Aliens in America (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Aliens in America is an American
sitcom
created by David Guarascio and Moses Port that aired on The CW
for one season from 2007-2008. Guarascio and Port also served as executive producers of the show alongside Tim Doyle. Luke Greenfield
directed the pilot
. The show is about an American
teenager in Wisconsin
whose family takes in a Muslim
foreign exchange student from Pakistan
.
er Justin Tolchuck (Dan Byrd
) is a sensitive, lanky 16-year-old just trying to fit in at his high school in Medora, Wisconsin
. He lives with his well-meaning mom Franny (Amy Pietz
) who just wants him to be "cool" and fit in, entrepreneur dad Gary (Scott Patterson
) who is very laid back, and his newly popular younger sister Claire (Lindsey Shaw
), who tries to raise her popularity in school. When the school guidance counselor, Mr. Matthews (Christopher B. Duncan
) convinces the family to take in an international student
, they accept him with the expectation that he will be a good-looking European student that will make Justin popular. Although initially dismayed when Raja Musharraf (Adhir Kalyan
), a 16-year-old Muslim
boy from Pakistan
turns up instead, they soon warm up to him and although their cultures are different, Justin and Raja form an unlikely friendship that might allow them to get past the social nightmare of high school.
Patrick Breen
was originally cast as Gary Tolchuck but the role was re-cast in July 2007.
, the series was officially greenlit
and given a thirteen-episode order on May 15, 2007. It premiered on October 1, 2007, and aired on Monday nights at 8:30PM Eastern/7:30PM Central on The CW
, following Everybody Hates Chris
. The show was originally to be produced by NBC Universal Television (now Universal Media Studios). It is filmed around the Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada
area. The high school featured in the show is actually H. J. Cambie Secondary School
in Richmond, British Columbia
, Canada
with the interiors of later first-season episodes shot inside a studio. Beginning on February 10, 2008, Aliens in America moved to Sunday nights (along with the rest of the Monday night comedies) and aired at 8:30PM Eastern/7:30PM Central. On May 9, 2008, TV Guide announced the cancellation of the series.
After the show's cancellation, reruns once aired on Universal HD
.
Aliens in America averaged 1.57 million viewers in its sole season.
Television in the United States
Television is one of the major mass media of the United States. Ninety-nine percent of American households have at least one television and the majority of households have more than one...
sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
created by David Guarascio and Moses Port that aired on The CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
for one season from 2007-2008. Guarascio and Port also served as executive producers of the show alongside Tim Doyle. Luke Greenfield
Luke Greenfield
Luke Greenfield is an American film director. Greenfield was born in Manhasset, New York and was raised in Westport, Connecticut. He is best known for directing The Animal and The Girl Next Door. In July 2007, he appeared as a guest judge on the filmmaking reality show On the Lot...
directed the pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
. The show is about an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
teenager in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
whose family takes in a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
foreign exchange student from Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
Plot
High schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
er Justin Tolchuck (Dan Byrd
Dan Byrd
Daniel "Dan" Byrd is an American actor. His most prominent roles include the 2006 remake of The Hills Have Eyes, the CW original comedy series Aliens in America, A Cinderella Story alongside Hillary Duff, ABC's Cougar Town, and the 2010 movie Easy A.-Life and career:Byrd was born in Marietta,...
) is a sensitive, lanky 16-year-old just trying to fit in at his high school in Medora, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He lives with his well-meaning mom Franny (Amy Pietz
Amy Pietz
Amy Pietz is an American film and television actress.-Early life:Pietz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the adopted daughter of Nancy, a nurse, and Arnold Pietz, a truck driver. She trained throughout her childhood in ballet and prepared to go professional, but eventually decided not to due to...
) who just wants him to be "cool" and fit in, entrepreneur dad Gary (Scott Patterson
Scott Patterson (actor)
Scott Gordon Patterson is an American actor. He is known for his role as Luke Danes in Gilmore Girls and Agent Strahm in Saw IV, Saw V and Saw VI...
) who is very laid back, and his newly popular younger sister Claire (Lindsey Shaw
Lindsey Shaw
Lindsey Marie Shaw is an American actress. She is known for her starring television roles as Jennifer "Moze" Ann Mosely on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide and as Claire Tolchuck on Aliens in America.-Career:...
), who tries to raise her popularity in school. When the school guidance counselor, Mr. Matthews (Christopher B. Duncan
Christopher B. Duncan
Christopher B. Duncan is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Braxton P. Hartnabrig on The Jamie Foxx Show and he is also known for playing President Barack Obama on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He portrayed Obama in the 2010 film My Name is Khan as well.Duncan received his B.F.A....
) convinces the family to take in an international student
International student
According to Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development , international students are those who travel to a country different from their own for the purpose of tertiary study. Despite that, the definition of international students varies in each country in accordance to their own national...
, they accept him with the expectation that he will be a good-looking European student that will make Justin popular. Although initially dismayed when Raja Musharraf (Adhir Kalyan
Adhir Kalyan
Adhir Kalyan is a South African actor noted for his role in the CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement.-Early years:Adhir was born in Durban, South Africa to an Indian South African family...
), a 16-year-old Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
boy from Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
turns up instead, they soon warm up to him and although their cultures are different, Justin and Raja form an unlikely friendship that might allow them to get past the social nightmare of high school.
Cast
Actor/Actress | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|
Dan Byrd Dan Byrd Daniel "Dan" Byrd is an American actor. His most prominent roles include the 2006 remake of The Hills Have Eyes, the CW original comedy series Aliens in America, A Cinderella Story alongside Hillary Duff, ABC's Cougar Town, and the 2010 movie Easy A.-Life and career:Byrd was born in Marietta,... |
Justin Tolchuck | A gawky 16-year-old high school junior usually tormented by other kids |
Adhir Kalyan Adhir Kalyan Adhir Kalyan is a South African actor noted for his role in the CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement.-Early years:Adhir was born in Durban, South Africa to an Indian South African family... |
Raja Musharaff | The Pakistani boy who comes to live with the Tolchucks for a year |
Amy Pietz Amy Pietz Amy Pietz is an American film and television actress.-Early life:Pietz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the adopted daughter of Nancy, a nurse, and Arnold Pietz, a truck driver. She trained throughout her childhood in ballet and prepared to go professional, but eventually decided not to due to... |
Franny Tolchuck | Justin's mom |
Scott Patterson Scott Patterson (actor) Scott Gordon Patterson is an American actor. He is known for his role as Luke Danes in Gilmore Girls and Agent Strahm in Saw IV, Saw V and Saw VI... |
Gary Tolchuck | Justin's dad |
Lindsey Shaw Lindsey Shaw Lindsey Marie Shaw is an American actress. She is known for her starring television roles as Jennifer "Moze" Ann Mosely on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide and as Claire Tolchuck on Aliens in America.-Career:... |
Claire Tolchuck | Justin's very popular 15-year-old sister |
Christopher B. Duncan Christopher B. Duncan Christopher B. Duncan is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Braxton P. Hartnabrig on The Jamie Foxx Show and he is also known for playing President Barack Obama on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He portrayed Obama in the 2010 film My Name is Khan as well.Duncan received his B.F.A.... |
Mr. Matthews | The school guidance counselor who suggests to Justin's mother that she take in an international student International student According to Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development , international students are those who travel to a country different from their own for the purpose of tertiary study. Despite that, the definition of international students varies in each country in accordance to their own national... |
Patrick Breen
Patrick Breen
Joseph Patrick Breen is an American actor. He has acted primarily on TV but has also appeared in numerous films, as well as on Broadway and Off Broadway...
was originally cast as Gary Tolchuck but the role was re-cast in July 2007.
Production and broadcast history
Produced by CBS Paramount Network TelevisionCBS Paramount Network Television
CBS Paramount Network Television was the main production arm of CBS Paramount Television, a division of CBS Corporation. It was known as Paramount Network Television and CBS Productions until 2006.It is now CBS Television Studios, starting in fall 2009....
, the series was officially greenlit
Greenlight
To green-light a project is to give permission or a go ahead to move forward with a project. In the context of the movie and TV businesses, to green-light something is to formally approve its production finance, thereby allowing the project to move forward from the development phase to...
and given a thirteen-episode order on May 15, 2007. It premiered on October 1, 2007, and aired on Monday nights at 8:30PM Eastern/7:30PM Central on The CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
, following Everybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris is an African American television period sitcom inspired by the teenage experiences of comedian Chris Rock , while growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York . The show is set from 1982 to 1987; however, Rock himself was a teenager during years...
. The show was originally to be produced by NBC Universal Television (now Universal Media Studios). It is filmed around the Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
area. The high school featured in the show is actually H. J. Cambie Secondary School
H. J. Cambie Secondary School
H. J. Cambie Secondary is a public high school in Richmond, British Columbia part of School District 38 Richmond. Cambie was the first secondary school in Richmond. When it first started in 1928, it was known as Richmond High. Later on it changed its name to Henry James Cambie Secondary School...
in Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with the interiors of later first-season episodes shot inside a studio. Beginning on February 10, 2008, Aliens in America moved to Sunday nights (along with the rest of the Monday night comedies) and aired at 8:30PM Eastern/7:30PM Central. On May 9, 2008, TV Guide announced the cancellation of the series.
After the show's cancellation, reruns once aired on Universal HD
Universal HD
Universal HD is an HDTV cable television network owned by NBCUniversal. The channel was known as Bravo HD+ until December 1, 2004. The network exclusively broadcasts in high definition 1080i...
.
Episodes
# | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
---|
U.S. Nielsen ratings
Rating information is from Your Entertainment Now and The Futon Critic. The weekly rating information is from ABC Medianet.Aliens in America averaged 1.57 million viewers in its sole season.
# | Episode | Rating | Share | Rating/Share (18-49) |
Viewers (millions) |
Rank (timeslot) |
Rank (week) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Pilot" | 1.6 | 2 | 0.8/2 | 2.33 | 5 | 98/102 |
2 | "No Man Is an Island" | 1.3 | 2 | 0.8/2 | 2.11 | 5 | 93/97 |
3 | "Rocket Club" | 1.5 | 2 | 0.9/2 | 2.23 | 5 | 93/97 |
4 | "The Metamorphosis" | 1.6 | 2 | 0.9/2 | 2.35 | 5 | 92/97 |
5 | "Help Wanted" | 1.4 | 2 | 0.8/2 | 2.11 | 5 | 95/100 |
6 | "Homecoming" | 1.2 | 2 | 0.7/2 | 1.78 | 5 | 97/101 |
7 | "Purple Heart" | 1.3 | 2 | 0.8/2 | 1.99 | 5 | 97/101 |
8 | "My Musky, Myself" | 1.1 | 2 | 0.5/1 | 1.37 | 5 | 90/95 |
9 | "Junior Prank" | 1.3 | 2 | 0.7/1 | 1.89 | 5 | 93/98 |
10 | "Church" | 1.2 | 2 | 0.7/1 | 1.84 | 5 | 91/99 |
11 | "Mom's Coma" | 0.9 | 1 | 0.4/1 | 1.09 | 5 | 94/96 |
12 | "Hunting" | 0.8 | 1 | 0.4/1 | 1.17 | 5 | 94/96 |
13 | "Community Theater" | 0.6 | 1 | 0.4/1 | 0.81 | 5 | 99/100 |
14 | "One Hundred Thousand Miles" | 0.6 | 1 | 0.4/1 | 0.91 | 5 | 91/91 |
15 | "The Muslim Card" | 0.7 | 1 | 0.4/1 | 1.04 | 5 | 99/100 |
16 | "Smutty Books" | 0.8 | 1 | 0.4/1 | 1.04 | 5 | 95/96 |
17 | "Wake in the Lake" | 0.7 | 1 | 0.4/1 | 1.12 | 5 | 96/97 |
18 | "Raja at Sixteen" | 0.9 | 1 | 0.5/1 | 1.21 | 5 | 94/96 |
International distribution
Country | TV network(s) | Series premiere | Weekly schedule (local time) |
---|---|---|---|
Australia | GO! Go! (Australian TV channel) GO! is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel launched by the Nine Network on Sunday 9 August 2009.-Origins:... |
August 9, 2009 | Sunday 9:00pm |
Brazil | SBT | December 15, 2008 | Sunday 3:30am |
Kingdom of Bulgaria | HBO Comedy | 2009 | |
Costa Rica | Teletica Canal 7 Teletica Canal 7 Canal 7 is a private Costa Rican television channel, owned and operated by Teletica's founders, the Picado family.Canal 7 has the largest audience in Costa Rica. Repretel currently holds the second spot.... |
April 17, 2009 | Fridays 8:00pm |
Independent State of Croatia | HRT2 Croatian Radiotelevision Croatian Radiotelevision is a Croatian public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite... |
April 2009 | Monday to Friday 4:40pm |
Denmark | TV3 TV3 (Denmark) TV3 Denmark is a Danish television station.TV3 is one of the channels owned by the Viasat Corporation. The sister channel is TV3+. The channels shows a lot of American and British shows, such as: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, NCIS, Las Vegas, Bones, Two And A Half Men, Prison Break, American Idol... |
Sundays 7:00pm | |
Germany | ProSieben | April 25, 2009 | Saturdays 2:00pm |
Finland | MTV3 MTV3 MTV3 is a Finnish commercial television station owned by Bonnier. It had the biggest audience share of all Finnish TV channels until Finnish Broadcasting Company’s YLE1 took the lead. The letters MTV stand for Mainos-TV , due to the channel getting its revenue from running commercials... |
August 31, 2010 | Thuesdays 2:10pm |
India | Zee Café Zee Cafe Zee Café is an Indian cable and satellite television channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It was launched on 15 March 2000 as Zee English and known for general entertainment channel... |
Thursdays 10:00pm | |
Republic of Ireland | TV3 TV3 Ireland TV3 is a free-to-air commercial television network in the Republic of Ireland. Launched on 20 September 1998 it was Ireland's first commercial broadcaster. The channel is owned by TV3 Group a subsidiary of Doughty Hanson & Co.-The TV3 Group:... |
Sundays 5:30pm | |
Israel | Xtra HOT HOT family |
January 9, 2009 |
Fridays 9:45pm (3 episodes) |
Italy | Joi Joi (TV channel) Joi is an Italian Entertainment TV channel, owned by Mediaset and broadcast on Premium Gallery, a Digital terrestrial television service in Italy. It is devoted to Family entertainment and broadcasts Movie and TV Series... |
January 21, 2008 | |
Lithuania | TV1 TV1 (Lithuania) TV1 is a TV channel in Lithuania, launched in 2003. It is a sister channel of LNK television.... |
August 23, 2009 | Sundays 3:00pm |
Mexico | Warner Channel Warner Channel Warner Channel is a Latin American and Asian cable television channel owned by Time Warner's HBO Asia/HBO Latin America Group Warner Channel (commonly shortened to WBTV, but not to be confused with the WB Television Network or Charlotte, North Carolina station WBTV, and currently referred to in... |
Summer 2008 | Fridays 8:30pm, Saturdays 8:00pm |
Netherlands | RTL 5 RTL 5 RTL 5 is the 2nd channel of the RTL Group in the Netherlands. The channel mainly broadcasts American films and hit series but also local productions including Jensen! and Holland's Next Top Model, a Dutch version of America's Next Top Model. RTL 5 recently started airing the Dutch version of... |
Summer 2009 | Mondays 8:30pm |
New Zealand | TV2 | Saturdays 7:00pm | |
Norway | TV Norge | Saturdays and Sundays 3:10pm | |
Poland | HBO Comedy | ||
Portugal | RTP2 | September 15, 2008 | Monday to Friday 8:40pm |
Slovenia | Kanal A Kanal A Kanal A is the first commercial television station in Slovenia. The television program, which has been operating within PRO PLUS d.o.o., has national coverage. In its primary target group of viewers , Kanal A is the second most watched TV programme in Slovenia... |
September 23, 2009 | Weekdays 3:40pm |
South Africa | SABC 3 SABC 3 SABC3 is a commercial South African Broadcasting Corporation television channel that carries programming in English and, as of April 2009, Afrikaans.... |
Friday 7:30pm | |
Spain | laSexta | July, 6 2009 | Monday 1:30am |
Sweden | Kanal 5 Kanal 5 (Sweden) Kanal 5 is a Swedish commercial television channel established in 1989. It is owned by the media corporation ProSiebenSat.1 Media.After a troublesome 1990s, Kanal 5 launched new strategies in the early 2000s that established it as a popular entertainment channel targeting young people... |
Fridays 6pm, Saturdays 3:25pm | |
Turkey | CNBC-e CNBC-e CNBC-e is a hybrid business/financial and entertainment channel operated in Turkey by CNBC Europe and the NTV Group.The channel shares its name with a co-owned magazine about CNBC-e.... |
September 9, 2009 | Wednesdays 8:30 pm |
Ukraine | MTV Ukraine MTV Ukraine MTV Ukraine is a Ukrainian language music channel, owned by MTV Networks Europe, a division of Viacom. The channel was launched on 24 August 2007, 6:00 a.m. local time and is available to the whole country of Ukraine through cable and satellite: in Kiev, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Lutsk, Lviv and... |
April 26, 2010 | Monday to Friday 9:30 pm |
Belgium | VT4 VT4 VT4 is a Flemish commercial television channel. It is part of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG.The channel began broadcasting on 1 February 1995. The channel initially had no Belgian broadcasting license and was transmitted via London . The channel now broadcasts legally from Zaventem in Belgium... |
march 6, 2011 | Sundays 1:00 and 2:00 pm |