# Ali G..? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ali-g/181023 "2003-06-11T02:20:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gyt\_fx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@gyt\_fx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gyt_fx)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ali-g/181023/1 "2003-06-11T02:20:07Z")
I recently saw a past episode of Conan O’Brien with Ali G on it. He is a British guy with a tv show and he interviews people. Is he really an illiterate moron or is he trying to act funny. If he is trying to act funny, hes doing ok, hes kinda funny. However if he ISn’t acting, than he’s pretty stupid trying to act all cool and like a rapper, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![lilbtagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@lilbtagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilbtagna)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ali-g/181023/2 "2003-06-11T02:35:40Z")
It’s all an act; he’s a British comedian. I’ve never seen his talk show, but I believe he always stays in character and confuses the hell out of politicians who come on his show expecting someone serious. ---
**Author:** ![Necromancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@Necromancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necromancer)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ali-g/181023/3 "2003-06-11T02:48:20Z")
Yeah, Ali G is a character played by Sascha Baron Cohen. Ali G reminds me so much of an Australian comedy creation from the '70s called Norman Gunston. They share a very similar sense of humour and people aren’t too sure whether they’re serious or not. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ali-g/181023/4 "2003-06-11T02:50:05Z")
Ali G is the screen persona of British comedian Sasha Baron Cohen, which basically spoofs the suburban white kids who adopt gangsta styles and mannerisms ([wiggers](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wigger)). Whether the act is amusing or annoying is, of course, a matter of one’s subjective taste. ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ali-g/181023/5 "2003-06-11T02:59:54Z")
IMHO, Ali G is much funnier if you can watch (or read) a highlight type show. I read an article on him, and the quotes and anecdotes were hilarious. I then eagerly watched the show for the first time and was considerably underwhelmed. There were a couple of funny moments, but a lot more waiting around for the funny stuff. OF course, in the article they just reported the highlights. Also, he can come across as mean spirited with his guests sometimes. The one I saw he was interviesing some older scientist guys who clearly did not get and were not in on the joke. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ali-g/181023/6 "2003-06-11T05:01:13Z")
That’s the hilarious bit. He’d be taking the piss out of all these old politicians with his naiivete and they won’t even get it, so you can’t help but laugh your ass off. Ali G would be one of those characters that you either love or you hate, however. ---
**Author:** ![gyt\_fx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@gyt\_fx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gyt_fx)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ali-g/181023/7 "2003-06-12T03:56:21Z")
Ohkay, thx guys He is a very funny guy then. I personally dislike (IMHO) stupid wigger/wankstas tryin to be black, so i can see why he makes fun of that subject.