Carlos Mencia - Comedian or Hack?
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Carlos Mencia, is he just a joke thief?
Okay, so my husband started bagging on Carlos Mencia the other day. He was saying that Carlos was a joke thief and that he is not even "Mexican". So, I decided to do some research. I was shocked at all of the information that I found. I will let you see for yourself and decide, but I think the info speaks for itself. Read this through, and watch the videos that I have attached. I think you will come to the logical conclusion.
Okay, so a comedian cannot copywrite a joke, that being said, there is a rule amongst stand up comedians that you do not take another comedians material, that also means you do not take it, change a few words and use it. This is stealing. Same as taking another songwriters words and putting them into a new song.
According to various comedians, Carlos Mencia builds his act by taking jokes from different comedians. Yes, many of the comedians are no-names and no one would ever know that Carlos took the joke. That being said, it has been reported and confirmed (see the Joe Rogan video, also google Carlos Mencia and George Lopez) that George Lopez actually punched Carlos Mencia in the face for taking over 13 minutes of George Lopez's act and used it in an HBO special. Mencia says that George Lopez hit him because he was jealous and did not want other Latino comedians to be successful. Lopez said to Howard Stern that it was because Mencia took over 13 minutes of his material. Lopez reported this to HBO and HBO pulled the special from the air.
My husband also said that Mencia was not even Mexican, but I did some research, and apparently he is half Mexican. His father was from Honduras, where Carlos was born. So the rumor there seems to be wrong, but no, he did not ever live in Mexico. He lived in Honduras until he was one, then moved to East Los Angeles to be raised by his aunt and uncle. He has been in L.A. ever since.
As a writer, it always shocks me when plagerism happens, and this is definitely a form of plagerism. Unfortunately for the comedy world, there is not much that they can do to protect themselves from joke theft, they just have to deal with it amongst themselves. All I can say is, Carlos, if you are funny for real, then prove it. Stop hiding behind jokes that other people created. If you aren't funny, then just hire a writer. Stealing jokes isn't funny, and watching someone that steals jokes isn't funny either.
Carlos Mencia Steals From Bill Cosby
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Ouch, that's all I got to say. The other commedians probably tell the jokes better anyway. Guy's got a repulsive attitude if you ask me.
I agree with both of you! Seems to me, the best part of stand up comedy is the originality of it (along with how funny and how it is presented). Sucks that this guy comes on the scene and starts making money off of other struggling comedians work.
he's half German
Actually, that is a rumor that I will defend him on. Apparently his dad is half Honduran and half German, which makes Carlos half Mexican, one quarter Honduran and one quarter German.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending him, just clearing up the half German thing. Its all semantics really. He's a fake.
i really like carlos mecia. but isnt he going a little far for an audience?
honduran isn't mexican it is latino, but its like the diffrence of being german or french..
I liked your article, but to let you know I'm Mexican and that has nothing to do with being from Honduras. Just thought you'd like to know that there is a difference.
S00 WAT IF HE STEALS OR ISNT MEXICAN.... IM MEXICAN AND I D0NT MIND WATEVER IT IS HE D0ES EVRY0NE ATONE POINT OR ANOTHER RELATES TO THE JOKE........THE J0KES ARE FUNNIER WHEN THEY C0ME FROM HIM ILL BE HONEST I DIDNT LAUGH WHEN BILL COSBY SAID THE JOKE BUT WHEN CARLOS SAID IT I DID, HES FUNNIER......ALSO WHEN YU HEAR A JOKE DONT YU GO TELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE?......THATS CUZ ITS FUNNY.
the german heritage is NOT true...researched it and you can find it on many sites now. His father was honduran and his MOTHER was mexican.
SHORTY, what you say isn't right, even if you posted all in caps. You see in real life If you rip a song, catchphrase or joke it is called Plagerism. It is a crime. So it is not wheater you see it right or not. Also note nobody that is a real comedian likes this guy. NOBODY. Look that shit up pendejo.
I think that carlos, is a bit much for my taste, but seems to be really appealing to latinos crowd and in that way he's good at it. Now for the crime behind being a hack is just crap, in the comedy field your reputation is bliss and the facts that he makes money should not be an issue(the small tax slave of society must realize that copyright is bullshit, at any level- it really helps the little man once in a while but in the long run only help the big corporation and most of all Slow down evolution as a whole!) A punch in the face is way more respectable than a pussy lawsuit. My ancestor invented the wheel....WHERE's MY MONEY!!!?
carlos fuckin sucks ass he cant even cme up wit his own shit stupid mutha fucker
If someone say, hung out after one of his gigs and say, shot the thieving fuck in the back of the head I'd say he got what he deserved. He is worse than a hack, he is a thief who is so lame he can't even do his own material. Anyone can b gotten to with a little planning. I'm just sayin'...
first of all i think he just wants to make bad publicity to george, george has nothing to feel jealous off cuz hes the best,and taking jokes from someone else to be famous isnt cool at all, im mexican and believe me honduras aint mexican, way different, and anyways if mencia considered himself a little mexican atleast he could show some more respect as george does mencia only criticize mexican people he suck!!!
so what if he was born in honduras he's still a wetback n if he was raised in L.A ovious he was raised with a bunch of mexicans. How many times have got frwd text joke n you frwd it cus its funny? How many times do you hear a song on the radio n say aw I love this song n then you realize its a mix snoop biting from an oldie but you then like it cus it jus sounds cool. I rather hear a racist mex joke from mancia then a white or black guy cus I know dam sure that's why every one is bicthing they already think where low class. The real fake is george lopez
so what if he was born in honduras he's still a wetback n if he was raised in L.A ovious he was raised with a bunch of mexicans. How many times have got frwd text joke n you frwd it cus its funny? How many times do you hear a song on the radio n say aw I love this song n then you realize its a mix snoop biting from an oldie but you then like it cus it jus sounds cool. I rather hear a racist mex joke from mancia then a white or black guy cus I know dam sure that's why every one is bicthing they already think where low class. The real fake is george lopez
why was my comment not posted
WOW!~I just finished writing a hub about him (which I think you would be interested in reading by the way) and I honestly didn't know about him stealing material from other comedians but now nothing surprises me....such a sad thing. Wow...George Lopez socked him in the face! que gacho! but hey if he deserved it then....thats life que no?! George Lopez gets muy respeto from me! I don't understand how people can get away with stealing other comedians material...but if it were a song, a movie, or a piece of literature then he would be in trouble. Despicable! good hub!
hondura is not mexico omg get facts right b4 posting
Yeah...He is a dumb beanner...I think he is a fag who is not smart enough to be a comedian
@ma2lue - she never said Honduras was Mexico, dumbass. OMG, read the whole thing before posting a stupid, inaccurate response.
As far as Mencia goes, I think this has been blown out of proportion and it should be noted that the joke that Mencia supposedly stole from Lopez was actually originally told by Ari Shaffir who(allegedly)gave Mencia permission to use it. Lopez is the one who stole it. At the very least Mencia did nothing worse than Lopez did.
@aly lol ur so lame
lopez is a disgrace.
I'm sick of the "Mencia is German because he never lived in Mexico" claim. Not only is it wrong but the guy did actually live in Honduras for a while.
Now, google George Lopez. Where was he born? Mission Hills, California lols.
I don't think Cosby or Mencia is funny at all! Dane Cook is a lot more funnier than all of them combined!
People get your geography straight. Honduras and Mexico are two totally different countries. Mexico is not Honduras.
I've been a fan of Lopez & Mencia for many years. I own all their dvds but some feelings have changed after seeing them in person. Lopez has gone to far stereotyping mexicans nightly on his show. I've seen both Lopez & Mencia show tapings live. Lopez tonight chose this old, tattood head, ignorant ex-gang member to represent ALL latinos on national television for one of his games 'how well to you know your neighbor'. Lopez kept leaving once the cameras were off so he could think he's keeping the audience waiting for his return. It was weird seeing him not smile once off camera then all of a sudden be full of fake laughs & smiles with his guests. He never once talked to his audience untill the end. Mencia was so different. He was the same off camera & actually couldn't stop talking up close to his audience making them laugh. Thief or not Mencia is a better person in real life. George let fame get to his head. Mas puto!
First off Its a joke and a pun about something that is true. Its funny no matter who tells it. Second he told it in his own way, I could see if he repeated every single thing that Bill Cosby said. Look at the end when Bill said. "He goes Hi Mom. and he looks upset as the dad and says Thats okay because we all know who taught him." Now Carlos changed it up and made the guy say. "I Love you mom." And then the dad freaked out and got mad saying "That Bitch never played catch with you."
Its a joke. How many times to people tell jokes to other people they read somewhere or heard somewhere. because if you want to claim hes stealing Bill Cosby then no one can ever repeat a joke ever once its created. They should start issuing Patents on Jokes then so no one else but that person can say it. Then if we did that jokes wouldn't be funny and this would be a very frak'd up world. But they are not, Chill out who cares just laugh about it then let it go.
I don't think the retelling a joke argument is relevant, I hear a funny joke and tell my mates I don't get paid for it. I am under the impression that mr mencia may have been paid a good few potatoes for his HBO show, when the actual writers are slumming it for very little and see him take their joke and earn considerably more you can see why they get upset.
Personally I prefer the Cosby version I didn't think the misoganistic
I don't think the retelling a joke argument is relevant, I hear a funny joke and tell my mates I don't get paid for it. I am under the impression that mr mencia may have been paid a good few potatoes for his HBO show, when the actual writers are slumming it for very little and see him take their joke and earn considerably more you can see why they get upset.
Personally I prefer the Cosby version I didn't think the angry and misogynistic addition at the end improved it but that is just me.
In regards to the Hispanic claims,isn't Honduras a Spanish speaking country in south America? Wouldn't that make him an Hispanic Act? I am probably wrong though. Add his Mexican mother and the fact that he was brought up with his Mexican family I would say he isn't lying but ultimately it is completely irrelevant to the real issue here. That he takes other peoples work and passes it off as his own.
Personally I think he is a bad comedian who has one style, shouting and being slightly angry.
I don't get the immediate defines by his fellow Spanish speakers, I know it's feels good to be represented and have one of your own do good but I can't help but feel some grey haired White man with a suit made from the flesh of abused seals saw him and thought "yes, that's what I think all mexicans are like" two comedians of note of all the millions of Americans who who are working there arses off day in day out. Come on there must be more, better talented people out there with original and exciting material that doesn't fall back onto stereotypes and will give the millions of Spanish speaking Americans something to feel truly represented by and not feel short changed.
Carlos Mencia vs. Joe Rogan
sunstreeks 4 years ago
I never knew that about Carlos Mencia. Putz.
Great Hub