Fall TV Preview: Aliens in America

Aliens in America is a new comedy set to air on the CW. Aliens and America is the story of a dorky white kid who becomes the host brother of a Pakistani kid. Together, they undergo one of TV's most famous traumatic situations - high school. The pilot of Aliens of America was funny and had some fresh moments. The two young leads likable. The show isn't perfect but fans of series like Malcolm In The Middle, The Simpsons, Everybody Loves Chris, or even That 70s Show will probably enjoy it.

Aliens in America stars Dan Byrd as Justin, one of those awkward brunette young guys who show up in every sitcom these days. He is so uncool in school his mom (Amy Pietz, who you probably won't recognize from her days on Caroline In The City) sets out to get an exchange student to be his automatic friend. When the midwestern suburban and slightly off-kilter family gets Raja (Adhir Kalyan) instead of a blond, blue-eyed German or something, Mom isn't pleased. The practicing Muslim Raja is quickly subjected to some ignorance, played for comedy, by the family and his new classmates. Justin is mortified to once again be sticking out. But then, the two bond over their sense of isolation and a sitcom is born.

Like I said, the leads are likable and fun. Kalyan is good at not overplaying the stereotypes of the wide-eyed Middle Easterner coming to America, and the show's writers do well not overplaying that either. It is interesting to see a sitcom aimed at teens where there's actually a kid who practices Islam. Byrd is also good, even if his lovable and semi-cute dork character is someone we see again and again.The relationship between the boys is the heart of the show and they have good chemistry and some nice bonding moments.

The supporting cast is good. Pietz is like midwestern Mom from Malcolm and there's a nice twist for her in the ending moments of the pilot. I haven't seen the pilot since the dad was recast with Scott Patterson (The Gilmore Girls) , but the thrifty dad has some definite funny quirks. There's also a sister, a crush, a principal, an out of it teacher and some bullies.

The tone of the show is a little unsteady. There's some realistic, sentimental even moments, but then there's some unrealistic, parody-like stuff - like the exaggeratedly dumb reactions of the kids to their new foreign classmate and the sarcasm of the principal. It's one of those single-camera shows not exactly based in reality all the time, kind of like Scrubs or something. But it is funny. There's also a weird mix of sweet and funny with some definite PG-13 stuff that you wouldn't see as directly on, say, Malcolm or even Chris - for example, the senior boys pass around a list of "ten most bangable girls" and the school moron twins ask bluntly if Justin is "hitting that" or something. That's actually a funny moment, and nothing shocking to the average teen. But, it seems like pandering and makes it one more show parents and kids probably won't watch together. I guess that's what happens- when all the teen-aimed comedies go rated-R, the sitcoms have to kick it up a notch, too. Which is too bad, because the main characters are both pretty low-key and sweet.

And that's actually another a minor nitpick, the show loses points, at least with this female viewer, for it's teenage boy's view regarding the sister. She's recently grown boobs and the camera shows us that many of the teenaged boys keep checking out her chest. Not to get all PC, but, we know teenage boys look at teenage girls like that- but is it really funny? I guess it depends on who you ask. Personally, if I were a teenaged girl and put on a cool show and that's how they treated the main teen girl on the series, I'd be annoyed.On the plus side, the show does a good job not making their archetypical dork like the archetypical unattainable "hot" girl; his crush is pretty in a real way, as opposed to an MTV way. If she is attainable for a date, we have yet to see. So, I guess the verdict on the sexist stuff is still up for grabs. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

This show is quirky, funny, good at heart and offbeat. Definitely worth a watch and good for a laugh.