Christopher Titus Rips Off Robin Williams?

I'm a bit ambivalent about posting this, because I love Chris Titus. He's not a hack like Carlos Mencia or Dane Cook; he puts his own spin on the material, even improves it in some places. But theft is theft.

Then again, maybe it wasn't intentional. Maybe he heard Williams' material years ago, and forgot. I'm inclined to give Titus the benefit of the doubt. But the similarities between the two are undeniable, so in the end I thought it should be put out there. Best case scenario: Titus has a chance to explain himself.

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• robin
• williams
• christopher
• titus
• carlos
• mencia
• dane
• cook
• joke
• thieves
• rips
• off
• plagiarism
• comedy
• comedians
• steals
• material

[PaulaVia]

Evidently you don't know kids because this is true for every parent.

[jbrisby]

@PaulaVia Evidently you don't know writing, or you'd see that it's the structure of the joke, not the event, which has been copied.

[CainTaylor91]

@jbrisby Louis CK has a bit just like the one where his kid asks him why. It's not stealing, it's coincidence when comedians have kids and find things humorous that their kids do.

[jbrisby]

@CainTaylor91 Are you seriously that retarded? Louis CKs bit is nothing like the Robin/Titus joke, either in theme, structure, or execution.

[CainTaylor91]

@jbrisby No, I'm not retarded, but I am convinced you're altogether too wound up :)

[jbrisby]

@CainTaylor91 That's because 80 people in a row have said the same stupid thing, and I'm tired of patiently explaining that the jokes aren't the same just because they're both about kids; and the other 37 think jokes just magically write themselves.

[MMSazaby]

I hear the similarities but there is no stealing going on here. The set-ups, deliveries, and the closings for each of the sections were different. Lots of comedians use their kids as a basis for material. On top of that, the rest of these hour plus long albums are COMPLETELY different. Ten minutes of marginally comparable situations doesn't make Titus a thief.

[superdupersk8team1]

I love Titus so I was skeptical that he would actually rip off another comedian. Maybe I'm jumping to his defense a little too quickly, but I don't really hear any theft here. The subject matter is similar and Titus could have gotten his inspiration from Williams, but saying this is theft is a little out there. It's like saying that every comedian that one comedian that does a joke about the differences between men and women is ripping another one off who does a joke on the same subject.

[drummmer05]

who cares.......... ;

great comedians copy & follow 1 anothers styles & bits all the time & just put their own unique spin on it..... ;)

Chris's is def. a huge improvement & actually funny, instead of vulgar... To me the excessive language ruins comedy & takes away from the purity of the gift.... ; )

[rrtodd95]

When you take a joke from Robin Williams and claim it as yours, that's not plagiarism.

It's recycling. Robin is notorious for stealing jokes form other comedians.

David Brenner threatened to kick his ass if he stole another joke from him. There are comedians in the industry that will stop performing if Robin walks into a club.

[bw13187]

The situation is common enough that you can't just jump to the conclusion that it was stolen.

[Curu82]

@jbrisby The point they're trying to get across is that all three are very common situations. Kids start imitating, then asking questions about every goddamn thing imaginable, and parents have moments where they realize they want to make a difference so the world will be a better place for their kids (or at the very least protect them). If they are rip offs, then why exactly Robins Williams? Why not Dylan Moran, for example?

[muhammadfan]

I dont think he is ripping off anyone, I bet that actually happened to Titus and his daughter many children have mimicked their parents, I dont think its a stolen joke AT ALL

[warc8us]

Robin Williams uses other people's jokes. It's well known in stand-up. It is much more likely that Robins heard it from Titus first.

[CainTaylor91]

@jbrisby Alrighty :)