Episode 177: Blessed and Highly Favored by Chris Marcil & Sam Johnson Live from the Elysian Theater

Episode 177

24th July 2025

A rookie pastor struggling to keep her progressive Baptist church afloat while dealing with megachurch competition, financial strain, and the looming presence of her father—the church’s legendary former pastor.

Episode notes

Episode 177: Blessed and Highly Favored by Chris Marcil & Sam Johnson Live from the Elysian Theater

We have such a great dead pilot for you this month. It’s called Blessed and Highly Favored. It’s a hilarious comedy about a rookie pastor struggling to keep her progressive Baptist church afloat while dealing with megachurch competition, financial strain, and the looming presence of her father—the church’s legendary former pastor.

The pilot comes from seasoned writers Chris Marcil and Sam Johnson, whose combined credits include Frasier, NewsRadio, What We Do in the Shadows, Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria, Hot in Cleveland, and All About the Washingtons. They bring not only their deep comedy chops but also real-life churchgoing experience to this story, which was further enriched by the stories of their friend and collaborator Peri Gilpin (Roz from Frasier).

This one was recorded live at the Elysian Theater with a killer cast.

Clancy Brown (Highlander, Shawshank Redemption), Craig Cackowski (Drunk History, The Pitt), Bob Dassie (New Looney Tunes), Peri Gilpin (Frasier), Isabella Gomez (One Day at a Time), Brandon Scott Jones (Ghosts), Mike Liebenson (Hacks), Lizzie Peet (How to Get Away With Murder) Caitlin Reilly (Dead Boy Detectives, Hacks), Jordan Rodrigues (Lady Bird), Brendan Scannell (Loot).

Want to see the table read? Become a Maximum Fun member for just $5 a month and get access to the video and lots more. Sign up at maximumfun.org/join.

And don’t forget to check out Andrew’s documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at reddkrossfilm.com/rent.

In this episode...

Guests

  • Clancy Brown
  • Isabella Gomez
  • Jordan Rodrigues
  • Brendan Scannell
  • Lizzie Peet
  • Mike Liebenson
  • Craig Cackowski
  • Brandon Scott Jones
  • Bob Dassie
  • Caitlin Reilly
  • Peri Gilpin
  • Andrew Reich

About the show

In Dead Pilots Society, scripts that were developed by studios and networks but were never produced are given the table reads they deserve. Starring actors you know and love from television and film, a live audience, and a good time in which no one gets notes, no one is fired, and everyone laughs. Presented by Andrew Reich (Friends; Worst Week) and Ben Blacker (The Writers Panel podcast; co-creator, Thrilling Adventure Hour).

Email them at info@deadpilotssociety.com and follow @deadpilotspod on Twitter and Instagram.

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