Brüno Gehard

Bruno
First appearance	Paramount Comedy Channel sketches
Created by	Sacha Baron Cohen
Portrayed by	Sacha Baron Cohen
In-universe information
Gender	Male
Occupation	Fashionpolizei, Interviewer for Austrian Gay TV

Bruno (sometimes written as Brüno) is a fictional character played by Sacha Baron Cohen who first appeared during short sketches on The Paramount Comedy Channel in 1998, before reappearing on Da Ali G Show. Following the success of Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Universal Studios acquired the rights to make a Bruno film.

Bruno, who has no known surname, is a homosexual character claiming to be a reporter from an Austrian television station and interviews unsuspecting guests about topics such as fashion, entertainment, celebrities and homosexuality, with an emphasis on the latter as each interview progresses. The Austrian TV station's logo features the letters ÖJRF (revealed once as Österreichischer Jungen Rundfunk, or in English, Austrian Boys Broadcast) inside a baby blue square, with a smaller purple square in the upper left quadrant. The name is similar to that of Austrian national broadcaster ORF (Österreichischer Rundfunk). The logo often appears on Bruno's show in the upper right corner of the screen. Bruno's segment on Da Ali G Show is called Funkyzeit mit Brüno (Funkytime with Brüno). (The show's theme song is "Crank It Up", by Scooter, from the album Our Happy Hardcore), with the "z" in "funkyzeit" pronounced with a stereotypically gay sounding lisp.

Style

Bruno is a 6 foot, 3 inch white male with a thin build, brown hair and brown eyes. His hair is clipped short except a four-inch-long faux-hawk bleached blonde at the top. Bruno dresses in a rather flamboyant and garish style. He often wears lace-up shirts with cut-off sleeves, studded accessories such as belts or bracelets, and piercings, such as one in his left eyebrow. His signature outfit combines these elements against a main theme of blue denim. In earlier episodes, the character had a mustache and slicked hair. Bruno speaks with a faux-German accent, often substituting "w" sounds with "v" and "s" sounds with "sh". (The German "w" is pronounced as a "v" and the German "s" becomes "sh" when followed by a "t" or "p"). His voice is high-pitched for a male, and he boldly carries a positive attitude, often commending his interviewees with lines like "that's great" following their comments.

Humour with political undertones

As with Baron Cohen's other Da Ali G Show characters, an underlying political commentary or agenda sets up the humour in his interviews. The way in which the interview progresses depends on the subject Bruno is interviewing. If Bruno is interviewing people who are particularly bigoted, he presents those unwitting subjects with an increasingly "over-the-top", stereotypical gay character. These subjects then react with uninhibited prejudice. If Bruno is interviewing somebody from the fashion or entertainment world, he will either trick them into making politically incorrect statements about subjects such as the Holocaust or get them to say things that are in direct contradiction to statements they made seconds earlier. As with his other characters, Baron Cohen, as Bruno, is able to improvise from his subjects' reactions to further the humorous effect.

Bruno's two major areas of exploration are the fashion/entertainment industries and the American South, revealing his subjects' prejudices, biases, and lack of moral consistency.

Fashion and entertainment industries

In season one of Da Ali G Show, Bruno focuses on interviewing those from the fashion and entertainment industries. He generates humour through three devices:

Interviewees making outrageous statements

Bruno often asks leading questions in an interview to set people up to make controversial responses. While it is humorous when the interviewees are so easily manipulated, it often takes little prompting to elicit extreme opinions. In season one, episode two (S1E2), when referring to the unfashionable, he asks his subject, a fashion designer, "Why don't you just put them on trains and send them to a camp and say bye-bye?" The designer laughs, but agrees, "I would love to say bye-bye to most of them." In the same episode, a casting director says Osama Bin Laden is "cool" and "fashionable". In a memorable sequence from S2E3 titled In oder Aus, Bruno asks an entertainment industry journalist whether certain celebrities are "in" or "out", using increasingly vindictive characterizations. Regarding Ricky Martin, he would recommend to "keep him in the ghetto", while Burt Reynolds is "condemned" to a "train to Auschwitz", Liza Minnelli was "given" a malignant instead of benign tumour, while Jack Black was "given" cancer instead of candy (Bruno himself encouraged the use of these phrases). In a subsequent episode, a nightclub owner is asked if House music could have prevented apartheid in South Africa or the Holocaust, and the owner answers adamantly to the affirmative.

Revealing an interviewee's apparent ignorance

Bruno often stimulates interviewees to agree with counter factual propositions to avoid conflict or to conform to social pressure (a phenomenon studied by 1950s researchers like Solomon Asch), rather than admit ignorance. For example, Bruno has some of his interviewees discuss a nonexistent theme in their fashion show, while others duly assert that they intended no such theme. On one occasion in S1E3, Bruno asks a fashion designer why cardboard is featured in a particular fashion show. The designer discusses the issue in depth despite there being no such feature.

Bruno has been known to ask humorously leading questions. For example, he once asked why a show was so "light", to which the designer replied that he wanted the audience to feel as if they are "in the clouds". Bruno then asked the designer why the show was so "heavy", and the designer replied that he wanted the audience to feel as if they were being "pulled to Earth", although it is obvious that the footage was edited to give the impression that the questions took place in quick succession, as the camera shots are not rolling. Similarly, in S1E3, a stylist talks about a nonexistent nautical theme. In S1E5, noted celebrity hairstylist Jonathan Antin compliments Bruno on his weighty observation of villains such as Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Saddam Hussein always having a moustache, and good people such as Jesus, Rod Stewart and hippies always having long hair. When asked to tell a deaf youth to have safe sex in S1E5, a clothing store manager sits silent and motionless with his arms spread wide. Bruno allows it go on for 55 seconds, not saying a word, until the man tires.

Having an interviewee take an opposite position on a subject

Often interviewees will state an opinion on a given subject, but Bruno will take them aside to say that there is a problem with their stance. Often, subjects will change opinions to conform to an interview. In S1E5, a clothing store owner initially admits that Madonna has never been to his establishment. Bruno then says that his native country loves Madonna, and that no one would know if facts are embellished. The manager then claims that his store is one of Madonna's favourites, and that she bought 12 to 14 pieces on her last visit. In S1E3, a lower-level employee is convinced to pretend she is a show's fashion designer, Carolina Herrera, when the real one cannot be located. In the following episode, the real Carolina Herrera is interviewed. In S2E3, Bruno interviews two fashionistas about several celebrities' dressing habits. As he encourages them to be harshly critical, they liken Peter Jackson's slovenly appearance at the Oscars to a "mini 9/11". Ultimately, Paris Hilton's appearance is roundly trashed by them. Bruno then pauses the interview to tell them the Hilton Group is a big sponsor. The two men immediately reverse positions and proceed to rave about Ms. Hilton's fashion sense when the interview resumes. In another interview, he had a subject disagreeing with earlier statements simply by asking him the same question with different wording.

American episodes

In the four episodes set in the American South, Bruno appears as a highly flamboyant gay reporter. His interviews often end in conflict with the interviewee, often on the verge of a physical confrontation. He attempts to play on the stereotype of people from the Deep South being bigoted, as was done extensively in films such as Forrest Gump. However, some of his subjects appear to recognise that he is trying to goad them into saying something politically incorrect and so keep their views quiet. Bruno's southern travels include the following:

S1E6

Bruno is in Alabama, which he describes as being "the gayest place in America." At the 2002 Mississippi State at Alabama football game, Bruno joins the cheerleading line and is heavily booed by the crowd. A fan says that Bruno is embarrassing the 85,000 in attendance, and another fan makes an obscene gesture towards Bruno's camera crew. Bruno later interviews Alabama running back Shaud Williams. When asked whether he is allowed to date other members of the team or must wait until the off-season, Williams responds with an emphatic and incredulous, "What?" Bruno continues with his innuendo about Williams's "probable" homosexuality by asking if the size of his Schwanzenstück (faux German term for penis literally meaning "tailpart"), is commensurate with the size of his obviously strong pectorals and thigh muscles. His queries to Williams about what message he might have for the Austrian gay community are met only with calm responses such as, "No one's ever put me in that situation," and an emphatic "I'm not gay," although Williams is visibly annoyed. Bruno's final interviewee, an organizer at a gun and knife show, is not as polite to Bruno's remarks. The organizer claims to be against government intervention which he equates with "the Jewish hand in your pocket", to which Bruno immediately murmurs agreement. Bruno says that from his perspective, freedom means his right to hold his boyfriend Diesel's hand in public, to which the organizer replies, "I'm not too hot on your right to hold hands with your boyfriend, but what you do in the privacy of your own home is your business," and tells Bruno not to "recruit" his children. Bruno calls the man cute and manly. When the man asserts that he likes women, Bruno excuses himself for appearing jet lagged and possibly fat. The man becomes visibly angry, replying, "If you want to be professional, be a professional, don't be some fucking fag!" In an interview with Howard Stern promoting the second season of Da Ali G Show, Baron Cohen claims that at one point the man took out a gun and chased Bruno and crew out of the establishment.

S2E1

Bruno interviews a pastor who claims to be a "gay converter." Bruno asks him "so why is being gay so out this season?" and then bombards him with descriptions of homoerotic scenarios, asking if they are truly indicative of homosexuality or if they could be considered isolated incidents. Bruno implies that he is not gay, but continually makes reference to his own homosexual experiences. In keeping with his routine, he also implies the pastor himself is or was at one time gay. At another point in the interview he asks the pastor, "So I can still admire another man's penis in the shower, but the moment I put it in my mouth some sort of line has been crossed?". Toward the end of the interview, Bruno asks the man to affirm or reject certain behaviours by saying "Ach ja" (Oh, yes) or "Nicht, nicht. (Not, not, akin to the expression 'no-no')" Activities that are declared clearly unacceptable include showering with a friend, watching Will & Grace, and being "fabulous," which the pastor claims is "an effeminate lifestyle" according to the Bible. Activities that the pastor considers questionable, depending on circumstances such as with whom or why one is involved, include eating brunch ("If you're eating brunch with Christian friends, and there's no one else around that's gonna seduce you into sin, that's okay. ... Ach ja.") and eating copious amounts of chocolate.

S2E5

Bruno takes square dancing lessons at a barn dance in Georgia. He takes a liking to Jim, his instructor. While dancing with different partners, he continually asks about Jim, saying, "I'm not going to look, but is he looking at me right now?" He attempts to make Jim jealous, and when dancing in a group, continually attempts to dance with Jim, who is obviously trying to avoid him. He finally confronts Jim and asks him to make his last night in town special. Jim walks away without responding. During the credits roll of Da Ali G Show, an additional Bruno segment is shown where he is at a gun show in Arkansas and interviewing a man named Daniel. Bruno asks what his name is numerous times before asking a few loaded questions including: "What's your biggest gun?" and, "How far can you put it up the poopinschaft before it's dangerous?" Daniel eventually clarifies, " I probably wouldn't use that up the poopinschaft." Bruno asks why he's denying his homosexuality. Daniel says, "Alright now. If you call me gay one more time, I'm fixing to knock every tooth outta your head, you understand what I'm sayin'? Cause I've done told you that I'm not gay." Daniel can see Bruno pondering where to take it from this point. "One more time, I said, so be careful what you say. Be real careful what you say." The credits roll.

S2E6

Bruno is enjoying Daytona Beach, Florida, during spring break. He interviews five college wrestlers who are living out of a motor home. The men are playful, brimming with energy and likely drunk. They teach Bruno how to wrestle, flex for the camera, and even show their naked buttocks when asked to by Bruno. Bruno then instructs each wrestler to say one letter from the word 'party' successively and then all shout the word. The wrestlers do so loudly and with much gesturing. Bruno asks them to do it again and again, each time "with more energy." Bruno instructs one of the wrestlers to repeat after him in bits: "Hello…", "I am saying Hi…", "from Daytona Beach spring break…", "to Austrian…", "GAY TV!" After repeating faithfully until the last sentence fragment, the man becomes very agitated, clearly upset at being tricked into showing off his masculinity for a gay television show. He grabs Bruno's microphone, pulling off the foam rubber covering and launches several expletives at him (such as What?, Gay TV, There's no fuckin' Gay TV involved with this, etc). Baron Cohen, when interviewed about this sketch on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, revealed that his cameraman had actually been punched by one of the wrestlers after the group found out that they would appear on Austrian (or as one of the boys says, "Australian") Gay TV.

In the introduction to this segment, Bruno instructs a group of young men to scream loudly when he raises his hand during the introduction. He then proceeds to introduce the segment, saying, "Hello, and welcome from Daytona Beach, where all the great boys in America come to be gay!" When he raises his arm on the word "gay," several of the boys chuckle nervously, some still scream, going along with the joke, and one of the boys says, "Wait, gay means happy, right?" to which Bruno responds, "No, gay sex."

Episode listing

• S1E1 - "Law and order": Bruno interviews several fashionistas during New York Fashion Week. He appears as a model in the Lloyd Klein fashion show that features undergarments. Bruno wears a pink undershirt and briefs and does the worm down the entire length of the runway.
• S1E2 - "War": Bruno continues his New York Fashion Week interviews at the Heatherette and Michael & Hushi fashion shows.
• S1E3 - "Politics": Bruno attempts to get into the Marc Jacobs spring/summer collection fashion show, offering oral and anal sex, but claiming that he isn't gay. He also interviews Gisele Bündchen. Ms. Bündchen's name is misspelled on the onscreen title.
• S1E5 - "Media": Bruno interviews several stylists, including noted celebrity hairstylist Jonathan Antin.
• S1E6 - "Belief": Bruno interviews in Alabama, which he believes to be the gayest place in America. Bruno also participates as a cheerleader at a football game.
• S2E1 - "Respek": Bruno interviews a pastor who claims to be a "gay converter", finding out just what activities are considered homosexual.
• S2E3 - "Peace": Bruno hosts a show entitled In oder Aus, an interview show about celebrities and their popularity and fashion sense. The Funkyzeit mit Brüno opening is not used in this episode.
• S2E4 - "Realize": Bruno is in South Beach, Florida, where he interviews a club owner who believes house music would have prevented World War II had it existed at the time. He also spends an evening as a bouncer at a club where he turns people away for not wearing the proper club attire (one man was wearing what he claimed was a $250 designer shirt).
• S2E5 - "Jah": Bruno takes square dancing lessons at a barn dance in Georgia. The credits roll of Da Ali G Show features Bruno interviewing at an Arkansas gun show where he is threatened and nearly physically assaulted.
• S2E6 - "Realness": Bruno soaks up the sun and sand in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he interviews five wrestlers and practices moves with them.

Movie

Main article: Brüno (film)

The Hollywood Reporter claimed that Sacha Baron Cohen's next film, which was earlier reported to be based on a new character, will be based on Bruno and claimed that the title would be "Bruno: Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Males Visibly Uncomfortable in the Presence of a Gay Foreigner in a Mesh T-Shirt". However, The Hollywood Reporter was incorrect, and that particular title is only a rumor, though the tentative title will still include the name "Bruno" followed by a colon in the same manner as the "Borat" film, another movie based on a Cohen character.

According to reports, negotiations were intense for the rights to Bruno, with Universal Pictures acquiring the worldwide rights to the film for $42.5 million dollars. Jay Roach (Meet the Parents) will produce, as he did on Baron Cohen's second film, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. However, according to a recent interview in Rolling Stone, "Baron Cohen says the figure is inaccurate; the deal is just to see if it's possible to develop the movie, and he's still not sure whether the film will be scripted or reality-based or whether it will feature Bruno or a different character," casting doubt on the possibility of a Bruno movie.

On June 17, 2008, Universal Pictures announced a release date of May 15, 2009, for the film.

In the end of March 2008, security was put on red alert when “a German film crew member” started “stripping down to tight shorts and dancing in the lobby of Wichita Airport”. Central Community Church in Wichita, Kansas also reported that a strange European camera crew showed up to their Easter play with the on air personality in chains. And in Fort Smith, Arkansas, people who bought $5 tickets for what was supposed to be a "Redneck Rumble" mixed martial arts card that featured $1 beer and nearly naked women were shocked to see Cohen (as Bruno) and another male actor stripping down and kissing each other.

Near the end of May 2008, pictures of Bruno with Governor Schwarzenegger were released. In the images, Bruno's appearance is drastically different from his Da Ali G Show counterpart. Most notably, his hairstyle and hair color have altered.

In September 2008, video and photos were released showing Cohen (in character as Bruno) storming the catwalk during an Agatha Ruiz de la Prada fashion show in Milan. Cohen managed to walk down the runway for a few moments before lights were dimmed and security guards escorted him away. This occurred after Cohen and his crew were allegedly stopped by security while attempting to enter backstage at two other shows during Milan's fashion week. Cohen also managed to attend the Stella McCartney show in Paris, he clapped to the music throughout the show and pushed people in the row in front of him out of the way so he could see the models.

On November 2, 2008 Bruno crashed a rally in support of a ballot measure that would ban gay marriage in California. Cohen, in disguise in a blond wig, marched in Los Angeles with demonstrators who support Proposition 8. When photographers and reporters recognized Cohen and tried to approach him, his film crew tried to shield him, and he was eventually whisked away.

External links

• Bruno Movie
• HBO's Da Ali G Show website
• Bruno interviews Schwarzenegger