Richard Bastion is a radio host in Grand Theft Auto IV.
He is voiced by Jason Sudeikis.
History[]
Background[]
In 2008, Richard is the host of the WKTT's right-wing call-in show, The Richard Bastion Show. Bastion answers callers' questions and statements throughout the show, in a format basically identical to Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage. Bastion briefly admits at one point in the show to overdosing on prescription pills, also mocking Limbaugh.
As of 2013, it is likely that Bastion received national notoriety for his show, as he is one of the honored celebrities on the Vinewood Walk of Fame in Grand Theft Auto V.
Character[]
Personality[]
Bastion is a caricature of someone violently, radically right-wing, and even rallies one caller to shoot an innocent Mexican man on the subway, calling him "Al Con Queso", a "Spanish terrorist" and also blames him for illegal immigration. In response to another caller's claim that all American traditions are gone, he replies that hating and slandering open-minded liberals remains a great tradition. On the Fourth of July, he likes to celebrate by locating an Indian casino and trying to "steal their shit again."
In his personal life, he considers himself an extremely orthodox Christian and stays mostly abstinent even though he is married. The show strongly suggests that his wife is cheating on him for this reason, and he is also suspiciously knowledgeable about transsexuals and other such topics. It is implied that Bastion is a latent homosexual, as he takes 'Bastion's Buddy's Pledge' which is 'I will not come onto men and sodomy is a sin even if I crave it.' Bastion states that he takes that pledge every morning, after doing very stereotypically metrosexual things, such as facial scrubs and facial toner.
He makes other off-the-cuff remarks such as his desire to "tongue kiss the Statue of Happiness" and to "give her a nice freedom squeeze." Similarly, he shares that he has been fined for talking about his penis size, informing listeners that it closely resembles a tennis ball container. Furthermore, he expresses support for the previous caller shooting an innocent train passenger, saying, "That son of a gun loves America."
He blindly trusts the government in the name of national security. In response to the Liberty Tree reporting on unconstitutional activities by the United States, Bastion claims that the newspaper provides aid to terrorists. Also, he clarifies that he doesn't want knowledge of the government's actions unless they do it in a correct manner. Referring to how the government is portrayed in movies, he acknowledges that the authorities must sometimes act outside the law. Later, after talking about puppets and calling Derek the Dodo a good influence on children, he goes on to say, "The only puppet I like is the president," as the in-game president Joe Lawton.
Consistent with his radical views, he claims that public education is a lie. However, he believes that science is positive when it "teaches you how to turn a million ungrateful foreigners into glass." He gives it a thumbs up, claiming that it would be a great discovery.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Bastion was voiced by Jason Sudeikis, one of four then-current SNL performers to appear in GTA IV. Bill Hader voiced Wilson Taylor Sr. on PLR's Pacemaker, Will Forte voiced Martin Serious and Fred Armisen voiced multiple characters on Integrity 2.0. In a segment of Weekend Update, a news parody that's in every episode of Saturday Night Live, that aired following the game's release, Hader appeared as Niko Bellic and Armisen appeared as Vladimir Glebov.