Kyle Mooney
Skip / Treybor / (voice)
Saturday Morning All Star Hits!
2021
Ended • 1 Season • 8 Episodes
Director: Dave McCary
Overview
Wildly irreverent and slightly disturbing, this adult animation, live-action hybrid celebrates the campy, Saturday-morning shows of the '80s and '90s.
Seasons
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 8 episodes
- First aired
- Dec 10, 2021
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Glitch in the Nostalgia Machine
I remember the way the TV screen buzzed when the cable went out, that static hum like a swarm of bees trapped inside the glass. Before the internet, before on-demand, there was Saturday morning—a three-hour block of neon chaos, where cartoons bled into commercials for sugary cereal and action figures that never quite lived up to the box art. Saturday Morning All Star Hits! doesn’t just parody that era; it crawls inside the cathode-ray glow and twitches, like a half-remembered dream you can’t shake.
The show, created by Kyle Mooney, Ben Jones, and Dave McCary, is less a comedy series and more a time machine with a faulty return button. It doesn’t just show you the past—it makes you feel the static.
The premise is simple: twin hosts Skip and Treybor (both voiced by Mooney, in a bit of vocal contortion that feels like a dare) preside over a block of animated sketches, fake PSAs, and interstitial segments that mimic the low-budget, high-energy aesthetic of 1980s and early '90s children’s programming. But the simplicity is a trap. The show isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s made of it, like a Frankenstein’s monster stitched together from VHS tapes and half-remembered jingles.
The animation is deliberately rough, the colors too bright, the transitions jarring in a way that feels intentional, like the creators are trying to give you whiplash from the sheer sensory overload of the era. It’s the kind of show that would’ve aired between Garbage Pail Kids and Captain N: The Game Master, if those shows had been made by people who’d just discovered absurdist humor and weren’t entirely sure how to rein it in.
What’s fascinating about S.M.A.S.H.! is how it walks the line between affection and critique. The nostalgia here isn’t warm and fuzzy—it’s unsettling, like flipping through an old yearbook and realizing how much of your childhood was shaped by corporate algorithms. The show’s fake commercials, for instance, aren’t just jokes; they’re a direct jab at the way children’s media was (and still is) a delivery system for consumerism.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.4/10
"A nostalgic but uneven parody of 90s Saturday morning cartoons that charms some with its humor and style while frustrating others with its chaotic execution."
The series captures the look and feel of vintage Saturday morning cartoons, earning praise for its visual style and voice cast. However, its humor and pacing divide viewers, with some finding it hilariously absurd and others dismissing it as too random or grating. latestnetflix.com's take is that the show’s attempt to balance nostalgia with modern satire doesn’t always land, leaving its appeal inconsistent.
What viewers praise
- Nostalgic visual style The animation and aesthetic effectively mimic 90s Saturday morning cartoons, resonating with fans of the era.
- Strong voice cast The ensemble, including Kyle Mooney and Fred Armisen, delivers energetic performances that enhance the show’s comedic tone.
- Absurd humor Some viewers appreciate the show’s over-the-top, random humor as a fresh take on parody.
Common complaints
- Inconsistent humor The jokes often miss the mark, with many finding the humor too forced or grating rather than funny.
- Chaotic pacing The show’s fast, disjointed style can feel exhausting, lacking a clear narrative or payoff for some viewers.
- Niche appeal The parody’s specificity limits its audience, with many finding it too inside-baseball or reliant on nostalgia.
Recommended for
90s cartoon nostalgia fans Absurdist comedy lovers Voice acting enthusiasts Parody and satire fans
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s "Saturday Morning All Star Hits!" Brings Nostalgic Chaos to the Small Screen
Netflix’s Saturday Morning All Star Hits! (2021) is a love letter to the campy, low-budget kids' shows of the '80s and '90s—if those shows were secretly run by a cult of washed-up celebrities and corporate shills. latestnetflix.com's view is that Created by SNL alum Dave McCary and starring Kyle Mooney and Beck Bennett, the series leans into the absurdity of vintage Saturday morning programming, complete with fake commercials, bizarre skits, and a rotating cast of guest stars who seem to be in on the joke—or possibly trapped in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3AgEjdm9WA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZVAWQl-N9s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPAr3-4egRU
The show’s premise is simple: it’s a fictional '80s-style variety show hosted by a pair of over-caffeinated brothers, Randy and Derek Smalls (Mooney and Bennett), who navigate a surreal world of sketch comedy, musical numbers, and increasingly unhinged product placements. The vibe is Pee-wee’s Playhouse meets Tim and Eric Awesome Show, with a dash of Mystery Science Theater 3000’s meta-commentary. The trailer alone promises a mix of live-action chaos, cheap animation, and celebrity cameos that feel equal parts nostalgic and unsettling.
Behind the Scenes: A Who’s Who of Comedy Royalty
McCary, best known for directing Brigsby Bear (2017) 
, assembled a cast that reads like a who’s who of alt-comedy and voice-acting legends. Maurice LaMarche (Futurama, Pinky and the Brain) and Eric Bauza (Looney Tunes, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) bring their vocal chops to the animated segments, while Pamela Adlon (Better Things) and Fred Armisen (Portlandia) pop up in live-action roles. Paul Rudd’s involvement is teased in the cast list, though his exact role remains a mystery—rumor has it he plays a version of himself who’s been trapped in the show’s universe since the '80s.
The series also features Ben Jones (The Midnight Gospel) and Kate Lyn Sheil (House of Cards), suggesting a mix of indie-film cred and mainstream comedy appeal. Given the cast’s pedigree, it’s no surprise that the humor skews toward the surreal and self-aware. The trailer hints at recurring bits, like a fake cereal commercial that devolves into existential dread, or a puppet sidekick who may or may not be a corporate plant.
A Show Within a Show (Within a Show?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYKaem_axfk
One of the most intriguing aspects of Saturday Morning All Star Hits! is its layered meta-narrative. The series isn’t just a parody of '80s kids' shows—it’s a parody of how those shows were made, complete with behind-the-scenes drama, shady network executives, and a host duo who seem increasingly unhinged as the season progresses. Clips suggest that the Smalls brothers’ show is being produced by a fictional network called "King High School," which may or may not be a front for something far more sinister.
The fake commercials are another highlight, blending the cheesy jingles of yesteryear with modern absurdist humor. Think Chuck E. Cheese meets Black Mirror, if Black Mirror were sponsored by a sentient energy drink. The trailer teases at least one ad for a product called "Zizzle Zazz," which promises to "make your dreams come true—or at least make you forget you have any."
Reception: Nostalgia with a Side of WTF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dNSbEY38D0
Early reactions to the trailer suggest that Saturday Morning All Star Hits! is polarizing in the best way. Fans of McCary’s work on SNL and Brigsby Bear are already on board, while casual viewers might be left scratching their heads. The show’s 6.4/10 rating on SensCritique (based on 23 votes) indicates that it’s not for everyone—but those who get it, really get it.
The biggest question mark is whether the series can sustain its manic energy over a full season. With only eight episodes in Season 1, the show doesn’t have much room to outstay its welcome, but the risk of tonal whiplash is real. If the trailer is any indication, though, Saturday Morning All Star Hits! is less concerned with coherence than with delivering a fever dream of '80s nostalgia, corporate satire, and celebrity cameos.
The Verdict: A Cult Classic in the Making?
Saturday Morning All Star Hits! feels like the kind of show that will either become a cult favorite or fade into obscurity—there’s not much middle ground. Its blend of retro aesthetics, absurdist humor, and star-studded cast makes it a standout in Netflix’s comedy lineup, even if it’s not for everyone.
For now, fans of offbeat comedy can look forward to diving into the Smalls brothers’ surreal world when the series drops. And if the show’s fake commercials are any indication, we’ll all be drinking Zizzle Zazz by the season finale—whether we want to or not.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
Series
Similar Series
Related series ranked by rating and popularity.
