A MAN CALLED BORAT
BY DAN MILLER
November 20, 2006
I've not seen the new hit movie "Borat", but I do plan to see it.
OK, the full title is "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit of Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan".... perhaps the longest title ever for a #1 box office movie.
The film quickly emerged as one of the most controversial comedies ever made, triggering lawsuits, outrage and claims of deception and misrepresentation by filmmakers on unsuspecting participants.
The man who portrays Borat Sagdiyev is British actor Sacha Baron Cohen.
If you have HBO, you may have seen his television series.
It's called "Da Ali G Show" and -- in it -- Cohen appears not only as Borat, but as a gay character named Bruno, and a hip-hop interviewer named Ali G.
I must confess.... I find the TV series uproariously funny. Occasionally, while watching it, I frighten my wife when she hears me gasping for air in convulsions of laughter.
It is also, at times, uncomfortable to watch.
And please, PLEASE -- whatever you do -- don't watch it with children in the room.
As a matter of fact, if you're an adult who gets offended by risque material -- you might want to pass on the TV series.
Here's the thing.... and I'm certainly not the first to point this out....
Even with all the controversy surrounding the movie, Cohen has been booked on many legitimate TV programs (even news-related shows like the Today Show and the Early Show) only as Borat -- his fictional character -- not as actor Sacha Baron Cohen.
It's puzzling to me when I hear Matt Lauer, and many others, introduce "Borat Sagdiyev" and then proceed as though they're interviewing a real person.
Are they afraid to demand that Cohen appear as himself, not his comic character, to talk about the controversy stirred up by the movie?
Can you imagine a scenario where Julie Andrews would appear on television only as Mary Poppins, and answer only questions pertaining to Mary Poppins?
Or, what if actor Peter Falk found himself at the center of some public scrutiny, but would only agree to appear on talk or news magazine shows if he could wear his rumpled raincoat, and be addressed as Columbo?
I understand the value of promoting movies, but at some point we in the news and interview business must be more than just a vessel for that promotion.
Real people can be interesting.
By the way, have I ever written about my lunch several months ago with Goober?
Now that's a funny guy.
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