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No respek for Ali G
It's been a long time since someone's appearance in an advertisement bummed me out but I was sad to see that Ali G (Sacha Baron Cohen) is now doing commercials (reg. required), for TNT's NBA games. It's hardly surprising -- he is, after all, an entertainer -- but at his best, I think Cohen has really made an art form out of his kind of guerilla interview. The kind of discomfort you get from watching him interact with his subjects has been completely removed from these spots, which makes him look more like a clown more than anything else. Oh well. At least he's not hawking Nikes...
Posted by carrie on 10/25/2005 | Permalink
Comments
Me saw dis commercial last night and me liked it.
(okay, I'll stop that)
I thought it was good to see him again; it's been a while since his last season on HBO, and maybe a while since his next one (if there is to be a next one), it felt good.
There was a moment of confusion that passed between the two of them that seemed "real" and in concert with the style of the interview that we're used to. It didn't pull me out of the frame to think about it being planned and rehearsed (but I see your point - it was staged and scripted).
West side.
Posted by: Steve Portigal | Oct 25, 2005 5:28:13 PM
Well, my only exposure to Ali G was in that film from some years ago and it was probably the worst movie ever made. He WAS a clown, and very unfunny, to be frank.
Posted by: Ricardo Amaral | Oct 25, 2005 5:28:58 PM
Ali G reminds me of that other great jew that made a living out of doing a parody of, (in his case), Italians: Andrew Dice Clay. Ali G shows those stupid nig ganstas what stupid morons they look like!!
Posted by: Ray | Oct 25, 2005 11:08:09 PM
I felt the same sadness when I saw that Wallace and Grommit had a Burger King promotion. It wasn't surprising - no major animated film is going to get made these days without a ton of junk food promotions - but I held out hope that somehow W&G would be different. Sigh.
Posted by: Josh Golin | Oct 26, 2005 11:28:18 AM
I wouldn't put too much stock in the purity of one's heroes. The Doors and Bill Watterson are two good examples of cultural figures who didn't find it necessary to besmirch their ideals (though in the case of the former, it is only the vigilance of John Densmore that prevents it). Given the interest and editorial bent of Stay Free, it might be kind of nice to see a "Whoring Index", one that also includes a little research about rights ownership, so we don't unreasonably blame an artist who through misfortune or an underinformed business decisions, surrendered control of their creation.
Posted by: 99 | Oct 26, 2005 2:39:52 PM
I agree with 99, that's a really good idea.
Posted by: Liam M. | Oct 27, 2005 9:51:30 AM
