Editing 3rd Rock from the Sun (section)

== Overview ==
The premise of the show revolves around an extraterrestrial research expedition hailing from a planet in a [[barred spiral galaxy]] on the [[Cepheus (constellation)|Cepheus]]-[[Draco (constellation)|Draco]] border attempting to live as a normal human family in the fictional city of Rutherford, [[Ohio]], said to be {{convert|52|mi|km|abbr=on}} outside of [[Cleveland]] where they live in an [[attic apartment]]. The show's humor is principally derived from the aliens' attempts to study [[human society]] and understand the [[human condition]], while living as humans on Earth, reflecting on human life from the perspective of aliens. Most of the episodes are named after the protagonist, Dick. In later episodes, they have become more accustomed to Earth and are often more interested in their human lives than in their mission.

The show also takes humor from its mirroring of all human anthropological expeditions and their assumptions of superiority to the "natives", as well as their inability to distinguish themselves from the natives. Dr. [[Mary Albright]] ([[Jane Curtin]]) is a professor of [[anthropology]] at fictional Pendelton State University, and many of the issues with which the four aliens struggle appear in her conversation and work. Furthermore, these four alien researchers end up looking approximately like joyriders as they get drawn increasingly further into human life.

[[Dick Solomon]] ([[John Lithgow]]), the High Commander and leader of the expedition, is the family provider and a [[physics]] professor at Pendelton (with Lithgow's eldest son [[Ian Lithgow|Ian]] playing Leon, one of his less-successful students). Information officer and oldest member of the crew [[Tommy Solomon (3rd Rock from the Sun)|Tommy]] ([[Joseph Gordon-Levitt]]) has been given the body of a [[teenager]] and is forced to enroll in high school (later college), leaving security officer [[Sally Solomon|Sally]] ([[Kristen Johnston]]) and "the one with the transmitter in his head", [[Harry Solomon|Harry]] ([[French Stewart]]), to spend their lives as 20-somethings hanging out at home and bouncing through short-term jobs. The show also involves their relationships with humans, mostly their love interests.

The family often communicates through Harry with their off-world (and usually unseen) boss, the [[Big Giant Head]], who when he finally visits Earth, is played by [[William Shatner]]. Harry unexpectedly (and often in inconvenient circumstances) stands up, his arms stiff (acting as the antenna), and proclaims: "Incoming message from the Big Giant Head!"