Actor and writer Danny McBride critiques Hollywood's stereotypical portrayals of Southern characters, sharing his experiences as a Georgia native navigating the industry. He feels that roles offered to him were often one-dimensional caricatures, an experience he sought to change through his show, The Righteous Gemstones. This dark comedy dives into the lives of a dysfunctional family of televangelists, blending humor with sharp commentary. While poking fun at stereotypes, McBride emphasizes the complexity of Southern identity and approached the subject of organized religion with nuance and respect, resulting in a layered representation of his Southern roots.
Every role I was getting was just somebody named, like 'Tater' or 'Dips***' and he never had sleeves. I was like, 'This isn't me, I can't do this.' ... We grew up in a South [with] lots of different types of people and it wasn't just one type of person.
It's a love letter to where we grew up. Sometimes we might make fun of those stereotypes or embrace them, where it makes sense. We were like, 'If you're going to make fun of the South, there's more clever ways to do it than how it's being done.'
I didn't want to make organized religion the butt of the jokes... There was one minister that I talked to and he was very open about ... how things worked and I saw him actually just a few months later.
McBride's career reflects his keen insight into the absurdities of masculinity and ambition, challenging Hollywood's limited portrayal of Southern characters.
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