Possible plagiarism?

[SamStone]

So, one of my friends sent me this link:

http://www.omglists.com/article/40513/the-top-6-commercials-that-deserve-tv-shows-over-cavemen/

And as I was reading it, I was kind of thinking "This sounds familiar, where have I heard this topic before?"...

...and then I got to this:

"4. What Would You Do For a Klondike Bar?

The Commercial: Regular folks on the street are put to the test regarding just how far they will go for a delicious ice cream treat.

The Pitch: A reality show where studio audience members are asked to perform in dangerous stunts and humiliating activities for a chance at a grand prize. The winners find out it was all for a Klondike bar. Hosted by Sinbad. "

Sound familiar?  Sounds like part of the October 23th show to me (Specifically, between 1:50:27 and 1:51:00 from the podcast), where a caller contributes to the topic by suggesting a game show based around a Klondike bar hosted by Sinbad.  The idea itself is pretty run of the mill, but specifically suggesting Sinbad?  I dunno, sounds fishy to me.

Also, there's the timing of the topic - written not even a week later.

On the other hand, none of the other ideas I recognized from the show (except the Olive Garden one, and that doesn't even follow the idea presented to Tom and Paul F. nor their reactions to it), however, I didn't re-listen to the entire thing so it's possible I missed something.

What do you guys think?  Coincidence or rip-off?

EDIT: Just wanted to say that Tom and Paul are much funnier than this filth minded individual.

[Dorvid Barnas]

No way is that parallel thought.  Unless that blogger was the one who called The Best Show, I say kick AA out of the Nonagon and get Joe Rogan on the horn - CUZ IT'S GO TIME!!!

[Matt]

No way is that parallel thought.  Unless that blogger was the one who called The Best Show, I say kick AA out of the Nonagon and get Joe Rogan on the horn - CUZ IT'S GO TIME!!!

What he said.

[ian]

As much as that list sucks, I'd have to say there is more wiggle room for parallel thought than you guys think. It's not much of a stretch to take one of the catchiest commercials and jingles of all time and just make it literal. It's funny, but I would say it's possible, that in the history of time or even in some "convenient" timing, that somebody else would think of it.

I dunno, maybe somebody could just ask the guy. Maybe he had a deadline for that stupid blog.

[Beth]

No way, that guy totally heard the show. Sinbad is far too specific.

Unless, as stated above, it's the same guy that called. In that case, speak up, guy!

[ian]

Oh, I didn't remember Sinbad being mentioned on the show. This whole "gotcha" movement ever since the Dane Cook/Louis CK thing is getting a little extreme when we're trolling dumb blogs like this. These guys usually just kind of get theirs in the end by floundering for lack of better ideas.

Hrm, his other lists mention some alt-comedy guys like Todd Barry, so I'm going to wager he does listen to the show after all.

[Laurie]

I say, "LOCK HIM UP!"

[ian]

No HTML allowed in the comments of his stupid blog for jerks.

[SamStone]

Honestly if he didn't talk about the Sinbad thing I wouldn't have even given it a second thought, it'snot really that outrageous of a topic and I would have given him the benefit of the doubt.  And it's possible he heard the show, thought it was a good idea, and wanted to expand on it which is fine.  But directly lifting stuff from the show?

Bush league.

EDIT: Unless, of course, he called in with the idea.

[Chris L]

I want to take his face... off! 

[Wes]

I think you're all leaving out the very real possibility that Sinbad himself is pushing for this idea through multiple media outlets, and we've just been exposed to a few arms of the latest of his many viral marketing schemes.

[Dorvid Barnas]

The blogger and the caller are both named Brady.

[Brady]

Hey, I hate to revive this long dead topic but I just haven't been on the FOT board in forever and I feel the need to defend myself, even though Dorvid pointed out that I am indeed the caller and the blogger. So yeah, I wasn't ripping Tom off. In fact, I wrote this list back in September but it sat around waiting to get published when the site launched, which happened about a week after the show with the commercial topic was on. As soon as Tom brought up the topic my heart sank, because I knew inevitably somebody would come across it and accuse me of plagiarism. I thought of mentioning this when I called in during that episode, but I didn't want to sound like one of those people calling in plugging their podcast or something and trying to take a free ride on Tom's coattails. I did post a disclaimer after the show over in the Best Show thread on aspecialthing but failed to do it here.

So I apologize for not posting a disclaimer here first. The last thing I want to do is disturb other Best Show fans. I actually mentioned Tom in my last article for the site and put him and Jon as the best comedy team working today on another list that may get published some day. I'm trying to use the little exposure I have to spread the word of Scharpling, not steal it!

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

It's OK, Brady.  Nice work on the list (and the call).  Dorvid, didn't you also discover that there really was a Denzel Whittaker?  You're like the Veronica Mars of FOTdom.

[Dorvid Barnas]

It's OK, Brady.  Nice work on the list (and the call).  Dorvid, didn't you also discover that there really was a Denzel Whittaker?  You're like the Veronica Mars of FOTdom.

Nah, I didn't know about DW until Tom posted his apology to the Movie Boy.