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Universal Basic Guys

No job. No prob.

2024–Ongoing3 seasons45 episodesTV-14Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

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.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Universal Basic Guys?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Universal Basic Guys streaming on FOX One via Prime Video and Hulu and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Subscription

via Prime Video

Rent / Buy

Buy

Highlights

What stands out about Universal Basic Guys?

Universal Basic Guys earns 2 badges, led by Divisive and Split on the humor.

Reception

Is Universal Basic Guys worth watching?

Universal Basic Guys' Midcredits score is the 14th percentile of all shows, from 1.7K ratings across 5 sources. 54% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

14th percentile

Better received than 14% of shows

17th percentile among Animation16th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)8th
Approval (how many liked it)23rd

Acclaim

Divisive: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

56 /100

8th percentile of all shows

8th percentile among Animation8th percentile among 2020s

Critics 41 · Audience 57

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

Big peaks at both ends — people either love this or bounce off it hard.

Approval

How many liked it

54% liked it

23rd percentile of all shows

27th percentile among Animation26th percentile among 2020s
54% rated it 7–1046% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

60th percentile

1.6K ratings across platforms

50th percentile among Animation60th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Down 11% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the show is a dumb, lowbrow comedy about two inept brothers getting into chaotic situations, with fans finding it charming and detractors finding it grating.

Fans praised

  • genuine laugh-out-loud humor and absurd situations
  • endearing characters with heart, especially the Hoagie brothers' dynamic
  • sharp South Jersey/Philly regional authenticity and inside jokes

Detractors panned

  • unlikeable, one-note characters who never learn or grow
  • unfunny, lazy writing with forced and cringeworthy jokes
  • wasted premise—UBI angle is barely explored, plot feels generic

What stands out

ActingDivisive72

voice acting praised as top-notch by fans, especially Fred Armisen; some detractors find accents annoying

Emotional impactDivisive50

fans find moments sweet and moving (e.g., chimp storyline); detractors see no genuine heart

OriginalityDivisive45

fans see a fresh take with regional flavor; detractors call it a derivative retread of Family Guy and other shows

HumorDivisive40

sharply divided: fans find it hilarious with shock and ironic gags; detractors say it's completely unfunny

DialogueDivisive40

fans enjoy banter and wit; detractors find dialogue cringey, slow, and unfunny

CharactersDivisive35

divisive: fans find Mark and Hank endearing and relatable; detractors call them insufferable, stupid, and lacking growth

Plot and storyDivisive35

fans enjoy creative storylines; detractors say plots are uninteresting, disjointed, and don't leverage the UBI premise

Cinematography25

animation widely criticized as cheap, unappealing, and amateurish

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Episodes

3 seasons

Season 3 · 2026 · 6 episodes

  • S3E1

    Rhoda

    Sep 27, 2026
  • S3E2
    S3E2

    La Gloire Du Bouffon

    Oct 4, 2026
  • S3E3
    S3E3

    Lake Piney

    Oct 18, 2026
  • S3E4
    S3E4

    Episode 4

    Oct 25, 2026
  • S3E5
    S3E5

    Episode 5

    Airs Nov 1, 2026Upcoming
  • S3E6
    S3E6

    Episode 6

    Airs Nov 8, 2026Upcoming

Watch experience

What is Universal Basic Guys like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Ironic, light and charged — a relentless watch that leaves you entertained.

Feelings

  • Absurd
  • Manic
  • Warm

Themes

  • Self-worth
  • Purpose
  • Ambition

Story

  • Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.

What it asks of you

  • Relentless
  • Casual
  • Easy watch
  • Resolved

Setting

  • Contemporary
  • Stylized realism
  • Suburban
  • Domestic

How it leaves you

  • Fun
  • Feel-good

Style

  • Absurdist: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.
  • Deadpan: Delivered flat and unsmiling, which is the joke.
ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Heaviest: earlyAbsurdist humor: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcOne continuous story
ToneThe absurd scenarios are delivered with a straight face, creating an ironic deadpan humour that invites laughter at the characters' stupidity.
The rideThe series bounces between cringe humor and fast-paced gags, with a light-hearted undercurrent that occasionally breaks into genuine sentiment.
StructureEpisodes follow a conventional three-act structure, with the brothers hatching a scheme, encountering complications, and resolving with a return to baseline.
Episode formatEach episode revolves around a self-contained scheme or problem, but the UBI program and the brothers' ongoing quest for purpose provide a loose arc, fitting the hybrid model.
Season formatThe show follows the brothers in one continuous story, with each episode building on their unchanged circumstances and the broader UBI premise, though the series is still ongoing.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Why it leaves you this wayThe show's light, absurd humour leaves a fun, if disposable, aftertaste for those who enjoy the dumb comedy.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% (this title) · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Buddy comedy: A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).

12% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeTypical episodes follow brothers Mark and Hank as they use their Universal Basic Income to pursue ill-conceived schemes, resulting in chaotic, comedic situations that rarely stick.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% (this title) · Ambition 14% (this title) · Purpose 16% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Self

Self-worth · 7% of showsPurposeAmbition · 14% of shows
Satirizes its theme: Attacks its theme through ridicule.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe show centers on two brothers whose sense of worth is shattered when they lose their jobs, and their misguided attempts to reclaim value through get-rich schemes and unearned confidence.
StanceThe show treats its characters' overconfidence and lack of self-awareness as comedic fodder, poking fun at their misplaced sense of entitlement rather than celebrating it.

The world

Orchestral modernBackground music · original score
SettingA fictional small American town where two brothers lose their jobs at a hot dog factory and join a Universal Basic Income program.
MusicA light, bouncy score that underscores the show's comedic energy without drawing attention to itself.

Content guide

Is Universal Basic Guys okay for kids?

TV-14

Universal Basic Guys is rated TV-14. As of October 26, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (61/100), sexual content at mild (22/100), language at moderate (40/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (40/100) and frightening material at moderate (39/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 1 other country
  • Brazil14
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense
too few votes to rank (6 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Mild
too few votes to rank (9 votes)
Profanity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
too few votes to rank (6 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (31 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Universal Basic Guys have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Universal Basic Guys?

Cast

Adam Malamut
as Mark Hoagies
Craig Malamut
as Hank Hoagies
Talia Genevieve
as Tammy
Fred Armisen
as David
Ally Maki
as Andrea
Jon Glaser
as Cadet
Jake Hart
as Various
Erik Griffin
as Boris
Tommy Pope
as Steve DelVecchio
Brandon Wardell
as Darren

Crew

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What are shows like Universal Basic Guys?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Universal Basic Guys include Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2000), China, IL (2008) and Robot Chicken (2005).

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What other shows share a tag with Universal Basic Guys?

394 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: buddy comedy. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.