Cohen Goin’ Gone

Posted By Andrew Klavan On July 20, 2009 @ 3:52 pm In Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Am I alone in harboring a secret pleasure at the death of Bruno? The much-hyped follow-up to Sacha Baron Cohen’s hit Borat opened big at the box office then rapidly plummeted over 70 percent to fourth place – and when I heard about it, I smiled. I didn’t see the film and have no comment on its quality and I don’t care if it’s anti-gay since gays, God love them, should be fair targets for humor just like everybody else, and I don’t care if it’s raunchy either because I’ve seen everything. But there’s something about the talented, creative and undoubtedly funny Cohen’s whole modus operandi that just really bugs me.

I first saw Cohen several years ago when a friend showed me a DVD of his Ali G interviews. At first, when I saw Ali G putting the joke on famous people like Newt Gingrich, I laughed well enough. Newt’s a big man and a public man and has to be able to take care of himself. But in the next clip, Ali went after an ordinary policeman who trained other police officers. And I thought, “Gee, there’s a guy who would run into a burning building to save Cohen’s life… and this half-assed comedian is making fun of him? That kind of sucks.”

Unhip of me, I know. But I’ve hated this strain of humor ever since I saw David Letterman do it way back in the eighties. For me, show biz folks making fools of ordinary folks just stinks, plain and simple. Sure, it’s funny: put a banana peel under a fat woman – that’s funny, too. But it’s bullying and unfair. And I’m not impressed when someone tells me: well, yes, the targets are ordinary people but they deserve it because they’re bigots or they’re stupid or they’re macho or whatever else. To paraphrase Shakespeare: If everyone got what he deserved, who would escape a whipping? We can all be caught with our pants down and our prejudices showing. Especially if we’re targeted by someone rich and powerful enough to pay for a camera and a distribution deal and a lawyer to fend off lawsuits.

We’re living in a shameful moment when comedians haven’t got the guts to make fun of the most powerful man on earth: President Obama. Instead, they pick on the ordinary people whom they’re there to serve and entertain but whom, in fact, they despise. Are they funny? Of course they are – they’re professional comedians. But it’s still scummy business and when they bomb as they deserve – well, that’s when I really start laughing.

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...If anyone is worthy of being mocked or insulted or "outed" by Cohen it is the average person.

Why?

So-called average people who are only exhibiting "good manners" are the MOST deserving of Cohen's antics. ...

Again, why?

Is it because of this...
I'm sure these people claim that they no longer watch TV or movies because they're chock full o' filth. But by sticking their heads in the sand, these naive know-nothings didn't realize...

You'll have to forgive me but I don't get your reasoning.

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