Britain spoof rapper Ali G., best known to American audiences for his appearance in Madonna’s "Music" video, recently landed a deal with HBO. According to sources, his American show will be a version of "Da Ali G." show. The U.K.’s Channel 4 is currently negotiating a deal with HBO to allow them to broadcast the show in the U.K. as well. Ali G. is the creation of Sacha Baron Cohen, a Cambridge educated comedian. The Ali G. character is such a hit in Europe that it has spawned a full length feature film, "Ali G In DA House," and a book. Some of Britain’s black comedians aren’t that thrilled with the Ali G. character Cohen has created. "I find both him and his material quite offensive," British comedian Curtis Walker said. "I don’t like the idea of a white guy playing a black guy anyway and when he is playing to a stupid stereotype it is even worse." "A lot of the humor is laughing at black street culture and it is being celebrated because it allows the liberal middle classes to laugh at that culture in a context where they can retain their sense of political correctness," European TV star Felix Dexter told BBC news. Channel 4 defended Ali G. "He is satirizing the way white kids try to copy the black street culture and look ridiculous. If it’s offensive to anyone, it’s offensive to white people," a spokesperson said.
Britain spoof rapper Ali
G., best known to American audiences for his appearance in Madonna’s
"Music" video, recently landed a deal with HBO. According to sources,
his American show will be a version of "Da Ali G." show. The U.K.’s
Channel 4 is currently negotiating a deal with HBO to allow them to broadcast
the show in the U.K. as well.
Ali G. is the creation of Sacha Baron Cohen,
a Cambridge educated comedian. The Ali G. character is such a hit in Europe
that it has spawned a full length feature film, "Ali G In DA House,"
and a book.
Some of Britain’s black comedians aren’t that
thrilled with the Ali G. character Cohen has created. "I find both him
and his material quite offensive," British comedian Curtis Walker said.
"I don’t like the idea of a white guy playing a black guy anyway and when
he is playing to a stupid stereotype it is even worse."
"A lot of the humor is laughing at black
street culture and it is being celebrated because it allows the liberal middle
classes to laugh at that culture in a context where they can retain their sense
of political correctness," European TV star Felix Dexter told BBC news.
Channel 4 defended Ali G. "He is satirizing
the way white kids try to copy the black street culture and look ridiculous.
If it’s offensive to anyone, it’s offensive to white people," a spokesperson
said.
