Aliens in America

'Aliens in America' Actor Lands Role in 'Rules of Engagement'

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Adhir Kalyan has performed a number of productions in South Africa, including theatrical adaptations of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol, an adaptation of Salman Rushdie's The Ground Beneath Her Feet, and the classical Shakespearean play Macbeth. But in the United States, he is popularly known for portraying exchange student Raja on Aliens in America, a sitcom that has won critical praise despite few viewers this season. Soon, however, the 25-year-old actor will be expanding his TV credits as he appears on yet another sitcom.

According to Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello, the Aliens in America star will be gracing the CBS series Rules of Engagement, the comedy from the writers of the Emmy Award-winning show Everybody Loves Raymond that looks at different relationship stages through the characters played by Patrick Warburton, Megyn Price, Oliver Hudson, Bianca Kajlich, and David Spade.

Dan Byrd Talks 'Aliens in America'

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 06:00:00 GMT

On Aliens in America, Dan Byrd plays an alienated teenager who often suffers at the hands of bullies, who, in his case, is almost everyone in his high school. Fortunately, for Byrd, who left high school to pursue his acting career just before his senior year, his own high school experience was quite different.

"I can definitely relate to lots of things that [my character] Justin has to go through," Byrd told IGN. "But my high school experience was a little stilted compared to this one."

Scott Patterson Says 'Aliens in America' Character is a "Quintessential Everyman"

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 06:00:00 GMT

After spending seven seasons on the CW's successful drama, Gilmore Girls, Scott Patterson is back on the small screen, this time on a half-hour comedy series called Aliens in America. On the show, Patterson plays Gary Tolchuck, a businessman in Medora, Wisconsin whose son is among the school's unpopular crowd.

“He is a pretty much a quintessential everyman,” Patterson said of his character in an interview with Starry Constellation Magazine. “He's just a guy with a family, a little bit conservative, a little bit Christian… His son is an apple that fell a little too far from the tree, so to speak.”

'Aliens in America' Star Makes it a Point to Portray his Character in an "Accurate and Positive Light"

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:00:00 GMT

Adhir Kalyan is not a Pakistani Muslim, but this doesn't mean he doesn't feel an overwhelming responsibility in portraying a character of that descent on The CW's comedy series, Aliens in America, especially since we are living in a world post-9/11.

"I feel a responsibility to the Muslim community to portray this character in an accurate and a positive light," Kalyan told the New York Daily News. "After September 11, there has been a lot of anxiety and fear when it comes to the concept of Islam and Muslims, and this is an opportunity to present, in a more accurate light, what that culture and civilization and history represent."

'Aliens in America' Premieres Tonight

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 07:00:00 GMT

The CW will attempt to draw a stronger Monday night lineup with one of its latest offerings this fall, Aliens in America. Scheduled to broadcast on 8:30/7:30c, the sitcom serves as a lead-in for Girlfriends which airs at 9/8c.

Created by David Guarascio and Moses Port, Aliens in America is about a Pakistani Muslim exchange student and a nerdy 16-year-old boy who adjust to life and through the social nightmare of high school in Medora, Wisconsin with the help of each other. The series stars Dan Byrd (Justin Tolchuk), Amy Pietz (Franny Tolchuk), Scott Patterson (Gary Tolchuk), Lindsey Shaw (Claire Tolchuk), and Adhir Kalyan (Raja Musharaff).

The CW Gets the Inside Scoop Straight from 'Aliens in America' Cast Members

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:30:00 GMT

Aliens in America, The CW's debuting comedy about misfits and socially ostracized teenagers in a typical high school, debuts next Monday, October 1 at 8:30pm.

Last month, CW Source caught up with four of the stars of Aliens in America, who spoke candidly about getting invited to do the show, their casting process, reading the script and what attracted them most to the project.

Former TEENick Young Star Now A Resident Babe on 'Aliens in America'

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:30:00 GMT

When Nebraska native Lindsey Shaw first burst into the movie scene three years ago, she played the athletic, girl next door best friend of the titular character on Nickelodeon's Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. Three years later, the 18-year old beauty has a new comedy series where she portrays the resident hottie, Claire, on Aliens in America, which premieres on The CW October 1.

The actress, who played Jennifer Ann “Moze” Mosely for three seasons on the TEENick family comedy, recently spoke about the rather radical change from her previous character to her latest onscreen alter ego.

Writer Face-Off: Aliens in America

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:01 GMT

In BuddyTV's 2007 Fall TV Guide, our team disagreed vehemently on the prospects of several new shows. Please read as they cheer, bash and degrade each other and the shows. Then you can decide what you think about Gossip Girl, Samantha Who?, Viva Laughlin, and Aliens in America.

BuddyTV heavyweights Jon Lachonis and John Kubicek have very different views of the CW's new comedy, Aliens in America. John believes it is the single worst new show offered up from all five major networks this season. Jon, on the other hands, thinks it deserves a chance. The show centers around a Pakistani Muslim exchange student named Raja who comes to live with an average family in a small town in Wisconsin.

While John argues that the show is uninspired and quite racist, Jon believes it is successfully attempting to make a larger point about society. Agree or disagree, the two writers debate the social and critical messages inherent to the show's premise, so read on to find out what they have to say about this new series.

Aliens in America: BuddyTV Fall 2007 Preview

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Premiere Date and Time: Monday, October 1, 8:30pm

Network: The CW

Time Slot Competition: Dancing with the Stars, The Big Bang Theory, Chuck, Prison Break

Cast: Dan Byrd, Adhir Kalyan, Amy Pietz, Lindsey Shaw, Scott Patterson

"Gilmore Girls" Actor to Join Cast of "Aliens in America"

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 22:18:56 GMT

While the CW lineup announced today at the Television Critics Association executive session skewed heavily toward reality programming, there are still a few scripted programs planned for the network's Fall schedule. One such program is Aliens in America. No, it's no Sci Fi program, rather a half-hour sitcom about a 16-year-old Pakistani exchange student being hosted by an American family in Wisconsin.

And for fans of another, now-defunct CW show – Gilmore Girls – this new program will be bringing them a familiar face. Scott Patterson, who played diner owner Luke Danes on Gilmore Girls, will be joining Aliens in America, playing the father of the exchange student's host family.

CW's Aliens in America: Meet the Cast

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

CW will bring forth a new sitcom called Aliens in America, which is intended to fill the network’s Monday night niche at 8:30/7:30 C this coming fall. Created by David Guarascio and Moses Port, and directed by Luke Greenfield, the series has been officially picked up for an initial 13-episode order on May 15, 2007.

Aliens in America follows a teenage boy named Justin Tolchuk as he tries to make it through high school in Medora, Wisconsin. His mother signs up for the international exchange student program, thinking that an athletic and brilliant Nordic teen would shed some instant “coolness” on her son. However, her plan backfires as she discovers that her exchange student is a Pakistani Muslim named Raja Musharaff. Despite the cultural differences, Justin and Raja develop an unusual friendship that might just allow them to get through high school’s social nightmares.

Read on to find out more about the cast.