Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space' (12 Apr. 1996)
"The X Files" Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space' (original title)

Well known author Jose Chung is writing a book about the claimed alien abduction of a young couple that was subsequently investigated by agents Mulder and Scully. With Mulder unavailable, ... See full summary »

Director:

Rob Bowman

Writers:

Chris Carter (creator), Darin Morgan

Stars:

David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Charles Nelson Reilly

Cast

Episode cast overview:
David Duchovny	...	Fox Mulder
Gillian Anderson	...	Dana Scully
Charles Nelson Reilly	...	Jose Chung
William Lucking	...	Roky Crikenson
Daniel Quinn	...	Lieutenant Jack Schaefer
Jesse Ventura	...	Man in Black
Sarah Sawatsky	...	Chrissy
Jason Gaffney	...	Harold
Alex Trebek	...	Man in Black
Alex Diakun	...	Dr. Fingers
Larry Musser	...	Detective Manners
Allan Zinyk	...	Blaine Faulkner
Michael Dobson	...	Sargeant Hynek
Mina E. Mina	...	Dr. Hand
Jaap Broeker	...	Yappi

Storyline

Well known author Jose Chung is writing a book about the claimed alien abduction of a young couple that was subsequently investigated by agents Mulder and Scully. With Mulder unavailable, Scully provides most of the information on the case. Chrissy and Harold were out on a date when their car suddenly lost all power in the middle of nowhere. From that point on however, their stories and that of the others involved in the investigation begin to vary considerably. It all equally leads to several possible conclusions.

---

Plot Keywords:

men in black | point of view | cherry picker | klass county washington | profanity | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 April 1996 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 2, North Shore Studios, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television, Ten Thirteen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Johnny Cash (the original "Man in Black") was briefly considered for the role of the Man in Black that ultimately was portrayed by Alex Trebek.

---

Quotes

Fox Mulder: You still gonna hold the boy?
Detective Manners: You bet your blankitty-blank bleep I am!

---

Connections

Spoofs Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

---

Soundtracks

"The X-Files Love Suite"
Written by Mark Snow
Performed by Mark Snow

User Reviews

Perhaps the best X-Files episode of all!

This X-Files has it all: a superb guest cast of both unknowns and extremely well-knowns, great writing, wry tongue-in-cheek humor, and homages to more sci-fi (and abduction fanatic "fact") stories than one would think possible in the alloted time. Charles Nelson Reilly gives a beautifully understated performance in the title role (showing that he's more than a one-trick pony when someone gives him a chance); Jesse Ventura utters more polysyllabic words than I thought he knew, and the other "Man in Black" (whose face is obscured until late in the story) is a hoot.

I've watched this episode more times than I can count, and it seems I'm always noticing a new detail that further enhances the tale. If you have the opportunity to purchase a collection with this as one of the episodes -- jump on it!