Megachurches is the way to go (Picture: HBO)

From pastors taking private jets to ministers living in opulent mansions, the idea of megachurches in the US has always been an idea that boggled the minds of many.

With a big following comes a big income as well as the ability to get away with almost anything, and Danny McBride knew just that when creating The Righteous Gemstones.

The HBO show – which also stars Edi Patterson and Adam DeVine – follow a Southern family of televangelists and megachurch pastors who live luxurious lifestyles funded by their followers.

Danny knew exactly how to create the project in a way he could make fun of religious swindlers all while still respecting the belief.




Speaking to Metro.co.uk, the 43-year-old explained: ‘We didn’t get any big push back from the religious world, when usually when people try to mess around with religion, it can really upset people.

‘But I think it’s because we try to be really thoughtful in our approach. At no point did we ever try to act like we’re trying to judge people for their beliefs or make fun of them for what they believe in.’

He continued: ‘We talked about it before but it’s like I don’t know enough about what I believe in to sit here and waste my time knocking someone else’s beliefs.’

The sideburns were a necessary final touch (Picture: HBO)

Furthermore, they didn’t have to throw jabs at the Christian religion to create the outrageous scenes from wave pool baptisms to secret cocaine and stripper parties.

Edi (Judy Gemstone) added: ‘I get so many messages from people who currently are involved in the church world – whether its megachurches or their spouse grew up in a megachurch or they grew up with regular church.

‘They really identify with the show because they get the fun thing of “that’s exactly what it is. You guys nailed that”.’

All it takes is one look at news headlines to see that, in fact, leaders of these megachurches really are out here taking private jets on holiday while their luxury-brand cars sit in their garages.

The characters become your close-but-annoying cousins that you grew to love when you quickly realise they’re just trying to please their father Dr Eli Gemstone, played by none other than John Goodman.

However, in real life, the life of appeasing the church isn’t always so virtuous and straightforward.

Discussing on growing up in a super religious household, Danny touched upon the hypocrisy that comes with some of these types of organisations.

Adam DeVine, Edi Patterson and Danny are the Gemstone siblings (Picture: HBO)

‘We were very involved with the church. My mum did puppet ministry she wrote these little skits and used these puppets, she was in on it,’ the Pineapple Express actor began. ‘We were at church all the time, Wednesdays, Sundays, we like lived there.

‘And then my parents got divorced and then the church completely isolated my mum even though she gave all this time. It was my first look into the hypocrisy of it all.



‘It’s crazy that my mum gave all this time, I’ve been here all this time and my mum has given all this time and because her marriage didn’t work out, you have no interest in supporting her.’

He went on: ‘We stopped going to church after that, and haven’t been back since. And I wasted those Sundays god damn it.’

The Righteous Gemstones is on Sky Comedy and NOW TV from 5 February at 9pm. NOW TV is the exclusive home of HBO box sets and originals in the U.K.

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