Wednesday, May 16, 2007

 

Borat = SNL Skit 1970s

I was at the Museum of Television and Radio today and watched one of those Steve Martin on SNL retrospectives. Among the skits shown was one with Dan Aykroyd called "Two Wild and Crazy Brothers" about the Festrunk brothers, a pair of horny, clueless brothers from Czechoslavakia. Why has there not been more comments about how similar the characters in this skit are to Borat? I mean they have the exact same accent and the same manner of speech. Also, the same sort of objectification of women and similar jokes about poverty in the homeland.

Here are passages from the transcript:

Georg Festrunk: And here is a thing I will tell you: that two swinging foxes have the hots-on for us, and are coming here tonight to let us hold on to their big American breasts!

Yortuk Festrunk: [ pours some drinks ] Why not? There's nothing preventing them. After all, there is no other pair of Czech brothers who cruise and swing so successfuly in tight slacks!

Georg Festrunk: [ sips his drink and toasts Yortuk ] We are.. two wild and crazy guys!

Yortuk Festrunk: [ walks into the living room ] Oh, no.. our bachelor pad certainly is messed around. Soon, will be the foxes. Where is the portable floor vacuum that we brought with us from Czechoslavakia?

Georg Festrunk: Wait here now, and you'll find out! [ he wheels out the oversized industrial floor vacuum - Yortuk sucks up everything lying on their coffee table ] This floor vacuum is such a wonderful household convenience that we've wanted for many years!

Yortuk Festrunk: Yes! Usually, in Czechoslavakia, only high party officials of the Communist Party can get them right away!

Also

Georg Festrunk: Slap my hand, black soul man! [ extends his hand, Cliff slaps it ]
Cliff: [ extends his hand for a slap back, but Georg is mesmorized staring at his own slapped hand ] Uh, hi Georg, hi Yortuk. Hey, man, I was invited to this really hot party tonight. Do you guys wanna go?
Yortuk Festrunk: No way! That's your funeral! [ laughs ]
Georg Festrunk: Don't come crawling to us. Two hot fashion models from the fox bar will be here soon to give themselves to the Festrunk Brothers!
Cliff: [ perplexed ] You.. got two ladies coming here tonight? I don't believe it.
Georg Festrunk: We cruised for them in our tight slacks which give us great bulges!

See, what is most striking is the similarities in the diction. Words like great bulges, or black soul man, are of the same type of words that Borat uses. So did Sasha Baron Cohen intend to pay homage to this old skit? Or are all these characters referring to some earlier comedic character I am not familiar with?

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