Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Astronaut sitcom has science disasters, body humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Moonbase 8
What's the Story?
MOONBASE 8 tells the story of four aspiring astronauts. Cap (John C. Reilly) is a former helicopter pilot trying to start a new life. Skip (Fred Armisen) is the son of an astronaut following in his father's footsteps. Rook (Tim Heidecker) is a devout Christian who wants to spread the gospel to the universe. And Super Bowl Winner Travis Kelce is taking a break from his day job as tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. The team lives on a simulation moon base in Arizona, performing the work of regular astronauts with the hope of one day going into space.
Is It Any Good?
Tim Heidecker, Fred Armisen, and John C. Reilly have each built a reputation and found fame for surreal, edgy sketch comedy. Astronaut training that isolates them from the outside world is a smart way to make a pandemic comedy without having to ever even mention it. The set-up provides them with plenty of material for comic bits, but doesn't really play to their strengths of pushing absurdist comedy and anti-comedy to their limits. Still, it's fun to see the three actors working together, even if Moonbase 8 doesn't allow them to go as far with their humor as their fans might hope and expect.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about astronaut training. What do we know about the characters' mission? Where are they? What does their day-to-day life consist of? How will that routine contribute to -- or impede -- their success?
What made the characters want to be astronauts? How does this affect how they do their jobs? What are their strengths and weaknesses as prospective astronauts?
How do the characters cope with living in isolation? What specific challenges does the moon base present? How successful are the characters at coping with their environment? How well do they cope with one another?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 8, 2020
- Cast : John C. Reilly , Tim Heidecker , Fred Armisen
- Network : Showtime
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : STEM
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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