Fall Sitcoms --- the Big Bang Theory Vs. Aliens in America

Two thirty-minute comedies will vie for ratings on Monday nights. "The Big Bang Theory" on the CW, and "Aliens in America" on CBS are hoping to get the laughs.

The pilot of "The Big Bang Theory" was available on iTunes for free. Free was the only way to watch it. Its premise of two very nerdy guys that discover a knockout blonde has moved in across the hall had possibilities. Possibilities that were extinguished in the first five minutes.

Leonard and Sheldon walk in to a doctor's office. Leonard asks, "Is this the high I.Q. sperm bank?" The medical assistant looks up, "If you have to ask, you might not be in the right place." Cue the laugh track. Johnny Galecki, who played David on "Roseanne", is Leonard, and Jim Parsons, Sheldon. Parsons seems to have learned method acting from Pee Wee Herman.

Penny is their new neighbor. "I'm a waitress at the Cheesecake Factory." Kaley Cuoco was the perfect not-so-smart daughter on "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" with the late John Ritter and proves she still has her acting chops. In her first scene a Wal-Mart box is prominently in the shot. What Kaley did for "Charmed" she will surely do for this new sit-com.

The CW has only released the teasers for the first three episodes. Sara Gilbert guest stars in episode three. Gilbert and Galecki were together before on "Roseanne". It looks like the CW isn't holding much hope for this series.

"Aliens in America" premieres October 1st on CBS. The show was tabled in last years show rotation.

A suburban mother, Franny (Amy Pietz) applies for an exchange student to be a friend for her son, Justin (Dan Byrd). Instead of a blonde Norwegian, or a swarthy Greek, a brown skinned Pakistan Muslim gets off the plane. Raja Musharaff (Adhir Kalyan) is eager to learn all he can about America.

Scott Patterson is the father, Gary Tolchuck. He is an entrepreneur busy raising alpacas. Fans of the late "Gilmore Girls" can get their Luke fix.

Cultural errors result in hilarious hi-jinxs. The teacher says, "He practices Muslimism." Mom freaks out when she finds Justin joining Raja in daily prayer.

The studio has shown the pilot at the Islamic Center of Southern California, The Brookings Institute, and at Chicago's Northside High School where it got mixed reviews. It was described as uninspired and racist by some, and a caricature by others. Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune said, ". . . not your typical brainless network sitcom."

A sitcom with a 70s style laugh track against one with a Muslim going to high school in Medora, WI. They should make for an interesting Monday night, for a while.