British Expatriate Network

Okay, my opinion of the late Queen Mum just went up a lot . . .

From the BBC

There's widespread coverage of what the Sunday Telegraph calls the "delightful insight" provided by Prince William and Prince Harry into their great-grandmother's sense of humour. According to the Observer, their recollection of her mimicking the spoof rapper, Ali G, paints a picture of the Queen Mother entirely at odds with her formal public image. The Queen Mother stood up after a festive meal and said to her daughter, the Queen, "Darling, lunch was marvellous - respec", then clicked her fingers in Ali G fashion.

Perhaps.
But I went to college with someone who later worked briefly in the Royal Household - very professional and discreet, she never really said much but the phrase 'gin swigging fascist' was uttered in description of the Queen mum.

Also, to be honest, I've never been certain that people get Ali G in the way Sascha Baron Cohen claims to have intended. Something makes me uncomfortable about a white, educated, Jewish boy dressing up as a stereotype black man and making him out to be a gun toting, drug taking, rap listening mysoginist, ignorant of the world.

just MHO

Actually, Ali G is not my favorite character on the show. That has to be Borat.

What you say is interesting. Of course, here, Ali G is probably mostly viewed by a different demographic, given he is on HBO and given the marketing (and fact that the stereotypes he portrays in the Ali G character only partially translate to the US). I'm not that worried that, for example, his Throw the Jew Down the Well song was not taken in the way it was intended -- as an illustration of the latent anti-semitism in the US population. Sure, there are probably some people who don't get it, but that doesn't bother me too much. Maybe the perception is different in England where he really has a broader audience . . .

By the way, for those who don't know what I am talking about, here's that song (isnt the internet amazing). http//www.campchaos.com/show.php?iID=866

Overall, I have to like Sasha. Sometimes the comedy rubs me the wrong way, but that's true of lots of really innovative and smart comedians -- think of Andy Kaufman, Ricky Gervasse. Often sort of painful to watch and compelling and funny nevertheless.

On the Queen Mum, I'm sure there are many side to the story. Just nice to hear this one.

I think we are definitely talking on different ends in respect of Ali G - I only know the British end - we don't have HBO and I don't have any friends here to discuss it with roll

I know in London, several of my Black friends and collegues (but not all) were unimpressed. What was funny was that there was a clear dinstinction between genders - women laughed - men didn't.

I agree about Borat and Sasha Baron Cohen and innovative humour generally - much rather watch Ali G than 'Raymond' or any of the other crap that often passes for comedy here - the unfeasibly beautiful woman married to the fat ignorant oaf, hilarity ensues type shows P

Hmmmm -little bit too close to home for the men maybe? ;)

my thoughts too, but I was assured otherwise :wink:

Is the Ali G character actually supposed to be black? I have always assumed he is just a wannabe white boy affecting all of the urban ghetto coolness, notwithstanding he is a middle class suburban guy from Staines. That's part of what makes it funny, right? Maybe we aren't really supposed to be sure. Sometimes the character makes comments that would indicate he is black ("you just sayin' that 'cos I'm a bruver?") but that could be consistent with a delusional white kid. Part of me thinks I'm reading too much into this, but a larger part thinks that I am not, particularly given the sophistication of the humor (at least in the US show -- hence, "humor" . . . . maybe the "humour" version is somewhat different).

(Can you tell I am having a slow day at work? Looks like you are too, huh Rob?)

I think you are right, but not all people seem to get that - well not in England anyway. I alway saw Ali G as a white kid from Staines trying to be a 'cool' Urban black kid - however I knew several people and heard others (mostly white) who thought he was actually trying to play a black kid. Thats when I got uncomfortable with it.

It shouldn't be a slow day... just one of those days when you don't want to do what you have to do. Discussing Ali G is much more interesting that doing somebody else's archiving :roll: - I', an attorney let me out of here!!! :D

This is exactly what I thought too. My friends/family who watched it also thought this. I'd never thought of it any other way I suppose.

I always thought he was very funny though. Well, in the early days when he could wind people up without them knowing who he was.

Going against the flow here though, I don't like Borat at all.

I don't LIKE him as such. He's horrible. But the character is just such a compelling creation.

I notice Mr. Z has moved this from Britnet Banter to politics etc - but we are now talking about Ali G...so I guess it will move to the TV thread... do you think we can get a hit on each topic before the day's out. lol

What recipes does Ali G like?

Does he have any pets?

Is he interested in moving to the States?

Has he got any HTML code he needs to test out?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say brownies.

No, but his mate Dave has a dog right...

More of a Jamaican visa applicant I recon.

Is this the same guy

http//www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/13/usasha.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/01/13/ixportaltop.html

lol lol lol
Oh yes, that him.

I might just have to pay for HBO. D