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We are all very excited to see what comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has in store for us this coming Sunday when his new TV series "Who Is America?" is set to premiere on Showtime.
A warning shot was launched via tweet earlier today by, of all people, Matt Drudge who is saying it's not just Republicans that will be duped in the show.
"Sacha Baron Cohen at it again!" said Drudge, who always deletes his tweets shortly after they're published. "This time for CBS/SHOWTIME. Lots of tricks played. Both Republicans and Democrats are getting caught up in the madness. Sacha has finked Cheney, Palin, Howard Dean, Alberto Gonzales, Bernie, Trent Lott, Patraeus, Ted Koppel, and more… BEWARE!"
Earlier this week, we already got a teaser showing us a snippet of the show, in which Dick Cheney was asked to sign a waterboarding kit by an unidentified, off-camera host. Now things are starting to really get interesting as Sarah Palin has come out and admitted she was also duped by Cohen, and she's none too pleased about it.
According to Palin [Via The Daily Mail] Cohen posed as a wounded veteran in a wheelchair for an interview which might/will air in the next few weeks. Palin is asking Showtime to donate profits of the show to a Veterans charity. Showtime was asked to comment but refused to get involved, but Palin did release a statement:
'This "legit opportunity" to honor American Vets and contribute to a “legit Showtime historical documentary” was requested of me via a speakers bureau,' said Palin.
'For my interview, my daughter and I were asked to travel across the country where Cohen (I presume) had heavily disguised himself as a disabled US Veteran, fake wheelchair and all,' explained Palin.
'Out of respect for what I was led to believe would be a thoughtful discussion with someone who had served in uniform, I sat through a long "interview" full of Hollywoodism’s disrespect and sarcasm - but finally had enough and literally, physically removed my mic and walked out, much to Cohen’s chagrin.'
'The disrespect of our US military and middle-class Americans via Cohen’s foreign commentaries under the guise of interview questions was perverse.'
'Here is my challenge, shallow Sacha boy: go ahead - air the footage. Experience tells us it will be heavily edited, not pretty, and intended to humiliate,' said Palin.
'The challenge is to Cohen, CBS and Showtime: donate all proceeds to a charitable group that actually respects and supports American Vets. Mock politicians and innocent public personalities all you want, if that lets you sleep at night, but HOW DARE YOU mock those who have fought and served our country.'
Palin was with her 16 year old daughter when the 'incident' happened, they were both supposed to take a flight back to Alaska after the interview, but instead of bringing them to the right airport, a network-hired driver brought Palin and daughter Piper to the wrong location, which consequentially had them miss their flight home and left 'stranded' for three days.
'After refusing to take our calls to help get us out of the bind they’d put us in for three days, I wrote this off as yet another example of the sick nature that is media-slash-entertainment today,' said Palin.
Cohen has been secretly filming his new show for the last year. The Cheney video hinted at a potential “Da Ali G Show”-esque series of interviews, but with Cohen taking on brand new characters.
In the aforementioned Dick Cheney teaser, after being offered the waterboard kit, the ex-vice President exclaims “That’s a first. That’s the first time I’ve ever signed a waterboard,” after which he goes on to sign it.
"Who is America?" premiere on Showtime July 15.