Slog - Comments on Austria is the New Kazakhstan http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k From the Kuwaiti Times, of all publications... After the worldwide success of Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, that turned the central Asian country into global laughing stock, Austria now fears becoming the irreverent British comedian's next victim. Universal Studios announced that after Borat wreaked havoc in the United States, he will be succeeded by Bruno "a gay, stupid, self-centred and Nazi-adoring Austrian, lifestyle journalist." Bruno works along the same lines as Baron Cohen's alter ego Borat Sagdiyev from Da Ali G Show. Both show alarming dress sense, misbehave unscrupulously and provoke even... Copyright 2008 Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:51:59 -0800 Wed, 29 Nov 2006 09:57:03 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by djfits Yes, but while Borat exposes racist, xenophobic, rural "rubes", Bruno will likely embarrass pretentious, self-involved, citified libertines (uh oh). I wouldn't be surprised if this persona skips the backwaters entirely in favor of urban targets.

]]> djfits http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c504704 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c504704 Arts Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:18:25 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways i hope he avoids doing the same thing again...i think cohen is a funny guy, but he keeps going to the same well...borat was just an extended episode of the ali g show...

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505031 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505031 Arts Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:37:36 -0800 Comment by Art Um, no, he went for the backwaters as well with Bruno, at least when he used the character on The Ali G Show. At one point he comes very close to getting himself killed.

Oh, and the one where he gets a bunch of students, I think in Florida, to go through all kinds of increasingly rowdy behaviour, including baring their asses to the camera, and then at the end tells them to shout "Hello Austrian Gay TV!" is just priceless.

]]> Art http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505082 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505082 Arts Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:39:03 -0800 Comment by Art Also Austria, IMHO, *is* full of people who quietly wishing the war had gone the other way. The atitude to the war is certainly very different from the mortifications of the Germans.

]]> Art http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505198 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505198 Arts Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:44:18 -0800 Comment by Sean The Ali G Show has already featured several episodes with Bruno vs. homophobes, and the threat of violence is always just below the surface. Check out the episode where he cheer leads for a U of Alabama football game, or when he interviews a bunch of college wrestlers in Daytona Beach for spring break. Just as funny as Borat.

]]> Sean http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505204 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505204 Arts Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:45:18 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @4 is most likely correct.

Of course Arnie will think this is great.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505217 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505217 Arts Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:46:16 -0800 Comment by PA Native To me, the key difference is that the Borat character is funny.

]]> PA Native http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505459 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505459 Arts Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:59:28 -0800 Comment by djfits oh well, i guess i've outed myself as someone who doesn't really watch "da" ali g show. regardless...

"HELLO, AUSTRIAN GAY TV!"

]]> djfits http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505621 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505621 Arts Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:28:47 -0800 Comment by Charles @5 - or how about when he goes to the british skinhead music festival?

]]> Charles http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505748 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505748 Arts Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:51:05 -0800 Comment by Art Say what you like, the guy definitely has balls of steel to do some of that stuff.

]]> Art http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505811 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505811 Arts Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:54:26 -0800 Comment by Tiffany He already survived this encounter:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6293546195304088042&q=bruno

]]> Tiffany http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505995 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c505995 Arts Tue, 28 Nov 2006 18:51:45 -0800 Comment by poochy In the show, Bruno usually made fun of urbanites.

]]> poochy http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c506003 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c506003 Arts Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:10:26 -0800 Comment by aligfan I have to say, the Ali G show stuff was gold. Re: Bruno, do you guys remember that one episode he's interviewing this conservative pastor? Seriously, thats one of the episodes where Cohen's genius really shines thru..

(on the subject of homosexuality..)
Pastor: "It says here clearly in Romans chapter.."
Bruno: "I LOVE Romans!"
...
I about fall off my chair when he goes into the 'achiya/nitsch-nitsch' routine'

]]> aligfan http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c506014 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c506014 Arts Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:38:58 -0800 Comment by I Heart Bruno Ok,

Bruno is by far my favourite Cohen - you guys have to go out and buy I think it's season 2 DVD Ali G (or rent…) He's the over the top fAAAaaabulous fashion correspondent who makes fun of the overly faaaabulous and fashionistas.

But when everyone speaks the same language it's mesmerising. At one point he prompts a fashion guy with (paraphrase) "Fashion does more for people than doctors, don’t' you think?" to which the guy replies "oh definitely…"

Not to mention when Bruno visits a gun show (or is it an NRA rally) in the deep south - talking about the importance of freedom - for the gun heads its freedom to bear arms - and Bruno says (paraphrase) "Freedom is soo important - you know like the freedom for me and my boyfriend to walk down the street in Austria holding hands….. " The gun guy doesn't have a clue what he's got himself into but DOES know " as long as you don’t try and convert me or any of my family we won't have no problems… but if you do….."

Simply Amazing - I heart Bruno

]]> I Heart Bruno http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c508053 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c508053 Arts Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:40:54 -0800 Comment by Sean Here's the clip with the spring breakers. This was the first Cohen bit I ever saw and it had me in tears.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8Ec8J4erkU

]]> Sean http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c508101 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/11/austria_is_the_new_k#c508101 Arts Wed, 29 Nov 2006 09:57:03 -0800