It's just a game show
Oscars get all serious threatening to ban Sacha Baron Cohen
You expected Sacha Baron Cohen to lay low and be respectful on a "serious night" in Hollywood? Please, what fun would that be.
The raunchy comedian never fails to create buzz around his controversial films and television appearances. Sure, he played a surprisingly, conservative role in Martin Scorsese's Hugo. The film has been nominated for Best Picture and Baron Cohen is invited as an attendee who would be on the stage with the rest of the major players in the cast if it wins the big award at the end of the night.
Though Cohen played a rather reserved character in Hugo, he's back to his old antics, promoting his latest spoof The Dictator. Cohen plays an anti-democracy tyrant named General Aladee in a film loosely based on Saddam Hussein's book, Zabiba and the King. Cohen wants to walk the red carpet sporting his Aladee attire, which will most likely cause an uproar — and be hilarious.
Cohen wants to walk the red carpet sporting his Aladee attire, which will most likely cause an uproar — and be hilarious.
The red carpet cannot stomach any promotional stunts or mockery, so the Academy's managing director of membership, Kimberly Rouch says that "unless (Cohen) gives the Academy assurances ahead of time promising not to show up on the red carpet in costume and not to promote the movie" (because that's what the Oscars are about after all, not promoting movies) then he will not be allowed to attend. But the Academy insists that doesn't mean he's being banned.
This isn't the first time Cohen and the Academy have clashed. He has been asked previously to present, but wanted to appear as Borat and two years ago he had a skit that poked fun at Avatar and would've upset high falutin' director James Cameron, so it never happened.
America may be in for a surprise Sunday night — alter egos Ali G, Borat, or Bruno could even make a comeback! We can only hope.
