These Comedians Need To Star In A Lifetime Movie

I had two thoughts after watching Lifetime's A Deadly Adoption on June 20. The first was, "What did I just watch?" and the second was, "I don't even care. That was AWESOME!" What was supposed to be a secret project starring comedic powerhouses Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig quickly gained fanfare after news of A Deadly Adoption leaked in April. While some expected the film to completely upend the tropes of Lifetime's staple melodramas, others anticipated a glimpse at Ferrell and Wiig playing their characters — Robert and Sarah Benson — completely straight.

In case you haven't seen the movie yet (Lifetime will likely only be playing it 10,000 more times), I'll try to keep my reaction to A Deadly Adoption relatively spoiler-free. Basically, even after watching it oh-so-intently (and with the hope that I would get to write about it the next day), I still can't tell whether this was a drama or a dark comedy intended to make classic Lifetime scenes more tongue-in-cheek than gut-wrenching, but who cares? I loved it! I found myself giggling throughout many parts of the movie, but that may just be due to the fact that I can't look at Ferrell or Wiig without recalling my favorite scenes from Anchorman and Bridesmaids. That, or I just have a really macabre sense of humor.

Although A Deadly Adoption is being met with some mixed reviews, I personally enjoyed it, and you have to give Lifetime credit for gleaning two A-listers — comedic A-listers, no less — to help celebrate their 25th anniversary. I actually wouldn't mind seeing other comedians hop aboard the Lifetime train and become entangled in their own "inspired by true events" story arc, whether they wanted to play the movie straight or do a full-blown parody. Before I add this idea to my wish list, let's take a look at seven comedians who would make DVRing Lifetime movies a regular practice.

1. Aziz Ansari

Aziz Ansari has proven himself to be multitalented, with his guffaw-inducing standup comedy specials, by showcasing his hilarious acting chops on Parks and Recreation, and he has even added the title of "author" to his resume with the recently released book, Modern Romance. Ansari's acumen in comedy and the intricacies of romantic relationships make him the perfect candidate for a tongue-in-cheek Lifetime venture.

2. Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer — otherwise known as one of my favorite celebrities of all time — has shown she has some deft acting chops, through playing her various characters on Inside Amy Schumer and by garnering a lead role in the upcoming Trainwreck. Not only would she be ideal for upending some melodramatic tropes, she could probably infuse some extra feminism into the movie's fabric.

3. John Mulaney

Not only is John Mulaney a masterful comedian, he has noted in his standup that Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is one of his favorite shows. Being that SVU is pretty much as far from comedy as you can get, Mulaney may be interested in exploring playing it straight for some sudsy Lifetime scenes.

4. Jenny Slate

I could go on and on about Jenny Slate's comedic prowess, her aptitude in toggling between humor and poignancy in Obvious Child, and the simple fact that she is one of the most formidable comedic actors working today. Honestly, though, what I really want to see is a Lifetime movie that features Marcel The Shell With Shoes On. Now that would be amazing.

5. Billy Eichner

Can you picture Billy On The Street's Billy Eichner frenetically quizzing his Lifetime costars about pop culture while they're searching for a stolen baby, a missing cheerleader, or some other melodramatic "inspired by true events" plot point? It would be everything ever.

6. Amy Poehler

If Saturday Night Live, Parks and Recreation, and the Golden Globes have taught us anything, it's that Amy Poehler makes everything better.

7. Zach Galifianakis

Would anyone like to see a Lifetime movie version of Between Two Ferns ? I know I would. Moreover, Zach Galifianakis has proven that he is a master of both comedy and drama, like when he showcased some serious skills during a dark turn as Jake in Birdman.

Images: Lifetime (2); Giphy (7)