Putting the Fun into Fundamental
Episode 4: Watching Jew, Watching Me
The fourth programme in Channel 4's Putting the Fun Into Fundamental series seems guaranteed to get under presenter Elliott Gerner's skin. Gerner is Jewish and in this episode, called Watching Jew, Watching Me, he is investigating an antisemitic website which publishes a list of prominent Jews and asks people to 'keep a close watch on' them. The list includes many entertainment industry stars, such as Steven Spielberg, Bob Dylan, Woody Allen, Lisa Minnelli and Ringo Starr. But, as Gerner notes to his dismay, it doesn't include him.
Puzzled by the list's inclusion of non-Jews like Elvis Presley, Gerner travels to Memphis, Tennessee, to meet DJ and broadcaster George Klein. Klein knew Elvis in the 1950s. In fact they were so close that Elvis was best man at his wedding. Klein confirms that Elvis was partly Jewish. Then, to get into the spirit of showbiz, Gerner and his director Andy Lee make a recording of 'That's All Right Mama' at the legendary Sun Studios, where Elvis made his debut in 1954 with the same song.
In New York, they meet veteran comedian Jackie Mason, and discuss the contribution of Jews to the entertainment industry, which goes back to Tin Pan Alley in the 1890s and Hollywood in the 1920s. Mason suggests that because of prejudice many Jews have an inferiority complex and, as a result, are strongly motivated to succeed. While Mason is sceptical about the force of antisemitism in the United States, he thinks it's a bad idea to give antisemitic websites any publicity.
Then Gerner travels to Florida to meet Don Black, a former head of the Ku Klux Klan, and the man responsible for one of many pernicious websites that fuel antisemitism which has links to an established 'white pride' website. Although Florida has the largest Jewish population outside New York, Gerner and his crew are understandably nervous about the meeting.
Don Black was once jailed for two years for plotting an armed coup against the government of the Dominican Republic government, but while in prison he learnt the computer skills to set up his website. He argues that Jews, who he claims are liberal in their social and political attitudes, are undermining traditional Western values. Although Black attempts to be rational in defence of his views, one expression that he uses – 'the so-called Holocaust' – suggests that he is sympathetic to Holocaust deniers. Finally, he says he'll try to get Gerner's name on the website's list.
