Comedy of comedy....... Review on 3rd Rock From The Sun

A team of aliens have come to Earth to explore life on the ''Universe`s most unimportant planet''. To avoid detection and to blend in, the group takes on human shape and form. The High Commander (John Lithgow) takes on the form of Dick Solomon, a University professor. Unfortunately his male military expert becomes his sexy sister, Sally (Kristen Johnston); the older intelligence expert becomes his son, Tommy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Oddball Harry (French Stewart), who comes along purely because there was a spare seat, becomes his brother.

Third Rock From The Sun, is a half-hour comedy series, farcically dealing with the human condition, was created by Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner. It has a clever point of view seen through the extraterrestrial team that has no otherworldly powers except absolute truthfulness.

The aliens arrive on earth completely innocent, while equipped with superior intelligence to analyze every experience. This vantage point of an innocent seeing everything for the first time is the comic framework from which to satire the human condition, to look at all of the injustices and absurdities and humorously point them out. At the heart of the sitcom is a commentary on what it truly means to be human; the alien factor provides viewers distance from themselves in order to see the humor in idiosyncrasies.

Aspects of life that one have been conditioned not to acknowledge or discuss and issues such as sexuality, desensitization to violence, and the differences between men and women are dealt with from a wholly unique and witty perspective. This series cuts through taboos and traditions with a childlike inquisitive logic and an impeccably paced humorous twist.

Dick Solomon, the High Commander gives himself a job teaching Physics at a university. He goes through life trying to figure everything out, getting it all wrong being hopelessly gullible and taking everything terribly literally. Dr. Mary Albright (Jane Curtin), a professor at the University is Dick`s office-mate and lover. Mary`s relationship with Dick is constantly rocky, but his crazy ways keep her intrigued. Sally Solomon, the Security Officer and second-in-command who is frustratingly reduced to an inferior role as a woman in today`s society is involved with Officer Don. Harry Solomon is sensitive, funny looking and most susceptible to human conditioning. Tommy is reduced to a pimply hormonal teen who isn`t allowed to do anything and is sure his raging hormones could explode at any minute.

The secret to this fabulous series is the splendidly clueless way the group carry out human etiquette and the way they entirely lack any human every day inhibitions. The aliens turn everyday situations into wry, but hilariously funny, `fish out of water` comedy.

All who love wit must watch this sitcom. Third Rock From The Sun is easily one of the best sitcoms on TV today.