Steve Buscemi is God in the first teaser trailer for Daniel Radcliffe’s new TBS comedy, Miracle Workers. The upcoming limited series comes from Simon Rich, and is his first television offering since his three-season run on FX’s equally irreverent and often times surreal romantic comedy, Man Seeking Woman. This time, though, Rich has set his comedic sights on a much larger target than a twenty-something slacker looking for love.
As with Man Seeking Woman, Miracle Workers will be an adaptation of one of Rich’s books, albeit with another title change. Whereas Man Seeking Woman was based on the 2013 book The Last Girlfriend on Earth, Rich’s newest comedy is adapted from the novel What in God’s Name, which was published in 2012. The novel imagined heaven as Heaven Inc., a corporation struggling as of late, largely due to the bungling of its CEO (God), who’s been a little preoccupied with things other than the fate of humankind.
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The story largely concerns God’s plan to retire, which means doing away with Earth and everyone living on it. Enter a pair or angels Craig (Radcliffe) and Eliza (Geraldine Viswanathan), from the Department of Miracles, and who attempt to get the Almighty to call off armageddon. Check out the trailer and an official synopsis below:
Despite the teaser being very short (even by teaser standards) Rich’s brand of humor is definitely on display, as Buscemi’s God seems overwhelmed by his disinterest in the the people of Earth and their problems. God’s attempt to rebrand hurricanes and typhoons by changing their names to descriptions of what they do seems to take precedence over answering the prayers of those hoping to be spared from the coming storm – all of which is very much in Rich’s wheelhouse and should be a welcome return to form for those still missing Man Seeking Woman.
“Based on Simon Rich’s book, What in God’s Name, this seven-episode limited series turns the perception of heaven on its head while also making the case that humans are worth saving.”
As far as Miracle Workers is concerned, the series should be a fascinating test for TBS. It will determine whether or not the cable network can attract a wide audience with big name actors, even for a seven-episode limited series that blends comedy with fantasy — not unlike Danny Boyle’s 1997 film A Life Less Ordinary. Despite its impressive cast, that film wasn’t received too well, so perhaps heaven-based comedy will finally get the second chance it deserves when Miracle Workers hits in February.
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Miracle Workers premieres Tuesday, February 12, 2019 on TBS.
