Armando Iannucci, the genius behind HBO's Veep, is responsible for one of the network's newer comedic ventures: Avenue 5. This ambitious series, full of the satire and witty dialogue Iannucci is known for, takes place on a commercial interplanetary cruise ship that veers far off course. Starring Hugh Laurie as the ship's captain, it was just renewed for a 2nd season.
Avenue 5 provides biting, timely commentary about consumerism and the private sector. It also opens up this searing brand of comedy to new possibilities by setting it in outer space. Below are 10 other thought-provoking and irreverent sci-fi satires to enjoy until the next season of Avenue 5 airs.
Hyperdrive (2006 - 2007)
This short-lived British TV series follows the crew of the HMS Camden Lock in the years 2151 to 2152 as they safeguard British interests in an ever-evolving galaxy.
Hyperdrive stars Nick Frost, Kevin Eldon, and Miranda Hart as officers with varying levels of responsibility. Frost's character is captain, and he adopts a lenient stance when it comes to acting out military orders. The crew encounters various alien races and obstacles along the way, making the series one long, hilarious metaphor for international politics.
Invader Zim (2001 - 2006)
Despite being a cartoon that aired on Nickelodeon, Invader Zim is a dark, snarky show adapted from Jhonen Vasquez's popular comic books. Zim is a diminutive, yet egotistical alien sent to Earth to conquer the human race. Due to his size, he disguises himself as a human child and begins his quest.
Unfortunately, a local kid named Dib, who sidelines as an alien investigator, is on Zim's trail and won't let him succeed in his mission. This subversive cartoon was way ahead of its time. With its innovative animation style and macabre tone, it paved the way for the adult-oriented animated series that came after it.
Red Dwarf (1988 - )
Red Dwarf is a cult British science fiction series that ran for 11 years. Set up like a classic comedy sitcom, it focuses on a group of maladaptive space miners aboard the title ship. From one of the last known humans alive to holograms to AIs, the crew is a diverse mish-mash of creatures and robots.
What makes Red Dwarf a satire is its tendency to poke fun at genre conventions, such as time travel, virtual reality, and scientific advancements like genetic engineering. It also digs into the future implications of humanity's near-extinction through its human main character, Lister.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
Long before the 2005 feature film, the BBC released what would say is a better screen adaptation of Douglas Adam's famous science fiction novel. It stars many notable British comedians, who render characters like Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, and Trillian successfully.
Arthur Dent is rescued from Earth by Ford Prefect after it's destroyed by a Vogon fleet. Together, they roam the galaxy, eventually crossing paths with another Earthling, Trillian, as well as characters like the two-headed Zaphod Beeblebrox and the Paranoid Android Marvin. The show, like the book, pokes fun at technological achievements in a universe guided by war and carnage.
3rd Rock From The Sun (1996 - 2001)
3rd Rock From the Sun managed to be both a trendy sitcom and an intelligent parable about the trials and tribulations of the contemporary American family. The Solomons, played by John Lithgow, Kristen Johnston, French Stewart, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, are aliens disguised as humans on an expedition to observe life on what their kind deems an unimportant planet.
Of all places, the crew lands in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, where they must blend in with middle America. While they grapple with human life, the group receives incoming messages and directives from their boss, the Giant Big Head. This NBC series lasted 6 seasons.
Futurama (1999 - 2003; 2008 - 2013)
Matt Groening updated his unique brand of cartoon humor for the 31st Century in this series about an intergalactic doofus named Fry. After being cryogenically frozen for 1,000 years, Fry gets by working for an interplanetary delivery company.
Futurama is rife with social commentary and glimpses into the uneasy fate of the universe. Its future setting establishes hilarious points of comparison with the present, employing both low-brow and high-brow humor to generative laughs. After Fox canceled it, Comedy Central picked it back up for an additional 3 seasons.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988 - 2018)
Mystery Science Theatre 3000 is a long-running cult series existing in many forms across various network channels and streaming services, including a recent Netflix revival. Its basic premise involves a janitor trapped on a satellite orbiting Earth by two mad scientists. The janitor is forced to watch really, really bad movies while the mads observe his reaction.
The show's creator, Joel Hodgson, served as the janitor character in its early days, but other actors have played the role since then. In order to keep himself from going insane, he constructs animate robots to keep him company. They join him during the films and they all riff on what they're watching together. This riffing is the main event in every episode.
The Orville (2017 - )
Seth McFarlane's throw-back science fiction comedy satirizes the early days of space-themed television. McFarlane, known for cartoons like Family Guy, stars as Officer Ed Mercer, who works on exploratory space ships in the 25th Century. This ensemble series started on shaky ground, but it improved drastically in its 2nd season. It's been renewed for a 3rd season by Fox.
The series pays homage to the original Star Trek while also exploring the day-to-day reality of life on a mid-level deep-space vessel. Themes of bureaucracy, intimacy, and professional aspirations are also highlighted.
The Last Man On Earth (2015 - 2018)
Former SNL comedian Will Forte delves into the comedic potential of a post-apocalyptic scenario in this sitcom about a deadly virus that wipes out humanity. Forte's character, Will, spends years searching for other humans, and when he's about to give up, he stumbles upon Carol, played by Kristel Schaal.
Over its four-season run, The Last Man on Earth manages to defy genre expectations and develop a character-driven narrative without losing its humor. It's all full of plot devices that satirically undermine dystopian tropes.
Clone (2008)
This cheeky British reimagining of the Frankenstein monster focuses its attention on the British military as it attempts to create the world's first human clone. They don't want just any clone; they want a super soldier to replace Britain's army.
When Dr. Victor Blenkinsop, played by Jonathan Pryce, produces a clone, the results aren't what he wanted. In fact, his clone is a tall, lanky being who wouldn't hurt a fly. Mark Gatiss plays the head of MI7, Colonel Black, an evil man who wants to destroy Victor and clone. A cautionary tale about the militarization of technology, Clone is also a funny satire.