NBC Admits Plagiarism in Feature Before Derby

NY Times ^ | May 11, 2006 | RICHARD SANDOMIR

[Pharmboy]

A freelance writer will no longer receive assignments from NBC Universal Sports after copying two passages from a 2002 episode of "The West Wing" in his script for a feature that preceded the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Ken Schanzer, the president of NBC Universal Sports, confirmed that the plagiarism had occurred. He would not identify the writer but said, "He won't work here anymore."

The short feature, which was preceded by a commercial for the final two episodes of "The West Wing," looked at the difficulties faced by Barbaro's trainer, Michael Matz, who survived a plane crash in Sioux City, Iowa, then led three children to safety; Alex Solis, who broke his back in a track spill two years ago but rode Brother Derek on Saturday; and Brother Derek's trainer, Dan Hendricks, who was paralyzed in a motocross accident.

In the script, read by NBC's Tom Hammond, Matz was extolled because he "ran into the fire to save the lives of three children." Hammond paused dramatically and added, "Ran into the fire."

The two-hour opening episode of the fourth season of "The West Wing" included a plot line in which two pipe bombs exploded and killed 44 people in the swim team's facility at the fictitious Kennison State University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Martin Sheen, who plays President Josiah Bartlet, delivered a speech praising the rescuers who "ran into the fire to help get people out." He paused and added dramatically, "Ran into the fire."

The Derby script summed up the changed lives of Matz, Solis and Hendricks by saying that the "funny thing about life is that every time we think we've measured our capacity to meet its challenges, we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless."

[Pharmboy]

Phonies. Cheats.

The US Media.

[Pharmboy]

Media ping...

[snugs]

The idot it would still have had the same affect and message if he has credited where the quote came from.

[bd476]

How interesting this comes from the New York Times. It's almost as if they are happy about NBC getting caught plagiarizing.

Hmm, I wonder why.

/tongue in cheek

[Petronski]

That's plagiarism?

The writers of West Wing were invoking a common turn of phrase from 9/11, about first responders at WTC (before the collapse) who ran into the building. Ran into the building.

[mainepatsfan]

NY Times headline: "Plagiarized but accurate."

[ClearCase_guy]

He would not identify the writer but said, "He won't work here anymore."

And how will we know?

[jocon307]

"That's plagiarism?"

I think if it was just the "ran into the fire" line it would be dismissable, but the second part is a little more suspicious.

I knew our bets were doomed when I saw the piece about the guy saving those kids from that plane.

Barbaro looked like he wanted to run all the way to Belmont that very day. I couldn't bet against him after the Derby.

[stevem]

I find it hard to believe that anyone has more contempt for the major media than do I. Yet, just to play Devil's advocate for a second, the guy may have written his script and simply incorporated the phrases and affectation, both common, with no memory of whence they came. I don't really see this as plagiarism.

If the REAL FIRST source of the was The West Wing, perhaps the guy should be fired for having wasted any time in his life watching such a worthless show.

[libertylover]

Seems kinda silly if you ask me. Many books and movies have the same title but, "Ran into the fire", is plagiarism? Give me a break.

[Pharmboy]

The writer likely admitted the word theft when they called him on it.

[Petronski]

I think if it was just the "ran into the fire" line it would be dismissable, but the second part is a little more suspicious.

I suppose so. It's not like NBC couldn't cut the guy some slack: I believe they own West Wing.

[McBuff]

"Ran into the fire. . .RAN into the fire"

But he DID run into the fire. .RUN. .into the fire! This is quite a stretch to come up with plagerism. ..sounds like they were just looking for an excuse to railroad this guy out of NBC. . . they must have found out he was a conservative!

[bvw]

Overwrought. Not plagarism nor plagiarism.

[tobyhill]

Now if this isn't the coffee calling the kettle back?

[LRS]

Should have said "Ran into the staged exploding fuel tank"...

[rod1]

NBC should give the writer guy a slight break. He knew no one watched the leftie MSM NBC show so the text had effectively never been seen before.

[Semi Civil Servant]

Now if they would just fire all those plagiarists who write, "we'll be right back after the break".

[csvset]

Couldn't they have worked some " Arab looking " men into the story ?

[John D]

I am in big trouble. Last night I ordered a pizza with pepperoni, sausage. and mushroom. The person in front of me ordered the same thing. I guess I plagiarized him.