TheNetflixseriesTrainwreckis gripping viewers with each incredible standalone story about a unique case, from the Astroworld tragedy of 2021 to the Balloon Boy case that caused a news frenzy back in 2009. The latest,Trainwreck: P.I. Moms, tells a shocking story about areality showwith tremendous promise that derailed before it ever saw the light of day.
The concept of the show involved everyday moms working part-time as private investigators. Though clever, unfortunate circumstances caused the project to fail before it even began. Now, 15 years after the drama unfolded, and amid growing attention to flexible work schedules and women balancing careers and family, the time feels right for a reboot of this never-before-released show.
The Backstory of ‘P.I. Moms’
As covered inTrainwreck: P.I. Moms, one ofseveralTrainwreckdocumentaries released so farin the series, back in 2010, Chris Butler ran a private investigation firm in Los Angeles.After hiring a few women and witnessing their strong performance, he had a brilliant idea. Hire moms to work part-time as investigators. From their perspective, it was a flexible job that fit around their kids’ schedules, allowed part-time hours, and was both exciting and fulfilling. Based on his experience working with female investigators, he felt they would do a wonderful job. It was a win-win. He found a group of women who were not only skilled but also dynamic, eager, and who got along well with each other. Their impressive backgrounds ranged from law and communications to acting, with one member having experience in law enforcement.
At a time whenreality TV was one of the biggest trends on television, it made sense that his team caught the attention of network producers after they appeared on theDr. Philshow. Soon, Butler had an offer to make a TV show for Lifetime.Camera crews would follow the women as they did their important work, taking down fraudsters and cheaters. It was a winning formula and was suspected to have the potential to pull in huge ratings.
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However, the one male employee at the company, Carl Marino, who also happened to be an aspiring actor, was purportedly bitter that he wasn’t invited to be part of the project. In response, he allegedly engaged in a series of acts aimed at sabotaging the show. This included advising a journalist invited for a ride-along that the case he witnessed was scripted. The women deny this, though some sources claim Butler did manufacture cases when he lacked enough legitimate ones to film.
The situation took a more serious twist, however, when Marino revealed to the journalist, who later alerted police, that Butler was allegedly involved in working with a corrupt cop to sell drugs.Marino agreed to wear a wire to help take down his boss. Surrounded by all the controversy, the concept for the show was dead in the water.
Why ‘P.I. Moms’ Should Come Back
Due to these circumstances,P.I. Momsnever progressed to testing the concept with viewers. Showrunner Lucas Platt said he was emotional when informing the women that the network would not allow the show to proceed after the incident. However, the concept remains relevant and could positively impact the reality TV landscape, which has expanded dramatically sinceP.I. Momswas first considered. It’s not just a silly reality show; it could actually help people.
First, it offers income and fulfillment for moms who struggle to find jobs that accommodate their busy schedules as caregivers. It’s something moms can do in their off hours, or they can pick up cases as their schedules permit.For private investigation firms, meanwhile, they could capitalize on an untapped talent pool. “There was just an empowering feeling of knowing one part of you is taking the kids to school and daycare and the other part isdoing undercover work, investigating fraud or surveillance in some cheating spouse,” says Denise Antoon in the series. “It was pretty cool.”
Second, the show exposes wrongdoing such as infidelity or insurance fraud. One of the proposed segments even involved the ladies busting unlicensed private investigators by baiting them, then revealing they had been caught on camera. While airing dirty laundry on television isn’t necessarily the best way to go about it, there’s no denying that a show highlighting the women handling the cases and their personal lives outside the investigations could be compelling.
Antoon, for example, noted that the show was to dive into their personal lives as well, and she opted to share a very private story about the loss of her son, a revelation that was going to be featured on the show. She felt that opening up might help others who went through the same thing. It’s a shame this part of the show didn’t get to air either.
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Moreover, the show could highlight the valuable skills stay-at-home moms possess and how, with the right tools, they could excel as investigators. It’s not just about the typecast of a man with a peacoat and sunglasses ducking down in the driver’s seat of his car. As Butler noted, women have a sense of empathy and an incredible ability to multitask that translates well to the nature of the job. They’re also unassuming. A woman sitting in her parked car, fiddling with her purse, doesn’t look suspicious to most people.
What was great about the idea for the show was also that the women and the showrunner were adamant that they weren’t looking tocreate anotherReal Housewives.This was supposed to be about engaging, dynamic women who got along with one another and worked together to expose bad behavior. They were helping people get the answers they sought from their family members, friends, and colleagues when they had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right.
The show was, in essence, like a reality version ofCharlie’s Angels, and there’s no better time than now to watch strong women kick butt on television and take charge of their careers while also caring for their families. It might also help further clear the ladies’ names, since they note in the documentary that they were accused of being frauds after the fallout and Butler’s arrest, and were assumed to have been working with Butler all along.
Where Are the Women of ‘P.I. Moms’ Now?
Could ‘P.I. Moms’ Ever Actually Air?
Trainwreck: P.I. Moms
Of course, if the show were ever to be resurrected, it would likely feature a new group of women, since the others have long since moved on. But the original cast could work as consultants or assist the women coming in and starting new, if they were willing to give it another go. Antoon says they were saddened by the end of the show, which they were “really passionate about.”Having the opportunity to bring it back without all the drama that initially surrounded it could allow for some healing as well.
Without glorifying the concept and delivering something that at least looks raw and real, similar to one of thosereality shows that people love to hate, likeCheaters, Cops,andCatfish,P.I. Momscould be the next big thing in reality television. Lifetime, take note. It’s time for a second try.StreamTrainwreck: P.I. MomsonNetflix.
