubt that no comedian ever hasn’t done the same jokes that I have in mind. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/16 "2019-01-18T20:20:19Z")
I think there is a distinction between stealing a bit and copying a punchline to an individual joke. I have heard several comedians use the same punchline about Trump’s wall (“Illegal aliens do most of the construction work in this country, so who does he think is going to actually build it?”) but frame it with their own stories and support jokes to make it a unique act. Not a problem. HeyHomie’s example of Foxworthy lifting an entire bit is a different animal altogether. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/17 "2019-01-18T20:42:14Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > Carlos Mencia, was given a real drubbing by the internet a decade ago when there were (and probably are) many youtube examples of him stealing jokes. > [@WernhamHogg](#): > > Dane Cook supposedly stole jokes from a lot of comics and despite being very popular (primarily with college-aged audience) his was so persona non grata within the community he flamed out early. I thought those situations were both way overblown. Both of those guys’ “original” material wasn’t that great to start with, and the material they were accused of “stealing” was both obvious and not even very funny. Their major crime wasn’t stealing jokes, but rather being shitty comedians. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/18 "2019-01-18T23:24:58Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > A “reticulated python” is a species of python [Reticulated python - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticulated_python) - but the phrase “reticulated python” seems like a description of a python that has had some sort of procedure (“reticulation”) done to it. Thus the suggestion that someone should have their python reticulated… But what is the joke? The punchline appears to be “It’s expensive but worth it in the end.” 😕 ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/19 "2019-01-19T00:30:28Z")
[Short video ofJerry Seinfeld and Brian Regan discussion of the fact that they had both independently developed “if they can land a man on the moon…” routines.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBqDiK6gYfE). ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958/20 "2019-01-19T00:36:30Z")
Years ago, Richard Pryor was asked by Johnny Carson if he was ever “influenced” by other comedians when he was younger. He came right out and directly stated that when he was new that he would steal material, surprising Carson with his frankness. It sounded like that was something that he had only done early in his career. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-standups-keep-track-of-their-jokes/827958.md?page=2)