Viewers React to Sacha Baron Cohen’s ‘Who Is America?’

WHO IS AMERICA? Photo: Gavin Bond/SHOWTIME
Gavin Bond/SHOWTIME

Showtime debuted Sacha Baron Cohen‘s latest social experiment with Who Is America? on Sunday, July 15, and viewers have plenty to say about his new project.

Playing four very different characters, Baron Cohen assumes the identity of Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr., Ph.D; Dr. Nira Cain-N’Degeocello; Rick Sherman; and Erran Morad.

Ruddick Jr. is a conservative who runs a theory-based website TRUTHBRARY.ORG — Baron Cohen and his team even created a real page for the site. Meanwhile Dr. Nira Cain-N’Degeocello is an activist who wants to “heal the divide” in America.

Rick Sherman is an ex-convict who was released from prison after 21 years and is now pursuing an unconventional career in art. Erran Morad is an anti-terrorism “expert” who is advocating for his “kinderguardians” program which advocates for the training of young kids with guns.

Undoubtedly, the first guest — Bernie Sanders — on the show was the most high profile in the episode, and he was interviewed by Baron Cohen’s wheelchair-bound Ruddick Jr., but the episode also featured former congressman Joe Walsh, as well as many other political notables.

In the clip below, Baron Cohen’s character Erran Morad is featured explaining his “kinderguardians” program, in what served as the premiere episode’s longest segment.

So how did America and the rest of the world react to Cohen’s new series, which asks the question, Who Is America? Scroll down to see what they had to say, from good, bad, and everything in between. (Even one of the interviewees was able to admit he was duped by Baron Cohen).