Imagine a world where a gullible schmuck is promised celebrity and fortune if he volunteers to go solo on a space flight to Mars - as part of a reality television show. 

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the premise behind the sci-fi comedy web series SOLO. 

Jonathan Nail (who also wrote and directed the series) stars as Scott Drizhal, a down-on-his luck guy who agrees to embark on a solo, three-year round trip mission to the red planet as part of the most ambitious reality show ever produced.

There's just one problem: on the mid-way point to Mars, the series gets canceled!  

All but the sleazy executive producer and two members of the privately funded ground-control crew are fired.

So, how in the hell is Scott going to get back home? He is the very incompetent, sole crew member aboard a sophisticated spacecraft. His only companion is the ship's sarcastic computer, the PHAL 9000.

SOLO is seriously funny.  

The series' humor stems from it poking fun at many standard science fiction tropes. It also places our cultural fascination with "reality" television in its comedy cross-hairs. The privatization of space travel isn't spared satirical lampooning either.

Watch the premiere episode in its entirety here: 

Unfortunately,  only one 9-episode season of SOLO was produced. Still, this series deserves to find an audience because of its whip-smart satire, decent production value, and unexpected plot twists. 

To watch the series, visit its channel on YouTube.

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