Booyakasha!

Have you seen this man?



For those who've missed out, this is none other than Sacha Baron Cohen, playing his signature role, Ali G. If you have not seen this show, Da Ali G Show, the first two seasons are out on DVD, his show gets sporadic play on HBO, and you can find clips on file-sharing networks. The show is, in a word, brilliant.

In a nutshell, Cohen utilizes three different personas in the program: Ali G, a wannabe gangster from Staines, a suburb in England; Borat, a Kazakhstan immigrant who is taping specials on American culture for his home country; and Bruno, a gay fashion reporter who assumes that everyone else is also gay. The Ali G segments are the best because he interviews very prominent figures in American politics and history, such as Newt Gingrich, Pat Buchanan, and Ralph Nader, only to use his supposed idiocy to lure them into making ridiculous statements while poking fun at the political system. In order to be good at what he does, Cohen has to be quick on his feet, and he has shown himself to be a genius at balancing innocence and naivete as perceived by others with his subtle "wink at the camera", knowing that the audience is in on the joke as well. But, because he is British, you might need this dictionary to understand what he's saying, at times.


Here's an example of when he spoke with Pat Buchanan about America's invasion of Iraq over what he thought were "B.L.T.s":

Ali G: Let's say he didn't have mustard and the "B.L.T.'s" just was plain would you been able to go in there then?

Buchanan: No.

Ali G: Is it ever worth fighting a war over sandwiches?

Buchanan: Is it ever worth fighting a war? Yes.


Or, what about when he interviewed astronaut Buzz Aldrin?

Ali G: Boyakasha! Check it out, I is here with none other dan my main man, Buzz Aldrin. I know dis is a sensitive question, but what was it like not being the first man on the moon? Was you ever jealous of Louie Armstrong?

Buzz: It was Neil Armstrong, and, no, I was not jealous. He was a very, very qualified

Ali G: Whatever.

Buzz: person. Yeah.

Ali G: So, when you arrived on the moon, was the people who lived there very friendly, or was they scared of you?

Buzz: There was absolutely no thought of encountering any living being whatsoever.

Ali G: Do you think man will ever walk on the Sun?

Buzz: No. The Sun is too hot. It is not a good place to go to.

Ali G: What happens if they went in winter, when the Sun is cold?

Buzz: The Sun is not cold in the winter.


I encourage you to check out his stuff. If you like English humor, you will find yourself rolling on the floor with laughter when you watch it. By the way, did you know that Cohen is also engaged to Isla Fisher, who played the crazy younger daughter in "The Wedding Crashers"? You know, the adorably goofy redhead sprung on Vince Vaughn? Just thought you might like to know.