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Holy high rollers
Greedy, seedy evangelists take center stage in ‘The Righteous Gemstones’
By Kyla Brewer
TV Media
T
elevangelism allows millions
of Christians to celebrate their
faith through the magic of televi-
sion. For many, it’s a saving grace.
However, a new comedy takes
a look at what happens when
a morally corrupt family dupes
good and honest people into
parting with their hard-earned
money, all in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
John Goodman (“The Con-
ners”) stars as Eli Gemstone, the
patriarch of a family of televan-
gelists prone to deviance and
greed, in the new comedy “The
Righteous Gemstones,” premier-
ing Sunday, Aug. 18, on HBO. The
series follows the world-famous
family as they pursue wealth un-
der the guise of serving Jesus.
The series was created by
Danny McBride (“Vice Principals),
who also co-stars, writes and di-
rects some of the episodes. While
it may seem as if the new comedy
is poised to make fun of Christian-
ity, McBride has insisted that “The
Righteous Gemstones” is in no
way meant to ridicule religion.
Instead, it’s a satirical look at a
family that doesn’t practice what
they preach.
“I would not pass judgment on
other people,” McBride explained
at this summer’s Television Critics
Association press tour as quoted
in a July article on ew.com. “For
us, it’s about lampooning a hypo-
crite, lampooning somebody who
presents themselves one way and
is not that way.”
An unscrupulous, unyielding
church leader known the world
over for his aggressive salva-
tion techniques and popular TV
program, Eli definitely fits the
bill of “hypocrite”. The merciless
patriarch doesn’t take any guff
from anyone, especially his grown
children. His light may be starting
to fade, but the other Gemstones
are ready to take up the charge.
Eli’s eldest son, Jesse (McBride),
is the heir apparent to his father’s
televangelist empire. He hopes to
modernize their ministry for to-
day’s audience as he tries to blaze
2 | Screentime
his own path. Eli’s other son,
Kelvin (Adam Devine, “Workahol-
ics”), represents the new gen-
eration of devotees with his hip
hairstyle and edgy fashion. Mean-
while, Eli’s daughter, Judy (Edi
Patterson, “Partners”), stands in
the shadows of her brothers and
father as they take the lead in the
chauvinistic church.
The new comedy features a
roster of supporting players who
help bring the story to life. Jesse’s
wife, Amber (Cassidy Freeman,
“Smallville”), gave up a career in
journalism to focus on her family
and the church. Judy’s fiancé, BJ
(Tim Baltz, “Shrink”), struggles to
find his place among the eccen-
tric Gemstone family. Ex-Satanist
Keefe Chambers (Tony Cavalero,
“School of Rock”) has been
dedicated to serving the Lord
and the Gemstones since Kelvin
saved him from evil. Meanwhile,
Eli relies on the sage counsel of
conservative friend Martin Imari
(Greg Alan Williams, “Remember
the Titans,” 2000).
“The Righteous Gemstones”
is undoubtedly one of the most
highly anticipated summer series,
in no small part thanks to Good-
man’s casting. One of the rare
talents equally praised for his
dramatic work and his comedic
appearances, Goodman is practi-
cally prime-time gold. He rose
to fame as Dan Conner in the
original run of the ABC sitcom
“Roseanne,” which aired from
1988 to 1997, and later reprised
his role in the 2018 revival of the
series. The show has since been
retooled without Barr as “The
Conners,” which is set to return
for a second season this fall. His
other television work includes
memorable roles in “The West
Wing” and HBO’s “Treme.” On
the big screen, he’s known for
his frequent collaborations with
Joel and Ethan Coen, having
appeared in their films “Raising
Arizona” (1987), “Barton Fink”
(1991), “The Big Lebowski”
(1998) and “O Brother, Where
Art Thou” (2000), among oth-
ers. Goodman is also famous
for his work in such popular
mainstream movies as “The Flint-
August 14, 2019 | East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald
Cassidy Freeman in a scene from “The Righteous Gemstones”
stones” (1994) and “Monsters,
Gemstones,” alongside David
of the stars and co-creators of
Inc.” (2001).
Gordon Green (“Halloween,”
“Workaholics” and his namesake
Just as the return to HBO
2018), who directs a few episodes television series “Adam Devine’s
is a homecoming of sorts for
of the new HBO series as well.
House Party.” Texas native Pat-
Goodman, “The Righteous
McBride directed the show’s pilot, terson should be familiar to “Vice
Gemstones” marks a milestone
which was ordered in June 2018.
Principals” fans as Ms. Abbott,
for McBride. He and longtime
By October, it was clear that HBO
while Freeman is best known
collaborator Jody Hill (“Observe
had faith in the series when it was for her role as Tess Mercer in the
and Report,” 2009) have worked
announced the cable channel had superhero drama “Smallville.”
on two other successful comedies given the show a series order.
Cavalero had big comedy shoes
for the cable giant: the sports
Goodman and McBride’s
to fill when he played Dewey Finn
comedy “Eastbound & Down”
castmates in “The Righteous
in Nickelodeon’s television ver-
and the high school spoof “Vice
Gemstones” are all gems in their
sion of “School of Rock,” a role
Principals.” They’re both execu-
own right. Devine is well known
portrayed by Jack Black in the
tive producers for “The Righteous to the Comedy Central set as one
original 2003 film. Baltz has been
a regular in Comedy Central’s
“Drunk History” and “The Oppo-
sition With Jordan Klepper.”
Watch as Goodman, McBride
and the rest of the cast breathe
life into the shady televangelist
Gemstones in the debut of “The
Righteous Gemstones,” airing
Sunday, Aug. 18, on HBO. The first
season of HBO’s newest com-
edy features just nine episodes,
including the hour-long season
premiere, which will be followed
by half-hour editions subsequent
Sundays.