Fall Seasons Biggest Surprise

Imagine my surprise when idle curiosity about a show on The CW caught my attention and hooked me in after the first few minutes.

I'm talking of course about The CW's Aliens in America, which is about a Muslim exchange student moving in with a family in small town Wisconsin. The fall season is in full swing and I have to say for sure that this is my pick for the Best New Comedy of the year. It's smart, funny, touching, and relentlessly charming.


Dan Byrd plays Justin a social outcast just starting his junior year of high school. He believes this year will finally be the year where things go well for him. Things start off that way until a prank makes him realize its not just his past appearance that makes him an outcast and that removing braces and a sunny outlook won't give him the friends he wishes he had. I really related to his character and that is something that has never happened with a sitcom. Having to get by in a school where no one seems to like you hit home for me. Feeling like an Alien in your own school is certainly a feeling anyone can relate to. Dan Byrd brought this character to life perfectly.

The rest of the family is rounded out by Scott Patterson as Gary, the father looking for a ways to make money. The $500 monthly check for taking in the exchange student being the primary reason he agreed to it. Lindsey Shaw plays the recently blossomed hot sister that everyone suddenly wants to date. Amy Pietz returns to series television as the mother Franny. She is very funny and her reactions to the situation are great. Even when she is about to kick the student out the door and her abrupt change after learning about his family. I can say I've never seen someone act with just their eyes the way she did in that scene.

Last, and certainly not least, we come to the exchange student Raja played by Adhir Kalyan. He might be one of the first Muslim characters portrayed in a positive light in quite a while which is something desperately needed in this country. His character is sweet, funny, and his reactions to the way he is treated at school (blamed for 9/11 etc) are genuine and sincere.


I am really excited to see this show develop and hope to god The CW doesn't cancel it. This is a show that needs to be on the air. The characters are so refreshing and real and the social lessons that can be taken from it are endless. When is the last time a sitcom has been called important? I'll say it now: Aliens in America is the most important sitcom on the air. It is a must watch show. Parents watch it with your kids and let them see that just because someone looks different doesn't mean you have to hate them. In this day and age we need a show like this. When hatred is running so rampant in this country maybe a show like that can open peoples eyes? Maybe my hopes are too high.

I really really want this show to make it. I can't recommend it enough. Watch it and fall in love with these characters just as I did.

Best New Comedy of 2007. By. Far.

Aliens in America

The CW

Mondays 8:30