NEW YORK, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Tosh.0 host Daniel Tosh went on a rant this week, accusing ESPN of stealing a bit from his show called "Web Redemption."
On a recent episode of Tosh's Comedy Central show, on which he airs embarrassing and sometimes painful videos, the comedian blasted the sports network for its new segment, "Awesome Video Segment."
Tosh said the segment seemed too similar to his "Web Redemption," a segment where he gives the subjects of embarrassing viral videos a second chance to do things right.
In its first "Awesome Video Segment," ESPN hosts presented a video of a Canadian anthem singer falling over a carpet laid out on a hockey ice rink. ESPN gives the singer a second chance and he jumps cleanly over a carpet on the ice without falling.
Tosh called the segment "eerily familiar."
"You [expletive] hacks are cheapening my brand," he said. "I'm fine with kids in high school and college plagiarizing, but once you work for a real network, you should have some [expletive] self-respect."
Tosh even accused ESPN of stealing his catch-phrase from the segment, "Are you ready to give it another shot?"
The network denied Tosh's claims to TMZ.
"This was more of an instance of us using a common phrase than it was copying his wording," a representative said. "We know that doesn't sound like the strongest explanation yet it's the truth."
"We are looking forward to 'giving it another shot' in future installments of 'The Awesome Video Segment,' " the network added.
