Sacha Baron Cohen's Who Is America? gets Roy Moore to sweat an ersatz pedophile-detection wand


Roy Moore, the former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice and failed Republican Senate candidate, already spoiled the ending of his appearance on Sacha Baron Cohen's new Showtime series Who Is America? — Moore said in a statement earlier this month that he'd walked out of a sit-down with the British comedian and might sue Showtime if it broadcast the "defamatory" interview "to defend my honor and character against vicious false political attacks by liberals like Cohen." But until Sunday night, it wasn't clear what prompted Moore's embarrassment and threats of legal action. It turns out it was being slyly accused of having a scientifically verified case of pedophilia.
On Sunday night's show, Cohen — disguised as Gen. Erran Morad, an "anti-terror expert" with a thick Israeli accent — tells Moore that the Israeli military has developed a pedophile-detection wand now used at Israel schools. "It turns out that sex offenders, and particularly pedophiles, secrete an enzyme, 4dDHT, which is actually detectable — it is three times the level of non-perverts," Cohen told Moore, before bringing out the wand. You can watch the predictable results below, plus Cohen's not-quite-subtle ribbing of Moore about Alabama's history of racism. All things considered, Moore is pretty polite while the cameras are rolling. Peter Weber
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
5 cracking cartoons about the new Cracker Barrel logo
Cartoons Artists take on MAGA designs, real issues, and more
-
Should you downsize for retirement? Here's what to consider.
The Explainer Moving to a smaller place may seem easier, but there are also some real benefits to staying put
-
What to do if you want to move but don't want to give up your low mortgage rate
the explainer 30-year mortgage rates are currently averaging 7% — and homeowners who secured rates closer to 3% during the pandemic are reluctant to sell their homes
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclub
Speed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's ills
Speed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone
Speed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's view
Speed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk
Speed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
A long weekend in Zürich
The Week Recommends The vibrant Swiss city is far more than just a banking hub
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle