More popular than Jesus a minor panic when a firecracker was set off on stage during the evening performance, which led the group to believe they were the target of gunfire. The Beatles hated the tour, partly due to the controversy and adverse reaction from Lennon's comments, and were unhappy about Epstein continuing to organise live performances that were increasingly at odds with their studio work. The controversy had also overshadowed the US release of their 1966 album "Revolver", which the band considered to be their best and most mature musical statement up to that point. Following the tour, Harrison seriously contemplated leaving the
An Evening with Champions to make annual appearances. The show was formerly televised each year on PBS, but the broadcast ended in 2001. More recently, it had been televised on the Comcast Network cable channel CN8. Beginning in 2012, EWC launched "Skating with Champions," a fundraising initiative in which fans can fundraise solo or in a team to win an invitation to perform in the show alongside the main cast. The 2010 show of An Evening with Champions celebrated the 40th anniversary of the charity with a special spring show taking place on April 16 and 17, 2010, as opposed to a show in