The true star of Stars on Mars is who you think he is

The premise of stars on Mars, which premiered on Fox on June 5, is simple: celebrities go to space camp. The longer explanation is that it’s a reality show where 12 celebrities pretend they’re on Mars for 24 days and compete against each other to see who’s the strongest, bravest, smartest, most competent crew member and earned the title of Brightest Star in the Galaxy.”

stars on MarsThe celebrity cast is a smorgasbord of fairly well-known names, all of whom are introduced upon arrival at the base’s airlock while trying to make sense of the new digs and the HAL 9000-like “AI” that houses them. It’s standard reality show meet-and-greet stuff.

But Marshawn Lynch needs no such introduction. He appears on a Mars rover alongside his former Seahawks teammate Richard Sherman, the only pair featured in the series. While Sherman has worked as an analyst for Prime Video’s football coverage, Lynch seems to be the clear star at the moment. Everyone else’s Talking Head interviews reveal what they think of the show: Sherm says he’s glad to have a teammate; modern family Star Ariel Winter says she wants to feel more comfortable playing herself. Lynch’s segments are pure comment gold.

He’s upset about the bed situation (“yeah, the sleeping arrangements on Mars are bloody disgusting”). He’s ready to take on the role of base commander and rescue the stranded 12th Mate (“We’ve got to send a team over there… It could be Beyoncé,” he notes wisely). Even off the cutaways, Lynch is always good for a comedic punch, whether it’s poking fun at Lance Armstrong for not being a proper athlete — because cycling is easy for Marshawn — or just passing out in his private commander’s quarters.

This comes as no surprise to those following Lynch’s post-NFL career. He was already able to take home the title of top guest Murdervilleand he was a savage Guest star on a Bear Grylls show. He showed up west world And The league; he fought the Predator! Hell, you just have to check out Lynch’s iconic NFL career I remember the man always knew how to take the spotlight on his behalf.

The show seems to know this, too: In a Talking Head interview Vanderpump Rules Star Tom Schwartz declines to name Christopher Mintz-Plasse Very bad Character names as he has probably yelled at him since he was young. Cut to Marshawn Lynch saying “Hey, McLovin!” Even comedian and Mars colleague Natasha Leggero wonders how she’s supposed to be the comedian on Mars around him.

If Lynch isn’t there stars on Mars, the show is okay, if not remarkable. The first episode has lots of softball challenges where the celebrities pretend they’re on Mars and take on the “real life” challenges of being an astronaut. The show has the escape room production values ​​of your dreams and (at least in Episode 1) the reality show suspense fun of a C-Class competition show. There are a few notable moments, such as Winter’s thoughts on Lance Armstrong Neil Armstrong or Tinashe call Tallulah Willis a typical Nepo baby. These are the things that define so many reality TV shows. stars on MarsThe test will be whether the challenges and celebrities manage to stand out from the crowd.

But there is already a clear highlight. Whoever wins this space camp reality show competition is largely immaterial. One star is already shining much brighter than the others, and it’s Marshawn Lynch.

New episodes of stars on Mars airs Mondays at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Fox.