Did Joel Stein Steal Feeble Column Idea from Semi-Obscure Blog?

Did Joel Stein copy Media Bloodhound’s not-all-that-brilliant idea? Stein wrote a column introducing Ann Coulter Mad Libs (thus dating himself by about 20 years) a full two weeks after the blog post heralding Ann Libs appeared. Skippy makes the case.

(Memo to all concerned: Mad Libs is no longer a pop culture reference, nor are Yahtzee, the phrase “talk to the hand”, and The Hair Club for Men. Thank you.)

Patterico, who really should apply for a PI license, points out that Stein even used a cute lil’ trademark sign, because he’s such a wag. Reader Bradley J. Fikes expresses the hope of thousands:

Maybe this is what’s finally needed for the LA Times to put the wretched Joel Stein out of our misery.

But Spring Street watchers know that a lack of originality gets one promoted at the Times, not fired.

Stein will no doubt tell anyone who’ll listen that he never reads blogs, and that he had this ehhh? idea all by his lonesome.

And as Op-Ed Assistant Editor Matt Welch is moving to DC to edit Reason, we can expect that section to get much, much worse.

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