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After seeing Ryan Brenzier's photograph of saw Ali G/ Sacha Baron Cohen/ Borat in Times Square (captured in this picture on the right), Gothamist has wondered where else the British comedian would strike. New York magazine reports he was spotted on the 4 train, "lunging in to kiss surprised men and introducing himself in broken English as 'Borat from Kazakhstan.'" Of course, the "Borat" part was a giveaway, as was the semi-discreet entourage ("ten men, dressed to blend in with jeans, T-shirts, and nondescript backpacks or briefcases with camouļ¬aged cameras"). We love that one straphanger asked, "Dude, why does your briefcase have a camera lens?" which made Cohen get off at Borough Hall. But even in Times Square, that overcrowded melting pot of kids from Long Island, fluroscent backpack-toting Euros, and vendors, Borat was recognizable: Ryan reported that at least three people yelled "Kazakhstannnnnn!" at him.
Have you seen Borat around town? He's either filming for another season on HBO or a movie. And check out the Da Ali G site on HBO, and the materials: Season 1 DVD, Indahouse DVD, and Da Gospel According to Ali G.
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My best friend Merisa sent me this on June 22nd:
You will not believe who I saw yesterday on the Subway platform.
Sacha Baron Cohen, dressed in full character as Borat.
Mustache, curly hair, the grey suit. It was AWESOME. I am so happy. He was with a bunch of guys, presumably his producers, etc. I smiled in their direction because I was so excited, and they kinda whispered among themselves. No one else seemed to recognize him, and I didn't want to blow up his spot. One of his guys kinda circled past me and winked, and I smiled back. I didn't approach him. But it did make my life.
In Boston if we "see something" we "say something"...or at least that's the MBTA's charge to riders trying to get us plebeians to do the work of the T police. Anyway...it makes me wonder how his entorage with ticking, humming, filming briefcases got on the trians...isn't taking pictures in the subway against MTA policy. Maybe they just got a permit or somthing.
I'm suprised he's even in NYC. Would figure the distant countryside would fare better for his skits, which excel with an oblivious audience. But then again, many Manhattanites are clueless. I look forward to seeing the fruits of his labor.
I nearly ran him over with my bike in Central Park. He was standing in the the middle of the street dressed as Borat with an ice cream cone - he was out there for a while, I think he was hoping he would have a run in with someone, but I think the camera crew in the bushes gave him away.
Wow, that's a pleasant surprise! One correction, it's "Brenizer."
Actually, dirt, I show Da Ali G Show to my students (Freshmen at a NYC University) every semester, and only a handful of them ever had heard of him previously, so I'd bet the vast majority of people still don't know him on sight.
Christina> Interesting; would have thought he was more popular. So perhaps he will get some good skits here. Last season's were quite amusing; especially being out in Middle America somewhere. By the way, I'm curious, in what capacity (in other words what educational purpose) are you showing this?
Well, it's an unusual choice, but I show it when I teach humor and satire in Composition/Rhetoric because he's so good at getting people to satirize themselves--especially as Borat. And it makes for a nice end-of-semetser wind-down, on those last few days when none of us feel like learning or teaching.
Great idea!
My partner also saw Borat pushing a Gondola around Central Park Lake, confusing the asian tourists (or actors playing confused asian tourists) who were riding in his boat.
A few months ago, he (as Borat) showed up near my college, in a neighboring town. It's really country, but people still recognized him.
There were even news articles about it.
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/16655.html
Go hokies.
he's getting noticed in NYC AND in Salem, VA...
he's got to come up with new, unknown characters. Preferable ones that still have awkward male kissing attempts ala borak.
Nice Ali G article in today's Times: http://nytimes.com/2005/07/23/arts/television/23ali.html
Borat is gonna be an awesome movie. I love looking back at these comments after the movie has beeen announced and is being promoted. It confirms that when I see it, it'll be mostly (if not entirely) genuine society reaction.