Would you like some bigots with that?

The 1970's saw television ratings soar when Archie Bunker become everyone's favorite bigot and called his Polish son-in-law a "meathead." The show, All in the Family enjoyed many years on the tube until it was finally canceled and released into syndication. The character of Archie, played by the talented Carroll O'Connor, was so well-loved to the American audience that Archie's favorite chair was given a place of residence in the Smithsonian.

Now as we run for the close of the year 2006, we have a new racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hands down, hilarious character to love, and his name is Borat Sagdiyev.

Borat is one of the alter-egos of Sacha Baron Cohen, a British comedian known also for his similarly satiric character Ali G. Though Cohen himself is an observing Jew, the character of Borat is notoriously anti-Semitic, which is supposedly characteristic of his beloved country of Kazakhstan. As he is a successful television reporter (and the "fourth most famous person in Kazakhstan"), he is often sent out of the country to interview foreign people and bring different cultures back to his homeland. In these interviews, Cohen uses his incredible flair for manipulation, plus a ridiculous accent and mangling of the English language, to produce humorous results, such as getting a public official to admit that all Jews are going to Hell and royally pissing off a group of veteran feminists.

In Archie Bunker's world, the comedy came from the fact that he was the extreme character among a number of relatively "normal" people, and his family's response to his outrageous behavior. Cohen takes it to the streets as Borat questions regular people and professionals, presenting his outlandish views and their genuine opinions. The satire is that while Archie didn't know what he said was illogical, Cohen uses Borat's unquestioning faith in his prejudices to provide a satiric mirror on people and the cultures in which he is exploring.

Arguably, the most humor comes from when his guests actually agree with his statements. In an exotic animal ranch, Borat encounters a man even more entrenched in anti-Semiticism than he himself is. Borat manages, with very little wheedling involved, to get the man to admit that he believes Jews should be able to be hunted like deer in the forest and that Hitler was going the right way during WWII.

Thus, I recommend everyone go see Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Country of Kazakhstan. Though I warn you, it's not for the faint of heart or those who suffer from chronic laugh attacks as you are sure to suffer during its viewing.