3rd Rock from the Sun poster

TV series

3rd Rock from the Sun

1996TV-PG6 seasons7.5 / 10

There's a new family in town. They're not from another city... They're from another planet.

The high commander of an alien expedition lands on Earth -- what he considers to be the least-important planet -- in human form as Dick Solomon. Along for the ride are his alien compatriots Harry, Sally and Tommy -- who is the eldest of the group but is now angrily trapped in a teen's body.

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Synopsis

The high commander of an alien expedition lands on Earth -- what he considers to be the least-important planet -- in human form as Dick Solomon. Along for the ride are his alien compatriots Harry, Sally and Tommy -- who is the eldest of the group but is now angrily trapped in a teen's body.

Season 5 episodes

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Episode 1

Episode I: The Baby Menace

Sep 21, 199922m8.5 / 10

The Solomons are relieved when Vicki's baby turns out to be human, but horrified when she announces her plans to sell her story to the papers. When a reporter comes sniffing around, Sally gives Dick the title of Security Officer and orders him to kill him; however he can't, so she makes him High Commander and herself Security Officer so that she can kill the reporter herself. Dick then reminds Sally that he is now the High Commander, and that there is nothing she can do to reverse it.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Jim O'Doherty, David IsraelGuest stars Jan Hooks, Curtis Armstrong, Jeff Austin, Kevin Ruf

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Episode 2

Dick for Tat

Sep 28, 199922m9.0 / 10

When a drunk Mary tells Dick she once had a fling with his archenemy Vincent Strudwick, he is outraged and decides to get even with the pair of them by convincing Strudwick's wife to sleep with him. Tommy supports Dick's decision, imagining double dates - himself with Alissa and Dick with Strudwick's wife. Meanwhile, Sally gets the hots for Don after he starts riding a police motorbike, but the pair crash and Don ends up in full body plaster.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Mike Schiff, Bill MartinGuest stars Larisa Oleynik, Ron West, Richard McGonagle, Chad Einbinder, Kim Johnston Ulrich, Cesar Herrera, Jacqueline Torres

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Episode 3

The Fifth Solomon

Nov 2, 199922m9.0 / 10

Dick crashes the car into a tree and calls an insurance company to cover it, but the salesman informs him that in order to be covered, he needed to have taken out insurance before the crash. Instead, the salesman manages to convince Harry to buy insurance, but then ignores all of Harry's attempts to call him. Dick, meanwhile, is pleasantly surprised when he discovers just how much more advanced his rental car is than the old Rambler, and so sells the latter for scrap; however, the Solomons soon begin to miss it.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Gregg MettlerGuest stars Bob Odenkirk, Joel McCrary, Steve Witting, Travis James Pate

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Episode 4

Dial M for Dick

Nov 9, 199922m8.5 / 10

Mary invites the Solomons on a murder mystery weekend, thinking that it might prove a fun activity. However, she goes down with food poisoning and retreats upstairs to her room. Downstairs, meanwhile, the Solomons are horrified when the first murder takes place, believing it to be real and, annoyed at the apparent lackadaisical efforts of Scotland Yard detective "Inspector McAffrey", they decide to try to solve the mystery themselves.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Christine ZanderGuest stars Janet Carroll, Dennis Cockrum, Madison Mason, Andrea C. Robinson, John Balma, David Chisum, Melissa Greenspan, Billy Connolly

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Episode 5

Dick and Tuck

Nov 16, 199922m8.5 / 10

When Mary and Nina talk about how good looking Harrison Ford is, Dick decides that he himself is hideous and visits a plastic surgeon to discuss having his face surgically altered. However, when the surgeon tells Sally that she might benefit from having some plastic surgery herself, she becomes paranoid and believes herself not to be good enough for Don. Harry, meanwhile, is chuffed when the surgeon tells him that his face is perfect.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Bob KushellGuest stars Ian Lithgow, Danielle Nicolet, Chris Hogan, David DeLuise, Larisa Oleynik, David Hasselhoff

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Episode 6

Dick, Who's Coming to Dinner?

Nov 23, 199922m9.0 / 10

Dick is confused when Nina won't let him accompany her to her Black Student Union meeting, believing it to be a Weight Watchers type club; so, in an attempt to understand the concept, he mistakenly takes the Solomons to a racist white power rally. Dick realizes that the rally was a bad idea, and tries to make it up to Nina by firing her, to release her from what he calls her 'servile role' (as he and Mary's assistant), but she informs him that she is happy in her job. Meanwhile, Sally, Harry and Tommy are preparing to take part in a poetry competition and decide to use racism as their subject.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Jason Venokur, David GoetschGuest stars Ian Lithgow, Danielle Nicolet, David DeLuise, Larisa Oleynik, Jane Morris, Larry Dorf, Emily Osment

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Episode 7

Sex and the Sally

Nov 30, 199922m8.5 / 10

Mary is horrified when she learns that Dick has been pocketing all the tip money she has left at restaurants, but Dick is baffled by the concept of tipping, and attempts to re-invent it by placing a stack of one dollar bills on the table and informing the waitress that when she pleases him, the pile will grow, and when not, it will shrink. Mary, however, informs him that this idea is demeaning. Meanwhile, Sally goes on the pill after Tommy informs her that she could become pregnant by having sex with Don, but begins to experience erratic mood swings and food cravings.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Julie Sherman WolfeGuest stars Chad Einbinder, Aaron Lustig, Phil Reeves, Victoria Garcia-Kelleher, Brian Dunkleman

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Episode 8

Charitable Dick

Dec 14, 199922m7.5 / 10

At a charity auction for the Rutherford Boys Home, Dick wants everybody to applaud him and so starts a bidding war with Studwick for a painting and ends up paying seventeen hundred dollars for it. Meanwhile, Don complains when Sally's snoring keeps him up all night, so she decides to try to stay awake all night so that he can sleep, but ends up keeping him awake anyway. Back at home, Harry and Tommy have been given the job of devising a new mission statement, and so try to work out what their purpose is on Earth.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by David SacksGuest stars Ileen Getz, Ron West, Ron Fassler, Bob Bancroft, Philip Bolden, Lori Hall, Mendi Segal

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Episode 9

The Loud Solomon Family: A Dickumentary

Jan 11, 200022m8.5 / 10

Mary reveals to Dick that she has been observing his family for a number of years and that she would like to make a documentary about them, in order to show how the 'typical American family' has changed. Unfortunately, Mary's film soon begins to create tension among the family and accusations that Dick is an abusive father, Tommy is a bed-wetter and Sally is secretly a lesbian start flying around, so Harry decides to become an alcoholic so as not to be left out.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Valerie WatsonGuest stars Larisa Oleynik, Chad Einbinder, Bob Morrisey, Lisa K. Wyatt, Theresa Mulligan

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Episode 10

Gwen, Larry, Dick & Mary

Jan 25, 200022m8.5 / 10

Mary is tired of spending all of her time with Dick's family and so suggests that the pair befriend another couple - her tennis partner Gwen and her husband Larry. Dick is apprehensive but quickly warms to the pair; however, they soon start brushing he and Mary off, so Dick finds them at the tennis club, where they tell him that it's because they find Mary to be tedious and self-absorbed. Meanwhile, Sally, Harry and Tommy are forced to use the laundromat when their washing machine breaks down, and immediately fall in love with the place, even setting up a laundromat court, in which Sally, imitating several of the phrases and mannerisms of Judge Judy, settles squabbles over people's washing.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Christine ZanderGuest stars Genie Francis, Jonathan Frakes, Heidi Mark, Steve Bean, Tom Kiesche, Jeanette O'Connor, Jeff Lewis

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Episode 11

Dick Puts the ID in Cupid

Feb 8, 200022m7.5 / 10

Valentines Day is approaching and Tommy hopes to get a hotel room and lose his virginity to Alissa, however, he is nervous when he discovers that she is sexually experienced and so loses his virginity to Mary's niece Tiffany first. Meanwhile, Dick discovers that Mary is seeing a therapist and, paranoid, he starts seeing her too, in order to find out what Mary has been saying about him. Paranoia fills Sally also, when Don gives her a gift which he teasingly says is from her 'secret admirer', and she mistakenly believes she has a stalker.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Jason Venokur, David GoetschGuest stars Larisa Oleynik, Chad Einbinder, Ana Gasteyer, Lindsey McKeon

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Episode 12

The Big Giant Head Returns

Feb 22, 200022m8.0 / 10

Vicki Dubcek returns with her baby Eric Travis, telling of how she has cleaned up her act and become a proper mother. Unfortunately, however, the Big Giant Head decides to return to Earth and claim his son, but upon seeing Vicki with Eric, he falls in love with her and asks Dick to transform her hatred of him into love. Meanwhile, Harry admits that he is still in love with Vicki, but Dick tells him that he cannot have her because the Big Giant Head will punish him; whilst Tommy attempts to help Sally beat her addiction - shoes.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by David SacksGuest stars William Shatner, Jan Hooks, Douglas Maida

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Episode 13

Rutherford Beauty

Feb 22, 200022m9.0 / 10

Dick begins to have erotic fantasies about Nina, and makes the mistake of telling Mary about it, leading to an argument between the three of them. Dick is confused, and Don explains to him that his confession makes Mary feel as if she no longer excites him. Meanwhile, Sally falls under the spell of Margaret Williams, a lifestyle guru very similar to Martha Stewart, and an impressed Mary asks her to cater for a fund raiser she is holding. However, Sally becomes annoyed when the guests do not appreciate all the hard work she has put in.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Bob Kushell, Gregg MettlerGuest stars Ian Lithgow, Danielle Nicolet, Richard Livingston, Louan Gideon, Christine Zander

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Episode 14

This Little Dick Went to Market

Mar 14, 200022m8.0 / 10

After hearing of how well his colleagues are doing in the stock market, Dick claims that he has earned enough money to share a holiday with Mary in Cancun. As a result, Dick is forced buy into the market in order to actually pay for the holiday, but he soon begins to lose money when the company he invests in is rumored on CNN to have overspent. Meanwhile, Sally cannot stand it when a tougher woman than her arrives in town, in the form of police officer Janice. Janice and Harry, however, take to each other.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Dave BoergerGuest stars Ileen Getz, Ron West, Joan Marie Laurer, Francis X. McCarthy, David A. Kimball, Steven Pierce, Michelle Anne Johnson

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Episode 15

Youth Is Wasted on the Dick

Mar 21, 200022m9.0 / 10

Dick tries to experience youth for the first time by partying with his students during spring break, but his drunken antics are wasted on Mary, who is trying to relive a favorite, and more relaxing, family outing. Meanwhile, Don and the police have moved into the Solomons' apartment in order to survey a video pirate living opposite. Sally is hugely turned on when she sees Don ordering his fellows about, but he is emasculated when tough government agent Jack McMannus arrives and takes over the operation, and Sally becomes attracted to him.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Nastaran Dibai, Jeffrey B. HodesGuest stars Ian Lithgow, Danielle Nicolet, Chris Hogan, David DeLuise, Miguel Ferrer, Pat Crawford Brown, Shane Powers, Deek McNeill

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Episode 16

Dick Strikes Out

Mar 28, 200022m8.5 / 10

Pendelton University has a new chancellor, who causes anger when he cuts funding and takes away tenure, so Dick holds a meeting, in which he convinces the faculty to resign en masse. Unfortunately, the chancellor accepts the resignations and leaves everybody in the faculty, bar Dick - who withdrew his own, without a job. Upon finding out about his betrayal, the faculty protest outside Dick's classroom and Mary refuses to be seen with him. Meanwhile, Tommy begins working at a pretzel store with his girlfriend Alissa, but begins to dislike working with her and gives Sally and Harry free pretzels, with which they start their own business right in front of the store.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Aron Abrams, Greg ThompsonGuest stars Ian Lithgow, Danielle Nicolet, Chris Hogan, David DeLuise, Larisa Oleynik, Ileen Getz, Ron West, Lane Davies

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Episode 17

Shall We Dick?

Apr 18, 200022m8.0 / 10

Dick and Mary are getting ready for the annual Rutherford Badger Day Dance Contest, but there's a small problem - Mary can't dance. Harry however has teamed up with Nina, but when Dick sees just how good a dancer she is, he orders Harry to let him dance with her instead. Meanwhile, Tommy and Don become exasperated when Alissa and Sally become friends and try on nearly everything in the clothes store. Jealousy arises, however, when Tommy discovers that Sally saw Alissa naked in the changing room, and then Sally discovers that Alissa accidentally walked in on Don changing in the Solomons' toilet. After Dick (and Nina) win the dance competition, the episode closes with a wordless pas de deux, complete with orchestral accompaniment of George Gershwin's "He Loves and She Loves", in a tribute to the final scene of the 1957 film Funny Face starring Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn. A portion of the film's choreography is re-created by Dick and Mary.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Mike Schiff, Bill MartinGuest stars Chris Hogan, Larisa Oleynik, Ileen Getz, Ron West, Chris Moss, Bill Martin, Mike Schiff, Chekesha Van Putten

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Episode 18

Dick and Harry Fall in a Hole

May 2, 200022m7.5 / 10

Dick and Harry fall into a large hole in the woods, which covers over when they attempt to climb out. Dick then panics, whilst Harry remains in a relaxed, zen-like state. A hole expert, named Angus 'The Hole' McDuff is called to the scene and devises a plan to build a second hole in order to access the one Dick and Harry are stuck in; however he becomes highly offended when Sally belittles his idea.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Aron Abrams, Greg ThompsonGuest stars Larisa Oleynik, Alan Cumming, Trisha Simmons, Kevin Ruf, Jim Hanna, Bonita Friedericy, Irene White

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Episode 19

Frankie Goes to Rutherford

May 9, 200022m5.0 / 10

Frank, a former student of Mary's, returns for a lecture series, making Dick jealous, and paranoid that he is after her. When confronting Frank, however, he hints that he is gay, but Dick misreads him and is convinced that he is hinting at being an alien. Therefore, Dick begins to regularly accompany Frank to Geoffrey's Lounge, which he thinks is an alien bar. Meanwhile, Sally, Harry and Tommy receive a visit from Don, who has just inadvertently foiled a bank robbery, and decide to use their superior knowledge to rob a bank themselves. As the episode progresses, each of the Solomons dons a costume of one of the Village People (Dick as the construction worker, Harry as the indian, etc). At the end of the episode on their porch roof get-together, they are joined by Don in his police uniform to complete the tableau, and the episode ends to a Village People song.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Gregg Mettler, Will ForteGuest stars Enrico Colantoni, Michael Dempsey, Larry Cox, Brad Bartlett

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Episode 20

Dick Solomon's Day Off

May 16, 200022m8.5 / 10

It's a nice day and Dick doesn't want to be stuck in the workplace, so he decides to do something that he thinks has never been done before - fake a sick day. Mary soon finds out what he's up to and decides to join him, and the pair run into Strudwick, who is doing the same thing. Meanwhile, Sally, Harry and Tommy find a police scanner that Don has left lying around and begin listening to a woman named Andrea's phone conversations. Things take an interesting twist, however, when Harry begins dating her.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Jim O'Doherty, David IsraelGuest stars Ron West, Lane Davies, Olivia D'Abo, Brian Palermo, Jerry Hauck

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Episode 21

The Big Giant Head Returns Again (1)

May 23, 200022m8.0 / 10

The Big Giant Head and his new wife Vicki Dubcek arrive back on Earth, where the Big Giant Head takes Dick to a jazz club and admits that his marriage is troubled, and that he would like to get to know him better. As his overlord becomes increasingly more clingy, Dick begins to wonder what the reason behind it is. Meanwhile, Sally gets the wrong idea when she hears Alissa giving Tommy advice about his Valedictorian speech, and saying that it is a time to move on, and so, thinking that Tommy is about to get dumped, she finds Alissa and breaks up with her on his behalf. Harry finally asks Janice out on a date and the pair get together after a meal at the gym; however, Vicki is jealous, her old love for Harry stirring admits her troubled marriage.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Jason Venokur, David GoetschGuest stars Danielle Nicolet, Chris Hogan, David DeLuise, Larisa Oleynik, William Shatner, Jan Hooks, Joan Marie Laurer, Scott Torrence

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Episode 22

The Big Giant Head Returns Again (2)

May 23, 200022m8.5 / 10finale

The Big Giant Head has revealed to Dick that he is his father, and so would like to get to know his girlfriend Mary better; however, Mary gets drunk at the dinner party and reveals that she has slept with over forty men in her lifetime. The Big Giant Head orders Dick to break up with Mary so he decides to run away with her, before Tommy reminds him that Earth children defy their parents all the time. Meanwhile, Vicki invites Harry's new girlfriend Janice to Tommy's graduation, where she attempts to kill her from beneath the bleachers; however, Sally quickly realizes what's going on and rushes to intervene before it is too late. The time comes for Tommy's speech, but he puts aside talking about his achievements to try to convince Alissa to forgive him.

Episode credits

Directed by Terry HughesWritten by Nastaran Dibai, Jeffrey B. HodesGuest stars Danielle Nicolet, David DeLuise, Larisa Oleynik, William Shatner, Jan Hooks, Joan Marie Laurer, Scott Torrence, Shiloh Strong

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Episode information updated Jul 23, 2026

More about 3rd Rock from the Sun

Watch trailer3rd Rock from the Sun trailer

Cast

John LithgowDick Solomon

Kristen JohnstonSally Solomon

Jane CurtinMary Albright

Joseph Gordon-LevittTommy Solomon

French StewartHarry Solomon

Simbi KhaliNina Campbell

Wayne KnightDon Orville

Elmarie WendelMrs. Dubcek

Credits

Created by: Terry Turner, Bonnie Turner
Written by: Linwood Boomer, Christine Zander, Bob Kushell, Mike Schiff, Bill Martin, David Goetsch, Jason Venokur, Jim O'Doherty, Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein, David Israel, David Sacks, Gregg Mettler, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Aron Abrams, Greg Thompson, Mark Brazill, Nastaran Dibai, Jeffrey B. Hodes, Will Forte, Dave Boerger, Danny Smith, Dave Jeser, Matthew Silverstein

Production details

Status: Ended
Series type: Scripted
Episodes: 139
Original language: English

Networks & production

NBCUnited States
Carsey-Werner CompanyUnited States

Themes

alienbig giant headextraterrestrialfamily relationshipsfish out of waterfriendshipohiositcom

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