3rd Rock from the Sun 

A group of aliens are sent to Earth, disguised as a human family, to experience and report life on the 3rd planet from the sun.

Creators:

Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner

Stars:

John Lithgow, Jane Curtin, Kristen Johnston

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 34 wins & 74 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
John Lithgow	...	Dr. Dick Solomon 139 episodes, 1996-2001
Kristen Johnston	...	Sally Solomon 139 episodes, 1996-2001
French Stewart	...	Harry Solomon 139 episodes, 1996-2001
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Tommy Solomon 139 episodes, 1996-2001
Jane Curtin	...	Dr. Mary Albright 139 episodes, 1996-2001
Simbi Kali	...	Nina 135 episodes, 1996-2001
Elmarie Wendel	...	Mrs. Dubcek 120 episodes, 1996-2001
Wayne Knight	...	Officer Don 101 episodes, 1996-2001

Storyline

A group of aliens has come to Earth to learn about its population, customs, etc. To avoid detection, they have taken on human form which gives them human emotions, physical needs etc. WITHOUT the understanding of what they mean or the inhibitions normally present in humans. Their leader takes the position of a college professor, their military expert as his sister, their intelligence expert, supposedly oldest of group takes form of his teenage son. The uninhibited reactions turn everyday events into unusual situations.

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Plot Keywords:

male protagonist | brother sister relationship | brother brother relationship | father son relationship | uncle nephew relationship | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Carsey-Werner [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 January 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

3rd Rock

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carsey-Werner Company, YBYL Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min (124 episodes) 60 min (7 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Big Giant Head was first the leader of the galaxy, and then later the whole universe.

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Quotes

Dick Solomon: [reading Dr. Seuss] My God, this man is a genius!

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Alternate Versions

In an episode entitled "Assault with a Deadly Dick," a line of dialogue was cut after the first airing. Dick is waiting at the police station with Mary to point out the man who mugged him. Officer Don comes in and says "Time to finger your perp." Dick looks awkwardly at Mary and replies "I keep trying, but she won't let me." When the episode was rebroadcast a few months later, Dick's line was omitted and the laugh track was streched. This line is always cut in syndication airings, but when shown outside the US and on the DVD, the line is intact.

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Connections

Referenced in The Larry Sanders Show: Adolf Hankler (1998)

User Reviews

Very funny

"3rd Rock from the Show" is a very funny comedy series about a group of aliens disguised as humans. John Lithgow (one of the most underrated actors of all-time) is fabulous as Dick, the confused and overly dramatic alien posing as a college professor (I think - it's been so long since I've seen this on TV!). Sally (Kristen Johnson), Tommy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Harry (French Stewart) all join in on the fun as his clueless, bumbling pals - Tommy is an old alien in a teenager's body, Sally is a male in a female's body (or so we are led to believe). Harry is a walking radio who receives incoming transmissions from their home planet.

It may sound silly but that's the entire point! It has some very funny quotes like, "Last week I didn't even know the difference between Bill Pullman and Bill Paxton!" Dick: "Pullman is the fat one." "I know that now!" (or something like that). A lot of it has to do with pop culture and as a result you may have to be American to "get" some of the jokes.

One of the top ten greatest television shows of all time. Miserably underrated. It gained a strong cult following while on TV and was awarded with many Emmy nominations but never really become as successful or popular as "Seinfeld," etc. Too bad.