{ "id": "epgrp8qh97", "slug": "gods-favorite-idiot", "title": "God's Favorite Idiot", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv", "label": "Scripted television and comedy series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy", "label": "Sitcom and comedy series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy.american_sitcom_series", "label": "American sitcoms and comedy series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy.american_sitcom_series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy.american_sitcom_series.2020s-cable-and-streaming-comedies", "label": "2020s cable and streaming comedies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy.american_sitcom_series.2020s-cable-and-streaming-comedies" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy.american_sitcom_series.2020s-cable-and-streaming-comedies", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: 2020s cable and streaming comedies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy.american_sitcom_series.2020s-cable-and-streaming-comedies", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv", "label": "Scripted television and comedy series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy", "label": "Sitcom and comedy series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy.american_sitcom_series", "label": "American sitcoms and comedy series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy.american_sitcom_series" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy.american_sitcom_series.2020s-cable-and-streaming-comedies", "label": "2020s cable and streaming comedies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy.american_sitcom_series.2020s-cable-and-streaming-comedies" } ] } ], "excerpt": "God's Favorite Idiot: Netflix workplace fantasy comedy created by Ben Falcone, starring Falcone and Melissa McCarthy, premiered June 15, 2022 with eight episodes; Clark Thompson becomes God's messenger, 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, ended after one season.", "snippet": "God's Favorite Idiot: Netflix workplace fantasy comedy created by Ben Falcone, starring Falcone and Melissa McCarthy, premiered June 15, 2022 with eight episodes; Clark Thompson becomes God's messenger, 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, ended after one season.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_scripted_tv_comedy.american_sitcom_series.2020s-cable-and-streaming-comedies", "markdown": "# God's Favorite Idiot\n\n**God's Favorite Idiot** is an American workplace fantasy comedy series created by Ben Falcone for Netflix, in which a midlevel tech support employee, Clark Thompson, finds love with his co-worker Amily Luck at exactly the same time he becomes the unwitting messenger of God, charged with helping to prevent Satan from causing the [Apocalypse](https://www.edgepedia.org/apocalypse).[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52190/gods-favorite-idiot) • [2](https://www.epguides.com/GodsFavoriteIdiot/) The eight-episode first season premiered on June 15, 2022, and the series was not renewed.[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52190/gods-favorite-idiot)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Creator and stars | Created by Ben Falcone, who stars as Clark Thompson opposite Melissa McCarthy as Amily Luck; both also executive produce with Michael McDonald[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52190/gods-favorite-idiot) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/gods_favorite_idiot) |\n| Premiere | June 15, 2022, on Netflix; all eight episodes released the same day[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/gods_favorite_idiot) • [2](https://www.epguides.com/GodsFavoriteIdiot/) |\n| Format | Scripted comedy-fantasy of eight episodes of roughly 26 to 30 minutes each, rated TV-MA[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52190/gods-favorite-idiot) • [4](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/gods-favorite-idiot) |\n| Production | Shot at Byron Bay and Ballina, Australia; the first season was cut in half by COVID outbreaks, with 16 episodes planned in two batches of eight[5](https://insights.uca.org.au/articles/no-revelations-but-a-fun-comedy/) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/news/ni63327566/) |\n| Reception | 33% on the Tomatometer from 15 critics and 73% on the Popcornmeter from 250+ audience ratings; Metacritic metascore 45; IMDb 5.8/10 from about 8,400 votes[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/gods_favorite_idiot) • [7](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/gods-favorite-idiot/critic-reviews/) • [8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13861620/ratings/) |\n| Status | Ended after one season[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52190/gods-favorite-idiot) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise and story\n\nClark Thompson is a plain, everyday office worker who is struck by spiritual lightning one afternoon and begins to glow, an effect that makes him a nationwide phenomenon on social media. The archangel Chamuel explains that God has chosen him to spread messages of peace and love before an apocalyptic battle between good and evil, and Clark gathers his office crush Amily Luck and a group of mismatched coworkers to help get the word out while Satan works against him.[9](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/gods-favorite-idiot) • [10](https://www.thereviewgeek.com/godsfavoriteidiot-s1review/) • [11](https://d8bc8831c22efb78a586-a3a01b483b2fbabd33a43c2148c64365.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/FeatureArticles-June2022.pdf) The series also involves roller skating, a [lake of fire](https://www.edgepedia.org/lake-of-fire), and the [Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse](https://www.edgepedia.org/four-horsemen-of-the-apocalypse) turning up in a produce aisle.[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52190/gods-favorite-idiot) • [12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/gods_favorite_idiot/s01)\n\nThe show's theology is deliberately broad. God's revelation to Clark is that \"God is real, and God is God, and everybody, meaning all religions, are actually quite right about God. Also nobody's really wrong,\" a pluralist message that reviewers noted the series does not develop further.[13](https://www.thebanner.org/mixed-media/2022/08/gods-favorite-idiot) [Magda Szubanski](https://www.edgepedia.org/magda-szubanski) plays an incarnation of God who appears to Clark in a bathroom in a brief cameo.[5](https://insights.uca.org.au/articles/no-revelations-but-a-fun-comedy/)\n\n## Cast\n\n- [Ben Falcone](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-falcone) as Clark Thompson[2](https://www.epguides.com/GodsFavoriteIdiot/)\n- [Melissa McCarthy](https://www.edgepedia.org/melissa-mccarthy) as Amily Luck[2](https://www.epguides.com/GodsFavoriteIdiot/)\n- [Leslie Bibb](https://www.edgepedia.org/leslie-bibb) as Satan[2](https://www.epguides.com/GodsFavoriteIdiot/)\n- Kevin Dunn as Gene Thompson[2](https://www.epguides.com/GodsFavoriteIdiot/)\n- Usman Ally as Mohsin Raza[2](https://www.epguides.com/GodsFavoriteIdiot/)\n- Ana Scotney as Wendy[2](https://www.epguides.com/GodsFavoriteIdiot/)\n- Chris Sandiford as Tom[2](https://www.epguides.com/GodsFavoriteIdiot/)\n- Steve Mallory as Frisbee[2](https://www.epguides.com/GodsFavoriteIdiot/)\n- Yanic Truesdale as Chamuel[2](https://www.epguides.com/GodsFavoriteIdiot/)\n- Magda Szubanski as God[5](https://insights.uca.org.au/articles/no-revelations-but-a-fun-comedy/)\n\n## Production\n\nThe series was filmed in Australia, at Byron Bay and Ballina, earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic.[5](https://insights.uca.org.au/articles/no-revelations-but-a-fun-comedy/) In June 2021, production wrapped earlier than expected after only eight of 16 planned episodes had been shot, which caused concern among the mostly Australian crew, who were paid only for completed shooting days while cast members were paid out for the full 16-week shoot. A spokesperson for the show said all 16 episodes would eventually be filmed, explaining that Netflix had decided to shoot the series in two batches of eight episodes rather than all at once.[6](https://www.imdb.com/news/ni63327566/) Only the first batch of eight aired, and the series is listed as ended.[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52190/gods-favorite-idiot)\n\n## Reception\n\nCritical response was mixed to negative. On Rotten Tomatoes the season holds a 33% Tomatometer from 15 reviews against a 73% Popcornmeter from more than 250 audience ratings; the site's critics consensus calls the collaboration between McCarthy and Falcone too dunderheaded to win over everyday viewers.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/gods_favorite_idiot) Metacritic assigned a metascore of 45, labeled mixed or average, based on seven critic reviews.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/gods-favorite-idiot/critic-reviews/) IMDb users gave the series 5.8 out of 10 from about 8,400 votes, with individual episode ratings between 6.3 and 6.5.[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13861620/ratings/)\n\nReviewers repeatedly compared the show to other religious comedies. Lucy Mangan of The Guardian found it broad-brush but credited Falcone and McCarthy's central relationship with enough charm, warmth, and heart to get by.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/gods-favorite-idiot/critic-reviews/) Daniel D'Addario of Variety called many moments brutally underconsidered and a waste of a talented performer's time.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/gods-favorite-idiot/critic-reviews/) Andrew Male of The Times described it as essentially [The Office](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-office) meets [The Good Place](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-good-place), but with anarchic disregard for what made those shows formally admirable.[12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/gods_favorite_idiot/s01) A Religion News Service review argued that the show's interfaith message, in which God says he is OK with all flavors unless people use his name to hurt others, made it a rare combination of comedy and religion that is neither too preachy nor too boring, even if it is not as theologically rich as The Good Place or as funny as [The Righteous Gemstones](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-righteous-gemstones).[14](https://religionnews.com/2022/06/28/gods-favorite-idiot-proof-we-need-more-religious-comedies/) Common Sense Media recommended the series for ages 15 and up, noting strong language and repeated jokes about Amily's drug and alcohol use, while praising the genuine chemistry between Falcone and McCarthy.[9](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/gods-favorite-idiot)\n\n## References\n\n1. [God's Favorite Idiot, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/52190/gods-favorite-idiot)\n2. [God's Favorite Idiot (a Titles & Air Dates Guide), epguides.com](https://www.epguides.com/GodsFavoriteIdiot/)\n3. [God's Favorite Idiot, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/gods_favorite_idiot)\n4. [God's Favorite Idiot - streaming tv show online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/gods-favorite-idiot)\n5. [No revelations, but a fun comedy, Insights Magazine (Uniting Church Australia)](https://insights.uca.org.au/articles/no-revelations-but-a-fun-comedy/)\n6. [Melissa McCarthy Comedy 'God's Favorite Idiot' Wraps Production Early In Australia, via Deadline/IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/news/ni63327566/)\n7. [God's Favorite Idiot critic reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/gods-favorite-idiot/critic-reviews/)\n8. [God's Favorite Idiot (TV Series 2022) - Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13861620/ratings/)\n9. [God's Favorite Idiot - Parents' Guide & TV Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/gods-favorite-idiot)\n10. [God's Favorite Idiot Season 1 Review, The Review Geek](https://www.thereviewgeek.com/godsfavoriteidiot-s1review/)\n11. [June 2022 streaming feature article (Netflix originals), OD 4C PDF](https://d8bc8831c22efb78a586-a3a01b483b2fbabd33a43c2148c64365.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/FeatureArticles-June2022.pdf)\n12. [God's Favorite Idiot: Season 1, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/gods_favorite_idiot/s01)\n13. [God's Favorite Idiot, The Banner](https://www.thebanner.org/mixed-media/2022/08/gods-favorite-idiot)\n14. ['God's Favorite Idiot': Proof we need more religious comedies, Religion News Service](https://religionnews.com/2022/06/28/gods-favorite-idiot-proof-we-need-more-religious-comedies/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Sitcom and comedy series › American sitcoms and comedy series › 2020s cable and streaming comedies*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/gods-favorite-idiot", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/gods-favorite-idiot.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"God's Favorite Idiot\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/gods-favorite-idiot. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[God's Favorite Idiot](https://www.edgepedia.org/gods-favorite-idiot)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/gods-favorite-idiot](https://www.edgepedia.org/gods-favorite-idiot). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"God's Favorite Idiot\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/gods-favorite-idiot. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "God's Favorite Idiot: Netflix workplace fantasy comedy created by Ben Falcone, starring Falcone and Melissa McCarthy, premiered June 15, 2022 with eight episodes; Clark Thompson becomes God's messenger, 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, ended after one season." }