Showtime’sWho Is America?,Sacha Baron Cohen‘s politically charged docu-style comedy, will not return for a second season, the star has confirmed.
During an episode ofThe Hollywood Reporter‘sAwards Chatterpodcastreleased Wednesday,Cohen, 47, told host Scott Feinberg that more episodes weren’t in the cards.
“I will never be able to get apoliticianto bare his buttocks while screaming ‘God Bless America!’ and screaming the N-word,” the comedian said, a reference to Georgia State Rep. Jason Spencer’s actions on the program, which prompted calls for his resignation, in July. (He resigned a few weeks later.)
Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP; David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock
The father of three — he’s married to actressIsla Fisher— also revealed that to continue the show, he’d need to create more characters, and he didn’t really have any more up his sleeve. He assumed different personas throughout all seven episodes in the series.
“It’s likeThe Ali G Showin England — I did one season. And the idea is not to make it aSeinfeldor anSNL,” he explained, adding that getting into costume was also a challenge.
“It is grueling … I’m too lazy to do this,” he said.
Reps from Showtime declined to comment.
On a panel in August, however, the network’s CEO David Nevins said he was “dying to bring [Who Is America?]back,”Deadline reports. He also called the show “a risk I am really glad we took.”
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The limited series was filmed in secret and was only announced weeks before its premiere,according toThe Hollywood Reporter. Its goal was to get a range of politicians, celebrities and regular people to say ridiculous things on camera, and several litigations are still pending against him and the network as a result.
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On the July 29 episode, Moore sat down with Cohen, who pretended to be an Israeli security expert named Erran Morad, to discuss the development of a machine that detects pedophiles.
Gavin Bond/Showtime
“I’ve been married for 33 years. Never had an accusation of such things… Certainly, I’m not a pedophile, okay?” Moore said before exiting the room.
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“This false and fraudulent portrayal and mocking of Judge Moore as a sex offender, on national and international television, which was widely broadcast in this district on national television and worldwide, has severely harmed Judge Moore’s reputation and caused him, Mrs. Moore, and his entire family severe emotional distress, as well as caused and will cause Plaintiffs financial damage,” the lawsuit states according to the outlets.
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Although Moore did sign a release before going on the show, he alleges he signed it under false pretenses. He originally thought he was being brought on to accept an award for his support of Israel.
More recently, in December, the politician filed a contention saying that he was “fraudulently induced” to appear on the show,Deadline reports. Showtime, Cohen and CBS Corporation have until Jan. 4 to reply.
source: people.com
