| Moonbase 8 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Created by | |
| Directed by | Jonathan Krisel |
| Starring |
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| Composer | Steven Drozd[1] |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Cinematography | Carl Herse |
| Editors |
|
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | Showtime |
| Release | November 8 (2020-11-08) – December 6, 2020 (2020-12-06) |
Moonbase 8 is an Americancomedy television series created and written byFred Armisen,Tim Heidecker,Jonathan Krisel andJohn C. Reilly, starring Armisen, Heidecker and Reilly in the lead roles. It premiered on November 8, 2020, onShowtime.[2][3]
Moonbase 8 follows three subpar astronauts in one of severalNASAMoon base training simulators located inWinslow, Arizona, hoping to be the crew selected by NASA to travel to the actual Moon Base, whose construction is nearing completion.[4]
| No. | Title [6] | Directed by [7] | Written by [8] | Original release date [6] | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Dry" | Jonathan Krisel | Fred Armisen &Tim Heidecker & Jonathan Krisel &John C. Reilly | November 8, 2020 (2020-11-08) | 0.090[9] | |
At the moonbase, Cap is very deferential to Travis Kelce, while Rook and Skip think he is there only for public-relations purposes. When Skip takes inventory of their water, he realizes that they will soon run out. Travis suggests digging a well, which Cap agrees to. While he is digging, Travis falls into the water tank and dies. Cap returns to the moonbase, and they agree to hide Cap's involvement in Travis's death. The three crewmembers insist that their mission should continue. | ||||||
| 2 | "Rats" | Jonathan Krisel | Fred Armisen & Tim Heidecker & Jonathan Krisel & John C. Reilly | November 15, 2020 (2020-11-15) | 0.061[10] | |
The crew is alarmed when it appears that someone is stealing from their base at night. Rook becomes homesick, and announces his intention to leave Moonbase 8. The crew involves him in catching the thief, and he decides to stay at the base. | ||||||
| 3 | "Quarantine" | Jonathan Krisel | Fred Armisen & Tim Heidecker & Jonathan Krisel & John C. Reilly | November 22, 2020 (2020-11-22) | 0.057[11] | |
A fourth crew member, Alisha, is added to the team. She tries to encourage efficiency changes, which frustrates Skip. Cap becomes sick, and is forced to quarantine from his crew members. Skip also becomes sick, but Cap refuses to quarantine with him, and opts to create an outdoorsweat lodge. Skip hallucinates visions of himself speaking positively and negatively about how he is working with Alisha. Rook begins developing romantic feelings towards Alisha, but is rebuffed when he offers to kiss her. Skip and Cap recover, but Alisha reveals she is on an upcoming space mission and leaves Moonbase. | ||||||
| 4 | "Visitors" | Jonathan Krisel | Fred Armisen & Tim Heidecker & Jonathan Krisel & John C. Reilly | November 29, 2020 (2020-11-29) | 0.033[12] | |
| 5 | "Move the Base" | Jonathan Krisel | Fred Armisen & Tim Heidecker & Jonathan Krisel & John C. Reilly | December 6, 2020 (2020-12-06) | 0.144[13] | |
| 6 | "Beef" | Jonathan Krisel | Fred Armisen & Tim Heidecker & Jonathan Krisel & John C. Reilly | December 6, 2020 (2020-12-06) | 0.102[13] | |
On April 24, 2018, it was announced thatA24 had begun production on a comedy television series titledMoonbase 8 that they independently funded. Executive producers includeFred Armisen,Tim Heidecker,Jonathan Krisel,John C. Reilly, andDave Kneebone. Krisel directed all six episodes. Production companies involved with the production include A24 andAbso Lutely Productions. A24 began shopping the series to networks once production concluded.[4][14][15] The series premiered on November 8, 2020, on Showtime.[3] The entire first season became available on-demand to Showtime subscribers on November 8, 2020.[16]
The series is scored bySteven Drozd ofThe Flaming Lips, his first time scoring a project.[1]
Alongside the series announcement, it was confirmed that Armisen, Heidecker, and Reilly would star in the series.[4][15]
Reviews of the series have been mixed. OnRotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 57% based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 6.16/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Despite a talented central trio and a few great moments,Moonbase 8's portrait of monotonous mediocrity may be too low-key for some viewers to achieve comedic lift off—though that may be exactly the point."[17] OnMetacritic, it has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100 based on 18 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[18]
In reviewing the series in contrast to the other "work-space" comedies of 2020,Avenue 5 andSpace Force, Danette Chavez ofThe A.V. Club stated thatMoonbase 8 has the most potential to continue as a comedy on its own merits, beyond the stunt of the space setting.[5] Ben Travers ofIndieWire praised the show while saying it still has room to grow, writing "there’s room for creative expansion in future seasons, but this is a small-scale mission that’s off to a solid start".[19]