Fall Preview: ALIENS IN AMERICA

Premiere Date: Monday, October 1, 2007
Airs: Monday @ 8:30 on The CW

Justin Tolchuck is a sensitive, lanky 16-year old just trying to make it through the social nightmare of high school in Medora, Wisconsin, with the help of his well-meaning mom Franny, aspiring-entrepreneur dad Gary and his beautiful and popular younger sister Claire. Although he’s bright and funny, Justin is also shy, socially awkward and pretty much resigned to the fact that he’ll never be one of the cool kids.

Eager to help her son adjust, Franny signs up for the school’s international exchange student program. Picturing an athletic, brilliant Nordic teen, Franny is sure this new friendship will bestow instant coolness on her outsider son. However, when the Tolchuck’s exchange student arrives, he turns out to be Raja Musharaff, a thoughtful and responsible 16-year-old Muslim from a small village in Pakistan. To the Tolchucks and everyone else in Medora, he’s also just about as foreign as a foreigner can be.

After the initial shock wears off, Justin is quickly won over by Raja’s humor, gestures of friendship and by their common status as outsiders. Despite the cultural chasm between them, Justin and Raja develop an unlikely bond that just might allow them to navigate the minefield that is contemporary high school.

A surprisingly heartwarming comedy that is sweet, a tad bit snarky and over the top (in a good way) all at the same time. Dan Byrd masters the awkwardness of a teenage outcast and seems almost normal especially considering the mother that raised him. The show is a little non-PC at times, but I found it funny and refreshing – especially coming from The CW. My one concern is the recasting of the father, once played by Patrick Breen and now played by Scott Patterson of Gilmore Girls fame. Breen fit in perfectly as the quirky and unusual father, Gary, and I just can’t see Patterson bringing the same goofiness to the role. Then again, I only know him as Luke Danes so maybe I’m not giving him enough credit. Cheers to The CW for bringing this fresh comedy to the air.

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All photos courtesy of The CW.