3rd Rock from the Sun
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3rd Rock from the Sun
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| Episodes: | 139 |
| Year: | 1996-2001 |
| Country: | United States |
| Seasons: | 6 |
| Seasons Breakdown: | (1) 20, (2) 26, (3) 27 (4) 24, (5) 22, (6) 20 |
| Category: | Comedy |
| Colour: | Yes |
| Format: | Series |
| Company: | The Carsey-Werner Company |
| Creator: | Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner |
| Run Time (mins): | 30 |
| Language: | English |
| Type of Show: | Live Action |
| Status: | Ended |
| Broadcaster: | NBC |
| First Aired: | January 9, 1996 |
| Last Aired: | May 22, 2001 |
Summary
3rd Rock from the Sun is a situation comedy centred on an extra-terrestrial intelligence‑gathering team dispatched to Earth to study human civilisation. Although their true forms are never shown, the aliens adopt human identities and organise themselves into a deliberately constructed but dysfunctional family unit. The expedition is led by Dick, an egocentric high commander who assumes the role of family patriarch.
The team includes Sally, a highly trained military officer who resents being assigned a female body; Tommy, the group’s senior intelligence specialist who, despite being one of Dick’s elders on their home world, inhabits the form of an adolescent boy; and Harry, whose limited intellect distinguishes him even among his fellow operatives.
Unlike many extraterrestrial characters in television comedy, the aliens in 3rd Rock from the Sun possess no special powers or technological advantages. Their mission requires them to adopt human form and observe Earth’s social structures, yet they remain profoundly naïve about human behaviour. Much of the programme’s humour derives from their misunderstandings of everyday customs, compounded by a general ignorance extending well beyond cultural unfamiliarity.
Although the mission was originally intended to be brief, Dick elects to prolong their stay for personal reasons. After arriving on Earth, he obtains a position as a university professor in Ohio, where he meets Dr. Mary Albright, a middle‑aged academic colleague. Dick becomes infatuated with her and chooses to remain on Earth to pursue a romantic relationship, despite Mary’s perception of him as eccentric and her reluctance to engage with him.
Cast
Dick Solomon JOHN LITHGOW, Dr. Mary Albright JANE CURTIN, Sally Solomon KRISTEN JOHNSTON, Harry Solomon FRENCH STEWART, Tommy Solomon JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT, Nina SIMBI KHALI, Mrs. Dupeczech ELMARIE WENDEL, Leon IAN LITHGOW, LARISA OLEYNIK.
Tags: Comedy, United States, 1996, English
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