Who Is America? Sacha Baron Cohen returns to Channel 4 with secret undercover US series
David Farnor | On 10, Jul 2018
Imagine if Sacha Baron Cohen had been undercover secretly filming a new show for a year. That’s how the trailer begins for the comedian’s return to TV, and it’s one that immediately gets your attention – the creator of Borat covertly filming a programme about America during the era of Donald Trump? It’s the kind of potentially incendiary project that few people on our screens can manage.
Filmed for Showtime in the US, the satirical half-hour series sees Cohen back on the small screen for the first time in more than a decade, with seven episodes that will ask a simple question: Who is America? The show will explore the diverse individuals, from the infamous to the unknown across the political and cultural spectrum, who populate the unique nation. The show is created and executive produced by Baron Cohen and is also executive produced by Anthony Hines, Todd Schulman, Andrew Newman, Dan Mazer and Adam Lowitt. Cohen appeared to allude to some kind of Trump-related project earlier this month, when he tweeted his video on Independence Day:
A message from your President @realDonaldTrump on Independence Day pic.twitter.com/O2PwZqO0cs
— Sacha Baron Cohen (@SachaBaronCohen) July 4, 2018
Now, we finally know more, with the series marking a return by Cohen to his roots. The two-time BAFTA winner burst onto the comedy scene years ago with Da Ali G Show, before creating Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, which led to an Oscar nomination for his feature film’s Adapted Screenplay. More serious acting credits followed, including Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Les Miserables, Bruno, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Hugo. Who is America? also marks a return to Channel 4, the home of Ali G, with the broadcaster set to air his new series.
“Sacha is a comedic genius who shocks you with his audacity, bravery and inventiveness,” says David Nevins, President and CEO of Showtime Networks Inc. “He is the premier provocateur of our time, but not for the sake of ‘gotcha’ moments. Behind the elaborate setup is a genuine quest for the truth about people, places and politics. Nobody knows how to cause a stir like Sacha Baron Cohen, and it’s going to be fascinating to watch what happens when Who is America? is released on the world.”
Teasers have landed online in the last few days, with Channel 4 teasing a top secret series over the weekend, before the announcement was officially made – accompanied by an interview clip by the undercover actor, which sees Dick Cheney agree to sign a waterboarding kit.
— Sacha Baron Cohen (@SachaBaronCohen) July 8, 2018
The most exciting part? We won’t have to wait long to see it: Who is America? will premiere at 10pm on Monday 16th July.