American Reacts to Philomena Cunk on America

Get ready to embark on a side-splitting adventure as we take an American's first look at the incomparable comedic genius of Philomena Cunk! If you're not familiar with Philomena Cunk, she's the fictional, brilliantly dim-witted TV presenter portrayed by the talented Diane Morgan. Known for her unique take on historical and current events, Philomena offers a perspective that's both astoundingly misguided and endlessly hilarious.
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[@chrysalis4126]

"America became known as the land of the free which must have come as a surprise to all the slaves" Genius.😂😂

[@mellanapa]

YES!!! 🖤😹

[@throwabrick]

"Americans back then weren't the humble, unassuming people they still aren't today..." That is Douglas Adams-level humour.

[@johnp8131]

Even though this is a satire, there's an awful lot of truth in Diane's interpretations!

[@philjones45]

Charlie Brookers interpritations.

[@aaropajari7058]

That's what Satire is too.

[@derPetunientopf]

That is what satire is all about. If its just funny then its not satire and comedy instead.

[@carolineskipper6976]

The video you are watching has been heavily cut- these are just snippets of much longer pieces, which is why it sometimes doesn't make sense. The interivews she does are hilarious in full. The people she interviews are all real historians/ scientist/ experts in their field. She always asks them a straightforward question, and then interrupts with some lunatic follow-up question. They all clearly know it's a comedy piece, of course, but watching them struggle to answer is hilarious. The actor's name is Diane Morgan - Philomena Cunk is a role she plays, which started as someone doing vox pops on Charlie Brooker's various comedy review shows (he of Black Mirror fame). He and Diane are among a large team of writers who contribute to the Philomena Cunk 'Documentaries'.

[@derPetunientopf]

Truth. This was just a 5 min best off. The full piece is about 60 mins long.

[@dalepotter5977]

To my understanding, the interviewees aren't quite "in on the joke," they're only told in advance to treat the character like a child, or an idiot... After the fact, they still have to get consent from the interviewees, which usually isn't a problem, as while the point of the exercise might involve confounding, and even mildly infuriating the interviewees, they are not being made the butt of the joke, and they are almost always engaging with an audience they'd never reach without Philomena on their specialist subject. Some interviewees figure it out faster than others, and it's probably getting trickier to find British experts who aren't aware of Philomena, but some of her funniest work is when she drives the interviewee up the wall.

[@TheKeystoneChannel]

British comedy is the best in the world to me as a Dutch person, I love it

[@oliversherman2414]

As a Brit, I love seeing Americans react to our sense of humour 😂

[@stevehuggett2098]

They do so struggle to understand the language though, don't they, and don't know what's funny without a 'laugh-track'!!!

[@oliversherman2414]

@@stevehuggett2098 the laugh track basically tells Americans when to laugh because they can't figure it out themselves 🤣

[@AgentOccam]

And yes: in a way, he was in on the joke. They [the guests] are told by the producers that this is *mainly* for comedy, and that they should treat Philomena like she's child.That's part of the fun. And the best bit is when despite that warning, they *still* get that look in their eyes: Are you seriously asking me this? Yep. Yes she is....

[@cliffknott3862]

I love her. She is hilarious and has done many episodes. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Don’t worry, she takes her own nation apart too 😂😂

[@bellowsmain6762]

Her delivery is exemplary. The writers are legendary.

[@Chiggins_]

It's quite appallingly edited; she says about the civil war "Was anybody so conflicted they turned on themselves?"

[@_slicemenice_]

He said he was slow remember

[@dave_h_8742]

Even I worked that out on the first play through, though he did say he was slow and trying to work out the words through the accent just adds another level of confusion

[@juskahusk2247]

It has to be edited that way because of the automated copyright violation claims from the BBC.

[@flichop1522]

The two parts are 6-7 minutes. The whole "documentary" was around an hour I think.

[@user-qj7et4wv3q]

You try uploading a unedited version and see what the bbc will do to ya about copyright

[@GnrMilligan]

It's a joy to watch an American appreciating this style of British humour. Especially as your country is the the butt of Diane's jokes. I'm a recent subscriber and I'm not disappointed with your content!

[@IndigoDaisey]

It would if he stopped interrupting so often.

[@queercreatureencounters5326]

@@IndigoDaisey You watched a reaction video and are complaining about him reacting?

[@AgentOccam]

The bit where you pointed out that "in 2016 we [you; the USA] had a new president: he was orange."... was brilliant.

[@Aloh-od3ef]

It’s appears that you have fallen into the rabbit hole of British comedy! 😂

[@mattsmith5421]

The historians and scientists are just told to imagine your talking to a child.

[@fayesouthall6604]

That’s good

[@vaudevillian7]

None of the interviewees know what they’re going to be asked, they’re real experts but they’re told to treat her as if she was a child

[@allanmanaged5285]

The people she questions do know it's for comedy but they have no idea what she will actually ask them.

[@mattsmith5421]

The part you were missing she said about brother turning on brother then said did anyone get so conflicted they turned on themself.

[@theinvisibleneonrainbowzeb2567]

Diane Morgan (playing Philomena Cunk) is bloody brilliant, glad you enjoyed! it was funny watching you trying to understand her accent!

[@sarahradford9822]

I'm loving how hard your struggling to comprehend her broad Bolton accent 😅.. she's hilarious in everything she's in. Watch her Motherland. It's brilliant 👏 2016..how could we forget..year of Trump and Brexit 😮

[@cloverite]

And the birth of miserable, close minded remainers

[@artyphartycreations3219]

Motherland is brilliant too. Loved her in that

[@sarahradford9822]

@artyphartycreations3219 It's essential repeat viewing if ever i need cheering up 👌

[@SpenceJS87]

@@cloverite The people who warned you Brexit would be terrible are close minded? Not the ones who shouted down any facts with cries of 'REMOANER'? What part of Brexit are you benefitting from the most?

[@Andrew_J_R]

This is quite badly edited - the fulll versions are better

[@vaudevillian7]

Haha yes, so much good Cunk out there. Began as a character on Charlie Brooker’s various Wipe series (the same Charlie Brooker that created and wrote Black Mirror)

[@martineyles]

Barry Sh*tpeas fairly good too. I do miss screen/news-wipe.

[@donmaddox8898]

Don't forget Edison did not invent the lightbulb that is a British invention

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

Try telling the yanks that!

[@russellbaston974]

Yes, Joseph Swan.

[@callumking2152]

Philomena Cunk is so up your alley, loved it! Also, this video was a chopped up version of the actual show which is why some parts cut out half way through a sentence.

[@willowb9751]

“Sorry, I’m slow ya’ll” I nearly bust a gut then 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@MsCheesemonster13]

You are not “slow”, she has a strong “northern” accent, particularly if you are from the south of England 😆

[@andyleighton6969]

Manc, specifically Bolton.

[@markwolstenholme3354]

​@@andyleighton6969Yes, she plays on the mill workers getting their words slightly wrong over the noise very much like Hylda Baker also from Bolton 😅.

[@EdDnB]

Yep even us southern brits are struggling a little 😅 I must sound like the king to her tho 🤴

[@Wolfsong27FlyHalfFullHeart]

Mate come on I’m southern and I completely understood her

[@phily8093]

@andyleighton6969 Lancashire actually, specifically Bolton

[@jollyj3285]

She's hysterical (and point on)...the interviews make me laugh out loud...you really need to watch full episodes...they're even funnier!!!

[@leonardbrook6764]

I highly recommend the ones she does on Britain and British history as well; it's every bit as bitingly funny.

[@mattsmith5421]

This is funny you might like cunk on Britain too it's 5 episodes

[@MrG.42]

The problem is, she is talking English. No wonder you are having trouble understanding her.😂😂

[@ExternalInputs]

Cloth eared git!

[@AdurianJ]

She's doing the role of a court jester as her loony perspective on things actually gives some real deep insight at times to what she comments on. She gives new perspectives on things that can really help clarify your thoughts.

[@85stace85]

She is from Bolton in northern england. A lot of Americans struggle with northern English accents, or any other british accent that doesn't sound like we're off Downton Abbey 😂 because you don't hear them on TV there. But we can understand all your accents because we've been brought up with so much American tv shows.

[@nicolataylor6011]

She doesn't have a Bolton accent..if she did believe me you wouldn't tell a word she said.. she has a Lancashire accent but not a Bolton one anymore

[@davidsmilerarandomkiwifrom6045]

It may have been mentioned earlier but the experts are indeed experts in their field but are aware her interview style is very left field but are asked to reply to her questions honestly but as themselves. Great reaction. The accent "from that Norf" can trip up anyone tbf

[@elemar5]

I'm not even English and I can understand her perfectly.

[@danielkerr4100]

​@@elemar5right... sure you can 😂

[@elemar5]

And of course you can read my mind.@@danielkerr4100

[@nicolataylor6011]

You can tell exactly what she says if you open your ears

[@davidholwell2060]

Love this show. Please try to watch some full episodes. Excellent. Thank you.

[@DaveBartlett]

Dianne Morgan as Philomena Cunk is superb as she delivers her material, but she doesn't write it: that's done by a small team of writers, mainly Charlie Brooker, Ben Caudell, Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris.

[@carolineskipper6976]

She is also credited as a writer

[@TheMillalein]

True. She does improvise a lot during the interviews, though. And Ben does consult he when he's writing

[@ExternalInputs]

@@TheMillalein She has to. Although her questions are written for her, they can't predict the "experts" responses, so ad-libbing is necessary.

[@iangudgin6536]

Philomena Cunk is the creation of actress Dianne Morgan. Her mockumentaries are hilarious

[@Isleofskye]

Excellent JJ and very sensible re-winding it and not ploughing on ,not quite getting her accent. There are so many Philomena sketches and they are a joy and, usually,we , also,get to hear, the Academics, as well:)

[@neilt1889]

Dont worry about not understanding her Accent (English) is its her 1st language and its your 2nd language (American) being your 1st 😜👍

[@paulbromley6687]

I’m so pleased you saw the fun side of the character Philomena Cunk she plays another comedy roll as Mandy a very odd but so funny short series. Her dead pan expression is in its self hilarious. Some Americans get very defensive when comments are made about the oddities and anomalies which abound in US history.

[@TheCornishCockney]

Shhhh,you mustn’t mention the word ‘defence’,they’ll be screaming for an increase in the defence budget.

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

The 'experts' know it is a spoof but don't know what questions will be asked or how the conversation will go. Some deal with it wth alacrity. Occasionally one will laugh out loud and that is a treat.

[@fredcoleman6827]

Diane takes the piss out of the UK too. BTW, Edison didnt invent the lightbulb, he improved it.

[@hungryotter100]

How she manages to be right and heartbreaking at the same time.

[@joshua.910]

Waiting for you to do a full episode😂

[@BlackxGarden]

It's a shame this compilation cuts so many clips so short! But I guess that was necessary to get so many of her one-liners into a short space. I highly recommend checking out more Cunk!

[@MattiasCL]

Cut for the tiktok generation. 2 seconds longer clips and there'd be 0 views!

[@welshgit]

@@MostlyUseless141 BlackxGarden is right. They were often cut at inappropriate places. It's quite possible to have compilations edited in a much better way. I think you should look up "tit" in a dictionary, and then calm yourself down.

[@littletree1343]

Its written by Charlie Brooker, who also produces and writes "Black Mirror"

[@katherinethompson4500]

Your reaction to Queen Cunk are a joy! She is in great sitcom called 'Motherland' and she is comedy gold. This is very short (and not about USA!) but other hilarious UK comedians ; That Mitchell And Webb Look - "Are We The Bad Guys"? and "Alien invasion"

[@TheSilentHarp]

So glad to see your reaction to this. I believe they're all on Netflix now too. But yeah, the experts are told to expect her appearing dumb, and to accept it, but they don't know the script or any of her questions 😂

[@Idonthaveafunnyhandle]

“For those of you who don’t know. 2016 is when we got a new president …. He was orange. Love it!

[@christinehoughton8591]

This was brilliant. Hilarious I was laughing at you laughing JJ as much as the humour on the podcast 😂😂😂😂

[@xneurianx]

I'm glad you're going back and re-listening to what she says. A lot of people I've seen reacting to her just act as if they understood it all but have this slightly vacuous look at the same time! A lot of the humour with the character is that she does say the wrong words for things (like Columbus / Columbo) and it's easy to miss stuff if you don't get her accent.

[@Fast_Eddy_Magic]

Columbus returned to the new world: "Just one more thing..."

[@ziggythedrummer]

Sorry, didn't mean to hit the thumbs-down button. Philomena Cunk is a parody played by Diane Morgan. Most of the experts she speaks to in her shows are aware of that, but don't know exactly what she's going to ask them :)

[@tgsgardenmaintenance4627]

She is absolutely brilliant, and actually makes you think!

[@howardmckenna]

I love how her hateful bias towards the theatre gives us an alternative history. "Lincoln was put out of his misery by a kindly gunman". 🤣😂🤣😂

[@jacobaccurso]

My initials are JJAA. Some call me J2A2 or J squared A squared. Love what you’re doing here. I can’t stand duets, but this is like watching with a friend. Rewinding in order to understand her accent really helped. All of her jokes hit. I just found her tonight and you popped up. Subscribing to you as well.

[@hardywatkins7737]

If you are able to watch Diane Morgan's TV comedy 'Mandy' i advise you do because it is hilarious and one of a kind. - More Philomena Cunk please!

[@JJLAReacts]

Oh wow, I have to watch that, thanks! She so good!!

[@kaatom1]

Reminds me of the 'Mrs Merton Show Interviews'

[@kingcurry6594]

Diane Morgan is an absolute comedy genius. She portrays the pseudo-intellectual Philomena Cunk brilliantly, whilst producing some utter gems of humour. But her Lancashire accent may cause a few issues for some. Jim Al-Khalili's face is a picture of bafflement when she asks him why bicycles don't have toilets.

[@geoffknight874]

Written by Charlie Brooker. He also wrote Black Mirror.

[@zoeblay8771]

I love that you appreciate our British sense of humour

[@texlad04]

Her accent is from Bolton in Greater Manchester. British accents vary widely.

[@danmayberry1185]

Would love to see real-time translation by Vernon Kay.

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

And in 2016 the WORLD gave a universal gasp and said... DUH! What just happened, have American voters lost their minds..??? 😅 😂 🤣

[@elemar5]

And then it happened again in 2020, only worse.

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

@@elemar5 You DO realise, by saying this, you ONLY make yourself 'another' LAUGHING STOCK ! By the way, that's ALSO an ENGLISH phrase you probably 'don't understand' !!! Would you like me to explain it to you ??? I can do it very SLOWLY, if that helps... 😀

[@elemar5]

I'm the laughing stock? Not the US voting public? Why is that?@@stewedfishproductions7959

[@robertfitzjohn4755]

When Ronald Reagan was elected, British satirical TV show 'Not the Nine O'Clock News' did a song called "I Believe" that ended with the line "but I can't believe Ronald Reagan is President!"

[@sirsancti5504]

Stone-cold humour!

[@vickiswanton5489]

Diane Morgan and Charlie Brooker (who is the main writer on this) are absolute legends. Look up stuff by Charlie Brooker/Charlie Brooker's comedy wipe too.

[@markalexander3659]

I'm British and also thought she said "wet a fish" or a second there lol

[@stuartauld3193]

Actually Edison didn't Invent the light bulb. He patented it. Joseph Swan did.

[@sophieking7508]

OMG I’m crying with laughter!!! 😂😂😂 I’ve seen her on game shows and stuff on UK tv and always wondered who she was. I will have to look her up now! You said you’d love to see her roast someone but she did a pretty good job on this video... SAVAGE 😂

[@StarkJerk]

Diane Morgan is one of my favourite comedians 😂 Cunk is so hilarious to me.

[@EG-ou6fr]

I feel like tis dude would love Ali G interviews.

[@wolfie854]

You are having great fun trying to understand her Northern British accent. I'm willing you to get it as you stop to repeat the lines.

[@logicfxtrading2280]

She has a northern English accent. Nothern Britain is Scotland.

[@jennklein1917]

I understand all English accents, I'm from Australia, and lived in Scotland for two years!

[@postiekeefveness4415]

I agree with her on the pavement issue. Are sidewalks for crabs?

[@ExternalInputs]

It's stupid because "sidewalks" don't necessarily go at the side of a road. Footpaths cover everything.

[@jay_thebaguetteman]

I don’t know if this is dmca but if it isn’t it would be so cool to see you react to a full ep of cunk on earth it’s amazing how much you can learn from a woman acting as a drunk northerner talking about history

[@DAILARNER]

Well, why is viewing an American interpreting a Lancastrian accent such compelling viewing - thanks, very entertaining

[@Maria-ef5gq]

Look her up she does loads of those on different subjects . Philomema Cunk on the world on Shakespeare , Christmas and a lot more . Great laugh .

[@mosthaunted2]

You should do the full episodes, there's different series on different subjects.

[@jemsjemski533]

Haha! I’m so glad you’re getting the British sense of humour 🎉❤

[@lesleycarney8868]

Too funny . . i think this is going to take you hours to get to end lolllllllllllll

[@juliejeanable]

Hahahaha, this is classic British humour, love it.

[@KarenDay-me8ri]

First time seeing her, love the sarcasm done with such an educational slant. Hilarious. I wonder if the people she interviews realise its skit.

[@sh4dowchas3r]

The experts/interviewees know it's not "real" but are told to treat the questions as if they are.

[@fazbell]

This is the funniest thing on the BBC. A brilliant production.

[@artyphartycreations3219]

You must watch Cunk on Britain. It’s hilarious

[@JJLAReacts]

Oh yes, I didn’t know that was a thing, thank you!

[@TheMillalein]

the way you're struggling to understand dianes accent is so funny to me

[@catherinehourihan3768]

Your reactions make it even funnier 🤣

[@CriminoxMC12]

As someone from Bolton, the fact he can't undestand what we're saying makes this video even funnier

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

Trust me, we all know about 2016. And we are still very traumatised 😮

[@timbuktu8069]

At 9:50 it's cut off. She said: Did anyone become so conflicted they turned on themselves?

[@exoticgirl1]

The people she interviews are only aware it's a comedy show but NOT what she's gonna ask or "throw at" them. She's brilliant 😂

[@klinikle5445]

Try Diane Morgan's show "Mandy" where she plays a character called Mandy.

[@scotmax8426]

great reaction, lol loved your face at 5:50 lol cheers.

[@fartzparker6891]

She is so deadpan..very funny lady..I'm glad u enjoyed..

[@ZeallustImmortal]

To clarify, these are actual experts, and they arent in on the joke necessarily, but they do know theyre being interviewed by a comedian for a comedy show. So they do expect to hear jokes and silly questions. She asks a lot of serious questions and transitions into the comedy, gives them a false sense of security.

[@TerryD15]

Most of her interviewes are not aware that it is a sarcastic exercise and respond in thgeir own way, often the become aware of the situation and play along, other times they are just confused, it's part of teh show.

[@johnritter6864]

She has a great comedy series called Mandy

[@mattbentley9270]

There is a cool interview with her on Saturnight live about her role as punk, she is SOOOO Funny I love her

[@PBUCKY1969]

Philomena Cunk does a whole series of documentaries which was a smash here in the UK - sarcasm rules of course - it's a great watch!

[@davidrowlands441]

Brilliant philomena cunk. Dry, sarcastic extremely funny. Good post. 😂

[@Mr_Fahrenheit]

I understood every word mind you I am from Yorkshire in the uk 😂

[@germantoenglish898]

9:45 It seems to be cut at this part, I think it should be..."Did anybody get so conflicted that they turned on themself?" 🤣

[@M.C.H-MakeChangeHappen89]

She’s brilliant