Moonbase 8
Moonbase 8 is an American comedy television series created by Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker, Jonathan Krisel, and John C. Reilly.[1] Starring Armisen as Skip, Heidecker as Rook, and Reilly as Cap, the show follows three aspiring astronauts stationed at NASA's Moon Base Simulator in the remote Arizona desert of Winslow, where they navigate incompetence, loneliness, self-doubt, and interpersonal conflicts in their quest to qualify for a real lunar mission.[2][3] The series premiered on Showtime on November 8, 2020, and ran for one season comprising six half-hour episodes.[4][5] Produced by A24 Television, the series draws on the mockumentary style to satirize the mundanities of space training and human frailty, blending awkward humor with themes of perseverance and camaraderie.[2] Directed primarily by Krisel, it features guest appearances from actors like Emmy Rossum and Jim O'Heir, and highlights the astronauts' absurd daily routines, from botched simulations to ethical dilemmas.[1] Critically, Moonbase 8 received mixed reviews, earning a 58% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes for its dry wit and character-driven comedy, though some noted its slow pacing.[6] Despite its cult appeal among fans of Armisen and Heidecker's prior collaborative works, the show was not renewed for a second season.[7]Overview
Premise
Moonbase 8 is a comedy series centered on three underqualified astronauts—Cap, Rook, and Skip—who reside and train at NASA's Moon Base Simulator in the isolated desert of Winslow, Arizona, in hopes of qualifying for an actual lunar mission.[8] The program depicts their rigorous preparation within this simulated environment, where they must adhere to protocols mimicking life on the moon, such as rationing resources, consuming dehydrated meals, and donning spacesuits for any outdoor activity.[9] Throughout the series, the astronauts face daily challenges in maintaining the simulation, including equipment failures and scientific experiments gone awry, which test their competence and resolve.[9] The narrative explores interpersonal conflicts among the team, exacerbated by their isolation, as well as a series of absurd mishaps that highlight their limitations and force them to confront doubts about their mental fitness and the mission's viability.[10] Led by the authoritative Cap, the group navigates these obstacles with a mix of determination and ineptitude, fostering unexpected camaraderie amid the chaos.[8] Over the course of their training, which spans several months in the simulator, their collective efforts build toward a critical team evaluation that determines their selection for the real mission, underscoring themes of incompetence, perseverance, and group dynamics in extreme conditions.[11]Genre and style
Moonbase 8 employs a mockumentary format characterized by handheld camera work and confessional-style interviews, which lend an intimate, observational lens to the astronauts' isolated training environment in a desert-based NASA simulator.[1] This style underscores the series' workplace comedy roots, emphasizing the banal routines and interpersonal dynamics among the characters as they navigate simulated space challenges.[4] The humor is predominantly deadpan and low-key, deriving from the mundane mishaps and procedural absurdities of astronaut preparation, often exaggerating real NASA protocols for comedic effect—such as overly earnest attempts at crisis simulations that devolve into petty conflicts.[12] This approach fosters cringe comedy through the characters' sincere incompetence, creating awkward, relatable moments of failure rather than overt slapstick.[13] Subtle satire emerges in its portrayal of space exploration's lofty ambitions clashing with human frailty, highlighting the tedium and isolation of such endeavors without descending into broad parody.[14] Influenced by the creators' prior collaborations, the series incorporates improvisational spontaneity akin to sketches in Portlandia, allowing for naturalistic dialogue that amplifies the absurdity.[8] Tim Heidecker's portrayal draws on his established on-screen persona of hapless, straight-faced everymen, as seen in projects like Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, to infuse the narrative with understated unease and dry wit.[9]Cast and characters
Main cast and characters
The main cast of Moonbase 8 consists of three aspiring astronauts stationed at a NASA Moon Base Simulator in the Arizona desert, each bringing distinct personalities that drive the series' comedic tensions during their rigorous training exercises.[15] John C. Reilly portrays Robert "Cap" Caputo, the self-appointed leader of the trio, a former helicopter tour pilot from Honolulu, Hawaii, who is burdened by financial debts including a repossessed car and desperately seeks to prove himself as a hometown hero through the mission.[16][17] Cap's authoritative demeanor often masks his insecurities, leading him to enforce strict protocols and compete fiercely for recognition within the group.[4] Tim Heidecker plays Professor Scott "Rook" Sloan, a devout Christian engineer with a wife and twelve children, who interprets the lunar mission as a divine calling to spread the Gospel of Jesus and frequently consults the Bible for guidance amid the simulation's challenges.[18][19] Rook's analytical focus on technical details is tempered by social awkwardness and bouts of anxiety, making him the cautious counterpoint to his teammates' bolder impulses.[10] Fred Armisen stars as Dr. Michael "Skip" Henai, the team's chief scientist and son of a legendary NASA astronaut, whose enthusiasm for carrying on his father's legacy often results in naive decisions and unintended mishaps during experiments.[20] Skip's boundless optimism and impulsiveness provide comic relief, as he eagerly dives into tasks without fully considering consequences, contrasting sharply with the others' more restrained approaches.[16] The characters' dynamics revolve around frequent clashes stemming from their incompatible traits: Cap's domineering attempts at control frequently butt heads with Rook's faith-driven hesitancy and Skip's well-meaning but disruptive zeal, amplifying the absurdities of their isolated training environment.[4][10]Guest stars
Moonbase 8 features a roster of guest stars who appear in individual episodes to inject external dynamics into the astronauts' confined and often inept routines, such as rival teams, publicity stunts, and local disputes that underscore the protagonists' limitations. These performers, primarily one-time appearances, contribute to the series' humor by highlighting bureaucratic pressures, competitive tensions, and absurd real-world intrusions on the simulated mission. Notable guests include NFL player Travis Kelce, who plays a version of himself in the series premiere "Dry," recruited by NASA as a high-profile addition to the program for promotional purposes; his presence amplifies the astronauts' inadequacies as they navigate his celebrity status and athletic prowess amid a water shortage crisis.[21][22] In episode four, "Visitors," the show introduces a rival SpaceX simulation team led by Alia Shawkat as Alix, Thomas Mann as Cooper, and Adam Lambert as Billy; their arrival next door prompts the Moonbase 8 crew to host a tour and propose a merger amid budget cuts, escalating rivalries and exposing the protagonists' outdated methods against the visitors' modern flair.[23][24] The season finale "Beef" brings M.C. Gainey as T-Boy, a gruff rancher confronting the team over territorial encroachment; his role in the escalating standoff with local landowners forces the astronauts to confront practical threats to their base, blending physical comedy with themes of isolation versus community intrusion.[25][26] Other one-off guests, such as Joshua Davis as Wally and Fred Grandy as Bob, appear in supporting capacities to further bureaucratic oversight or simulated mission scenarios, reinforcing the series' exploration of incompetence through fleeting external validations or challenges.[27]Production
Development
Moonbase 8 was created and written by Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker, Jonathan Krisel, and John C. Reilly, who drew from their prior collaborations on projects like Portlandia.[8][28] The series originated as an independent production under A24, with development beginning in 2018.[28] The concept was initially inspired by isolation horror films such as The Thing, focusing on remote bases and prolonged solitude, but it evolved into a workplace comedy centered on aspiring astronauts.[29] On April 24, 2018, A24 announced they had begun production on the six-episode first season, independently financing the project.[28] Jonathan Krisel served as the primary director for all episodes, establishing a consistent low-key tone.[4] In August 2020, Showtime ordered the series to air, picking up the completed season produced on spec by A24.[8][30] Executive producers included the four creators—Armisen, Heidecker, Krisel, and Reilly—along with Dave Kneebone and representatives from A24.[28][4] The independent funding model allowed A24 to fully develop the series before securing a network deal with Showtime.[28][30]Casting
The principal cast for Moonbase 8 was announced in April 2018, coinciding with the reveal of the series' development by A24, with Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker, and John C. Reilly set to star as the three aspiring astronauts in the mockumentary comedy.[28] Their selection leveraged the trio's established comedy credentials—Armisen from Portlandia and Saturday Night Live, Heidecker from Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, and Reilly from films like Step Brothers—to anchor the show's improvisational, deadpan humor.[28] A first-look image featuring the leads in character was released in July 2018, confirming their roles as Skip, Rook, and Cap, respectively.[31] Guest casting emphasized performers with improvisational skills to maintain the series' mockumentary authenticity, with announcements rolling out in the lead-up to the November 2020 premiere on Showtime. Notable additions included Alia Shawkat, known for her work in Arrested Development and improv scenes, appearing as Alix in episode four alongside Thomas Mann and musician Adam Lambert as part of a rival SpaceX crew.[32] Athlete Travis Kelce was revealed as a guest star on November 5, 2020, portraying himself in a stunt casting role to boost NASA's astronaut program visibility.[33] The process balanced high-profile cameos like Kelce and Lambert with ensemble players to preserve group chemistry, without any reported major recasts or disruptions.[34]Filming and music
Principal photography for Moonbase 8 took place in 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with production wrapping before the series' premiere on Showtime in November of that year.[8] The mockumentary format relied on practical sets and effects to depict the confined interiors of the NASA Moon Base Simulator, utilizing soundstages for these scenes to capture the astronauts' isolated environment.[30] Exterior shots simulating the Arizona desert setting were filmed in Simi Valley, California, specifically at an active quarry and sand pit selected for its remote, arid landscape that evoked isolation without requiring extensive travel from Los Angeles.[35] Interior filming occurred on a soundstage in Sylmar, a neighborhood in northern Los Angeles, to maintain cost efficiency and proximity to the production base.[35] Director Jonathan Krisel emphasized the low-budget approach, limiting locations to just two primary sites to heighten the sense of confinement central to the series' humor.[30] The original score for Moonbase 8 was composed by Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips, marking his first full scoring project for television and incorporating psychedelic, ambient elements that blend tension with comedic undertones to mirror the astronauts' absurd predicaments.[14] Drozd's music features electronic textures reminiscent of experimental rock, enhancing the mockumentary's deadpan style without overpowering the dialogue-driven scenes.[14] Additional music was provided by Joshua Moshier, contributing to select cues and supporting the overall sound palette.[36]Episodes
Airing schedule
Moonbase 8 premiered on Showtime on November 8, 2020, with the first episode airing at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT, followed by weekly installments on Sundays.[5] The series consisted of six half-hour episodes, with the schedule as follows: episode 1 ("Dry") on November 8, episode 2 ("Rats") on November 15, episode 3 ("Quarantine") on November 22, episode 4 ("Visitors") on November 29, and episodes 5 ("Move the Base") and 6 ("Beef") airing back-to-back on December 6 at 11:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. ET/PT, respectively.[37] Episodes became available for streaming on Paramount+ shortly after their linear broadcast on Showtime. As of November 15, 2025, Showtime has not renewed Moonbase 8 for a second season, and no official cancellation has been announced, though the series' low viewership ratings during its initial run have made renewal unlikely.[38][7] Internationally, the series debuted on Crave in Canada on November 8, 2020, with all six episodes made available simultaneously for streaming.[39] It has since appeared on various platforms, including Prime Video in select regions.[40]List of episodes
Moonbase 8 consists of one season comprising six episodes, all directed by Jonathan Krisel and written by the series' creators Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker, Jonathan Krisel, and John C. Reilly. The season premiered on Showtime on November 8, 2020, airing weekly on Sundays at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT, with the final two episodes broadcast back-to-back on December 6, 2020. Viewership remained consistently low throughout the run, averaging a 0.01 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 81,000 viewers per episode. Each episode highlights the team's bungled attempts at lunar simulation training, featuring escalating absurdities in their isolation protocols and team dynamics that underscore the show's deadpan humor.| No. overall | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dry | Jonathan Krisel | Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker, Jonathan Krisel, John C. Reilly | November 8, 2020 | The astronauts contend with a critical water shortage in their habitat, leading to an unconventional fix with chaotic repercussions.[22] |
| 2 | Rats | Jonathan Krisel | Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker, Jonathan Krisel, John C. Reilly | November 15, 2020 | Rook battles intense homesickness triggered by family videos, as the crew probes mysterious thefts they attribute to a rat infestation.[41] |
| 3 | Quarantine | Jonathan Krisel | Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker, Jonathan Krisel, John C. Reilly | November 22, 2020 | Illness strikes Cap and Skip, resulting in contrasting quarantine ordeals, while Rook navigates solitude with a newly arrived female colleague.[42] |
| 4 | Visitors | Jonathan Krisel | Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker, Jonathan Krisel, John C. Reilly | November 29, 2020 | Facing budget cuts that threaten their mission, the team discovers a rival SpaceX crew setting up nearby and Cap proposes an unlikely partnership, resulting in awkward inter-team dynamics.[43] |
| 5 | Move the Base | Jonathan Krisel | Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker, Jonathan Krisel, John C. Reilly | December 6, 2020 | Skip's covert psychological experiment ensnares Cap, fraying their rapport, until Rook organizes a team game night to mend tensions.[44] |
| 6 | Beef | Jonathan Krisel | Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker, Jonathan Krisel, John C. Reilly | December 6, 2020 | Furious local ranchers confront the team over territorial encroachment, forcing a high-stakes choice between retreat and defiance.[45] |