“ALIENS IN AMERICA”
Mondays (8:30-9:00 p.m.) on The CW
Justin Tolchuck (Dan Byrd, “The Hills Have Eyes”) 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 (Amy Pietz, “Caroline in the City”), aspiring-entrepreneur dad Gary (Scott Patterson, “Gilmore Girls”) and his beautiful and popular younger sister Claire (Lindsey Shaw, “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide”).
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. Franny, however, is the kind of take-charge mom who micro-manages her family, and she’s come up with a plan to help Justin: she 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 (Adhir Kalyan, “Fair City”), a 16-year-old Muslim from a small village in Pakistan. Raja is thoughtful, responsible and wise beyond his years. To the Tolchucks and everyone else in Medora, he’s also just about as foreign as a foreigner can be.
While the rest of the family is slightly freaked out by the Muslim in their midst, Gary is comforted by the fact that the host family receives a monthly check to help with expenses. This fits right in with Gary’s money-making schemes, and when he sees how hard-working and respectful Raja is, he’s totally on board. As for Claire, she’s too busy with her friends and her new boyfriend to pay much attention to their houseguest, but Raja is smitten from the moment he first sees her.
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. It’s going to be a very interesting year for Raja, Justin, his family and the entire population of Medora.
“Aliens In America” is from CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. and Warner Bros. Television with executive producers Tim Doyle (“Jake in Progress”), Moses Port (“Just Shoot Me,” “Mad About You”) and David Guarascio (“Just Shoot Me,” “Mad About You”), and co-executive producers Richard Day (“Arrested Development,” “The Larry Sanders Show”) and Michael Glouberman (“Malcolm in the Middle,” “3rd Rock From the Sun”).
CREDITS FOR “ALIENS IN AMERICA” ON THE CW
Day and time: Mondays, 8:30-9:00 p.m. ET
Network debut: October 1, 2007
Format: A half-hour comedy set in the American heartland, “Aliens In America” is the story of the Tolchuck family, whose lives are turned upside down by the arrival of Raja, a Pakistani Muslim exchange student.
Cast: Dan Byrd as Justin Tolchuck Adhir Kalyan as Raja Musharaff Amy Pietz as Franny Tolchuck Lindsey Shaw as Claire Tolchuck And Scott Patterson as Gary Tolchuck
Executive Producers: Tim Doyle, Moses Port and David Guarascio
Co-Executive Producers: Richard Day and Michael Glouberman
Origination: Vancouver, British Columbia
Produced by: CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. and Warner Bros. Television
Hollywood Tonight 2007 © All rights reserved - All materials used with permission.
CW © 2007 CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. and Warner Bros. Television
