ONE SEASON WONDERS: Homeboys in Outer Space

On Wednesday, I take a look at shows that lasted one season or less. Here's a look at Homeboys in Outer Space!

HOMEBOYS IN OUTER SPACE

August 27, 1996 - May 13, 1997
21 episodes
UPN

Starring: Flex, Darryl M. Bell, Rhona L. Bennett, Kevin Michael Richardson, Paulette Braxton

Created by: Ehrich Van Lowe

Plot: Astronauts Ty Walker (Flex) and Morris Clay (Bell) fly around in a winged car called the "Space Hoopty" in the 23rd century. The car is piloted by female computer Loquatia (Bennett).

Brief Pilot Review:

Oof, this is one of the worst One Season Wonder pilots I have watched. I'm already predisposed to not love sci-fi comedies and then we have 90s era special effects and visual imagery (and on a UPN budget) so it's not even interesting in that way. This show tried to be hip but I can't imagine it played that way even then. It was one of those "lowest common denominator" shows. It had a rowdy studio audience, obnoxious mugging to the camera and stupid lines like Flex saying "I think whoever put the extra T in butt knew exactly what he was doing" as he stares at a hot woman.

It seems like this is one of those UPN or WB sitcoms in the era that was closer to a Saturday morning sitcom than a primetime one. It was so juvenile in every way but with enough sex jokes to not make it workable as a Saturday morning sitcom. It's almost painful to watch the production qualities compared to a contemporary sci-fi comedy like The Orville. Shows like this look so much more dated than a show like Friends or Home Improvement because of the special effects, the costumes and the unique yet terrible sets. The only positive thing I can say about it is that Flex and Darryl M. Bell were game performers and seemed to enjoy being around each other. That certainly wasn't enough to make this show work though.

What Went Wrong:

UPN was a fledgling new network in the Fall of 1996. It had only been in existence for a year and a half. It programmed just three nights a week and was trying to build its lineup around two shows that showed some promise - its inaugural show, Star Trek: Voyager and its teen friendly comedy Moesha, which was entering its second season. Most of their new shows seemed to be attempts to find partners for one of those two shows. Homeboys followed Moesha but it wasn't as sweet or endearing as Moesha, though it was still attempting to woo a young and diverse crowd like its lead-in.

The series is known as one of TV's worst shows of all time and has made many lists of that variety but it wasn't an instant flop because of its network. The inventory on UPN was so low that it managed to air an entire season on Tuesday nights. The series was trashed by critics and deemed racist by many. Variety said "no gag seems too low for this show" but called it a potential guilty pleasure. The Orlando Sentinel minced no words, saying it "stuns with its ineptitude and tastelessness" while noting it was not just racist but also sexist. It is only thought of now when people think of terrible 90s shows. There is no cult favorite element to this show.

Tomorrow: A look at Happy Days Season 10 (Part 1)

Next Wednesday: A One Season Wonder look at Arsenio!