"Alien Nation" (1989) TV series 1989-1990

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

18 September 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A flying saucer crashed in the Mojave Desert and its inhabitants turned out to be alien slaves, bred to be super intelligent and strong...

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Police | Alien Species | Alien Driving Car | Interracial Relationship

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Gary Graham	...	Detective Matthew Sikes (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Eric Pierpoint	...	Detective George Francisco (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Michele Scarabelli	...	Susan Francisco (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Charles Howerton	...	V.O. Opening Narration (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Sean Six	...	Buck Francisco (19 episodes, 1989-1990)
Terri Treas	...	Cathy Frankel (17 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ron Fassler	...	Captain Bryon Grazer (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Lauren Woodland	...	Emily Francisco (15 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jeff Marcus	...	Albert Einstein (11 episodes, 1989-1990)
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs	...	Sergeant Dobbs (9 episodes, 1989)

Runtime:

60 min (22 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA

Company:

Kenneth Johnson Productions

Trivia:

During the opening credits, we hear alien lyrics being sung: "E take nas naj...nah sus gah nilpa." This is actually the names of produces Kenneth Johnson's wife and daughter (Katie Johnson and Susan Appling Johnson) sung backwards. In fact, most of the alien language was, in fact, backwards English, which helped to keep gramatical rules intact. Other inspiration for the language came from Russian, as well as nonsensical and made-up words.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saved by the Bell: Date Auction (#3.15)" (1991)

"This is really not what real Sci-Fi is all about"

"Alien Nation" the TV series as well as the following TV movies was all together lame, poor-quality science fiction that severely lacked in intelligence and class. Here you have a cliched flying saucer making an abrupt crash landing on Earth and in five short years these aliens have already been assimilated, widely accepted, and living ONLY in the United States and ONLY in Los Angeles. Not a bright premise.

"Alien Nation" was really a cheesy cop show with some stupid-looking ETs thrown in nothing more. I also believe that the subject matter basically dealing with racial equality was extremely overplayed and overrated. As a species, we humans have yet to get along with one another let alone welcome with open arms, aliens from outer space if in real life they really exist at all.

Bottom line: the show sucked.