In addition to Ali G, Baron Cohen’s repertoire of oddball journalistic characters includes hapless Kazakhstani correspondent Borat and egomaniacal Austrian fashion reporter Bruno.

Though Baron Cohen’s fictional personas make their trade by flinging tough questions at the rich and famous, Baron Cohen himself could not be reached for an interview.

Nina Rosenstein, director of development at HBO, says Baron Cohen’s program on the cable network had defied expectations. Some initially thought that the Ali G character would appeal mostly to a young audience.

“I think older people really dig it,” Rosenstein says. “I think it’s so popular because it works on a lot of levels...it works as broad comedy and then it also works as smart comedy.”

An HBO spokesperson said this week that “Da Ali G Show” would broadcast six new episodes beginning in mid-July.

Class Marshal Zachary A. Corker ’04 said last month that it was very likely that Baron Cohen would appear as Ali G instead of himself today.

In the past four years, audiences at the College’s Class Day festivities have received their share of advice and jokes from larger-than-life characters from the entertainment industry—Ferrell, wry liberal Al Franken ’73, earnest musician Bono and late-night jester Conan C. O’Brien ’85. But if Ali G mounts the stage today, it would appear to mark the first time Class Day has been hosted by a literal character.

Hanken, the Harvard zoologist who chatted with Ali G, says he has “no interest whatsoever” in seeing today’s Class Day speaker.

“I like the other two, Al Franken and Will Ferrell,” Hanken explains. “I’m sorry that I didn’t get a chance to hear either of them. Ali G I could miss forever.”

Booyakasha!

—Staff writer Simon W. Vozick-Levinson can be reached at vozick@fas.harvard.edu.