SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for Universal Basic Guys Season 3, Episode 2.
If Universal Basic Guys Season 3, Episode 2 isn’t the FOX show’s Halloween episode, it certainly comes very close. “La Gloire Du Buffon” takes something a lot of viewers are afraid of—clowns—and then as usual turns a general idea up to eleven. It’s actually impressive how many lines in this episode made it past the censors.
As has become habit for this show, “La Gloire Du Buffon” begins with Mark Hoagies feeling irritated by something and then taking extreme measures to rectify his annoyance. In this case, Mark’s inability to play any musical instrument leads him to find a strange new one to master—and it’s unlikely anyone watching at home had “calliope organ” in mind. In fact, it’s possible this episode just taught some people that it’s called a calliope organ. The show could’ve easily gone with something quirky but fairly mainstream and been fine, like an accordion or a theremin, but Universal Basic Guys always has to reach just a little bit further.
It turns out that all the circus music Mark plays is attracting actual clowns, and the episode takes its title from the complicated clown ballet that Mark is determined to put on. This exposes that Tammy has a fear of clowns and she seeks David’s help in overcoming it. (David’s line about overcoming his biggest fear by marrying it is one of this episode’s many zingers.) Between this and the season premiere, it’s a rough time to be Tammy and David, and that’s one of the criticisms of this episode; the series doesn’t want to get to a point where the characters become predictable.
What still isn’t predictable is the plot. It turns out that one of the clowns Mark has recruited has homicidal tendencies, which are discovered when he drugs David and Tammy and locks them up in his basement. Tammy then overcomes her fear of clowns by setting Phil on fire, which prompts David to develop his own fear of Tammy. None of that should make sense, but it’s all another creative way to bring the two stories together. The reason why Universal Basic Guys can take such wild swings is because the writers pay them off; this isn’t like other sitcoms where plot threads get handwaved at the end of the half-hour. The resolutions may be equally strange, but they exist.
The other subplot confirms that Mark and Hank’s mom Rhoda is going to be a factor in Universal Basic Guys Season 3. She’s an antagonist again here, this time pushing Hank to become the piano player at a local restaurant. This story isn’t so memorable, save for the phrase “antibiotic resistant gonorrhea” making it into the episode. Another fun turn of phrase is that Mark briefly tries to return the organ by hiring a van labeled “Niche Musical Instrument Delivery.” Plus, there’s a relevant callback to “Mr. Cupcake Man” from Season 1. These are small little chuckles, but they’re appreciated and act as a nice alternative to those massive swings.
It’s important that Universal Basic Guys can do different kinds of comedy, especially in its third season, where the initial novelty of its premise has worn off. “La Gloire Du Buffon” isn’t quite as exciting as “Rhoda,” but its mix of small jokes like the visual gag of a giant calliope organ stuffed into the Hoagies’ garage and a giant plot about a would-be killer clown is still the exact right combination for this show. If this wasn’t the Halloween episode, it’s hard to see how the writers would top it.
Universal Basic Guys airs Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. Photo Credit: Courtesy of FOX.
Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.
