The Motion Picture Academy is confirming Sacha Baron Cohen has dropped out as an Oscar presenter.
He was supposed to take part in an "Avatar" sketch with Ben Stiller, playing a female Na'vi. Stiller reportedly was going to "translate" what Cohen was saying in Na'vi. The Cohen avatar reportedly would then reveal she was pregnant with director James Cameron's love child.
Sounds pretty funny to me, but the Academy says the bit "did not come to fruition" (maybe "gestation" would have been a better word).
An Academy spokesperson emailed me this comment: "SBC [Sacha Baron Cohen] thought it better not to do the skit than to force something. Per the producers there was no issue or upset feelings–it happens all the time."
That's the official word. But the alternative explanation, according to several reports, is the show producers got scared Cameron might take offense at the skit. Perhaps with good reason. Cameron, after all, does have a pattern of becoming romantically involved with his leading ladies ("Terminator's" Linda Hamilton and later "Titanic's" Suzy Amis). A sketch about him impregnating a Na'vi might have hit too close to home.
Ironically, Cameron told an online outlet he would have had no problem with the parody.
BTW, Cohen may be out as a presenter, but Stiller is still on board. Apparently he won't need to bring along an English to Na'vi dictionary.
You have to be careful.
Cöngrats
awesome
Bill Maher would make a great Oscar host.
I miss Bob Hope & Johnny Carson.
"One fewer self-absorbed, talentless hacks to muck up the proceedings."
haha that's pretty good,,,,
SBC's Awards and nominations
* 1999 – Won British Comedy Award, Best Male Comedy Newcomer for The 11 O'Clock Show (1998)
* 2000 – Nominated BAFTA TV Award, Best Entertainment Performance for The 11 O'Clock Show (1998)
* 2000 – Nominated National Television Awards, UK, Most Popular Comedy Performer for Da Ali G Show (2000)
* 2000 – Won TV Quick Award, TV Personality of the Year for Da Ali G Show (2000)
* 2001 – Won BAFTA TV Award, Best Comedy (Programme or Series) for Da Ali G Show (2000) (shared)
* 2001 – Won BAFTA TV Award, Best Comedy Performance for Da Ali G Show (2000)
* 2003 – Nominated Emmy Award, Outstanding Non-Fiction Program (Alternative) for Da Ali G Show (2003) (shared)
* 2003 – Nominated Emmy Award, Outstanding Writing for Non-Fiction Programming for Da Ali G Show (2003) (shared)
* 2004 – Nominated Golden Satellite Award, Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical for Da Ali G Show (2003)
* 2005 – Nominated Emmy Award, Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for Da Ali G Show (2003) (shared)
* 2005 – Nominated Emmy Award, Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program for Da Ali G Show (2003) (shared)
* 2006 – Won Ronnie Barker Award[47]
* 2007 – Won MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss alongside Will Ferrell in Talladega Nights
Borat:
* 2006 – Won: Los Angeles Films Critics Association Award for Best Actor.
* 2006 – Won: San Francisco Films Critics Circle Award for Best Actor.
* 2006 – Winner: Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor.
* 2006 – Won: Deutscher Comedypreis (German comedy award) for Best International Comedy.
* 2007 – Won: Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical
* 2007 – Nominated: Golden Globe for Best Picture Comedy/Musical.
* 2007 – Nominated: London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actor of the Year.
* 2007 – Nominated: Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (shared).
* 2007 – Nominated: Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (shared).
* 2007 – Won: MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance and Nominated for Best Movie as well and Best Fight with Ken Davitian.
* 2007 – Won: The Evening Standard British Film Awards: Peter Sellers award for Best Comedy.
talentless hack. (clearly)
Cohen is finished anyway after his last disasterous movie "Bruno". A one trick pony.
Thank goodness!
I drive a blue car!
Thank goodness.
One fewer self-absorbed, talentless hacks to muck up the proceedings.
Sascha can spend the evening 'thinking' up his next infantile attention-getting scheme.
I am all for restoring dignity to the Oscars. So many of those award shows have become trashy. If you are honoring someone, you do not insult them. This is the Oscars we are talking about, not Saturday Night Live.
"Ironically, Cameron told an online outlet he would have had no problem with the parody."
This is not ironic.
Hmmm, why do I think that the FCC would have been displeased with this skit....
You know what – if James Cameron can't take a funny public joke/stunt, then he's in the wrong business. And the Motion Picture Academy should have just asked Cameron if he would have been offended instead of making a big deal about it.