Sacha Baron Cohen: Peeking at the Real Man Behind the Borat Curtain
Filed under: Comedy, Celebrities and Controversy, 20th Century Fox, Politics
UPDATE: The first video I linked to was taken down at YouTube, so I changed it to this one that Andrew Sullivan had up on his site yesterday. This one is of Sacha Baron Cohen on The Daily Show; hopefully, with YouTube and Comedy Central working out a deal, this one won't get taken down (although CBS is supposed to have a YouTube deal as well, and the other one disappeared, so no promises).
Sacha Baron Cohen may be steadfastly maintaining his Borat persona in promoting his film Borat: Cultural Learnings on America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, but at one time, he hit the talk show circuit as himself. Here's proof: An interview with Cohen -- the real guy -- on The Letterman Show. Cohen talks about his television show Da Ali G Show in the interview. See, this is exactly what Cohen ought to be doing to promote Borat -- going on the talk show circuit as himself, and intelligently explaining his film and the Borat character. Plus, he looks ever so much nicer in that sharp black suit than in the godawful suit Borat wears.
As a side note, there's an interesting email update from Fandango about Borat ticket sales that says Borat ticket sales are smoking everything else on Fandango at the moment, with 73% of Fandango ticket sales as of noon PST today. However, they also did a poll about the film, and 96% of those who planned to see it said they'd be seeing it opening weekend. It's going to be interesting to see if the film opens slowly and grows, or opens modestly and tanks. What about you? Are you planning to get to a theater this weekend to see Borat for yourself? And would you like to see Cohen talk about the film as himself, or does the non-stop Borat-ing work for you?
Sacha Baron Cohen may be steadfastly maintaining his Borat persona in promoting his film Borat: Cultural Learnings on America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, but at one time, he hit the talk show circuit as himself. Here's proof: An interview with Cohen -- the real guy -- on The Letterman Show. Cohen talks about his television show Da Ali G Show in the interview. See, this is exactly what Cohen ought to be doing to promote Borat -- going on the talk show circuit as himself, and intelligently explaining his film and the Borat character. Plus, he looks ever so much nicer in that sharp black suit than in the godawful suit Borat wears.
As a side note, there's an interesting email update from Fandango about Borat ticket sales that says Borat ticket sales are smoking everything else on Fandango at the moment, with 73% of Fandango ticket sales as of noon PST today. However, they also did a poll about the film, and 96% of those who planned to see it said they'd be seeing it opening weekend. It's going to be interesting to see if the film opens slowly and grows, or opens modestly and tanks. What about you? Are you planning to get to a theater this weekend to see Borat for yourself? And would you like to see Cohen talk about the film as himself, or does the non-stop Borat-ing work for you?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-04-2006 @ 2:56AM
Josh said...
I have seen the film twice at press screenings before it's opening weekend. I am planing on paying to see it again as a member of the public it's opening because this is the best comedy to come out in years. Period.
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11-04-2006 @ 10:31AM
Froofy said...
Why shouldn't he be Borat for all of his appearances right now? It does nothing but get that character into people's minds instead of trying to remember the actor who you saw on some late night talk show and the movie he was promoting. Great marketing, so this is exactly what he should be doing. He can play himself in the coming months to explain Borat further if it's necessary and then go into his next film/character for the audience. Brilliant!
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11-04-2006 @ 1:21PM
Ryan said...
Unfortunately, the YouTube video has been removed. Any other links?
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11-05-2006 @ 12:30PM
lain said...
well, there's a reason he does almost all of his interviews in character. the more the general public knows this is just a character he does (i.e. if he comes out as the real guy all the time and talks about these characters) then the liklihood that he'll be able to interview people w/o them knowing it's a joke will slim greatly.
while i love to see sascha baron cohen interviewed as himself, i understand why he doesn't do it.
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11-13-2006 @ 12:48AM
graeme said...
Borat is a funny guy I agree with the previous poster that he doing interviews in Character would probably generate more interest, but I also think that doing them as Sacha Cohen also adds something as well.
He's come up with Ali G, Borat and I don't doubt that he can always come up with another character if one of them gets too recognized.
Personally I find some of his stuff in poor taste, but I can't help laughing, but some of his interviews with CIA officers etc are pure genius and very therapeutic
and relaxing.
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11-29-2006 @ 4:20AM
Nate said...
wow borat was ridiculous, funny on some levels all that talk about his prostitute sister and her vagine was hillarious otherwise was a retarded movie.
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