God's Favorite Idiot
God's Favorite Idiot is an American apocalyptic workplace comedy television series created by and starring Ben Falcone for Netflix. The series was supposed to consist of sixteen episodes, and the first batch of eight episodes premiered on June 15, 2022. The production of the remaining eight episodes is in limbo.[1][2]
| God's Favorite Idiot | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Created by | Ben Falcone |
| Starring |
|
| Composer | Fil Eisler |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Production location | New South Wales |
| Production company | On the Day Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | Netflix |
| Original release | June 15, 2022 – present |
Plot
After getting struck by lightning from an unusual angelic cloud, Clark suddenly has the ability to glow. His coworkers, including his friend Amily, believe that this may somehow be related to God. Their fears are confirmed when an angel tells Clark that he is to be God's messenger and must prevent the Apocalypse from happening.
Cast and characters
- Ben Falcone as Clark Thompson[3][4]
- Melissa McCarthy as Amily Luck[3][4]
- Leslie Bibb as Satan: The Biblical demonic entity looking to upset the cosmic balance between good and evil.[5]
- Kevin Dunn as Gene: Clark's father who committed himself after his divorce to raise his son.[5]
- Yanic Truesdale as Chamuel[6]
- Usman Ally as Mohsin Raza[6]
- Ana Scotney as Wendy[6]
- Chris Sandiford as Tom[6]
- Steve Mallory as Frisbee: A low-level middle manager lacks any authority.[6]
- Georgie Bolton as Judy McGill
- Michael McDonald as Lucifer
- Magda Szubanski as Bathroom God
- Suraj Kolarkar as Steve the Ogre
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "B-Minus" | Michael McDonald | Ben Falcone | June 15, 2022 |
| 2 | "The Angel" | Michael McDonald | Ben Falcone | June 15, 2022 |
| 3 | "The Preacher" | Michael McDonald | Ben Falcone | June 15, 2022 |
| 4 | "God, Satan and All the Good Smells" | Michael McDonald | Ben Falcone | June 15, 2022 |
| 5 | "The Word (It's Love)" | Sheila G. Waldron | Ben Falcone | June 15, 2022 |
| 6 | "Tom the Baptist" | Sheila G. Waldron | Ben Falcone | June 15, 2022 |
| 7 | "The Four Horsemen" | Michael McDonald | Ben Falcone | June 15, 2022 |
| 8 | "Quitters Never Win, But Winners Sometimes Quit" | Michael McDonald | Ben Falcone | June 15, 2022 |
Production
Development
In December 2020, Netflix gave a 16-episode series order to God's Favorite Idiot. Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy were set to star and executive produce via their On the Day Productions. Michael McDonald would direct and executive produce, after previously working with Falcone and McCarthy on Nobodies.[3][4] Steve Mallory joined as an executive producer in February 2021.[6]
Casting
Alongside the series announcement, Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy were cast. In February 2021, Yanic Truesdale, Usman Ally, Ana Scotney, Chris Sandiford, and Steve Mallory were cast.[6] Leslie Bibb and Kevin Dunn were cast a month later.[5]
Filming
Filming began in Byron Bay, Ballina and Lismore in northern New South Wales in March 2021.[7][8] Filming wrapped in early June 2021 after shooting only eight episodes. The series was expected to wrap in November 2021.[8][7] The other batch of eight episodes will shoot on a later date.[8][1]
Music
Fil Eisler is the composer for the series.[9]
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 33% with an average rating of 4.6/10, based on 15 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "While it claims to have the Almighty's favor, this silver screen collaboration between Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone is too dunderheaded to win over everyday viewers."[10]
Daniel D'Addario of Variety called it "a waste of precious time in the career of a talented performer, one whose fans will follow her anywhere, and who rewards them with so little of what she can do."[11]
References
- Frater, Patrick (June 10, 2021). "Netflix Rethinks 'God's Favorite Idiot' After Eight Episodes". Variety. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- Lennon, Mads (April 21, 2022). "God's Favorite Idiot release date, cast, episode count, photos, synopsis and more". Netflix Life.
- Petski, Denise (December 1, 2020). "Melissa McCarthy & Ben Falcone To Star & Exec Produce Workplace Comedy 'God's Favorite Idiot At Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- Goldberg, Lesley (December 1, 2020). "Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone to Star in Netflix Comedy Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- Andreeva, Nellie (March 12, 2021). "Leslie Bibb & Kevin Dunn Join Melissa McCarthy & Ben Falcone's Netflix Series 'God's Favorite Idiot'". Deadline. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- Wiseman, Andreas; Petski, Denise (February 12, 2021). "Melissa McCarthy Netflix Comedy 'God's Favorite Idiot' Adds Yanic Truesdale, Steve Mallory, Usman Ally, More". Deadline. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- Burke, Kelly (June 8, 2021). "God's Favorite Idiot: Netflix pulls out early from Melissa McCarthy's Australian production". The Guardian. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- Grobar, Matt (June 12, 2021). "Melissa McCarthy Comedy 'God's Favorite Idiot' Wraps Production Early In Australia; Netflix To Shoot Second Set Of Episodes At A Later Date". Deadline. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- "Fil Eisler Scoring Netflix's 'God's Favorite Idiot'". Film Music Reporter. June 12, 2022. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
- "God's Favorite Idiot: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- D'Addario, Daniel (June 15, 2022). "'God's Favorite Idiot' Is a Low Point for Melissa McCarthy and Husband Ben Falcone: TV Review". Variety.
