By Kelly L. Goodridge and Oscar De Los Santos
Introduction
Stories of invaders from outer space appeared in early pulp fiction and such radio shows as Orson Welles’s classic adaptation of H.G. Welles’ War of the Worlds. As reports of flying saucers captivated the United States in the 1940s and 50s, alien invasion stories became a staple of sci-fi pulps, motion pictures, comic books, and in Old Time Radio shows such as Dimension X and X Minus One. Not surprisingly, as television gained popularity, the medium quickly contributed its share of alien invasion stories. Early TV examples include The Twilight Zone episodes, “The Invaders” (1961), “Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?” (1961) and “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” (1963).
Our essay juxtaposes the alien invasion motif as showcased in 1960s television with its ongoing presence in contemporary shows. We explore both comedies and dramas – two programs from each decade – to show that TV producers’ and writers’ showcasing of alien invasion has evolved significantly over the years. We chose the 1960s as our starting point because extraterrestrials and invasion stories became regular offerings on American television during that decade. ETs continued to appear in the following years’ shows and remain a strong presence in 21st-century television programs. A comparison of yesterday’s programs with today’s reveals that alien invasion and visitation storylines have grown more sophisticated, even in comedies and dramas aimed at young audiences. We believe this changing approach is necessary to attract a savvier viewing audience, one not only largely more accepting of the possibility of extraterrestrial life but preoccupied with immediate day-to-day concerns that largely overshadow an ET takeover.
Kelly will now discuss the comedies My Favorite Martian (1963-1966) and People of Earth (2016-2017):
A fan of UFO and alien phenomenon television (TV), some of my favorite viewing involves crash-landing on my sofa to watch American science-fiction sitcoms. From the loveable aliens in the TV classic sci-fi series My Favorite Martian (1963-1966), where a Martian (Ray Watson) is stranded on Earth after his one-man spaceship crash-lands in California (www.imdb.com), to “Nanu Nanu,” an Orkian greeting offered by Mork in Mork & Mindy (1978-1982), where Mork (Robin Williams) from the planet Ork has crashed his egg-shaped spacecraft in Colorado (morkandmindy.fandom.com). Another 1960s favorite is The Great Gazoo, a two-foot alien with green skin and a long nose, who has been exiled from his planet Zetox due to his development of a doomsday machine. Gazoo dons a large helmet, cape, glove and boots and floats through the air to torment Fred and Barney on The Flintstones (flintstonesfandom.com). Television in the 1980s gave us the ugly, short, and brash ALF (1986 -1990), (aka Alien Life Form), whose planet explodes, causing him to crash-land into the Tanner family’s garage in California (www.imdb.com). And a 1990s show featured a less accidental visitation that occurs in the 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996-2001), where four extraterrestrial beings are sent to a fictional town in Ohio, assume human bodies, and conduct research on the human race to report back to their home planet – the third from the Sun (www.mentalfloss.com). These series all provide fun and light-hearted entertainment. Later series include The Orville (2017 – ), which features a human and alien crew set 400 years into the future where together on the USS Orville, a ship from the Earth’s interstellar fleet, the team is on a mission to explore outer space (www.imdb.com). One year before The Orville’s debut came David Jenkins’ People of Earth (2016-2017), a clever and humorous series set in Beacon, NY where an eclectic group of alien abductees have formed a support group called “StarCrossed.” As group membersattempt to make sense of their abductions, they are joined by journalist Ozzie Graham (Wyatt Cenac), who initially interviews them but realizes that he’s also an “experiencer” of an alien kidnapping. People of Earth offers viewers fun and weirdness in a more sober tone as a Trinity Federation of greys, whites and reptilians have joined together to conquer Earth. Although both are billed as comedies there’s a stark contrast between the way Uncle Martin and his relationship to humans is depicted in the early 1960s My Favorite Martian series versus the adversarial linking of alien and human in the 2016 People of Earth. What’s more, even though the show has its humorous moments, the representation of extraterrestrial beings in People of Earth reflects a shift from pure entertainment to a more serious tone that weaves UFO lore into its storylines and adds a cultural shift for shrewder viewers. The series offers a thought-provoking worldview of extraterrestrial visitors whose motives for visiting Earth are not just to visit, interact and study its inhabitants as countless other comedies have depicted involving aliens but to potentially harvest and enslave factions of humanity to use them for their own purposes.
A 450-year-old Lovable Martian
Created by John L. Greene, the episodic My Favorite Martian aired on CBS and depicts a human-looking friendly extraterrestrial as a professor of anthropology from the Red Planet, “specializing in this primitive planet [Earth]” and its occupants (Season 1, Episode 1 7:16-7:18). Uncle Martin spends the series attempting to repair his ship to return home to Mars. He’s an affable helpful alien to Tim O’Hara (Bill Bixby), a newspaperman for the Los Angeles Sun, who has rescued, taken him in and is the only witness to his existence. While the two room together, the Martian poses as Tim’s Uncle Martin. The Martian agrees to help Tim with his career in exchange for assistance in financing and locating the resources to rebuild and ready his ship for travel back to Mars. Other than Tim, Uncle Martin never reveals his uniqueness to others such as his ability to communicate telepathically, offer pills to store memories, make his solid form invisible when needed once his Martian antennas extend, communicating with animals or his ability to freeze people and objects by pointing his index finger. Pleased with the arrangement, the newly dubbed Uncle Martin asserts, “This makes me the first Irishman from the planet Mars” (Season 1, Episode 1, 21:54-21:57). Uncle Martin is an extraterrestrial that maintains his human form and compassion for humanity throughout the series. The show was initially well received: “If all interplanetary visitors are ingratiating as the title tourist of CBS’ “My Favorite Martian,” who zoomed in on a flying saucer Sunday night, we’re in favor of a mass extraterrestrial immigration,” ravedThe Philadelphia Inquirer, on Sept. 30, 1963. Unfortunately, the series was canceled after three seasons, without showing Uncle Martin finishing the repairs on his spaceship and returning to his home planet (IMDB).
Uncle Martin claims he’s 450 years old and has been an influencer of human history and that he’s visited Earth several times before this trip. He says thathe has interacted with famous figures such as Shakespeare, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Edison, and boasts that he gave Edisonthe idea for the lightbulb (Season 1, Episode 13, 1:09-1:10). The loveable alien is also consistently depicted as wise and full of life lessons and cultural truisms such as “Anyone who can’t keep a secret, can’t keep a friend” (Season 1, Episode 13 8:35-8:36). He considers mind-reading “Child’s play, a Martian child that is” (Season 2, Episode 6 1:08-1:11). Throughout the series, Uncle Martin must contend with vitamin deficiencies, aging on Earth, locating valuable minerals of Earth such as “glink,” a special ore, undoing the effects of his gadgets like his Martian benevolence bulb, and helping Tim with his education by imparting his “wisdoms” (Season 2, Episode 6 2:12). What’s more, Uncle Martin makes use of spaceship gadgets to impart knowledge. For example, he explains that space is not a mass, but is more like the straight line of a timeline. He tells Tim that these lines can be made to intersect with the help of his “futuroid camera” (taken from the nose of his spaceship), which captures an event 24 hours into the future (Season 3, Episode 4 00:56-1:00, 1:40-1:52). Moreover, Uncle Martin takes on the role of a parent and teaches Tim life lessons such as there are no shortcuts and that it’s important to build upon one’s knowledge, letting go of obsessions and practicing humility and courage. Uncle Martin’s lessons seemed aimed at helping Tim develop a sense of security and self-esteem. As the series progresses, their unlikely pairing doesn’t seem that unusual. Rather, it resembles family bonding time as they spend time together, share stories and help each other.
Flash Forward to a New Generation of Viewers
If 1960s television viewers were able to look through Uncle Martin’s “futuroid camera,” they would see what a difference 50 years into the future makes with the comedy series People of Earth, which offers aliens that have formed an alliance of greys, whites, and reptilians to conquer planet Earth. The contrast of alien and humanity is no longer based on friendship and teamwork as in earlier sitcoms. People of Earth offers continuity to its storyline with aliens traveling back and forth to Earth from their “Sub-Ship” to abduct and study humans in preparation for invasion. On Earth, the reptilian alien overlords mask their lizard-like eyes and greenness to work together in back rooms behind conveniencestores. They run news conglomerates as they plot a takeover. Unlike the friendship bond shown in My Favorite Martian, the People of Earth extraterrestrials select humans to study from childhood, serially abduct them nowand then, and track them throughout their lives. This illustrates an emotional detachment and lack of desire for human connection.
The diverse ensemble of witnesses or “experiencers” are highlighted in StarCrossed, a group of abductees that meet regularly in the basement of a church in Beacon, New York. The group consists of Ozzie the news reporter, a therapist, a toll booth operator, a temporary receptionist of a funeral home, a retiree, a postal worker, an FBI agent, a homemaker, a farmer, and a VP at a tech company. Each member shares his or her experiences, unearthed through hypnosis. The aliens told each, “You are special,” which they later learn is just a deception (People of Earth: You Are Special [CLIP] 1:41-1:58). Jeff the grey (Ken Hall) is represented as the oft-depicted large headed, almond black-eyed three-to-four-feet tall extraterrestrial that remains on the “Sub-Ship” until the end of Season Two, when he is left stranded on Earth without a disguise. Jeff’s character is in love with crewmate and reptilian Kurt (Drew Nelson), who is unaware of Jeff’s attraction to him. After Kurt’s death, Jeff’s kisses him goodbye and brings him back to life (Season 2, Episode 4). Both Jeff and Kurt’s characters show little compassion for Earthlings. It’s a job to them. When Jeff challenges Kurt during an abduction where Ozzie is awake, Jeff admonishes him and Kurt responds, “I know my job, Jeff” (People of Earth: You Are Special [CLIP] 1:41-1:58). The white alien Don (Bjorn Gustafsson), also a member of the alliance on the “Sub-Ship,” often feels left out by Jeff and Kurt, who mock his feelings. Don travels to Earth to have sex with female abductees and struggles to form relationships with his lovers once they find out he’s an alien. Whether it’s sexual curiosity or seeking pleasure, Don goes to great lengths in pretending to be human to connect and fit in. Like Uncle Martin, Jonathan Walsh’s character (Michael Cassidy), a reptilian in humandisguise, shows sympathy to humans, especially Ozzie, whom he has known since Ozzie was a boy. Jonathan’s affection for Ozzie leads to his attempt to save humanity and planet Earth. He throws a kink in the Federation’s mission and risks his life to do so.
Season Two of People of Earth continues to poke fun of real-life reports of alien abduction when an Alpha Federation extraterrestrial floating robotic Cube named Eric (Peter Serafinowicz) arrives on the “Sub-Ship.” Eric is the new boss for the mission after there’s been a merger between the Alpha and Trinity Federations (www.imdb.com). Things change under the new management: Jeff is blackmailed by Eric in Episode 9, Ozzie is killed by a reptilian hitman that shoots at Jonathan for his betrayal of the mission and misses (Episode 5), the StarCrossed group attends an alien experiencer convention (Episode 8), alien android and Jonathan’s assistant Nancy explodes (Debra Lynne McCabe), and the original team of aliens (Jeff, Don, Kurt, and Jonathan) attempt to mutiny Eric (Episode 9). In the final episode, Eric escapes, takes over Don’s body, banishes Kurt and Jeff to Earth and abducts the StarCrossed group. TBS initially renewed the series for a Season Three in September 2017 but canceled it nine months later. Many fans, me included, find the act unforgiveable. The Hollywood Reporter’s Tim Goodman summed it up best, “People of Earth is “easily one of the best comedies on television” (“People of Earth Season 2: TV Review” The Hollywood Reporter, retrieved 2021-19-10).
Both series breathe fresh air into the controversial topic of alien visitors and alien abduction. By introducing bizarreness or bizarre characters, they offer viewers comedy as they explore the alien-human connection. In addition, both series show an alien-human bond of sorts. Where Uncle Martin genuinely cares and appreciates Tim and the kindnesses that he has shown him, Jonathan is a less-than-perfect alien who becomes attached to Ozzie and attempts to thwart the alien invasion mission and takeover of Earth to save Ozzie and others. Further, these shows offer quirky characters and extraterrestrial life while providing entertainment for those who love to watch the weird. The major difference between the shows, however, and the source of the comedy each generates, is unquestionably on their focus and disparate handling of the alien presence. My Favorite Martian plays up the idea of a hidden extraterrestrial and the trouble he can both get into and get the human lead out of in each episode. This pattern of human and alien helping each other is also evidenced in Mork & Mindy, The Flintstones and 3rd Rock from the Sun. People of Earth, on the other hand, is a niche show aimed at audiences that are well aware of the tropes associated with the alleged extraterrestrial invasion and visitation phenomena. Many of its storiesseem tailored for audiences who know about the alleged different types of ETs, such as greys and Nordics; on extraterrestrial abductions, including classic cases, such as the Betty and Barney Hill UFO Incident; on abductee or “experiencer” support groups, and the like.
Now, here’s Oscar’s take on two dramas that showcase extraterrestrials: The Invaders (1967-1968) and Roswell, New Mexico (2019-present).
Dramas which feature extraterrestrial invasion reflect a marked shift in filmmakers’ approach to the subject. For instance, in The Invaders, an hour-long weekly series starring Roy Thinnes which ran from 1967 through 1968, the idea of Us vs. Them was still very much the mindset of a substantial part of Cold War American culture. Such dramas as clandestine ET invasion stories can be regarded as metaphors for an American invasion by its global enemies. In The Invaders, David Vincent (Thinnes) sees a UFO land and very quickly uncovers an extraterrestrial takeover plot. David Vincent is reminiscent of Dr. Miles Bennell in Don Siegel’s classic alien takeover film, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1955). Adapted from Jack Finney’s novel, The Body Snatchers (1954, 1955), the film stars Kevin McCarthy as the aforementioned M.D. Together with an old flame and another couple, Bennell tries to sound the alarm that their charming quintessential American town is being taken over by extraterrestrials birthed in large seed pods. The aliens look exactly like the town’s citizens, but they are cold and passionless. Their goal is to exterminate humanity so they can exist on earth. Over the years, many critics have come to interpret Invasion of the Body Snatchers as a thinly disguised warning of a possible clandestine Russian takeover of America (though in a conversation I had with actor McCarthy, he told me that nothing of the sort was ever brought up when they were making the movie and that all such comparisons came later). In The Invaders (note the blatant threat in the show title, by the way), the same is true. This time, it’s David Vincent on the run, moving from one city and town to the next, as he tries to convince others that the United States – and perhaps the world – is compromised. Even the government mistrusts Vincent and regards him as a dangerous lunatic. Given the era in which the Quinn Martin-produced TV show was filmed, with the Vietnam War unraveling in chaos, Americans’ increasing mistrust in their government, and the assassination of several major political leaders and civil rights champions, it’s no wonder that The Invaders’ themes of paranoia and suspicion resonated with 1960s audiences. Indeed, years later, Chris Carter picked up on The Invaders’ vibe and amped it to declare “Trust no one” in his long-running The X-Files TV show (1993-2002, 2016-2018).
Sandwiched between The Invaders and The X-Files, however, was the short-lived Alien Nation (1989-1990), and after The X-Files, the currently running Roswell, New Mexico (2019-present), an adult-centered reboot of the teen-centered Roswell TV series (1999-2002). Alien Nation and Roswell, New Mexico interrogate the very concept of “alien” while still using extraterrestrial storyline motifs. Set in the not-too-distant future, Alien Nation’s extraterrestrials have landed on earth after fleeing a planet on which they were slaves. The ETs look somewhat similar to humans, save for some significant cranial differences. All they wish for is a chance to integrate into American culture. Unfortunately, Americans regard the benevolent ETs with suspicion. The show focuses on an alien refugee family whose husband is a Los Angeles detective partnered with a human law enforcement officer. Trust is slowly developed between the two. Rather than becoming a standard police drama, however, Alien Nation’s concerns remain on exploring human bigotry and racism. Now the trope is flipped: humans are the enemy, and the aliens are sympathetic.
Roswell, New Mexico goes even further than Alien Nation in its integration of human/alien interaction. Its two leads are a Mexican-American scientist, Liz Ortecho (Jeanine Mason), whose father remains undocumented and Max Evans (Nathan Parsons), an alien sheriff who happens to be a survivor of the Roswell UFO crash. Liz and Max have a long-running love affair. As in Alien Nation, the first season of Roswell, New Mexico reveals humans to be far more malicious toward the extraterrestrials than the latter are to humans. Indeed, given the show’s contemporary setting and the undocumented citizens featured in some storylines, the very term “alien” is ripe for deconstruction. Time and again, it’s the humans who are cast in a negative light. Moreover, the show integrates timely hotbed political issues into its fabric, as well as a mistrust in government and the military. For instance, one storyline explores the military’s long-running experimentation on both humans and aliens. Slowly, however, increased trust develops between aliens and humans. Along with Elena and Max, other alien/human pairings are featured, some of them involved in same-sex relationships. By the show’s third season, a team of extraterrestrials and humans have banded together to combat a tyrannical renegade alien. To be sure, Roswell, New Mexico relies heavily on action and melodrama, but it also makes earnest appeals for its audience to rethink outdated concepts of self, other, sexual politics, and coexistence.
Conclusion
We have done little more than scratch the surface of our subject. Still, given our research, we can draw a few conclusions after comparing old and new TV shows’ approaches to extraterrestrial invasion and visitation. First, whether these subjects are included primarily or peripherally in the shows’ plot, the approach has grown more sophisticated. No surprise there, since contemporary audiences are more perceptive and expect more from their TV fare. Consider, for example, how at one time standalone episodes were the norm on television programs, where today, longer story arcs are pretty much the norm. Second, the idea of actual extraterrestrial visitations, whether believed or scoffed at by viewers, is as well-known as Coca-Cola. Who among us wouldn’t recognize a green teardrop shaped face with black oval eyes as code for an ET? Aliens are part of our cultural iconography. They’ve even invaded our iPhone emojis. So, some shows cast them as the enemy and chronicle their attempts to take over the planet; while others do the same, but play up the whimsy, such as in People of Earth. Still other programs show ETs attempting to integrate peacefully with us. It’s the latter that are most heartening. Barring polarizing factions on the extreme right and the extreme left, we are a culture that is increasingly receptive to the idea of making connections with others; exhibiting tolerance; fostering greater understanding among disparate topics, cultures, and lifestyles. Thus, the idea of aliens walking among us may not seem as frightening if we continue making strides to better understand differences on a multiplicity of levels. This we believe is the value of such shows as My Favorite Martian, Alien Nation and Roswell, New Mexico.
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