Cunk On Earth: dry British documentary parody co-written by Charlie Brooker

Submitted by tlvrtm t3_10q84m7 in television

So it’s been quite a few months (years?) since a show on Netflix* has floored me, but this one is well worth checking out.

Charlie Brooker (Black Mirror and much more) co-wrote this and it features British comedian Diane Morgan.

Think if Borat was a ditzy British woman sent out by the BBC with unlimited access to make a documentary on the history of Earth, even though she thinks history is boring. Littered with false facts, mispronunciations, absurd detours and perplexed historians, Philomena Cunk will teach you something, at some point. Presumably.

The really good news? No “stick in there for 4 episodes, I promise gets really good in episode 5”. In 10 minutes you’ll know if you’re in for the ride.

* local distributors may vary

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Comments

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Andrew1990M t1_j6pg4kx wrote

"School was much easier in Shakespeare's time, because none of the kids had to learn about Shakespeare."

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Archamasse t1_j6ogvts wrote

"Where does your lap go when you stand up?"

Morgan's performance as Cunk is incredible.

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HandLion t1_j6p5xvm wrote

And to think it aired just 33 years after the release of Belgian techno anthem Pump Up The Jam

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TatteredCarcosa t1_j6p1z68 wrote

Cunk is an amazing character. I hate the interview segments though, so much sympathetic embarrassment for me. Her performance is hilarious and the voice over bits and documentary parody are dead on, but goddamn I cringe into a ball watching her talk to actual experts. I know they are aware it's a joke and no one is being mocked or actually embarrassed, but it just makes me so tense to see.

Edit: Even through the immense discomfort "So King Arthur came a lot, didn't he?," absolutely floored me laughing.

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tlvrtm OP t1_j6p2awe wrote

I don’t actually think they’re aware, a few go along with it but she’s not that well known and I bet the BBC just arranged the interviews saying it was for a documentary.

And yeah I’ve had 2-3 times where I just felt plain bad for the interviewee (when she’s being kinda rude to them) but I felt they worked well otherwise.

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KnotSoSalty t1_j6ou5r6 wrote

Cunk on Britain is also excellent.

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PresidentNathan t1_j6oerqt wrote

Just finished the first episode, I could not stop laughing. I had seen some of the shorts on Instagram and thought them funny but this show is too damn good.

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tlvrtm OP t1_j6ogc1k wrote

I’ve been a fan of hers since she showed up in Brooker’s Yearly Wipes, they’re well worth checking out. She also did a series on England.

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HoneyBadgerEXTREME t1_j6orj5l wrote

Just to let you know, its not actually a netflix show. It's a BBC show thats on Netflix in the US

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tlvrtm OP t1_j6oshqu wrote

Yeah definitely just bought by Netflix, but it’s on there in some European countries as well. Not sure about UK. Are you still European?

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Archamasse t1_j6ph5qq wrote

One of my very favourite bits of Cunk - her quick 3 minute Moments of Wonder bit about the nature of Time -

https://youtu.be/NvpbW7JRu0Q

I think something that, subconsciously, makes her work especially well for me is that she speaks in such a similar tone and cadence to Professor Brian Cox (who she has interviewed).

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SynthD t1_j6oo7r2 wrote

There are some great “yes and” in British science, like Brian Cox.

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HalpTheFan t1_j6oow2f wrote

I do hope Black Mirror 6 comes back this year. Brooker's words are sorely missed from the world.

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Maxwyfe t1_j6pglhv wrote

Snowed in today and binged this and it was hysterical.

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