Who is America? LIVE: Roy Moore fails a 'paedophile detector test' on Sacha Baron Cohen show

Tonight Showtime airs the third episode of Who Is America?, a show that might be Sacha Baron Cohen’s most audacious project yet.

We’ve already seen former Dick Cheney, Bernie Sanders and Dana Rohrabacher be fooled by the comedian, and we know Sarah Palin and Roy Moore are still to come – will tonight be their turn for humiliation?

So far we’ve seen the characters Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr., PhD, Dr. Nira Cain-N’Degeocello, Rick Sherman, Erran Morad and Gio Monaldo get people to publicly back absurd initiatives, and episode 3 very possibly might introduce a new absurdist caricature.

Episode 2 was stronger and sharper than one, climaxing with a hilarious scene in which the residents of Trump-voting small town were informed by Dr. Nira that the millions of dollars worth of investment in their town would come in the form of America’s largest Mosque.

Can Baron Cohen top this stunt? Watch along with me below as I give my thoughts on the episode and fill you in on all the notable people who unwittingly participate.

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load:

New updates availableRefresh

02:37

In one of our most-read news stories this week, the mayor Kingman, Arizona is NOT happy about last week's episode

‘Who Is America?’ town releases statement trying to justify racist comments from locals

02:44

The impact of this show is huge already. One Democratic political candidate is even using the incumbent Republican's appearance on the show against him in official campaign messaging.

02:44

We're 15 minutes away. Americans can watch on Showtime at 10pm ET, Brits will have to wait until tomorrow night when it's broadcast on Channel 4.

02:51

Surprise, surprise, the killjoys over at Vox don't like the show.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s new show arrives with a swirl of outrage-driven hype. Don’t believe it.

02:52

I think it's fun though. Episode 2 in particular. I only wish it more effective in satirising liberals - the Bernie Sanders segment was weak.

02:59

Less Billy Wayne Ruddick, more Erran Morad and Dr. Nira Cain-N'Degeocello tonight pls

03:02

We're off, and it's Roy Moore first up!

03:06

He gets pranked with a "paedophile detector". The jig was quickly up though, felt like a bit of a missed opportunity there.

03:11

Just a downright bizarre segment there.

03:13

Sacha just can't resist a good dick joke can he. Every opportunity.

03:16

I love the idea of guacamole as a lure

03:16

I mean it would work on me

03:17

Oh my God he got the redneck in a prom dress

03:18

The real heroes of this show are the producers and handlers who must spend ages convincing participants this is a real show.

03:20

Amazing.

 

03:24

Dr. Nira's rap battle was good fun, but a disappointing episode on the whole.

03:26

The Bible Belt Republican baiting feels too easy by this point, and skewering politicians who are no longer really in the frame seems like a bit of a pointless exercise.

03:27

Difficult though they'd be to get, this show needs a Sarah Huckabee Sanders or a Jeff Sessions

03:29

Or going a little outside the box, an internet thought leader. A Pod Save America bro or a performatively woke celebrity

03:35

I feel like I've seen a Republican politician persuaded to endorse an absurdly racist initiative so many times. Let's see a Democratic politician backing a drive to make hugs be simulated with no actual touching to avoid any possible sexual misconduct or some nonsense.

Next

Follow Independent Culture on Facebook.