McPhail & Gadsby - First Episode

Television (Full Length Episode) – 1980

The debut episode of McPhail & Gadsby plunged into religion as the object of satire, and the result spawned death threats and annoyed letters to the editor. The pair dress up as angels, devils, monks, nuns, priests and Moses, and also make the first of many appearances as the smug Denny (McPhail) and not so clever Ron (Gadsby). McPhail argued later that a simple sketch involving an Anglican vicar dispensing communion unexpectedly caused the most offence. The thematic approach was soon abandoned in favour of shorter episodes, and a more familiar style of topical satire.

...there was a nationwide outcry from every religious group, apart from the Catholics ... it became very unpleasant.
– Jon Gadsby on reaction to the Religion episode, in his ScreenTalk interview for NZ On Screen