| “ | If you wanna get closer to Him, get on your knees and start paying! | „ |
| ~ The Televangelist. |
The Televangelist is the main antagonist in the rock band Genesis' 1992 single Jesus He Knows Me, which featured in their fourteenth studio album We Can't Dance.
He is an immoral, hypocritical and greedy televangelist who uses his growing influence to manipulate his followers.
In the music video, he is portrayed by Phil Collins.
Personality[]
The unnamed televangelist's primary goal is to make as much money as possible, whilst hypocritically preaching Biblical New Testament teachings. He is a man who appreciates luxury and material wealth, and shows no signs of caring for his wife.
Physical appearance[]
The televangelist is dressed in a beige suit, with balding hair and thick glasses.
Biography[]
In the music video, the televangelist is seen hosting a thinly-attended televangelical programme with conservatively dressed individuals. As the song progresses, the televangelist's hypocrisy is shown. Firstly, he has extramarital affairs with both men or women. The song itself reveals the truth and biting social commentary on televangelists, and their manipulative, capitalist methods in exploiting vulnerable people of faith.
The singer admits to the listener he has no intention of practicing what he preaches, and is simply in it to line his pockets and purchase luxurious commodities. The video continues to show the televangelist's TV show getting more and more popular, with increasingly gimmicky antics and money showering from the ceiling.
Quotes[]
| “ | I believe in the family With my ever-loving wife beside me But she don't know about my girlfriend Or the man I met last night |
„ |
| ~ The Televangelist's hypocrisy on marriage. |
| “ | If you promise to be good, try to be nice God will take good care of you Well, just do as I say, don't do as I do |
„ |
| ~ The Televangelist's egotism and hypocrisy. |
| “ | Well, I'm counting my blessings As I've found true happiness 'Cause I'm a-getting richer day by day |
„ |
| ~ The Televangelist bragging about his accrued wealth. |
Trivia[]
- The televangelist is a parody of Ernest Angley.
- Phil Collins himself has been depicted as a villain in the cartoon South Park.