Americans React: Philomena Cunk Being Philomena Cunk | She's Hilarious!

[@sarahlj78]

The experts aren’t aware of the questions. The producers only told the experts to treat and respond to Philomena like she is a child. That’s how they get professional yet generally raw and hilarious reactions from all of them.

[@christophedejonge918]

They had to redo many questions because the experts couldn't stop laughing.

[@youtongtube]

Cunk on America is a must watch

[@ThornyLittleFlower]

Yes yes yes 😂

[@beyond_hope]

+1

[@stevenlagoe7808]

Must! Must! Must!

[@CathyMCFC]

The assination of Lincoln oh my 😂

[@stevenlagoe7808]

@ Bears don't have arms... 😁

[@mwudzy]

This lady was born and raised in my home town, so it's a massive relief to see that something worthwhile finally emerged from there.

[@BronwynReiss]

Cool.

[@faerinaa7186]

The beauty of Philomena, is that the experts were not given prior notice to the questions she would ask, they were just told to engage with her as if she was a young child.

[@chassetterfield9559]

The question about just how much the experts 'know' going into the interviews is a good one. They are genuine experts and academics, they're not meant to be 'actors', so scripting it and expecting them to play responses likely wouldn't work. They clearly know her 'schtick' going in, but I think that they are genuinely floored by the inanity of the questions. Their responses are genuine, and, of course, they will try to set her on the correct path, which just opens up more for her to riff off.

[@seanmc1351]

you describe it as british humour, dead pan, banter, having a laugh, we all do, things we would tell the mate in a pub who is one sandwhich short of a picnic and get him to believe it

[@CoiledBooties]

Growing up being autistic in the UK was a tough slog 😅

[@wolfsheadnorthman]

The Karl Pilikington's of the world! They have to watch Piliky in An Idiot Abroad and the Ricky Gervais show to get the best of the worst of the best - however that would pan out..!

[@Relyx]

The best falsehoods are the ones that have truthful elements. I recently told a friend that the song Ruby by the Kaiser Chiefs was about Ricky Wilson's love for curry, due to Ruby Murray being Cockney rhyming slang for curry. A few days later she was annoyed with me because she'd told someone else and they laughed at her and told her it was bollocks.

[@EmbraceThePing]

She is a Monty Python skit with the world playing the unwitting straight guy. *World walks into room.* World: I'm sorry, I think I'm in the wrong room. Cunk/Cleese: No you don't. You know it.

[@susanashcroft2674]

The bit were she goes on about dying in a car park and showing an actor playing Richard III is that the actual Richard III's remains were found buried in what was a car park (obviously not back in his time). They were exhumed and are now laid to rest in Leicester Cathedral. Although she added the ticket not lifting the barrier bit up for comedic effect, as can you imagine Richard III on his horse at the Battle of Bosworth meeting his fate because he couldn't get the barrier to lift to let him out of the field. 😃

[@ChrisShelley-v2g]

It might have been known as a cart park in his day and the T fell off, who knows?

[@susanashcroft2674]

@@ChrisShelley-v2g 🤣🤣🤣

[@GazGaryGazza]

Some of these clips are far too short and don’t give you the full context or joke.

[@Martianambassador-yc3pi]

Absolutely iconic! Love Diane Morgan!

[@Karl-s4v]

@@Martianambassador-yc3pi I think she is gorgeous on afterlife (if you haven't watched afterlife, I highly recommended it ✌️)

[@Martianambassador-yc3pi]

@ god she’s great in after life, the date she had with Tim key’s character got him so much abuse online - he mentions it in off menu! Also she’s brilliant in motherland - I don’t have kids but it’s a wonderful show.

[@leohickey4953]

@4:34 That's Irving Finkel, a curator of antiquities at the British Museum. He's got a dry sense of humour of his own so I bet he loved being interviewed by Philomena.

[@seulgimagic]

of course a guy named irving finkel is a museum curator lmao😭😭

[@mattsmith5421]

The people she interviews are told beforehand just imagine you're talking to a child.

[@sueturner9468]

Wrong.

[@Chobbito]

@@sueturner9468 they are correct until proven wrong, so enlighten them with the proof

[@Damien3210]

@@Chobbito I mean, by that logic, Sueturner is correct until proven wrong

[@joyceharkin3641]

Diane has said the experts know its a comedy but they don't know what questions she is going to ask.

[@richardedgar9670]

@@joyceharkin3641I can believe that for the later series, but I remember watching the first episode and was interviewing the military historian who’s name eludes me, and he was getting angrier and redder as the interview went on and I swear he didn’t have a clue, and I’d say the same for several others. I may be wrong, but it would make sense to withhold the information initially for shock value to get the programme noticed.

[@gilledwards9302]

Diane Morgan plays one of the mums in ‘Motherland', a comedy about mothers trying to cope with the school run… and the rest of life. It's hilarious!

[@MollyCasey369]

Yeah you really need to watch the full shows. You are bang on , you need to see the full reactions of the experts.. Priceless

[@siberiamorgans]

Love her. Funny funny

[@mattsmith5421]

Its about time, you would love her series cunk on Britain although you might miss some of the jokes as you don't know our history. She also has a cunk on America thats 10 minutes long and is brutal lol

[@richardanderson8696]

I've been following the channel for a few years now. You two are so lovely. You both come across like really good human beings. Glad you found each other.

[@reactingtomyroots]

Thanks Richard, appreciate that. :)

[@tomshehidmusic4227]

Great reaction! I have a feeling you'd like "Idiot abroad." We loved it here in the UK. It's very typical British humour!

[@jeanlongsden1696]

her character is basically a mix of Ali G's reporting and Karl Pilkington's logic.

[@helenwood8482]

That insults her twice.

[@jeanlongsden1696]

@@helenwood8482 how? you do know that she is playing a character ... right?

[@martindunstan8043]

Great description 🤣👍

[@GwentGamer]

Spot on

[@se4307]

@@helenwood8482 Pilkington is a logical genius!

[@PedroConejo1939]

This is a rich vein of clever British humour that I've never (I think) seen anyone else do as well: self-deprecating, deadpan nonsense. It catches out the earnest, but you'll find people doing it all the time here, so it's usually recognised by the British for what it is. When the Beeb first started putting Philomena clips on social media however, so many people not familiar with the type tried to correct her 'facts'. Oh, and the experts sort of know the gig and they're definitely up for it. They're told to respond to her as if she were a child. Sometimes they just can't keep it together, as you saw. I also love Diane Morgan in 'Mandy'.

[@daffodil800]

Diane Morgan (Philomena) is a great comedic actress who's been in shows like Afterlife (Ricky Gervais netflix show) and Motherland on the BBC

[@bear6845]

She was straddling the Greenwich Meridian, at the Royal Observatory, when she was in the future and the past, with associated middle bits

[@sueKay]

I think I'd describe her humour as absurdist. I love her 😂 Cunk on Earth is definitely worth a watch. Her real name is Diane Morgan.

[@chrisward8323]

When she was stood over what looked like a single rail track. That was the Meridian line at Greenwich

[@philhallbrook7008]

'Middle bits!' 😅

[@jessgunn6639]

@@philhallbrook7008 not just that but the wrong side of the planet too! Pmsl

[@barneylaurance1865]

Marillion Line, not meridian line.

[@MattMcQueen1]

@@barneylaurance1865 Sounds fishy.

[@cathrynbagley8005]

@@barneylaurance1865 - definitely meridian line.

[@MollyCasey369]

She's so funny.. Charlie brooker writes this and did an amazing job finding the right lady for the job !

[@Martianambassador-yc3pi]

I remember her and Barry shitpeas from Charlie brooker’s screenwipe ❤

[@benedictnothing]

Most of it is written by Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris, two amazing writers. Their book The Framley Examiner is the funniest thing I've ever read.

[@MollyCasey369]

@benedictnothing oh I didn't know that. Will definitely look for them 😊

[@happycatyoutube]

charlie brooker also wrote the Tv series black mirror, for anyone who was intereested :)

[@margaretmckay-os1sz]

It is very British humour, how the experts manage to keep a straight face, is phenomenal.

[@davidholwell2060]

She is my new favourite character. Cunk on America is unmissable. Thanks guy's. 🎉🎉

[@Zig423]

5:10 she has a bit of both. Some people like Brian cox for example clearly knew who she was. But she is pretty famous. Good friends with Charlie Brooker. So basically if they happen to know her or seen her then ye but in the American one it’s fair to say I don’t think anyone knew her.

[@vaudevillian7]

It’s more parody than satire in that it parodies this type of documentary format

[@Kari_B61ex]

She's Diane Morgan - A very funny actress.

[@hellsbunniestv584]

50% of Two Episode of MASH, with Joe Wilkinson. :)

[@Defender200tdi]

Steve and Lindsay trying to think of the name of Ron Jeremy's doppelganger 😂😂😂

[@martindunstan8043]

I don't know what Ron called his doppelganger either,I seem to remember he was always introducing it to ladies that said oooh ooo,it could be that?🤣👍

[@Defender200tdi]

@@martindunstan8043 Or double barrelled like Harder, Harder?

[@darlks]

In season 1 they where unaware but as the show got big they knew and just went along with it

[@carolineskipper6976]

There are a lot of Philomena Cunk videos on KZbin - most of which are compilations which are edited in ways that aren't really helpful to someone coming to the material new. She began as a 'talking head' character on Charlie Brooker's satirical shows, commenting briefly on specific topics in her own inimitable way (along with a male character 'Barry Shitpeas' doing similar pieces). The creators realised that she could do stand alone whole length 'documentaries' in which she examines bigger topics (eg Cunk's Moments of Wonder, Cunk on Britain, Cunk on America). What you tend to find on YT are collections of tiny snippets edited together, which don't really let a strand develop fully. Her interviews with experts in various fields are several minutes long, but are often cut down to a single interaction, which misses a lot of the conversation. Having said all that- she is still funny in these clips- just the longer the clip the better. If you ever get hold of a whole episode, watch it in full. There are entire episodes on YT. The experts know that what they are going to be participating in is a satirical interview- but are not told what Philomena is going to ask them. Obviously, after the first series aired they would have some idea of how it would go, but they are told to imagine they are being interviewed by a child, and to take her questions seriously.....

[@leohickey4953]

Yes. The Charlie Brooker shows are called _Screenwipe_ , _Gameswipe_ , _Newswipe_ , and _Weekly Wipe_ .

[@carolineskipper6976]

@@leohickey4953 There was also TV Wipe at one point- but not sure if that included Cunk and Shitpeas.

[@mattbentley9270]

She has done so many series now, the experts know she is a character but until the camera is on they have no idea what she is going to do or ask so genuine reactions

[@rachelgrigg4416]

OMG!!! Yes!!! She is amazing! 😂😂

[@holly2786]

she really does make the kind of comments that a 6 year old would make. diane morgan does an amazing job at delivering her lines completely deadpan. i could never

[@debbiemcgowan7447]

Cunk on Life is the funniest yet I think. You've got to watch it!!

[@DT_7757]

There is a video on youtube of her encounters with Professor Brian Cox who is an Astrophysicist but was also the keyboard player in a band -D:ream (Things can only get better) she met him multiple times but he always plays it seriously. Philomena Cunk Vs Brian Cox - 5min 27seconds long.

[@Stewart-m7i]

The Christmas TV special 2024 Cunk on Life was absolutely brilliant. How many ten commandments were there. Great play on our soles being very similar to A***holes.

[@darrendulieu8350]

Shes in "After Life" with Ricky Gervais which is superb! Funny, ridiculous, heartbreaking and thought provoking, your emotions will be in shreds by the end of it, a must watch! Love you guys.👍👍

[@user-ig4ki2hh4x]

Diana Morgan actress was in Ricky Gervais TV show 'after life' and started this character on 'Charlie Brookers weekly wipe'The experts are told it's a character but not told what she will ask and requested to go with the flow

[@yzolakitchi]

So glad you discovered her. Diane Morgan is super talented! Some other bits on YTube for you to check out: Would strongly suggest the short interview she did with Seth Meyers: "Diane Morgan Talks Cunk on Earth, Finding History Boring and Why She Hates Stand-Up" it will give you a little insight. She's a great actress too. Check out her comedy show Mandy where she plays a job hunter with big dreams! "Too short to be cabin crew? There's an operation for that! 😂 | Mandy - BBC" And she's on Afterlife as Kath. "Kath's Best Moments | After Life"

[@probablyaddictedtoyoutube]

Cunk on Earth is peak English humor. Dry and direct.

[@jamesoshea580]

Haha, I absolutely have to watch this!

[@snowfirma5423]

She is so funny ... wonderful humour.

[@benlee8436]

It's a spoof documentary and those are called 'mockumentary'! The one which coined the phrase was the movie 'This Is Spinal Tap', which is an 80s parody of rockumentaries and really worth seeing.

[@cuteandfluffypikachu3405]

First time discovering her she’s hilarious 😂😂😂😂

[@happycatyoutube]

YAY! I'm so happy your're finally covering this! You should react to her american episode!

[@jeanmck1577]

Moments of Wonder is a great place to start with Philomena.

[@uk_paul_6261]

The experts knew this was a spoof but never knew what the questions were going to be

[@ribenasquash]

Funny how so many didn't find it funny.

[@liddad]

​@@ribenasquashThey were told not to laugh and to try to be serious. Apparently the interviews last like an hour and they have to cut out loads

[@ribenasquash]

@@liddad yeah they looked pretty jovial. Well the young girl with the pink hair laughed and they left that in.

[@TombRaiderSyd]

@@ribenasquash She said in interviews the experts do actually break a lot, they just cut it out or go back and re-record it!

[@ribenasquash]

@@TombRaiderSyd in this interview kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2bZgKhqgd2Uh80si=0sKe0Ro8Pd7_rc0u she says they were sometimes a bit angry that she was kind of "making fun of their favourite thing". If they knew then what would be the fun or point? The structure, in case you hadn't noticed, is satire, parody and critique.

[@sandrahughes8645]

You will LOVE reacting to her! X

[@brian554xx]

Stephen Colbert recently interviewed this actress, Dianne Morgan. They mentioned how they both have done a character that requires keeping a straight face.

[@petervenkman69]

In the very early ones the experts didn't know it was a comedy bit, but of course people found out very quickly, so they couldn't keep that up; but the interviews still are not scripted and the people being interviewed are simply told to treat Philomena as if she were a curious child.

[@BazzSelby]

Mmmmmm? Not sure!

[@philb2085]

I think Steve got it. The experts know it's a comedy but the blank looks come from how nuts her questions are? 😂

[@margaretmckay-os1sz]

Philomena is an absolute hoot.

[@glzgowlass]

She is absolutely hilarious. You are going to crack your ribs laughing

[@carolinecrollick6305]

She has also done one on US history too which is so funny too😂❤

[@babyjamesproudmeemaw782]

I love watching both of you react. It's a lot of fun for me

[@abofrey]

The experts absolutely know. The brilliant thing is the way they are willing to get in on the act and pretend to treat her seriously.

[@WendyPrice-r5e]

I've read that they know that they are informed that they are taking part in a comedy show but nothing else, which is why they react so naturally.

[@barneylaurance1865]

@@WendyPrice-r5e I imagine for the last few years most of them would have already watched her on TV at least once though.

[@randomrainbows]

I LOVE Philomena Cunk!

[@benbaker8888]

supreme sarcasm based in satire Philomena Cunk Is the best export we have

[@freemansteinslab]

Im glad you like our Philomena...she's hilarious! Diane Morgan's exceptional deadpan delivery of Charlie Brooker's genius level writing is certainly a winning combination! As for what you would call this type of humour...I would place it in the area of absurdist satire. Not quite as surreal as say Monty Python...but in the same ballpark

[@TheDiplococcus]

I would describe what she does as parody, taking a humorous approach towards the well-established documentary format.

[@johnwilletts3984]

Chunk on America was always my favourite.

[@Someloke8895]

It's the same dry delivery we give most American Tourists, because we sound so convincing, with things like "The Tower of London, a great place...pity it was built under 2 flight paths of major airports" or answering questions with significant sarcastic vibes, such as a Taxi driver being asked "Are you free?" "No, I'm afraid I always charge"

[@banginghats2]

Elizabethan family tree program, "Who dost thou thinkest thou art", LOL.

[@kathleenhyde771]

The man that reminded you of an actor is Jay Rayner who is a journalist and food critic

[@brigidsingleton1596]

And his late Mum, Claire Rayner was a well-known "Agony Aunt"... I liked her. Claire Rayner R.I.P.

[@philhallbrook7008]

Everybody has filled you in. Just saying Hi for yr algorithm. Thanks guys. Oh, a mockumentary?

[@fayekendrick]

Diane morgan who plays philomena also has a show called Mandy with a similar vibe/humour, would definitely recommend that series the episodes are short!

[@redrumtruecrime]

In the beginning the experts didn't know the full extent of the comedy, but after the first series the cat was out the bag‼️ Charlie Brooker and Diane Morgan revealed this talking on a panel show‼️ Glad you found her hilarious, true comedy genius, some of which Diane had to make up on the fly. 😂😂😂😂❤

[@dondappa7637]

Greatest comedy in the world 🌎 and quite simply the best way to describe it is "British" 🇬🇧. You should watch her video about America 🇺🇸 it's hilarious 😂

[@kookycat9663]

Morning guys, from Northern Ireland! Hope you get to see my comment & that it doesn't get lost in the masses of others! 😁😍 Lindsey, your laugh is so contagious! Your hair is gorgeous today! Not that it isn't normally lovely, it's just sitting really well & the style really suits you! If you are able to get access to them, could u please do a reaction to 'Derry Girls'! It's a good portrayal of what it was like here in N.Ireland, back in the '90s... I was the same age during the same time period, as the characters are supposed to be & the series is set! I can see a little of me in each character's personas... My friends & I would have been so similar to them, just 'hanging about' in our town, getting into silly situations etc... The clothes etc is exactly the same as what I would have been wearing & though 'The Troubles' were still going, we still just got on with our own things, just like other teens! I would say to check out other videos portraying live here... There are some here on KZbin... A couple to look out for are 'Give My Head Some Peace' & 'The Blame Game' ... The Blame game is a panel type show... 3 comedians from the North, 1 from the South & 1 guest comedian from elsewhere within the UK. It might be harder to follow though as it's them discussing issues in the news & people's random questions about issues happening at that time... BUT.... You should check out a couple clips:- 1 called 'Flegs'... is about different flags you would likely see on houses/attached to streetlights/around the main shopping areas of towns & cities etc... Theres a couple different versions of another 1... 'Ardoyne march'/'Drumcree'/'Orangeman parade'... About the issues Orange Order parades each year... though it's alot better now, compared to the tensions 'back in the day', so to speak... There are a lot of other videos here on KZbin about the 12th July public holiday, but this show, shows what extremely dry, satire sense of humour we have here! If you have ever thought the folk from England, Scotland or Wales have a dry sense of humour, they are nothing compared to the folk here! I'm sure there are a lot of other videos about Northern Ireland on here you could check out... I don't think you have reacted too much about here. I know Steve, you covered 1 about 'The Troubles' a while ago, before Lindsey joined you... Please please do some more reactions to our beautiful wee country!?!?!?! 🤞🏼🙏🏼🥰

[@miguelagramos]

She is gold!!!

[@JeanBeech-gc4iw]

She has her way about her that you can't help loving.

[@MichaelYoder-e8g]

They knew it was comedy, but didn't know the questions or her reactions. DIane Morgan is a brilliant comic.

[@allisoncoe4287]

Her interviews with Brian Cox are the best!

[@Stannington]

Cunk on Christmas is a good one

[@Cheapass-tro]

You two couldn't have chosen a better introduction to Philamena Cunk. It's quick paced and will no doubt leave you wanting for more. This is a must!

[@FixTheLanes]

You should start with Cunk on America first, that way you'll understand a lot of the context better. This type of comedy is often referred to as a "Mockumentary" (mocking documentary)

[@afc358]

The Jason Segal 'lookalike' is Jay Rayner, a food critic and journalist. His mother, Claire Rayner, was famous here in the UK as an agony aunt (advice columnist)

[@FortheLoveofMonsters]

Every time the woman says she wants to be like Cunk, I laugh. 😂 The main criticism of the show that people have is that Cunk makes being stupid look fun. 😂😂😂

[@Great-Documentaries]

Please watch complete episodes. So much is lost in these short clips.

[@alicejackson9463]

I LOVVVVE her character, it's so bloody funny

[@klinikle5445]

Nothing ruins comedy like analysing it!

[@Yandarval]

If you want to get into the weeds. Cunk is socratic irony. Socratic irony is the technique of posing simple questions, as if one were ignorant, to expose the ignorance or flaws in others’ arguments. The irony lies in the fact that by feigning ignorance, you can lead people to reveal their own misunderstandings or contradictions, encouraging deeper reflection and critical thinking. This method is a key part of the Socratic method of teaching and dialogue.

[@StevenJennings-x8w]

Diane Morgan aka Philomena Cunk is a fantastic comedian!!!

[@midnightfox6723]

She is also the main character in a show called 'Mandy' which is a good watch as well as 'Motherland'. Definitely worth giving those two a viewing.

[@gavinmcmahon235]

Her name is Diane Morgan. She’s fairly popular in the UK. Motherland is one of her great shows. She also leads Mandy. Both of which are England-centric in terms of culture. A recommendation for Ireland as an Irish person? That’d be Derry Girls

[@edelgyn2699]

Excellent recommendations.

[@leohickey4953]

@11:30 "Jason Segel" is Jay Rayner, a well-known restaurant critic over here. He's done lots of TV work, so I bet he figured out straight away what the deal was and played along anyway. In fact, I suspect that's a key part of it. None of the interviewees are formally "in on it", but some have already met Diane before, or have watched her shows, or guess during the interview and just go with it, others may be completely spooked but don't know how to back out or think it too rude to tell her she's an idiot. Very funny either way.

[@anthonydarby3973]

Also check her out in the BBC comedy series, Motherland, brilliant 👏 👌

[@aaroncunningham3000]

She started the character in Charlie Brookers Screen Wipe (or one of the “something” Wipes), you should check them all out. Barry Shitpeas is in them too.

[@bookswithike3256]

These are all the Cunk series I'm aware of: Philomena Cunk's Moments of Wonder Cunk on Britain Cunk on Earth and the most recent, Cunk on Life, which was a Christmas special. I'd recommend watching Cunk on Britain and Cunk on Earth.

[@joyzerelly]

It's brilliant. And a lot of the humour is relevant to british general knowledge that I'd imagine would go over a lot of Americans' heads.

[@richardanderson8696]

Cunk stuff is actually genuinely good history too - it's actually got a lot of educational, factual content from the experts, with her comedy character driving it forward. It's a really entertaining combination. The character was written by Charlie Brooker - the man behind Black Mirror on Netflix amongst many other things.

[@flumpah]

Funny is how I would describe it

[@Lily33McC]

Funny you made a connection to Ricky Gervais in the office. The lady who plays Philomena Cunk is a comedy actress - Diane Morgan and she is in Ricky’s series called Afterlife. She’s also in a series called Motherland which is on Netflix! Great reaction ❤❤❤

[@AlexByth]

Now I think about it, she's in the David Brent movie too, a small part but hilarious as ever.

[@castle0891]

So funny! Glad you’ve found her! I think it started as the experts not knowing her, but now most brits are savvy enough to go along with it seriously too. Both funny either way!

[@wrennature5645]

I'd love you both to react to a comedy panel show called Would I Lie to You. If you decide to watch some compilations of this show (many on KZbin), it might be worth looking up the premise of the show first.

[@CarolWoosey-ck2rg]

Love Diane she is so hilarious 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@cheryltotheg2880]

Lindsey’s hair looks lovely ❤

[@davidandalyson1803]

Dian Morgan is so good the first thing I saw her as was Mandy. So funny you should watch it.

[@ronuss]

i feel like people outside the uk like cunk more than us brits. she is pretty much just a polite sarcastic ali g

[@paulyoung8108]

Philomena, Dunning- Kreuger, in effect,😆😉🤣