The other night, a friend sent me a link to iFilm’s Viral Videos. There’s some amusing clips on there, but the one entitled ‘Ali G Addresses Harvard Univ.’ left me completely baffled.
Googling has led me to the following facts:
-He is an English comedian, real name Sasha Baron Cohen, who wears really weird sunglasses.
-He’s apparently, inexplicably, managed to ‘trick’ various public figures into appearing on his show. (cite)
I think I’m just sort of missing it, though. He doesn’t seem that funny to me. Is his show sort of Daily Show-esque or something? Can someone explain it to me?
(also, does he speak English or just make up noises as he goes?)
(and also, the idea of [I’m assuming] a ‘nice jewish boy’ going for such a gangster-ish look amuses me to no end.) 
I’m English and have never really understood his popularity, he lampoons the ‘Chav’ culture that is spreading like a plague of stupidity across the UK. He talks to usually intelligent people (many of whom are old, and not up to date with modern life) that are involved with current affairs, and generally makes fools of them.
A few years ago there was even a feature film with him as the star, its all said to be clever and ironic…
It’s a “Daily Show” type thing–serious guest expects serious interview, is baffled by inane questions from apparent moron. The Buzz Aldrin interview is supposedly a classic. Aldrin had actually punched a conspiracy theorist claiming the moon landings were faked a few months before his Ali G interview, but that didn’t stop him from asking the hard question: is dere a Moon? was da Moon people friendly, or did dey scare you? What was it like to walk on de Sun? Aldrin, apparently mystified, confirmed that there not only was a Moon, but that we had in fact been there and there was no life whatsoever, and the Sun was to hot to walk on. Ali thanked him and admonished his audience to take heed to his man Buzz Lightyear.
Nothing supposed about it. Comedy ensues. You may not like it or find any worth in it but that doesn’t mean it’s not funny. It’s just not your type of funny.
Ali G/Borat/whatever is not making political points. He is in the US coz he can’t do his shit anymore in the UK as he’s too well known. He will rip the piss out of anyone. Americans who are not use to his humour may see him as anti-something but he’s just making jokes at the expense of whomever is standing in front of him.
He has gone after all types of celebs and politicians in the UK from both sides of the political divide.
Crap wrong Ali G thread. Sorry.