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Danny McBride and other 'The Righteous Gemstones' cast members on what to expect in season 2
Los Angeles — When creator-executive producer-actor Danny McBride created the comedy TV series, “The Righteous Gemstones” in 2019, he didn't know it will be a hit.
The series follows a famous yet dysfunctional family of televangelists and megachurch pastors led by the widowed patriarch Eli Gemstone (portrayed by John Goodman) and his immature children who lead opulent lives funded by church donations. It is now on its second season and has just been renewed for a third. It
The TV comedy series also stars Danny McBride (as Jesse Gemstone, the oldest son of Eli Gemstone and associate pastor of the Gemstone Salvation Center), Cassidy Freeman (Amber Gemstone, Jesse’s wife), Edi Patterson (Judy Gemstone, Eli’s only daughter), Tim Baltz (Benjamin Jason “BJ” Barnes, Judy’s husband), Adam DeVine (Kelvin Gemstone), Tony Cavalero (Keefe Chambers) and Eric Andre (Lyle Lissons).
We were able to interview McBride, Freeman, Patterson, Baltz, Cavalero and Andre by Zoom and below are excerpts of our interviews with them:
Danny McBride
You're also the creator, executive producer, star and composer. Why is this a passion project for you?
Anything I get a chance to work on creatively, I put my all into. I'm very passionate about creation. It's a big opportunity to be able to create a show and populate it with a bunch of people you really care about. You want to make sure everybody looks good, feels good and has fun.
What was your experience in your research on megachurches, and talking to televangelists? What did you learn from them?
It's wild. I grew up going to church, and my family is still very involved in the religious community. But these megachurch pastors, they're like a different breed. They're not what your typical Christian is at all. I find it fascinating.
They're these characters like, what do they think? What's going on in their heads? Just trying to figure out who are the good guys, who are the bad guys, who's on the grift and who's being honest. I don't know, far be it for me to cast judgment on somebody. I get paid to write dick jokes. But it is very interesting. It's a world that feels right for exploration.
South Carolina is also a character in the show. Tell us more about why you chose South Carolina.
I moved to South Carolina a little over four years ago. I love it here. It's a great place to live. I'm raising my family here.
We set the church here and this is where it takes place. Part of it is just out of convenience for me. I don't like to go on location. I make everybody else go on location. But it's a beautiful place to film in, so it felt like a right location to set this family.
Can you tell us a little bit about the arc of your character in season two?
Jesse's up to his old shit again. He can be his own worst enemy. He's made some mistakes in the first season, and he's definitely trying to make amends for those and be more present for his family and for the church. But Jesse's also a little misguided and he's over ambitious. He feels like, hey, I put the work in and now I want the benefits of that. So, he wants to run this church. He wants to have all of these entitlements. Then it's about him dealing with the realities of that.
Talk about John Goodman as your father, Eli Gemstone.
First of all, it's so awesome to get a chance to work with him. He's great. I would never have guessed in a million years that we would've landed him for the show. But it's been great. He's such a talented actor. He's someone I've always looked up to. His career has been so interesting, and he has been involved in so many cool things. Now to have this opportunity to have him be a part of this show in such a significant way, and then to get to know him better as a person and as a friend, it's been just awesome.
Cassidy Freeman
How was it working with Danny as your co-star and executive producer?
It's an absolute dream, to be honest with you. Not only is he incredibly talented and funny, but he also is a really good human. It feels like family, working for this team, and it feels really safe. The only way you can really be that creative is if you feel comfortable and at home.
Your character, Amber, is a pastor’s wife. What qualities should a pastor’s wife have to be able to be successful as a pastor's wife?
Oh man, that's a great question, because I think there's a lot of different types. I think a pastor's wife first and foremost needs to be supportive, needs to know her husband's plan, and needs to be a yes woman. But also, at least I feel Amber, she's got her own agenda to some degree, and she knows her own boundaries. So, I think she needs to be smart, but maybe not show it. If that makes sense.
Can you tell us a little bit about the arc of your character in season two?
Well, season one ends and you're not really sure where their marriage stands. And I think season two is a lot about their alliance, how they choose to come together, if that is strong or not, sort of the rebuilding of their marriage and their trust. And being allies for each other. That feels like the majority of her journey that season.
How was it working with John Goodman as your father-in-law?
John is one of the most diligent, hardworking, hard on himself, but so focused actors. Then along with that he's incredibly humble and down-to-earth. It's really a joy to get to work with him. Sometimes you watch him when he's working, and you go like, I can't really see... You can't see it all the time. It seems really simple.
Then when you see him on screen, you're like, oh my goodness, how did that happen? There's something so innate in him, and truthful, that comes out so clearly on screen. So, getting to watch that in real time, and then getting to see what it turns into, as an actor I think is an incredible opportunity. He's a really cool dude.
Edi Patterson
Why do you think this show is so successful?
This show is successful because it's wild. We're trying things in a different way than other shows are. The show is genuinely hard funny, meaning it's legitimately a comedy, but the dramatic moments are genuinely riveting, and it's got action and suspense, unlike any comedy I've ever seen. There's a lot of ingredients in the soup and I don't think there are a ton of shows that are attempting to do so many things in a giant way.
Why do you think your character, Judy Gemstone, is prone to neurotic and psychotic behavior?
Part of it is Judy probably just came out that way. She probably was born with a little bit of a chip on her shoulder. Just because Jesse was already around, she probably came out a little bit ready to fight. Her mother, who is now deceased, got her and saw her. Now that person is gone. It's an extra, dare me. I can do it. She's constantly got something to prove. Part of that is proving it to her mom.
Can you describe the arc of your character in season two?
I think that you just get a little more of a glimpse into Judy's heart. That's always there, even when she's coming in hot. She's basically a raw nerve and she gets her feelings hurt really easily and is constantly striving. You get to just peek behind the curtain a little bit into the softness that is there. It's just a peek, but you get to see a little bit of her humanity.
Tim Baltz
Why do you think people join mega churches?
That's loaded. Not belonging to one myself, I don't know how accurately I can answer that. But I think that people want a sense of community. They want a sense of belonging, and they want to be part of something bigger than what they are, which I think is also a big reason why people love the show. The scope of the show is really big. And like Edi said, we can play drama because of that scope. And then the hard laughs that come out of it come from some people morbidly watching this rich family implode or try to maintain and protect power.
But I think they love it also because there's a family dynamic to it. Whether you belong to a megachurch or a regular church, or you're just in a town that has those things, you see this family, and you see the dysfunction, and you relate to it. You feel for the person that you relate to, as they're trying to navigate this very complex power dynamic, which is very familiar, but has a lot of money added to it, a lot of power, and a lot of stakes.
Why do you think BJ Barnes, your character, is sticking with Judy Gemstone and do you think he can overcome his intimidation of her soon?
Great question. I think that he sees something in Judy that maybe other people don't see, maybe even that the audience hasn't seen yet, but is starting to see. He really sees her heart. I think that they understand each other in a way that is outside the family structure. When she's behaving in her Judy way around the family, I think he has empathy for that and compassion for it, which makes their bond really unique and solid. It's probably a really sexy, fun time for them behind closed doors too, if I'm being honest.
Can you describe your character in season two?
Season one finishes with BJ finally standing up for himself and asserting himself in his relationship with Judy. So, as a result, he's pushed or pulled into the family dynamic a little bit more. You'll see in episode four that there's a big event where he feels like he's becoming one of the family members. That should give him acceptance, but it doesn't quite give him acceptance.
So, we're watching his road to being accepted by the rest of the family members, what he has to do to prove himself, and how much it takes for him to really feel like, okay, now maybe I'm part of the Gemstone clan.
Tony Cavalero
What do you think makes the show successful?
Danny (McBride), David (Gordon Green) Jody (Hill) and all the writers, they're just able to capture such a unique, real slice of Americana and the hypocrisy of religion and of man and of woman. It's just so true. I feel like everybody can watch this show and find a relatable character, even though there's a lot of dirt bags in there.
Why do you think Keith refers Kelvin as a spiritual leader?
It was so funny because on our last interview we talked about why do we love assholes so much? And I was like, "Well I think Keith is such a pure spirit." And I always explain, I think Keith is like a child, discovering everything for the first time. And I think Kelvin sees that and there is a genuine love between the both of them. And I think Kelvin is the first person to truly see Keith. And I think that that's where the admiration comes and we're not quite sure if it's romantic or fraternal or what it is, but there's certainly a deep admiration and love between the two of those guys.
How do you see the role of Keith in the Gemstone families, rise or fall?
Oh, that's a great question. I think he's desperately wanting to be a part of the family, like BJ would be, or baby Billy. I think he's desperately seeking that role, but I think he also values Kelvin's position in the family. So, I think he's constantly trying to pump Kelvin up with his insecurities, but also trying to find his own place. Like I said, he's just trying to discover who he is entirely. And I think once that happens, who knows what his place is going to be. The sky is the limit for us to cure Keith.
Eric Andre
Why do you think this show is so successful? Why do people relate to it?
The writing's rock solid. I think Danny and his team are brilliant and it's a group of like incredibly smart minds creating what I think is the state of the art of scripted comedy. Which is a dying, a more and more rare thing these days.
What was your initial reaction when you were asked to join the show?
Oh, I was pumped. I'm such a big fan of “Vice Principals” and “Eastbound & Down” and everything those guys do. So, I was hunting them. I kept bugging my agent to get me in the rough house business. I was pumped. I've never been to Charleston, South Carolina before and it's one of my new favorite cities. So, I was really excited, too. It was coming out of quarantine too, so it was nice to work, and shoot. Just be working again after like a year and a half of just drinking white Russians in my bath robe, throwing chicken wings at my flat screen, all depressed.
Janet, do you know how to make sinigang and adobo? I love Filipino food. You won’t get me to shut up if you start talking sinigang. Forget it.
How come you know Filipino food?
I was born and raised in Manila. I had 20 lumpias for breakfast this morning. About to have a heart attack.
When was the last time you were there?
No, I was just kidding. I wasn't born and raised in Manila, but I went there once. It was quite lovely. I had a lot of good food. Lechon. Delicious. The best. — LA, GMA News
