This show, in my opinion, is the best and one of the most original to ever hit the small screen. It's a shame it only went 6 seasons. There are some that were more acclaimed or had better ratings that overstayed their welcome and were overrated to me. I love shows that have off beat characters that one wouldn't consider your average person. Another example is the Big Bang Theory. Their idiosyncracies make for a different level of comedy writing.
The casting of this show was perfect. Every actor essentially became there character. They were so believable and though some of their antics were insane, you still loved them.
Watching John Lithgow as the obsessive, over-the-top, egomaniacal- almost narcissistic, loud mouth Dick is beyond hilarious. If he's not obsessing over Mary-which is almost every waking moment, and in at least one dream- he's, rude, crude, inappropriate, insulting, sometimes racist and sexist. His only saving grace is that he's an alien and here to learn about humans. He's also put in his place for his behavior. In that respect, this is likely not a show for the PC because even though he is brought down many pegs, the fact it's said would offend.
Kristen Johnston is very believable playing what is assumed to be a male as a female on Earth. They are purple tubes in their real forms so I'm guessing she portrayed male warrior types in other incarnations throughout their other assignments. She's beautiful, tall and leggy- like the Amazonian stereotype, but she is brash, ornery, threatening, sarcastic and, well, a badass. When their car broke down at a drive thru, she was the one who got out and pushed!!!
Joseph Gordon Levitt was great as the elder of the team who had the unfortunate assignment of being the teenager in the midst of puberty and all the wonderful things that go with it- hormones, bullies, crushes, etc. He is very intelligent and worldly and he never lets Dick forget that.
Harry...what can you say about Harry. His character is a gem. He's the not-so-bright, timid, docile, sweet as pie alien who's main function is being the transmitter, as it's implanted in his head. He has his moments of profound thought and sarcastic back talk but he's mostly a sweet, gentle soul. The best scene in the entire series is when he and Tommy are feeding Mrs. Dubcek's grandson. The "baby" in the scene is the camera. As revenge to the child's constant food spitting, Harry takes in a spoonful and spits it at the baby (into the camera). Even the audience roars at that one.
The slightly arrogant, self important and sometimes self pitying and naive Mary is so well played by Jane Curtain. Simbi Khali, her oft put upon assistant Nina, is smart, sassy and sarcastic. If anyone can take Dick down a peg or two, it's her. There are no words good enough to describe Elmarie Wendal as Mrs. Dubcek. Their home life wouldn't be the same without the bawdy, intrusive landlady except "very nice"!!!
Wayne Knight was a hoot as Officer Don. The poor schlub, allowing himself to be played like a fiddle just to keep his Sally happy. He jumped through more hoops than a circus poodle, exasperatingly trying to keep up with the Solomon's craziness, all the while supposedly on the clock but never really working.
The remaining supporting cast were first rate. Dick's physics students, one being his real life son Ian. After 6 seasons, those underachievers are barely passing and still in his class. Then again, several seasons in, the inimitable John Cleese guest stars and after a few changes to one of Dick's equations on the board, the students finally get it!!!
Ilene Metz as Judith, Jan Hooks as Vicky Dubcek (RIP to both) and, of course, you can't forget William Shatner as the Big Giant Head. That was genius casting. I really enjoyed his 1st scene at the airport, coming off the plane drunk and met by the family. He and Dick had a moment talking about their experiences with seeing something on the wing of the plane, probably one of the most memorable Twilight Zone episodes that both actors starred in, Shatner in the original and Lithgow in the Movie. Then again, you will catch several scenes were Dick's dialogue is a scene from a movie Lithgow appeared in.
A show that is worth seeing if you haven't. So fresh, funny and timeless.
