Will we be hearing about lawsuits against the Borat movie for the next few years? On the heels of frat boys and transit workers suing the producers of Borat last year, a New York City businessman is suing Twentieth Century Fox for the "unauthorized and blatantly illegal use" of his likeness in the movie. Jeffrey Lemerond is best known to Borat viewers as the New Yorker who runs away from the faux Kazakh reporter played by Sacha Baron Cohen. The Smoking Gun posted the federal lawsuit; here's the explanation of exactly which horrified New Yorker Lemerond is: more ›

Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg traveled back to his Massachusetts roots and gave the commencement speech at Tufts University. Bloomberg, who grew up in Medford, name checked various haunts in the hood, tried to seem with it by mentioning Busta Rhymes, Ali G, and Salma Hayek, and reminded kids to call their mother. He also discussed free speech, in what the Sun called a nod to the Minutemen incident at Columbia:

The fourth lesson is, in the words of Ali G, 'Respect.' Don't worry, I'm not going to start quoting Borat. Respect is so important - especially in times of conflict. You all know what I'm talking about. In December, The Primary Source printed some things that much of this community ardently disagreed with - that many considered quite offensive. But instead of suppressing the publication - and despite the emotion of the moment - you respected their right to express themselves. more ›

To no one's surprise, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer was elected the next Governor, Senator Hillary Clinton was re-elected, and Andrew Cuomo was elected Attorney General. (Democrat Alan Hevesi was re-elected Comptroller, but more on that later.) But the dynamics are interesting: Spitzer won in a "historic landslide" and Clinton managed to take votes of 20-25% of Republican voters. After a victory speech that included a reference to Ali G, Spitzer will have to make good on his mandate for sweeping change - and he'll need to figure out how to work with Mayor Bloomberg on a number of issues, from development to school financing. more ›

Brett: It's about the two of us, Flight of the Conchords, living in New York and trying to make it as a band. more ›

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 camouflaged 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. more ›

By now we’ll assume most saw Episode III or are at least quite tired of seeing it butchered and plastered all over their Burger King fountain sodas. So I guess we can focus our attention back to more current matters, like deciphering Katie & Tom's publicity gymnastics (who else caught the jump, fall-to-one-knee, & arm wrestle move on Oprah?) and the new movies opening this weekend: more ›

The Post's Linda Stasi says, the show is "Brilliant, original, horrifying, cringe-making, hilarious." You can see Da Ali G show on Sunday at 10:30PM on HBO, after the Marky-Mark produced Entourage (which has been getting great reviews) at 10PM. [Of course, there's Six Feet Under at 9PM; if you're been missing out, read Gothamist Arts & Events' recaps.] To catch up, watch some video from the first season and check out Da Ali G glossary. more ›

Every so often, news will pop up about various geniuses being autistic, based on books and essays about their behavior. Cambridge professor Simon Baron Cohenbelieve that Albert Einstein and Sir Issac Newton had Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism, which seems to explain their eccentricities and problems with socializing. There have been thoughts that Bill Gates is autistic, inspired by his rocking in chairs, his odd tics. more ›