The Comedy Database

We need a database.

A few weeks back a friend of mine was telling me all about how relieved she was to hear from her doctor that her two year old son was not suffering from a certain syndrome that effects many toddlers.

Without really thinking I just said, "Yes but sadly he is racist." I then began writing a bit about racist babies. A funny concept I think. It's pretty obvious that racism is something certain children learn from exposure but I thought the idea of having a racist baby was funny and not only that but the idea that you might be able to tell it was going to be racist in much the same way that you can tell if a baby will be a boy or a girl. Through an ultrasound of sorts.

I think this idea is a great example of a joke that many people could have come up with and I suppose that's my concern. It feels like something that I've heard before but because of the various jokes, sketches, improv shows, comedy songs, etc. that are running around in my memory I honestly can't remember.

I began to wonder why isn't there a comedy database? Why isn't there someplace I can check so I don't accidentally steal something thats been done?

The obvious reasons include comedians are lazy, comedy material isn't as sacred as music, comedians are lazy, the task of compiling all that material is a massive one and finally, comedians are lazy.

But I think we need it. A few years ago when Joe Rogan confronted Carlos Mencia at The Comedy Store it started a brief discussion about stealing with regard to comedy material. After that Dane Cook was accused of stealing from Louis CK. It was gratifying to go online and watch clips of Bill Cosby followed by clips of Carlos Mencia doing practically the same exact bit about athletes learning everything they know from their fathers but then thanking their mothers after winning the big game.

I'm not writing this to say one person was wrong or right but it seems like as comedians we could take control of this.

If each comedian were to input their material into a database. They could label it by date, topic, venue, set length, lineup spot etc...

I know I speak for a lot of comedians when I say that sometimes I just don't know if something I've come up with is a rip off. I honestly haven't stolen anything. I think in my worst moments on stage starting out I may have lifted a line from someone famous to get out of a jam with a heckler and I can promise you when it happened it's all I thought about until I got on stage again.

I just think there is a way to bring some balance to our industry. We may never be able to do anything about it legally speaking but I for one would like to know that my material is protected and if by chance I've stepped on someone elses toes then I'd love to know for sure so I can move on to writing new material.

Here is a clip of Eddie Gossling doing a bit about racist babies. On a google search of racist baby comedy this was the 7th listing.

http://effinfunny.com/eddie-gossling/beat-box-baby

Personally, I think he touches on the same idea but I feel what I've come up with is slightly different. It also makes me wonder what is the definition of stealing? I mean, I thought of the concept on my own. I wrote about it. Then I googled it to see what other people had about it and I found Eddie's clip where he is really discussing beat boxing more or less and not so much the origin of racism. What are the rules as far as material goes?

I'd love to hear thoughts about this so feel free to write back.