Carlos Mencia’s new comedy special, “New Territory,” represents a new attitude, and possibly image, of the comedian who has a reputation of stealing other comics’ material. At one point in his career, Mencia even admitted lifting jokes from veteran jokesters such as Bill Cosby.
A lot of comics focus on common material and often times the joke comes out very similar; but Mencia, according to those in the industry, went too far. Unless you are in that business or know a whole lot about stand-up comedy, it’s very difficult to know when a joke is repeated and, better yet, where it originated from.
The beginning of “New Territory” starts off with the line, “The United States is better on its worst day than any other country on its best day.” It sounds neat but that single opening doesn’t really represent the theme of the hour long plus special.
Throughout most of it, Mencia compares Americans treating other Americans as being un-American. “The fact we celebrate Columbus Day for a person who didn’t even discover America,” is one of the notions that the comedian suggests is wrong with the country.
Going into “New Territory” with the knowledge of Mencia’s reputation made it difficult to enjoy for what it was – solid material, regardless of where it originated from. Much of the time the credit goes to who says the joke, and not who writes it.
I’m not defending Mencia here; rather I am giving him the benefit of the doubt when he says he’s got a new focus on comedy. In the special, he sums up that Americans love winners and losers, stating that this is why soccer is so hated – it sometimes ends in a tie.
“Can you imagine getting to the end of the ninth inning in baseball and all of a sudden they start walking off the field in a tie?… No, no, no, I paid $42 dollars for two beers and Nachos. Get your asses back on the field and finish this.”
For what it’s worth, Mencia delivers a set of material that, save for the introduction, makes bold statements about this great country, adding humor and his take on being of Hispanic descent. If you’re one of those stand-up fans that sees Mencia the way others do, give “New Territory” a chance; it is better on his worst day than any other comedian accused of stealing material is on his best day.