One of the performers in that sketch is called James Ponce. I'd make friends with him just for that.
Imagine the low-fi comedy heaven you could get into with a friend named Ponce.
Possible Plagarism? Page 2
Well,that's 4 minutes 19 seconds of my life I'll never get back.
What sketch show was it on again?
I know I've seen it.
Quote: Lazzard @ June 11 2010, 7:04 PM BSTWell,that's 4 minutes 19 seconds of my life I'll never get back.
That's 53 years, 11 1/2 months of my life I'll never get back.
Quote: Steve Sunshine @ June 11 2010, 8:16 PM BSTWhat sketch show was it on again?
I know I've seen it.
Was it a Comedy Lab one?
I think it was.
But these things can happen by coincidence in any case.
Quote: Thomas Blackwell @ June 11 2010, 12:28 AM BSTI happened to pass by one of those websites that puts up unintentionally funny things that people say in conversation (like "Overheard in the Office" and its various sister sites). I especially noticed one piece of conversation that could be a sketch on its own and I really wanted to use it. But even if I fix some lines and change the setting, etc., would it be plagiarism?
Coz I'm into writing comedy, friends are always telling me funny things that happened to them and I'm always listening out for things that I could maybe use.
Kind of similar to what you're talking about, I guess.
Quote: Lazzard @ June 11 2010, 7:04 PM BSTWell,that's 4 minutes 19 seconds of my life I'll never get back.
Brilliant. 
Quote: Steve Sunshine @ June 11 2010, 8:16 PM BSTWhat sketch show was it on again?
I know I've seen it.
I only watched a little bit of the sketch, but I believe a similar one was on Happy Finish. I don't think it's plagarism. I find it quite plausible that 2 people could think up that premise.
Quote: Ben @ June 12 2010, 8:40 PM BSTI find it quite plausible that 2 people could think up that premise.
Harder to believe they'd film it, though.
Quote: Lazzard @ June 13 2010, 11:47 AM BSTHarder to believe they'd film it, though.
There's no reason to believe that anyone involved ever saw that internet sketch though; I certainly hadn't until it was flagged up on this thread.
Quote: Lazzard @ June 13 2010, 11:47 AM BSTHarder to believe they'd film it, though.
Me and David Bussell came up with exactly the same joke and filmed it. Mine's a bit of the way in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pZANIOO9CQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oksazMLF3o
Different executions though!
Quote: greensville @ June 13 2010, 11:55 AM BSTMe and David Bussell came up with exactly the same joke and filmed it. Mine's a bit of the way in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pZANIOO9CQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oksazMLF3o
Different executions though!
I'd forgotten all about you having short hair. Funny that both our hair is longer now. Maybe I ripped your do off too?
Quote: Simon B @ June 11 2010, 9:49 AM BSTAs a slight deviation, there's been a couple of recent TV sketches identical to sketches I've seen on t'internet. Not carbon copy scripts but the central idea being exactly the same. Most likely a coincidence (a writer with the same idea unaware of the original) but this sketch by the brilliant Nathan Fielder was 'remixed' on a recent sketch show (not naming names):
http://www.youtube.com/user/nathanfielder?blend=2&ob=1#p/u/17/5JT-Uej1PA0
And I've had a recent sketch idea used on a TV show. I put it down to great minds and all that....
You're talking about Happy Finish right? Yeah, it's the same idea alright, probably a coincidence. I actually thought that was the weakest sketch on Happy Finish and was a bit confused as to why they kept revisiting it.
As to the original question, that doesn't sound like plagiarism to me. It sounds like research. The website isn't for comedy writers, it's just got funny conversations on there that people have overheard. What if you overheard a funny comnversation on the bus and used it in a script? Would that be plagiarism? Anyway there's nothing wrong with a bit of "borrowing" as long as you don't take the piss and copy something word for word. It happens ALL the time...
I've never seen (or heard of) Happy Finish but I recognise that sketch.
An uncannily similar one was done on either the last series of Harry And Paul or Mitchell And Webb.
***EDIT****
I'm sure it was M&W. It could have been a dinner party.