A funny take on crime and faith in a new Netflix show
After riding the wave of a beloved sitcom to its highest peaks, the creative mind behind it is diving headfirst into uncharted territory. Netflix’s Big Mistakes—a darkly comedic breakout series—debuts this year, marking a bold departure from past glories. The show follows the absurd, high-stakes misadventures of a New Jersey pastor and his schoolteacher sister, who find themselves inexplicably entangled with a group of criminals. Taking a self-deprecating joke—“I’m terrible at crime”—the creator spun gold from an unlikely premise, turning mishaps into farce.
A Cast of Heavyweights in Unlikely Roles
The series features Taylor Ortega as the sharp-witted sister and Laurie Metcalf as their no-nonsense mother, anchoring the chaos with seasoned gravitas. But this isn’t just another star-studded project chasing validation. As the creator puts it, the goal was authenticity over accolades—a gut-level story rather than a awards-season gambit.
From Schitt’s Creek to the Great Unknown
The creator’s last claim to fame was Schitt’s Creek, the cult sitcom that capped its run with an Emmy grand slam, sweeping every major comedy award in its final season. That triumph was sweet, but the focus now is on what comes next. The curtain has closed on reviving that world—the loss of a key cast member makes it impossible, the creator admits—so they’re turning the page entirely.
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Roots in the Grit of Early TV
Long before the Emmys, the journey began at MTV Canada, where the creator cut their teeth hosting shows and mastering the raw craft of writing and editing. Those scrappy early years shaped their voice, laying the groundwork for a career that would later redefine small-screen comedy.
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A Trip Down Memory Lane
Recently, they returned to the tiny Ontario town that served as the backdrop for Schitt’s Creek. A visit to the real-life apothecary—once a stand-in for the show’s iconic storefront—served as a poignant reminder of how far they’ve come: from humble beginnings to creative peak, and now, into uncharted comedic territory.
--- Big Mistakes arrives on Netflix as a testament to reinvention—where past success meets a risky, uproarious new path.
