In case you’re looking for a new show to become incredibly invested in now that The Good Place is off the air until season four, consider Miracle Workers.
The premise is that a burnt-out God, played by Steve Buscemi, is ready to destroy the Earth and move on to his next idea (a lazy river/restaurant hybrid, in case you were wondering).
One of his employees, a recent transfer from the Department of Dirt, Eliza, makes a bet with him that if she can make an impossible miracle happen in two weeks, he will agree to not destroy the Earth. Oh, and Daniel Radcliffe plays an overwhelmed angel who was solely responsible for answering all of humanity’s prayers until Eliza came along.
In addition to Buscemi and Radcliffe, some of the big names behind the show include Lorne Michaels (of SNL and 30 Rock fame) and Jorma Taccone (of SNL and The Lonely Island Fame). My favourite cameo in the first episode is from Angela Kinsey, AKA Angela from The Office, because anyone who was involved with The Office has my heart forever.
If the premise and impressive lineup of producers aren’t enough to sell you, consider checking it out for Geraldine Viswanathan.
She’s from Newcastle, and prior to Miracle Workers, appeared in the movie Blockers alongside John Cena and Leslie Mann, which led to Refinery29 describing her as the film’s “breakout star”. A well-earned title, considering how naturally funny she is, and how much she manages to steal every scene she features in.
Having followed her career since she started performing with the Sydney-based Freudian Nip, it’s been amazing to watch her go from strength to strength. But despite her success internationally, she isn’t getting the attention she deserves at home.
Writing for The Guardian, Debbie Zhou analyses the different way Australians embrace white actors and performers compared to the way Australian creatives of colour have been ignored. For example, James Wan, the Malaysian-Australian director of Saw and Aquaman, should be a household name based on those titles alone, but he isn’t.
Geraldine, with her upcoming roles in Bad Education starring fellow Australian Hugh Jackman and Hala, which received rave reviews following its debut at the Sundance Film Festival, should be generating the same amount of buzz back home that she is in Hollywood, but that doesn’t seem to be happening, and it’s an incredible shame.
These talented performers and artists should be celebrated and championed the way Margot Robbie, Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger and so many more have been. How much longer until we start referring to actors like Geraldine as ‘our Geraldine’ and fighting other countries (usually New Zealand) for the right to claim her? In this case, it’s long overdue.
If you want to join me aboard the Geraldine Viswanathan train, episode one of Miracle Workers is available on Stan now.
https://twitter.com/miracletbs/status/1075503183949115392