adminHE retired his famous alter-ego in 2007 but Sacha Baron Cohen is bringing Ali G back. The 42-year-old comedian has agreed to record introductions which will air before old episodes of Da Ali G Show as part of the Ali G: Rezurection season on Fox’s FXX comedy channel.The recording of new material forms part of a deal which will give FXX the first option on new ideas by Sacha.
FX executive Nick Grad said: “We’re thrilled to be in business with Sacha Baron Cohen. He is an amazing talent and we look forward to him developing new series for FXP. We’re also excited to introduce Da Ali G Show and Sacha’s characters to a new audience on FXX, and we can’t wait to see how he will incorporate new, original content in the episodes.’
Alongside Ali G, whose real name is Alistair Leslie Graha,, Da Ali G Show also featured Borat and Bruno who went on to headline feature films.
Ali G originally appeared on Channel 4’s The 11 O’Clock Show and later went on to have his own programme Da Ali G Show in 2000.
HBO picked up the series in 2003.
Speaking about retiring Ali G and his other popular character Borat in 2007, the star told the Daily Telegraph: “It is like saying goodbye to a loved one. It is hard, and the problem with success, although it’s fantastic, is that every new person who sees the Borat movie is one less person I ‘get’ with Borat again, so it’s a kind of self-defeating form, really.”
Although the fictional character, a stereotype of a White British suburban male who imitates rap, urban British and British Jamaican culture, was retired in 2007, he made a brief reappearance in 2012.
He appeared on stage at the British Comedy Awards to pick up Sacha’s Outstanding Contribution Award but courted controversy with jokes about Duchess Catherine and Jimmy Savile.
Meanwhile, earlier this year Sacha became Britain’s highest-earning actor in America, outranking even Brad Pitt and Tom Hanks in the money leagues.
In 2012, he raked in £20 million, in large part thanks to the release of “The Dictator”, in which he starred as the despot General Aladeen.
The figures, originally revealed on US financial website Forbes.com — for May 2011 to May 2012 — also include payment for being the voice of King Julien the lemur in Madagascar 3. — Daily Mail.
Online Reporter