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Was male stripping, kissing stunt from 'Borat'?
Crowds in Arkansas came for the lure of cage fighting and $1 beer, but police say what they got instead was men ripping each others' clothes off and kissing -- a stunt suspected of being orchestrated by Sacha Baron Cohen of "Borat" fame.
"We had a contract for cage fighting. We were deceived," said Dwight Duncan, president and CEO of Four States Fair Grounds in Texarkana, where the first of two Arkansas fights raised suspicions last month.
Matt Labov, a Los Angeles-based publicist for Baron Cohen, said he had no comment Monday about the faked fights. One of Baron Cohen's movies is due out next year.
The day after the June 5 Texarkana bout, Fort Smith's convention center hosted "Blue Collar Brawlin.' " Fort Smith police Sgt. Adam Holland said organizers told him a character named "Straight Dave" would goad a planted audience member into the ring for a fight.
The two men would then wrestle, rip away some of their clothes and share a brief kiss reminiscent of one between Baron Cohen and Will Ferrell in the film "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."
Producers said "there would be a romantic embrace," Holland said. "They said it was kind of to essentially make fun, poke fun at wrestling -- two guys rolling around on the floor, all sweaty."
An elaborate array of mounted and handheld video cameras caught the crowd of 1,600's reaction as the two men "went right up to the line" of the city's morality laws, Holland said. The two men stripped down to their underwear, kissed and rubbed on each other, the sergeant said.
The audience, as well as local fighters drawn to take part in the show, became enraged. "It set the crowd off lobbing beers," Holland said. "They had beers in plastic cups. Those things can get some distance on them actually."
Holland said it took officers about 45 minutes to clear the convention center, as the two actors sprinted away through a specially set-aside tunnel.
Those in attendance were told by several signs on display that they'd be filmed, Holland said, and signed waivers before the event. Convention center sales director Karin Hobbs declined to name the event's sponsor Monday.
Baron Cohen became a national celebrity after his 2006 hit movie "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," in which he played a bumbling reporter from the Central Asia nation.
News of the faked cage fights comes as Baron Cohen is in production of a movie titled "Bruno," named after the gay Austrian fashion reporter he developed for "Da Ali G Show." Baron Cohen, in the guise of Bruno, often interviewed hapless subjects in the South.
If the cage match visits came from Baron Cohen, it wouldn't be the first time Arkansas fell for a practical joke. In 2000, then-Gov. Mike Huckabee fell for a prank and congratulated Canada for preserving its icebound Parliament, calling it a "national igloo." Crowds in Arkansas came for the lure of cage fighting and $1 beer, but police say what they got instead was men ripping each others' c... more -
Sacha Cohen (aka Bruno) call for rednecks
"Sacha Baron Cohen's tentatively titled movie,"Brüno: Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Males Visibly Uncomfortable in the Presence of a Gay Foreigner in a Mesh T-Shirt" isn't out until next year and is already getting tons of free publicity.
Sacha and his pranksters put out a Craigslist ad and a flyer promising dollar beer, sexy chicks and cage fighting.
The producer's held two events, one in Texarkana and the other in Fort Smith. The Forth Smith show drew around 1500 rednecks who had to sign releases. They were told they were being filmed for TV. You might be a redneck if you sign a release just so you can have $1 dollar. They were also told that no cameras or cell phones were allowed. HA! Like they have cell phones!" "Sacha Baron Cohen's tentatively titled movie,"Brüno: Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Males ... more -
This is Brilliant, my dear Watson
Most are familiar with the movies and novels that surround the fiction icon, Sherlock Holmes, and his well to do buddy, Watson. Now, picture the two in your mind I am pretty sure you are envisioning Sherlock as a paled skin, fairly dark haired man. And then Watson, a little older and possibly white haired (Or maybe those our just my imaginative juices). Now picture, Will Ferrell, famous for "Semi-Pro," "Elf," and many others as Watson. And Sherlock Holmes will be played by Sacha Baron Cohen most famous for the movie, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Mae Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." Hmm, I don't now about you but, if their is any mystery to be solved, it's why these guys were picked for the part! As a side note, it would be one hell of a comedy, if only Sherlock Holmes books were originally comedies..... Most are familiar with the movies and novels that surround the fiction icon, Sherlock Holmes, and his well to do buddy, Watson. Now, p... more
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Borat dupes Mossad
Former Mossad agent and Israeli political commentator Yossi Alpher is the latest of Sacha Baron Cohen's victims.
Alpher - who served in the Israel Defense Forces as an intelligence officer, followed by 12 years' service in the Mossad and senior positions at the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University and the American Jewish Committee's Israel/Middle East office - realized something might not be quite kosher when the "rock star" interviewee brought up Hamas:
"Vait, vait. Vat's zee connection between a political movement and food? Vy humous?" asked the interviewer in heavily accented English. "Yesterday I had to throw away my pita bread because it vas dripping humous. Unt it's too high in carbohydrates."
The absurd Hamas-humous confusion went on for several minutes, and Alpher began to smell a rat, but stuck with the interview nonetheless - thus joining the long list of prominent figures down the years who have sought to maintain their gravitas while being tricked by one of Cohen's ridiculous personas.
It got worse, Alpher acknowledged: "Then the interviewer declared, 'Your conflict is not so bad. Jennifer-Angelina is worse.'"
Alpher and his Palestinian partner exchanged puzzled glances at the comparison of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie fighting over Brad Pitt, but because they had both received a fee for their appearance, and still hadn't completely internalized that their interviewer was not exactly who he seemed, they soldiered on. Former Mossad agent and Israeli political commentator Yossi Alpher is the latest of Sacha Baron Cohen's victims. ... more -
Marat not Borat
When most people think of Kazakhstan, they picture Borat. Meet Marat, the ‘real’ Borat, who takes us to the rural village where he spent his childhood summers. This brief yet visually poetic film reflects Marat's own romanticisation in leaving the hectic city for the peaceful Kazakhstani countryside. When most people think of Kazakhstan, they picture Borat. Meet Marat, the ‘real’ Borat, who takes us to the rural village where he spe... more
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Errors of cinema
Errors of cinema:Bill Kill, Shrek, Kung fu hustle, Brokeback mountain, Die Anoyher day, Armageddon, The matador, Asterix, Goldemember, Borat, Ocan´s eleven... Errors of cinema:Bill Kill, Shrek, Kung fu hustle, Brokeback mountain, Die Anoyher day, Armageddon, The matador, Asterix, Goldemember,... more
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Borat may be dead, but John Mayer lives on
And he's wearing the trademark neon green mankini on a cruise ship. Really nothing else to see here. Just gives me another reason to love John Mayer's sense of humor yet continue to hate his music. And he's wearing the trademark neon green mankini on a cruise ship. Really nothing else to see here. Just gives me another reason to... more
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I Like Be Sued, NOT!
Since Borat premiered over a year ago, our favorite Kazak journalist has been sued multiple times by people duped into appearing in his movie. Since Borat premiered over a year ago, our favorite Kazak journalist has been sued multiple times by people duped into appearing in hi... more
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Sacha Baron Cohen to play Abbie Hoffman
"Borat" superstar Cohen will be playing everybody's favorite anarchist Abbie Hoffman in a Steven Spielberg adaptation of the "Trial of the Chicago 7."
Abbie Hoffman is my favorite American of all time, and I think that Cohen will do a good job playing him. "Borat" superstar Cohen will be playing everybody's favorite anarchist Abbie Hoffman in a Steven Spielberg adaptation of the "Trial of... more -
RIP Borat And Ali G
Cohen readily admits he is more comfortable talking in the guise of the characters he has created, but unfortunately for him, both Ali G and Borat have had their day. Too many people know them and he reluctantly acknowledges that he can no longer retreat behind their personas. Cohen readily admits he is more comfortable talking in the guise of the characters he has created, but unfortunately for him, both Ali... more
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Say Bye Bye to Borat and Ali G.
Sacha Baron Cohen tells The Daily Telegraph that he's retiring the clueless Kazakh journalist, as well as his alter ego, aspiring rapper Ali G. Sacha Baron Cohen tells The Daily Telegraph that he's retiring the clueless Kazakh journalist, as well as his alter ego, aspiring rapp... more
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Quick! Tell Borat!
She's single again. Prepare the Kazakh Wedding Sack!
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Khazakhstan freestyle
Freestylin' at a talent TV show in Kazakhstan. Borat would eat his heart out.
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Borat gives his endorsement for Premier of US and A.
You guessed it, he's choosing Barack Obama.
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