# Sacha Baron Cohen, Showtime **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 13, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847 "2018-07-13T17:10:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/1 "2018-07-13T17:10:00Z")
Not sure where to put this. [Roy Moore threatens legal action after ‘illicit scheme’ from Sacha Baron Cohen, Showtime](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/roy-moore-threatens-legal-action-after-illicit-scheme-from-sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/ar-AAzZu73) > [@](#): > > Roy Moore is threatening legal action against Sacha Baron Cohen, adding his name to the list of political figures who say they were duped into appearing on the British comedian’s new show. > > The former Alabama GOP Senate hopeful said Cohen tricked him into participating in his Showtime program “Who is America?” by inviting him to receive an award for his “strong support of Israel.” > > "I did not know Sacha Cohen or that a Showtime TV series was being planned to embarrass, humiliate, and I am confused. Can Sacha Baron Cohen do this? Doesn’t he and Showtime need waivers to show these interviews from Roy and the others? ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/2 "2018-07-13T17:17:24Z")
I was wondering about that as well. But I assume they have any necessary waivers from all these people, since all of them knew that they were being interviewed and filmed. (It’s possible that they didn’t need waivers altogether, for this reason.) But the question is about the fact that the waivers, if any, were granted under false pretenses. Question is how that shakes out. I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/3 "2018-07-13T17:19:09Z")
We already saw [how well Mr. Moore rides](https://mashable.com/2017/12/12/roy-moore-cant-ride-horse/#WvugLyqZKOqi) [his high horse Sassy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C2OJPhZ1uA), didn’t we? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/4 "2018-07-13T17:55:27Z")
Sarah Palin [was also complaining about this](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/sarah-palin-details-sacha-baron-cohen-showtime-interview-gma-1126877). In her case, she had to fly “across the country” (from Alaska to I don’t know where) for the interview. In that situation, I think she had the right to be really, really pissed off. (As for Sacha Baron Cohen, I’ve intentionally never watched anything of his–he strikes me not as a funny prankster but as a smug, deeply unlikable douchebag.) ([Other targets](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/07/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime-people-tricked-list-sarah-palin-joe-arpaio-roy-moore-dick-cheney).) ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/5 "2018-07-13T18:00:18Z")
I’m not really sure why public figures would need to sign waivers to be filmed. Also not sure why this is in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/6 "2018-07-13T18:09:15Z")
Here’s a good story of basically how these happen: [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/how-sacha-baron-cohen-pranked-radio-host-austin-rhodes-1126709](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/how-sacha-baron-cohen-pranked-radio-host-austin-rhodes-1126709) > [@](#): > > I’m a former television news producer based out of Los Angeles and San Francisco. I’m currently working with Bright Harbor Media to produce a series \*\*tentatively called \*\*‘BRIDGING THE DIVIDE’ for CBS Corp. The show is centered around trying to find common ground in the midst of our deeply divided partisan times. **It’s slated to air in the fall on either CBS or Showtime**. > [@](#): > > “Dr. Cain” arrived shortly after the 3 p.m. broadcast began, and his accompanying crew apologized profusely for running late. **We now know that this was part of their ingenious plan to keep my team slightly off balance, and it worked like a charm. Broadcast release forms were hastily put in front of myself and my producer as we were navigating complicated light and sound equipment being set up all around us.** This was all going on during a three-minute commercial and news break we actively and simultaneously produced and engineered ourselves. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/7 "2018-07-13T18:16:03Z")
i hate, hate, hate to say this…But I hope Moore prevails. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/8 "2018-07-13T18:19:38Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > i hate, hate, hate to say this…But I hope Moore prevails. On a defamation claim? No chance. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/9 "2018-07-13T18:31:45Z")
[Poe’s Law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law) at work. The parody of the target is indistinguishable from a sincere expression of the target’s views. Cohen’s victims may have a right to be embarrassed, but they walked right into it on their own volition. Their fondest wishes were coming true. They wanted national exposure to fly their freak flags and they got it. Maybe they’ll learn something. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/10 "2018-07-13T18:34:32Z")
I think this is opening a very messy can of worms. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/11 "2018-07-13T19:16:32Z")
A lawsuit? This is just the kind of publicity that I’m sure Mr. Cohen was hoping to avoid! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/12 "2018-07-13T19:20:15Z")
He’s getting the best free PR from the worst people… Gaetz, Moore, Cheney, Palin, Arpaio (all were duped as part of this). Gaetz is only one responding w/ a sense of humor, and says he was already a Cohen fan and is looking forward to seeing the piece. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/13 "2018-07-13T19:21:17Z")
Also on the question of whether Cohen can do this… He has done it before, many many times. Familiar with **Da Ali G Show**? **Borat**? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/14 "2018-07-13T19:27:12Z")
[Ali G’s interview with Andy Rooney is legendary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1EFyyoxa4k)! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/15 "2018-07-13T19:39:00Z")
Is there not a difference between broadcasting an interview on a news program and using someone’s likeness for an entertainment show? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/16 "2018-07-13T20:13:08Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Here’s a good story of basically how these happen: > [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/how-sacha-baron-cohen-pranked-radio-host-austin-rhodes-1126709](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/how-sacha-baron-cohen-pranked-radio-host-austin-rhodes-1126709) > [@GrandWino](#): > > He’s getting the best free PR from the worst people… Gaetz, Moore, Cheney, Palin, Arpaio (all were duped as part of this). Gaetz is only one responding w/ a sense of humor, and says he was already a Cohen fan and is looking forward to seeing the piece. Austin Rhodes is the guy giving his account of his interview for the show, in enalzi’s link–and he has a great sense of humor about it, which is I think the only winning strategy. Note that Cohen’s team showed up late and gave Rhodes some waivers to sign while they were setting up lights and mics and stuff. I don’t doubt that Moore signed some waivers under similar conditions, and has no leg to stand on in his lawsuit. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/17 "2018-07-13T20:30:57Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Is there not a difference between broadcasting an interview on a news program and using someone’s likeness for an entertainment show? Sacha Baron Cohen isn’t “using someone’s likeness” - he’s using the actual “someone”. If that “someone” didn’t bother to read the waivers he signed - waivers that I have no doubt were very carefully worded by Cohen’s lawyers, who have been preparing these waivers for years, now - and then participated in the interviews, they have no one to blame but themselves. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/18 "2018-07-13T20:33:31Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Not sure where to put this. > > [Roy Moore threatens legal action after ‘illicit scheme’ from Sacha Baron Cohen, Showtime](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/roy-moore-threatens-legal-action-after-illicit-scheme-from-sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/ar-AAzZu73) > > I am confused. Can Sacha Baron Cohen do this? Doesn’t he and Showtime need waivers to show these interviews from Roy and the others? I doubt they need any permission from the likes of Roy fucking Moore. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/19 "2018-07-13T20:35:17Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Sarah Palin [was also complaining about this](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/sarah-palin-details-sacha-baron-cohen-showtime-interview-gma-1126877). In her case, she had to fly “across the country” (from Alaska to I don’t know where) for the interview. In that situation, I think she had the right to be really, really pissed off. (As for Sacha Baron Cohen, I’ve intentionally never watched anything of his–he strikes me not as a funny prankster but as a smug, deeply unlikable douchebag.) > > ([Other targets](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/07/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime-people-tricked-list-sarah-palin-joe-arpaio-roy-moore-dick-cheney).) Well Palin is a blithering idiot, so trolling her was some serious Low Hanging Fruit. But to hell with her too. Stupidity SHOULD be painful. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847/20 "2018-07-13T20:41:36Z")
Jimmy Kimmel: [People Will Agree to Anything](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd78E-lFLPc). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacha-baron-cohen-showtime/817847.md?page=2)