Da Ali G Show coming to HBO

[obie]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/03/arts/television/03ALI.html

Is America ready for this? The bits I've seen / heard are very funny, but often in an I-can't-believe-I-just-laughed-at-that way.

[skipshady]

FBI-ight?

[topcow]

For real?

btw, I watched a video file of Ali G at the Cannes Porn Festival. In it, there was a midget licking someone's muff. Was that midget mini-me?

[Pigs]

Originally posted by obie
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/03/arts/television/03ALI.html

Is America ready for this?

Well the British version of "Da Ali G Show" has been released in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia. Even his movie Ali G Indahouse. His Ali G character has been going since 1998.

[Labdarugo]

Wicked.

[Megatron]

Isn't he that guy that comes out in one of Madonna's videos,the one with all the strippers in a gold limousine.

[Maczebus]

Yes, think it's the 'music' video.

Remember seeing him as her chauffeur.

Incidentally he also does a Kazakstani (?) guy called Borat in his TV series.
Particularly funny watching him trying his hardest to learn cricket from some senile landed gentry.

Is the stuff the US is getting, the exact same stuff we've had or is it new specially made?

[obie]

Originally posted by maczebus
Is the stuff the US is getting, the exact same stuff we've had or is it new specially made? Seems like it's mostly new. The article said that he interviewed Alexander Haig, US Secretary of State under Reagan -- I would think that's a bit obscure a target for the UK audience.

[skipshady]

New material, it appears.

From the NY Times article:
Confident that his very British persona will translate to an American audience, he has done little to change Ali G's attitude and slang, which had drawn some criticism from those who consider the humor racist, homophobic and obscene. Because of his obscurity in the United States, Mr. Cohen was able to get interviews with political figures like Newt Gingrich, James Baker, Edwin Meese, Ralph Nader, Michael Dukakis and the former C.I.A. director R. James Woolsey.Plus, I doubt the American audience will get the significance of Mohammed Al Fayed rapping with Ali.

[Maczebus]

Originally posted by obie
Seems like it's mostly new. The article said that he interviewed Alexander Haig, US Secretary of State under Reagan -- I would think that's a bit obscure a target for the UK audience.

Maybe so, but he was interviewed for the British version along with JK Galbraith (to whom, if I'm not mistaken, he put forward his proposals to make his millions by selling slippers through the internet using the domain name "Swedishfanny.com").

[Maczebus]

Originally posted by skipshady
New material, it appears.

Plus, I doubt the American audience will get the significance of Mohammed Al Fayed rapping with Ali.

Or Neil Hamilton smoking a spliff with him.
Or Paul Daniels being acutely embarassing by trying to appear young at heart.

What's people's opinion on it's potential success (or lack thereof)?
Can anyone see it taking off, or at least not sinking without a trace - giving it an American veneer will undoubtedly help I suppose.

[skipshady]

Originally posted by maczebus
What's people's opinion on it's potential success (or lack thereof)?
Can anyone see it taking off, or at least not sinking without a trace - giving it an American veneer will undoubtedly help I suppose. I doubt most people are aware of his existence outside the Madonna video.

It will be on HBO, which is good news/bad news for him, imo. The good news is that HBO is known for edgy dramas and specials ("The Sopranos", "Six Feet Under", Chris Rock's "Bring The Pain"), which will give him an instant seal of approval and the audience will be openminded. The bad news is, HBO is a subscription channel and the majority of America will not see him.

[Footix]

London's The Sun discusses Ali's new American stylee, innit:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,5-2003061851,00.html

[cosmosRIP]

Looking forward to this, show debuts tonight at 12:30. shown again Wednesday at 10.
http://www.hbo.com/alig/

[obie]

The NY Times raves (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/21/arts/television/21TVWK.html) about it -- and "The Office" as well.

(Reminder for getting access to most subscriber publications: username bigsoccer, password bigsoccer.)

[Captain Splarg]

you gotta like the guy for his Posh and Becks interview.

wonderful.

[cosmosRIP]

I just watched that one, if you can't wait for tonight there are tons of clips from the British shows on kazaa.

[skipshady]

Boyashaka.

I was a bit disappointed. I feel like I've seen these bits before - Philly Police Academy = FBI-ight?
But still funny to see other people taking him so seriously. "Do you wanna be a cop or not?" And Barat's always good for laughs, though again, he too is essentially doing the same act over and over.

Next week's episode looks fun though.
"War"

Synopsis
Ali G interviews former U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and tours the U.N. Ali G conducts a roundtable discussion of experts on religion. Borat gets a lesson in etiquette. Ali G talks to General Brent Scowcroft.

http://www.hbo.com/alig/

[mr magoo]

Supposedly the new American version of the Ali G show will be showen on channel 4 somtime in April or May but i hope he does some new British based stuff.

[YanksFC]

Well, not the funniest stuff I've ever seen, but pretty impressive nonetheless. The Borat segment and Ali's interviews with Dick Thornberg and Edwin Meese were great.