I Watch TV: Miracle Workers
Sky launched a new comedy channel Sky Comedy mostly dedicated to importing comedy programs from the states and to my surprise I was actually interested in one; this one.
Craig (Daniel Radcliffe) works for Heaven Inc as the sole member of the department for granting miracles. Eliza (Geraldine Viswanathan) joins him from the department of dirt. Unfortunately God (Steve Buscemi) decides to blow up the Earth preferring to concentrate on opening a restaurant called Lazy Susan’s in which the diners float around an island filled with top chefs and grab food with a claw. Eliza makes a bet with God, if they can fulfil one impossible miracle he won’t blow up the earth. The impossible miracle is to get a pair of socially awkward people to kiss.
God is not very good at his job; his family are horrified when they learn he gave people free will (and also confused by giraffes, “a tall dog with a leg for a neck”).
This absurd and occasionally horrific comedy (their miracles inevitably cause hideous fallout which is then reported on the nightly news) slightly unwillingly shows it has real heart, as everyone who initially reacts to the news of Earth being blown up with satisfaction as they will no longer have to work in the department of teeth or bugs or whatever where nothing works and it’s all dumb, comes around, realises they love the Earth and pulls together to save the place.
There’s a couple of very good scenes where events on earth mirror those in heaven and Daniel Radcliffe blank-facedly is the only one to see it.
Watch This: For a light-hearted comedy with dark edges, right down to the universe being controlled by a whimsical fool
Don’t Watch This: If high concept comedy is not for you