Maybe it’s too early to tell, but the pilot episode of Universal Basic Guys doesn’t feel particularly new or terribly funny. It’s just okay. The premise is that a bunch of guys were put out of work because of AI, but are now compensated $3,000 monthly (universal basic income) for their troubles. If you’re expecting interesting commentary, or even just a witty one-liner, as a result of that friction, you won’t get it in the first few entries of the series. So far, nothing has been said about AI or job security despite their increasing relevance in our day-to-day lives. Instead, the guys’ firing simply inspires them to get into all sorts of hijinks and shenanigans because of their free time. It’s the kind of show that mines funny moments from their everyday mundanity, which is fine, except they’ve introduced this interesting premise only to do nothing with it. It’s a nice no-brainer show if that’s what you’re looking for, but time will only tell if it can go beyond the box it stuck itself in.
Two brothers lose their jobs to automation and are given $3,000 a month in a new basic income program, allowing them to use their free time and free money to find purpose in a world where they're no longer needed.
A group of factory workers in Pennsylvania receive a huge monthly stipend as a result of being fired in favor of AI. Not knowing what to do with their free time, they get involved in all sorts of trouble.
That bonding moment with the monkey in the pilot was surprisingly touching. More of that and less of typical sitcom trappings, please!
It resembles most other Fox animated sitcoms, and has yet to find its voice.
