3rd Rock from the Sun: The Complete First & Second Seasons [5 Discs] [DVD]

Upon assuming human form, the team of extraterrestrials calling themselves the Solomon family begin developing human emotions and character faults, as Season One of the fantasy sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun begins its first season. Despite the difficulties inherent in adjusting themselves to their new bodies (for one thing, they no longer swivel their heads to lick their backs!), the Solomons immediately go to work on their intelligence-gathering mission on Earth on behalf of their home-planet leader, the omnipotent Big Giant Head. "High Commander" Dick Solomon (John Lithgow) manages to land a job teaching at Pendleton College, where he finds himself strangely attracted to his colleague Dr. Mary Albright (Jane Curtin), who has nary a clue as to Dick's "alien" status. The team's scientific genius Tommy Solomon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a middle-aged alien trapped in the body of an adolescent earthling, must endure his first childhood disease, and also begins dating a pre-teen girl named August (Shay Astar). Military officer Sally Solomon (Kristen Johnson)--outwardly a girl, inwardly gosh-knows-what--suddenly and to her initial embarrassment develops a yen for men and seeks the advice of Dick's sarcastic secretary Nina (Simba Khali). And dimwitted alien crew member Harry Solomon (French Stewart) develops a fondness for liquor and other such guilty pleasures. And although they're under orders to kill any human who might come close to learning their true identities, the Solomons find themselves incapable of doing so: Earthlings may be dull, backward jerks, but they make great company! Season One ends on a cliffhanger (the first of many), as the "higher-ups" on the Solomons' home planet decide that they've failed in their mission and demand that they return home--and Dick suddenly develops a split personality! During its inaugural season on the air, 3rd Rock from the Sun was nominated for several Emmy Awards, with John Lithgow copping the prize as "outstanding lead actor in a comedy series."~Hal Erickson