Aliens in America is an American sitcom created by David Guarascio and Moses Port that aired on The CW for one season from October 1, 2007, to May 18, 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.
Contents
Plot
High schooler Justin Tolchuck is a sensitive 16-year-old just trying to fit in at his high school in Medora, Wisconsin. He lives with his well-meaning mom Franny, entrepreneur dad Gary, and younger sister Claire, who is trying to raise her popularity in school. When school guidance counselor Mr. Matthews convinces the family to take in an international student, they accept him with the expectation that he will be a good-looking European or Latin American student who will make Justin popular. Although initially dismayed when Raja Musharraf, a 16-year-old Muslim boy from Pakistan, turns up, they soon warm up to him. 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. Justin especially feels compelled to stick by Raja when he starts to notice the blatant racist and xenophobic attitudes of his classmates and community.
Cast
Main cast
Dan Byrd as Justin Tolchuck
Adhir Kalyan as Raja Musharaff
Amy Pietz as Franny Tolchuck
Scott Patterson as Gary Tolchuck
Lindsey Shaw as Claire Tolchuck
Recurring cast
Christopher B. Duncan as Mr. Matthews
Adam Rose as Dooley
Chad Krowchuk as Brad
Nolan Gerard Funk as Todd Palladino
Avan Jogia as Sam
April Telek as Leslie Becker
Production and broadcast history
Produced by CBS Paramount Network Television, the series was officially green-lit 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 Television). It was 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 aired on Universal HD.
Patrick Breen was originally cast as Gary Tolchuc, but the role was re-cast in July 2007.
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 1.59 million viewers in its sole season.