Borat in America

Some of you may recall an incident from several months ago, in which British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen was escorted out of a rodeo after causing a riot. It was all part of a prank, of course, as Cohen is the genius responsible for "Da Ali G Show."

After telling the crowd he supported America’s war on terrorism, he said, “I hope you kill every man, woman and child in Iraq, down to the lizards ... And may George W. Bush drink the blood of every man, woman and child in Iraq.” He then sang a garbled version of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The stunt was being filmed for Cohen's latest project, a feature-length film starring his Borat character, who's a Kazakhstani journalist with some very antiquated and misinformed notions about America.

Well, he's at it again:

"Ali G" star Sacha Baron Cohen is under fire for playing a trick on an aristocratic family in America's Deep South, after they failed to see the funny side of his latest race-inspired prank.The British comic, posing as his documentary-maker alter ego Borat Sagdiyev, descended on the impressive home of George Matthews Marshall IV, 75, who believed Cohen was making a film about life in America's southern states. But Marshall and his daughter Heather were horrified when Cohen started implying they were racists.

Honestly, I've read this entire IMDB news item, and I can't figure out why it's news. I'll refrain from posting more about what actually transpired, because it gives away some of the jokes I'm sure will be included in the finished film. (You can tell this is going to be a funny bit.)

The item doesn't even say where they got this bizarre notion that he's somehow "under fire." As far as I can tell, the only people upset with him are the family of George Matthews Marshall IV. And of course they're upset, because he was the victim of a prank that will be part of a movie.

Really, I just find this thing interesting because Cohen keeps such a low profile most of the time. When the show's on the air, he's everywhere, but as soon as it goes on a break, he disappears, filming new bits in secrecy. Can't wait to see the new Borat film! Please let it come out soon!