When word first got out that Channel 4’s "Da Ali G Show" would try to conquer the illusive U.S television market, UK and US critics scratched their heads. Sure, the show is funny, but Americans find it hard if not impossible to take in British humour. In recent years, apart from BBC’s The Office, British comedy shows have not fared well in the US. Frowned upon by Catholics, hated by right wing radicals and loathed by the bourgoise, "Ali G In Da USAiii" beat the odds to become a runaway success in Television’s hardest nut to crack.

In my eyes, most American TV shows follow the same generic structure. Hire young beautiful people, make them hangout in a café, give them cheesy dialogue, an obstacle or two to get over by the end of the episode and maybe throw in a predictable love story. This series of "Da Ali G Show" breaks the norm and in the process shows Americans that comedy doesn’t have to be comfortable. Ali G, Borat and Bruno (all played by Sacha Baron Cohen) are anything but the typical characters you would expect to see on TV.

Ali G, Cohen’s most famous creation, is racist, stupid and sexist. In this series, interviews with some of the world’s greatest minds and leaders such as Newt Gingrich, Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Buzz Aldrin, showcase Ali G’s awkwardness and stupidity to a greater extent than the British series (ironically, Cohen is a History graduate from the prestigious Cambridge University). Most of the interviews are so cringe worthy, they almost become unbearable to watch asking stupid questions which more often than not, deserve a punch in the head. This, as we all know, is where great comedy comes from. Cohen has been trained well in this department as one of the stars of Channel 4’s "The 11 o’clock show" during the late 90’s where he worked alongside another Brit making waves in the U.S, Ricky Gervais (The Office), perhaps the most awkward person on TV these days.

The first episode sees Ali G in Philadelphia attending a police training course where, much to his surprise, finds out he cannot keep the stolen goods he might find on criminals where he a cop. You can take the boy out of Staines but you can never, uh, you know how it goes……..

After this first encounter you realise this series will be totally different to the British one. There’s something much funnier about a wannabe gangsta from Staines poking fun at America than his home country.

His group discussions, as with his British series, are a great laugh too. In particular the group discussion about sex involving a virgin, a porn star, a church goer and a youth councillor. You can see the disgusted look on the church goer’s face as issues such as penis size and penetration are brought up by Ali G. More than anything, Ali G serves as a hilarious backdrop in this series as oppose to the "star" of the show as seen in the British series.

There is no doubt that Ali G is a great character. However, it is Cohen’s other character’s that really shine in this series especially Borat, Khazakstan Television’s correspondent. His segment "Borat’s guide to America" is absolutely brilliant. Cohen showcases his talent as not only a great comedian but as a great actor. As oppose to Ali G, Borat is vulnerable, even cute. You sympathize with him as do the people he interviews.

There is something great about this Khazakstani reporter being totally out of his element in America. One of the most notable excursions taken by Borat in this series is his visit to a minor league baseball game. Borat speaks about the American past time being very similar to Khazkastan’s national sport "Zurech", where they shoot dogs and then have a party. He later walks in to the winning team’s dressing rooms asking the naked men in the shower whether he can touch their "hams". I can only imagine Borat getting away with something like this. The players lap it up and really take to him. If Ali G where to walk in to the shower, that would be another story.

Another great Borat adventure, is his dating escapades. We see him at a speed dating event, telling the women they remind him of his dead wife. He also happens to mention to his dating coach that his "ham" is as big as a can of Pepsi.

Every Borat segment in this series is hilarious. You have to wonder whether the upcoming Borat feature film will do this great character justice. Let’s hope it’s not another Ali G "Indahouse".

Cohen’s last and more recent character creation is Bruno, a gay Austrian fashion reporter. He spends the majority of the series in New York and L.A during their fashion weeks chatting to designers and fashionistas alike. There are a few funny interviews where you can see Cohen’s inner love for taking the piss out of the materialistic world that is fashion, however, it’s when Bruno is out of his element that the laughs really come. The last few Bruno segments have him in hick town America where he attends football games and pro-American rallies.

A highlight is his trip to an Alabama University football game where he joins the cheerleaders for a dance amidst the disgust of beer drinking hillbillies telling him to get the f*** of the field. He later interviews one of the team’s star players Shaud Williams in perhaps one of the most awkward moments in the entire series. You expect to see a swing from the sportsman as Bruno asks him whether he has a message for Austria’s gay community who happen to be big fans of him. The very last Bruno clip in this series is in episode 6’s visit to a pro-American rally where he blatantly hits on the event organiser who looks like he’s just got out of prison for stabbing someone with his Chopper motorbike.

All in all, this is a great DVD. It’s great to see British humour at its best being loved by American audiences ("Ali G In Da USAiii" received 3 Emmy Nominations this year). Sacha Baron Cohen is a brilliant comedian and actor who knows exactly how far to take things even though the viewer might sweat a few kilos off worrying about his safety. His characters are great, the people he interviews are clueless and the writing is top notch. If you love to see people behave like hilarious idiots in uncomfortable situations, this is the DVD for you.

The DVD includes six episodes spread out over two discs (three per disc), the episodes are:

Episode 1: "Law" In this episode Ali G visits the Police Academy, and talks to Richard Thornburgh and Edwin Meese. Borat goes on the dating scene and Bruno chats with some models on the Catwalk.

Episode 2: "War" Ali G visits the United Nations and chats with Boutros Boutros-Ghali, he has a religious roundtable discussion and chats with General Brent Scowcroft and Borat takes us through a guide to etiquette.

Episode 3: ‘Politics" Ali G meets with former speaker of the house Newt Gingrich, tries to sell the concept of the Ice Cream Glove to Donald Trump, and he talks about drugs. Borat takes us through a guide to hobbies and Bruno visits the NY Fashion Week.

Episode 4: "Art" Ali G visits with "Inside the Actor’s Studio" James Lipton, holds a Media Roundtable and chats with Buzz Aldrin. Meanwhile Borat takes a look at Acting and Bruno checks out the fashion scene in Los Angeles.

Episode 5: "Science" Ali G holds a Science Roundtable and talks with Ralph Nader and C. Everett Coop. Ali G visits some Nuclear Protestors in Arizona and Borat checks out a Minor League baseball game.

Episode 6: "Belief" Ali G goes to Hollywood, he holds a Sex Roundtable, and talks with former chief of staff James Baker and , former presidential press secretary Marlon Fitzwater. Borat takes us through a guide to the South and Bruno visits Alabama.