New Jack City (Father Ted) New Jack City (Father Ted) "New Jack City" is the ninth episode of the second series of the Channel 4 television sitcom "Father Ted". At the inaugural Ted Fest in February 2007, it was voted the best "Father Ted" episode. Father Jack contracts "Hairy Hands Syndrome" (level 6 out of a maximum 12) and is sent to St. Clabbert's Hospital for wayward priests (jokingly named "Jurassic Park" by the Clergymen of Craggy Island, after the film of the same title). A new priest replaces Jack while he is on leave: Father Fintan Stack, an obnoxious, rude and destructive priest, who
Father Ted Crilly of the writers' key influences was Charles Grodin's character in the 1972 film "The Heartbreak Kid". Actor Maurice O'Donoghue auditioned for the role, and Linehan felt that he was the right appearance, age and "lightness" for the character. Mathews wanted to cast comedian Dermot Morgan from an early stage, but Linehan was reluctant; he worried that audiences would confuse Ted with Father Trendy, a character Morgan had previously created for "The Live Mike". Trendy parodied a class of priests including Brian D'Arcy, perceived in the 1970s as wanting to be considered liberal and "cool", whereas Ted was written as a