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The Real Borat?
Is our beloved Borat a thief? That's the question that a lot of news sites are now asking following the complaints of a Turkish comedian whose shtick is eerily familiar to the Kazakhstan goofball played by Brit comedian Sascha Baron Cohen. Mahir Cagri says that he is completely sure that he was the inspiration for Borat, that he's hoofing it to London to...well, try and get some money our of it. Ah capitalism. But there is some rather intriguing evidence to back up his claim. To wit: back in 1999, before anyone had heard of Borat, let alone Ali G, Cagri became celebrity online after posting "unintentionally" amusing photos of himself playing ping pong, the accordion and sunbathing in a skimpy bathing suit. Not the stretchy day-glow nut-hugger suit that Borat wears, but then again, perhaps that suit has not been invented yet. He was also known for his broken, albeit charming approach to women: "Who is want to come TURKEY I can invitate ... She can stay my home." You have to admit, it sounds a lot like our little Borat.
But, of course, if anyone who thinks they're being somehow imitated can get money for that is another question entirely. I don't know the details exactly, but I do know that the guy upon whom the Kramer character is based in Seinfeld tried to get some compensation for that fact....and didn't....although I think he's leading tours in the city or something. So perhaps if all else fails the "real" Borat can maybe buy himself a bus.
(thanks Karen!)
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Asia, Europe, Turkey, Video
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
coach Nov 13th 2006 7:08AM
the real "borat" --the name at least--is probably Prague's old klub "Borat" (now Klub Ujezd) in Mala Strana (Little Town), near the Prague Castle. rumor has it that Cohen hung out in Prague for some time in the early 90s.
Aspen McGee Nov 10th 2006 12:48AM
Welcome to comedy my friends. That what comedy is, ripping other people off politely, and doing it better.
Rosa Nov 12th 2006 2:58PM
I don't know who is the real Borat but the movie was hilarious, there were a couple nude scenes that made me sick to my stomach but other than thinking "gross" a couple times he was hilarious, I laughed so much my side ached!
abe Nov 12th 2006 3:07PM
Borat was actually invented by Cohen in '97. All the filming he did for his TV show he did back in the nineties. He's only SHOWING it now. Otherwise people would know who he was when he interviewed. Also if you read any of his interviews on himself, he openly says that he got the idea of Borat from a doctor somewhere in Europe. A doctor that acted exactly like Borat, just unintentionally. If you look at some of the footage he did there are dates on them dating back to the mid nineties.
Joker Nov 12th 2006 3:08PM
Who's Borat?
Michael Nov 12th 2006 3:13PM
As a huge fan of Borat, and Da Ali G Show in general, I can say that the Mahir Cagri quote from this article is hardly similar to any Borat quote. The only similarity is the broken English. Borat uses anti-feminism, anti-semitism and just racism in general, either to offend someone or simply to show how people in America actually are. In one Borat sketch, Borat goes to a country-western bar, dressed up as a cowboy and holding a guitar and sings on stage the song "Throw the Jew Down the Well". The audience responds by clapping and singing along. Keep in mind, these sketches are not staged. And then after the release of the movie, Sascha Baron Cohen gets heat for anti-semitism, when he himself is Jewish.
Honey Nov 12th 2006 3:28PM
I have not seen the movie (nor will I) , but I have seen programs featuring interviews with "Borat." (i.e., Tonight Show, SNL, Letterman, etc). He is totally annoying and a boor. He also obtained some of his movie "interviews" via untruths regarding his true identity, and used the footage in his movie. In other words, he identified and portrayed himself as a reporter, or a reknowned visitor to a certain US city in order to gain access to individuals who did not realize what he was doing. Sad. He IS disgusting.
Carolyn Nov 12th 2006 3:35PM
I absolutely love Borat. But here's the THING. Some people just do not GET it. I don't know why. I guess it is ignorance or narrowmindedness or some such thing. When I told my BF that Borat was Jewish, he looked at me with great disdain and said, "Well, I sure wasted my time watching that guy. You will never convince me that he is not serious when he makes fun of Jews." Well, as you can see, the jokes were like wild ducks that flew right over my BF's head.. Quack, Quack. I need to get a new boyfriend.
ChrisRath.com Nov 12th 2006 4:00PM
kewl!
constance pelchat Nov 12th 2006 4:04PM
i saw borat this weekend, the vulgar comedy i've seen in my life.i'm not a snob andi enjoy and off color joke as much as the next guy but that being said it demeans several cultures and religions and pornographic seens. should definitely be band
James Nov 12th 2006 4:24PM
I have not seen the movie as of yet, but want to go see it sometime within the next month or so. I saw an interview with "Borat", but as himself - Ali G. He looked much like a white rapper during that interview and spoke with a bit of a British / Irish accent. I do think he is funny and wish that he was in more movies of films or even TV shows. Either as Ali G or as Borat. Or BOTH! So, like I said, I think that he IS funny and want to see more of him. Mainly because I like his comedy - making fun of Americans and the way they talk, act, are prejudice against this group, that group or some other group of people. WHY? Becuase I like watching comedians who do that - make fun of different groups of people. They are funny! They don't seriously mean what they say about whoever, they are just JOKING! IT IS ALL A JOKE! So I say to all those of you who take these comedians seriously, to LIGHTEN UP, PEOPLE!!! IT'S ALL A JOKE!!! CHILL OUT!! QUITCHERBITCHIN'!! AND LAUGH!! For that matter, laugh more often! It's good for you!
Chris Nov 12th 2006 4:25PM
The person "Honey" had an extremely ignorant post. That is the whole point of the show. You are making it out to be "the reason it is a bore"..thats the whole point...some people are real idiots. Borat is amazingly funny and so are the other characters in Ali G. Gotta love him.
Susan Nov 12th 2006 4:38PM
Pity the person who DOESN'T GET THE JOKE. Comedians of this quality only show up every so often. I thought that the Borat character was based on a Russian, but I may be wrong. It's highly unlikely that this Turkish comedian is the "real" Borat; he seems like a lame imitator, who's trying to cash in and I'm sure he'll be the first of many. I doubt that Sacha Baron Cohen will reveal his sources; he shouldn't.
mae Nov 12th 2006 5:34PM
I used to frequest mahir's website back when it was up, let me tell you, it was HILARIOUS (even though it was unintentional, mahir was just looking for a date). Mahir posted his phone number and people began calling him from all over the world. He ended up having to take the site down, if I remember correctly, because he was receiving way too many phone calls.
It was quite hilarious at the time.
I can see how someone seeing this website might have had an idea to create a character that was just as funny, but unintentionally. However, i think the similarities are not strong enough to prove that Mahir was the reason Borat was created.
Grafik Nov 12th 2006 5:45PM
In response to Susan who thought Mahir was an imitator: Mahir Cagri was on Letterman and other talk shows several times in the mid 90's after his website caught international attention. You had to be living under a rock not to have seen it - where were you? Even if Sascha Baron Cohen (Borat) made his first ripoffs in the late 90's, he's so CLEARLY and OBVIOUSLY ripping off Mahir it's not even funny. Even has the same mustache. I hope Mahir gets a huge chunk of cash.
Nicole Nov 12th 2006 6:48PM
Regardless of whether Cohen's comedy is ripped off, this jackass from Turkey who is hoping to score some cash has no legally cognizable claim. He shouldn't get a penny.
Dave Nov 12th 2006 7:17PM
That Constance person needs to learn how to spell. She mentioned "pornographic seens" instead of pornographic scenes and said "it should be band" instead of it should be banned. geeez girl learn how to spell for cryin out loud. And of course you couldnt possibly be more wrong about it being banned...we supposedly dont have censorship
Mike Nov 12th 2006 7:41PM
I have a question for Michael. Where is it that you live that you feel that you are better then any one Nationality, and can pass judgement on others? I think that you are way off mark by making the general comment about Americans; have you met every American? I could make a stupid remark such as all French are stuck up, or that all Polish are stupid; but I am not dumb enough to pass judgement on a nationality or a culture. Perhaps you shoudl think before you speak next time.
Kati Nov 12th 2006 7:25PM
The name Borat has been around for many years in the small island of Barbados. When men make unbecoming jokes or do something very bad the people say "he's a real borat". I was shocked when I first saw the name appearing in the US, I said someone copied it from there.
SJS Nov 12th 2006 7:32PM
Has everyone forgotten the 70's when SNL gave us Dan Ackroyd and Steve Martin as "Two Wild and Crazy Guys" with the same broken english shtick? Most ideas are simply recycled rather than blazing any new trails! It's been going on since the beginning of time!