# DAMN Sacha Baron Cohen is funny funny funny **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347 "2009-06-01T13:06:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/21 "2009-06-01T16:51:18Z")
> [@singular1](#): > > Yeah, Eminem wasn’t definitely in on, most brilliantly proven by **planetcory** ’s observation that he was mic’d. Em’s on a bit of a publicity tour right now, fresh outta rehab and shilling his new album. Why not show how edgy yet reformed you are by not reacting to der sac in your face at the same venue you famously punched out a puppet a few years earlier? If that was real, Cohen would’ve been flattened under one of those bodyguards’ feet. Eminem performed earlier in the show. It’s plausible that he didn’t remove his mic- or was scheduled to present something later on. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/22 "2009-06-01T16:51:39Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > I find him hilarious and can’t wait for _Bruno_… but didn’t he and his production team basically screw over the extras form _Borat_? I’m pretty sure I heard a piece on NPR about how they got a few pounds each, less than they were promised, and are all bitter. There were no extras in _Borat_, just people who signed clearances that their images could be used who were then rankled when their real life behavior was not seen as particularly flattering or sympathetic when on display for the rest of the world to see. I don’t know of a single lawsuit related to the film that wasn’t dismissed. I also thought the MTV appearance was the real thing, and Eminem didn’t act out more because of disbelief, then out of hope that the segment would be brief, then out of knowledge that he was on camera and he was better off just leaving than showing his true colors. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/23 "2009-06-01T16:53:38Z")
Oh well, I guess I just don’t get Cohen’s stuff. But to me, the real joke was this: [QUOTE=The linked article] “Twilight” dominated the awards portion of the night, picking up five awards including best movie. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/24 "2009-06-01T16:57:27Z")
It’s the _MTV_ movie awards. While obviously _Twilight_ shouldn’t be winning anything other than the coveted “top of the bargain DVD bucket” spot, MTV caters to its viewers, who are mostly suburban teenage girls who like singers who overuse voice modulation effects and boys with shaggy hair. There were one or two movies with substance up for stuff- _Slum Dog Millionaire_ was nominated for just about every award and failed to win anything at all, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/25 "2009-06-01T17:04:30Z")
Of course all of us Aussies know that Cohen stole the whole schtick from Garry McDonald who had long ago done [Norman Gunston](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Gunston). It is no coincidence that Cohen’s girlfriend is Aussie Isla Fisher. Bet he loved her videos. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/26 "2009-06-01T17:05:11Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It’s the _MTV_ movie awards. While obviously _Twilight_ shouldn’t be winning anything other than the coveted “top of the bargain DVD bucket” spot, MTV caters to its viewers, who are mostly suburban teenage girls who like singers who overuse voice modulation effects and boys with shaggy hair. > > There were one or two movies with substance up for stuff- _Slum Dog Millionaire_ was nominated for just about every award and failed to win anything at all, IIRC. You’re perfectly right, of course, and I’ll certainly not get my panties in a bunch about the MTV awards (or any [awards](http://www.viruscomix.com/page482.html), in fact); I just saw an opportunity to make a quip at _Twilight_’s expense, and I kinda wouldn’t be me if I hadn’t run with it. I just believe you have to do what is right, sometimes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/27 "2009-06-01T17:26:33Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > I also thought the MTV appearance was the real thing, and Eminem didn’t act out more because of disbelief, then out of hope that the segment would be brief, then out of knowledge that he was on camera and he was better off just leaving than showing his true colors. His true colors being what? If some guy sticks his ass in my face like that he pretty much deserves whatever he gets, up to and including me crushing his nuts. And I mean that literally. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/28 "2009-06-01T17:37:39Z")
Re-watching the clip, I think maybe Eminem was in on something, just maybe not what actually happened. When a feather falls on him prior to the descent, the camera goes to a wide shot, catching Em whipping his head up - which seems exaggerated. Then, when Cohen lands, he puts up with it, but bails after about 1 second. He says something like “That’s enough” and it still takes his boys a few seconds to stand up and start pulling Cohen off. I think MTV got his agreement to do a bit, then Cohen set up a much more elaborate prank which Em didn’t know about. Maybe he expected Cohen to land in his lap, but not by his balls. Cohen choose his target well - he assumed Em would say yes, in an attempt to buff up his image as a surly boy, and to pimp his new record. Hahahahahahaahahahahaha… ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/29 "2009-06-01T18:14:59Z")
Am I the only person in this thread who thinks that this is borderline sexual assault? I mean, picture a frat boy doing that to an unwilling girl at a party, and videotaping it. We’d have a 3-page RO thread in the pit about it. But because this is Sasha Baron Cohen doing it to Eminem, suddenly it’s hysterical? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/30 "2009-06-01T18:32:20Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Am I the only person in this thread who thinks that this is borderline sexual assault? I don’t think it’s sexual assault, but I do think it’s an overrated comedian being a dick. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/31 "2009-06-01T18:32:37Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > His true colors being what? If some guy sticks his ass in my face like that he pretty much deserves whatever he gets, up to and including me crushing his nuts. And I mean that literally. It’s a vicious circle, really. Eminem has time and time again demonstrated that he’s a humorless prick, and so I imagine the only reason SBC targeted him was for that very reason. All I know is that if I were as rich and famous as M&M, and a very famous comedian (not just some nobody) known for his outrageous behavior had his mischievious sights set on me on a national telecast in an auditorium full of people, I would play along or grin and bear it or grin and depart, but I wouldn’t scowl and complain and have my posse swat at him in indignation. This is the guy who got all pissy with Triumph, so it doesn’t surprise me at all what his reaction was–but if he hadn’t shown his true colors in incidents before, he never would have been targeted in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/32 "2009-06-01T18:36:20Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > I think MTV got his agreement to do a bit, then Cohen set up a much more elaborate prank which Em didn’t know about. That sounds about right. It’s been a long time since I watched MTV, but it makes no sense that he’d have a mic and that it would be on unless something was supposed to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/33 "2009-06-01T18:50:23Z")
I wouldn’t take the fact that you can hear Eminem talk as proof that he was miced and in on it. His voice isn’t exactly crystal clear, which could mean what he was saying was being picked up by Cohen’s mic. They were certainly close enough that even a lav directed at Cohen would pick up some sounds around him. Or, Cohen could’ve had a second lav on him somewhere directed more at Eminem, knowing what he was going to do and wanting to pick up his reaction. Not saying that was definitely the case or anything, obviously, just pointing out that the fact that just because you could pick up what Eminem was saying doesn’t mean Eminem himself was personally miced. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/34 "2009-06-01T18:51:55Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > This guy is the living embodiment of the some of the rules I lived by in high school and college, namely: Anything for a laugh. Fuck 'em if they can’t take a joke. > > [Story and video](http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Movies/story?id=7722213&page=1) here. Eminem is such a fucking pussy. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/35 "2009-06-01T18:58:51Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > If it was staged, I’d have thought they’d have scripted something more entertaining for Mathers to do than just petulantly storm out of the auditorium and not come back. I don’t think the fact that he didn’t react with physical violence is particularly meaningful. I agree, all it says is that Eminem has learned from his mistakes in the past, that getting violent is pointless and that people are going to target him if he gets violent. It just shows that he’s more mature than he used to be, not necessarily that it was staged. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/36 "2009-06-01T19:00:32Z")
Why does everyone think Eminem was mic’d? Cohen had a mic on and it could have easily picked up Eminem loudly saying “Are you serious?” That said, I really doubt Eminem would agree to having a naked guy’s ass and balls lying on his chest and face. He simply doesn’t need that kind of publicity. I have no reason to think he was in on the joke. The way Eminem’s entourage reacted reinforce that. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/37 "2009-06-01T19:05:49Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Am I the only person in this thread who thinks that this is borderline sexual assault? > > I mean, picture a frat boy doing that to an unwilling girl at a party, and videotaping it. We’d have a 3-page RO thread in the pit about it. But because this is Sasha Baron Cohen doing it to Eminem, suddenly it’s hysterical? Yes, it’s borderline sexual assault, the joke is predicated on that. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/38 "2009-06-01T19:12:36Z")
Why would Eminem even have “security” by his side? He was at an awards ceremony, ffs! Defo staged! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/39 "2009-06-01T19:14:53Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Why would Eminem even have “security” by his side? He was at an awards ceremony, ffs! You don’t know much about rappers, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347/40 "2009-06-01T19:15:11Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Why would Eminem even have “security” by his side? He was at an awards ceremony, ffs! Because he’s a rapper. Rappers are generally unpleasant people, and thus are often shot. Eminem is more unpleasant than most. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-sacha-baron-cohen-is-funny-funny-funny/498347.md?page=3)