"Da Ali G Show: The Complete First Season" Released Aug. 17 $22.99 at Best Buy
A
British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, better known for his alter-ego, wanksta journalist Ali G, is part of a mini British invasion on U.S. television. Along with the brilliant "The Office" on BBC America, "Da Ali G Show" is broadcast stateside on HBO.
Taking a cue from "The Office," "Da Ali G Show" released its first season on DVD: A two-disc set containing the first six episodes of the HBO series and extra features, including deleted scenes and commentary.
The show itself is one of the funniest on television, along with "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" and "South Park." Cohen's creation of the character of Ali G is essentially the dumbest MTV VJ on the planet, interviewing important political and business figures under the guise of a legit news show for teens.
On his commentary on the first episode, Cohen reveals that Ali G is able to reveal how the older generation believes the worst about young people. The fact that they could believe that a character like Ali G could actually exist, transmitting his brilliantly stupid logic to the world's youth, arguing with Boutros Boutros-Ghali if Disneyland could ever get a seat in the United Nations.
Cohen's other characters include Borat, a journalist from Kazakhstan, and Bruno, a German fashion guru. Cohen's masterful portrayals of his characters and his ability to keep a straight face despite the most ludicrous circumstances allow his subjects to become the joke, whether it's the ignorant perception of the Middle East by some Americans or the meaningless world of fashion. (In one interview, fashion designer Hushi admitted that his runway show was all about cardboard - just on Bruno's suggestion of the theme.)
"Da Ali G Show: Tha Complete First Season" is a DVD must-own, and it's worth it just to see Ali G nail such classic interviews with figures like Newt Gingrich, Donald Trump, Ralph Nader and Dr. C. Everett Koop.
