You really need to look this woman up and listen to her interviews. Because her routine is that she will find actual experts in various fields and then bring them into joke interviews, that they believe are completely serious. And then she delivers the most absurd questions the most straight-faced professional sounding monotone possible, and then watch people try to answer those questions without getting mad, blowing off the interview, or asking if this is a joke...

As they are lead to believe that it is serious and they don't want to look unprofessional or be the rude person.

[–] Marbles@discuss.tchncs.de 73 points 10 months ago (1 children)

This is not true. The experts know in advance its a comedy thing, they just dont know what the questions will be.

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 10 months ago

Most of them have been on her shows multiple times, as well. So they tend to have previous experience with her, on top of already being aware.

[–] ryven@lemmy.dbzer0.com 47 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I get really bad embarrassment squick (watching other people in uncomfortable situations makes me very uncomfortable) and this show is 100% unwatchable, which means it is definitely hilarious for anyone who isn't afflicted by a similar condition.

[–] ApfelstrudelWAKASAGI@feddit.de 21 points 10 months ago (2 children)

No clue how you got that impression. I suffer from the same second-hand emabarassment as well (which prevents me from enjoying most western 'look at how stupid and dumb and embarassing the MCs are'-comedies), but its not being triggered in the slightest by her. The interviewees 100% percent know that they're being fucked with.

[–] blindsight@beehaw.org 3 points 10 months ago

Yeah, I don't think anyone is confused that it's a comedy interview, are they? I can't imagine they can do it all in one take without anyone cracking up.

She's a reasonably famous comedian since The IT Crowd, too.

[–] teuniac_@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

I feel the same way. She is also way too well known for any expert to be fooled into thinking it's going to be a serious interview

[–] DharkStare@lemmy.world 10 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I'm the same. I watched about 1 min of one of her interviews and had to turn it off due to all the second hand embarrassment I was feeling.

[–] naevaTheRat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 10 months ago

They're in on the joke to a degree. They know it's a comedy show but nothing more.

Some of them have so much fun playing straight man. The philosopher, the military history guy who comforts her when she mock cries on finding out nukes still exist, and the "Jesus was the first victim of cancel culture" religious scholar all come to mind.

[–] hydrospanner@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

I never knew this was "a thing", but I guess I have a form of it.

I absolutely, positively cannot watch The Office, but Cunk on Earth? It is one of the few comedy things lately that's had me absolutely rolling.

[–] pineapplelover@lemm.ee 16 points 10 months ago

Cunk on Earth is brilliant

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 15 points 10 months ago

Case in point

[–] Cringe2793@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Do they really think it's serious? I thought they knew it was a joke, but try to answer as seriously as possible

[–] LemmysMum@lemmy.world 9 points 10 months ago

No, they are told to answer honestly and truthfully as if the questions were genuine, this is brilliant because it makes them the perfect "straight man" for the act.

[–] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 11 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Basically an updated take on Brass Eye (which is absolutely a compliment)

[–] veroxii@aussie.zone 9 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Ali G and Borat would like a word too.

[–] CorneliusTalmadge@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Ali G: I got a mate he’s called dangerous Dave and he says he’s taken 22 e’s in one night.

Such a great show.