Nutcase
11-09-2006, 03:49 PM
Mahir Çağrı a resident of İzmir, Turkey, became an Internet celebrity in 1999. His picture-laden personal homepage, which exclaimed in broken English his love of the accordion and travel, was visited by millions and spawned numerous fansites and parodies, one featured on Fox's MadTV (season 4, episode 20). He was also repeatedly parodied in 1999 episodes of the Late Show with David Letterman wearing a red Speedo and playing Ping Pong. Mahir was ranked #2 in CNET's Top 10 Web fads (July 15, 2005). [1] The site was also included in PC Magazine's "The 25 Worst Web Sites" list (September 15, 2006). [2] Mahir claimed in various interviews that his personal webpage was hacked, with additions such as "I like sex" embedded into his webpage. The site was originally hosted on the now defunct XOOM web hosting service which advertised Mahir on their front page during the mania.
Mahir Çağrı's website was quickly spread through word of mouth on the internet. The website came at a time when "Internet phenomenon" was a new concept for Internet users, media, and the curious public. Novelty pages such as Dancing baby and The Hampster Dance created a precedent of mass viewing for Mahir's page.
Mahir says that he was the main inspiration for British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen to create the character Borat Sagdiyev, a fake reporter for Kazakh television, as seen on Da Ali G Show.
Chief similarities between Mahir and Borat include facial hair and taste in formal wear. Borat also shouted out Mahir's catchphrase "I like sex" to the crowd at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Lisbon and at a Savannah Sand Gnats baseball game.
In the feature film of the same name, Borat not only quotes "I like sex" and "You can stay my home" in the introductory scenes, but poses during a game of ping-pong in revealing red shorts, referencing two of Mahir's famous shots.
Baron Cohen has said that the Borat character was based on a Russian doctor. Mahir is a doctor of psychology, as he claims "I make psycolojy doctora"[sic] according to his webpage.[1]
Mahir has announced that he is travelling to London to receive an apology from Baron Cohen, and to receive money for the use of his likeness in the film. He said, "the world knows he is copying Mahir. I am not saying this — the world is. I have received so many e-mails from people in the United States who tell me he is imitating me." He added, "the bombshell is going to fall. (Cohen) is making money by using me."[3]
Also, according to Mahir himself, he intends to sue Sacha "first for honour and money after" but he would accept apologies "for what is my right" and also Sacha's friendship if "he want to make friends".
Despite Mahir's accusations, in Borat's 1997 Guide to Britain (Two years before Mahir's website existed), the Kazakh reporter speaks with broken english, wears his famous grey suit, has his trademark mustache, invites his audience to stay with him in Kazakhstan and proudly announces his catchphrase, "I like sex." The Borat character has been in development since 1994 and has evolved from an Albanian reporter named Kristo.
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/0/05/Internet_mahir.jpg
http://www.newhyronja.it/immagini/mahirfisa.jpg
Mahir Çağrı's website was quickly spread through word of mouth on the internet. The website came at a time when "Internet phenomenon" was a new concept for Internet users, media, and the curious public. Novelty pages such as Dancing baby and The Hampster Dance created a precedent of mass viewing for Mahir's page.
Mahir says that he was the main inspiration for British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen to create the character Borat Sagdiyev, a fake reporter for Kazakh television, as seen on Da Ali G Show.
Chief similarities between Mahir and Borat include facial hair and taste in formal wear. Borat also shouted out Mahir's catchphrase "I like sex" to the crowd at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Lisbon and at a Savannah Sand Gnats baseball game.
In the feature film of the same name, Borat not only quotes "I like sex" and "You can stay my home" in the introductory scenes, but poses during a game of ping-pong in revealing red shorts, referencing two of Mahir's famous shots.
Baron Cohen has said that the Borat character was based on a Russian doctor. Mahir is a doctor of psychology, as he claims "I make psycolojy doctora"[sic] according to his webpage.[1]
Mahir has announced that he is travelling to London to receive an apology from Baron Cohen, and to receive money for the use of his likeness in the film. He said, "the world knows he is copying Mahir. I am not saying this — the world is. I have received so many e-mails from people in the United States who tell me he is imitating me." He added, "the bombshell is going to fall. (Cohen) is making money by using me."[3]
Also, according to Mahir himself, he intends to sue Sacha "first for honour and money after" but he would accept apologies "for what is my right" and also Sacha's friendship if "he want to make friends".
Despite Mahir's accusations, in Borat's 1997 Guide to Britain (Two years before Mahir's website existed), the Kazakh reporter speaks with broken english, wears his famous grey suit, has his trademark mustache, invites his audience to stay with him in Kazakhstan and proudly announces his catchphrase, "I like sex." The Borat character has been in development since 1994 and has evolved from an Albanian reporter named Kristo.
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/0/05/Internet_mahir.jpg
http://www.newhyronja.it/immagini/mahirfisa.jpg