No Wonder Netflix Is Broke: Trailer for Mike Myers' 'The Pentaverate'

Fresh off the news that Netflix laid off some, most, or all of its recently-courted writers /a> at Tudum, their new publicity blog no one’s ever visited, the streaming giant released the new trailer for Mike Myers’ new series The Pentaverate. Let’s get right to it.

I have a few quick questions:

1. How much did this cost? Because if it was more than a single Tudum writer’s salary, Netflix overpaid.

2. What bet did Jennifer Saunders, Jeremy Irons, Rob Lowe, Ken Jeong, Keegan-Michael Key, and Lydia West lose to star in this thing? Or was it pity casting? When asked did Jeremy Irons mentally go “Fuuuuuuuuuuck” but go along like a college student reluctantly attending their theatre friend’s 4-hour, one-man show about growing up rich in Connecticut?

3. What sort of Faustian bargain did Keegan-Michael make that led to his appearance here while his former partner Jordan Peele writes and directs movies where even the trailer is terrifying?? Because Obama’s Anger Translator deserves better, dammit.

It makes me sad for Mike Myers. Austin Powers was the best and worst thing to happen to him. Best because it was smart, funny, and rocketed him to fame. Worst, because it was a direct line from there to The Cat in the Hat, The Love Guru, and now this. And between Catherine Tate’s Hard Cell and The Pentaverate it seems the law of diminishing returns applies to Netflix paying actors to take on multiple roles.

The Pentaverate arrives May 5 only on Netflix, much to Hulu’s relief. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.