America loves Ali

Ali G’s second American series has opened to rave reviews.

Sacha Baron Cohen's show, which goes out on HBO, has been called "terrifyingly funny” and “deliciously wicked”.

It is in marked contrast to his first six-part series in the States, which was branded a terrific dud by critics.

Although that first run failed to make an impact, it enabled the character to retain the anonymity required to successfully dupe influential figures.

As well as the leader of the Staines massive,  Baron Cohen also appears as clueless Kazakhstani TV reporter Borat and  camp Austrian fashion guru Bruno.

The New York Post's reviewer called the show “insanely funny” and said he: "laughed so much, I'm sure I hurt something”.

And the Boston Globe was equally gushing, saying Ali G "commands respect - 'respek', he would put it - as he returns to the air".

Victims in the first episode included former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, who was cajoled into conceding that Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ was "slightly better than Lethal Weapon 3".

But a note of caution came from the Los Angeles Times, which said: "Though Baron Cohen is clever and amusing and quick on his feet, his humour boils down to a few endlessly repeated gambits."

Published: 20 Jul 2004