Archive-name: tv/3rd-rock/part1
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Last-modified: 1996/10/16
Version: #108

alt.tv.3rd-rock FAQ,  Volume 8
Updated October 16th, 1996

PART 1: Index, Sections 1 to 3

A newsgroup devoted to the discussion of the NBC Comedy
Third Rock From The Sun.

Copyright (c) 1996 Bonnie Lynne Kretschmer and Monty D. Martin
penfold@primenet.com and carlo17@primenet.com

Thanks to:  The NBC web page, The Internet Movie Database
and all of the posters in alt.tv.3rd-rock who have contributed
information to the FAQ.  Thanks also to Matt and all of the
information we co-opted from his alterna-FAQ.

Special thanks to Ron Olshavsky for providing the web page!

An HTMLized version of this FAQ is available at:
	
	http://www.envipco.com/3rdrock

The most current version of this document is posted bi-weekly
in alt.tv.3rd-rock and monthly in alt.answers and news.answers.

Table of Contents

(Sections marked with a "++" have been modified from the
previous version.)

1.0 About alt.tv.3rd-rock
	1.01 Charter
	1.02 Brief History
	1.03 How to submit corrections, changes, or additions
2.0 About "3rd Rock From the Sun"
	2.01 The Premise
	2.02 History of 3rd Rock 
	2.03 The Cast++
	2.04 The intros 
	2.05 Guest Stars and Roles
	2.06 The Staff: Writers, Producers, and Directors 
	2.07 How to Contact NBC, the Staff, The Cast
	2.08 Recognition and Awards
3.0 Frequently Asked Questions
	3.01 Has 3rd Rock been picked up for another season?
	3.02 When has/is/will 3rd Rock be aired?++
	3.03 Is Ian Lithgow (Leon) related to John Lithgow?
	3.04 Who/what is the Big Giant Head?
	3.05 What is Harry's function?
	3.06 How are the Solomons related to each other?
	3.07 Where did they come from?
	3.08 But didn't they come from 3rd Rock?
	3.09 What are their alien names?
	3.10 Where do you come up with the titles?++
	3.11 Why do they always put 'Dick' in the title?++
	3.12 Are the episodes aired in production order?
	3.13 How can I get tickets for the show?
	3.14 How can I submit script ideas?
4.0 Characters/Actors Bios, Filmographies
	4.01 John Lithgow (Dick Solomon) 
	4.02 Kristen Johnston (Sally Solomon)
	4.03 French Stewart (Harry Solomon)
	4.04 Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Tommy Solomon)
	4.05 Jane Curtin (Dr. Albright)
	4.06 Simbi Khali (Nina)
	4.07 Elmarie Wendel (Mrs. Dubcek)
	4.08 Leon (Ian Lithgow) 
	4.09 Shay Aster (August)
	4.10 John D'Aquino (Mr. Randall)
5.0 Episode Guide++
6.0 Where to Find More Information
	6.01 Recommended 3rd Rock Internet Sites++
	6.02 How to Contact NBC
	6.03 How to Get Tickets for Future Taping
7.0 Credits (where we found out what we know & other secrets)


=======FAQ=====FAQ=====FAQ=====


1.0 About alt.tv.3rd-rock

-------
1.01 Charter
-------

There is no charter that was posted with the newgroup message
that created the group, but as poster of the proposal, I have
taken the liberty of writing one, so that the purpose of the
group is clear to newcomers.  It is as follows:

We in this group are devoted to the frank and open discussion
of the merits and faults of Third Rock From the Sun.  We do so
out of a genuine interest in, and respect for, the show & it's
creators.  Please DO NOT flame others for their contrasting
opinions or for asking a question covered here in the FAQ.  
Instead, please politely & intelligently respond to their 
argument or answer their questions and then direct them to the
FAQ.  Let us make each other proud with our conduct here.
 
-------
1.02 Brief History
-------

The proposal was posted by Bonnie Lynne in alt.config on the
evening on May 8th, 1996.  Many people worked hard to spread 
the word to other fans, post in alt.config on our behalf and 
discuss the show in rec.arts.tv.  As a direct result of these
discussions, the news administrator at earthlink created 
alt.tv.3rd-rock early in the morning on May 14th, 1996 and we
are all thankful that he did.  The inaugural article in the 
new group was posted by Nathan Humbard that same morning.  
There were eleven posts to the group on that first day, and 
the group has been going strong ever since.  Most recently, on
June 6, 1996 a link to this group was added to the web search
utility Yahoo! under the category:
Entertainment:TV:Shows:Comedies:Third Rock From The Sun.

-------
1.03 How to submit corrections, changes, or additions
-------

If you have any comments, corrections, changes, or additions 
to this FAQ please email them to one of the following people:

	Bonnie Lynne Kretschmer  <penfold@primenet.com>

	Monty D. Martin  <carlo17@primenet.com>

Submissions posted in the newsgroup may be inadvertently 
overlooked or fail to arrive at all sites.

PLEASE contact us if you know any of the information here to be
false or cripplingly incomplete.  We have taken great pains to 
assure that it is truthful and complete, but we are only human.


2.0 About "3rd Rock From the Sun"

-------
2.01 The Premise
-------

Aliens have come to earth and used their advanced technology 
to install themselves in fully functional human bodies.  The
High Commander (John Lithgow) assumes the human body and 
identity of Dick, the patriarch of the Solomon family and a 
professor of physics at an Ohio university.  His officemate 
there is Dr. Mary Albright (Jane Curtin) who is human and an
anthropology professor.  The Alien Security officer takes the
form of Sally Solomon, who is Dick's sister.  An alien who
has no official title (French Stewart) takes the role of Dick
and Sally's brother Harry.  At the end of the first season, 
we find that he serves as a radio transmitter for "The Big 
Giant Head", their boss on the home world.  The Intelligence
specialist (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is the oldest member of the
alien expedition, but ironically is assigned to take the form
of Dick's son Tommy (a teenager in the throes of puberty).  

The aliens are completely unprepared for the physical and 
emotional sensations of their new human bodies.  So while 
they are intellectually superior to humans, they can appear 
quite foolish because they are experiencing every feeling for
the first time. 

The expedition was originally to be a two week fact finding 
tour, but Dick extended the journey because he fell in love
with his new body and the feelings and sensations thereof (not
to mention Dr. Albright).  The others were not originally in
favor of staying, but they have learned to like the planet 
and their lives here.  The series allows us to watch as the 
aliens discover Earth, our fellow Humans and their quirks.	


-------
2.02 History of 3rd Rock 
-------

'3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN' Premiered Tuesday, January 9th at 
8:30 EST/PT and 7:30pm CST/MT on NBC in the US & Canada.  It 
came from the producing team of Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner 
and the writing team of Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner.  
For the 15th episode, "Dick Like Me" (4-23-96) the show was
rescheduled to the 8pm/7pm time slot where it remained till the
end of the season and throughout the summer (so far).  During
the off-season, reruns were also broadcast on Sunday evening in
preparation for the shows fall move to the 8pm/7pm Sunday slot.

[We are currently looking for information on how the show was
created, please email us if you wish to make any contributions.]


-------
2.03 The Cast
-------

Dick Solomon		John Lithgow
Sally Solomon		Kristen Johnston
Harry Solomon		French Stewart
Tommy Solomon		Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Dr. Albright		Jane Curtin
Nina			Simbi Khali
Mrs. Dubcek		Elmarie Wendel
Leon			Ian Lithgow
August			Shay Aster
Mr. Randall		John D'Aquino
Bug             		David Deluise
Caryn           		Danielle Nicolet
Pitman          		Chris Hogan

Occasional Cast

Coach Strickland	Michael Milhoan   
Father Rice     		Bruce Morrow
Judith Draper   		Ileen Getz
Mrs. Sumner     		Jennifer Rhodes
Officer Don		Wayne Knight
Dr. Sutor		Harry Morgan

-------
2.04 The Intros
-------

Opening narration read by James Earl Jones
	(accompanied first runs of episodes 2 - 9)

"As many intelligent people know, aliens are all around us.  
This is the story of a band of four such explorers.  In order to
blend in, they have assumed human form.  [shot of Dick]  This is
the High Commander.  He has assembled an elite team of experts.
[shot of Sally]  A decorated military officer.  [shot of Tommy]
A seasoned intelligence specialist. [shot of Harry] And... well,
they had an extra seat."  


The joke following that speech changed each week:  

Post Nasal Dick:  "The earth is a primitive place, notable for
	its pollution, squandered resources, and violent 
	upheavals.  But man, you should taste the doughnuts!"

Dick's First Birthday:  "The earth revolves around the sun.  But
	ask most humans, they'll say it revolves around them." 

Dick is from Mars, Sally is from Venus:  "The people of earth
	sometimes divide against each other based on national
	origin or skin color.  Of course, no one else in the
	galaxy can tell them apart."

Dick, Smoker:  "The earth is actually two-thirds water... about
	the equivalent of scotch at a cheap wedding."

Green-Eyed Dick:  "They say earth started with just two humans.
	Now there are five billion of them.  Someone needs to
	turn a hose on them."

Lonely Dick:  "The earth is populated by millions of beautiful
	women.  And those who aren't beautiful have great
	personalities."  

Body & Soul & Dick:  "The earth is covered with a deep, hard
	crust...although it does have a wonderful chewy center."

Ab-Dick-ted:  "Earth is a place where backing down causes ego
	problems, and backing up causes severe tire damage."


Thereafter, the intro was shortened to:

"As many intelligent people know, aliens are all around us.  
	This is the story of four such explorers."

For reruns, the shortened intro was also used, with the opening
	credits being placed after the first scene (called a
	"teaser"), instead of before, as in their original runs.


-------
2.05 Guest Stars and Roles
-------

Star (role) 		Episode (Date)
-----			-----	
Martha Stewart 		Post-Nasal Dick
(cameos)		(01-16-96)

Ed Begley Jr. 		Green-eyed Dick
(Jeff)			(02-13-96)

John Mahoney		Body & Soul Dick
(Dr. Hamlin)		(02-27-96)

Bronson Pinchot		Ab-Dick-ted
(Roy)			(03-04-96)

John Raitt		Frozen Dick
(Trucker Gil)		(03-26-96)

Wayne Knight 		Assault with a Deadly Dick
(Officer Don)		(04-30-96)

Naomi Judd		Father Knows Dick
(Francis Randall)		(05-07-96)

Harry Morgan		Selfish Dick
(Dr. Sutor)		(05-14-96)


-------
2.06 The Staff: Writers, Producers, and Directors
-------

Executive Producers: 	Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner, Caryn
	  		Mandabach and Linwood Boomer.

Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner have produced: 

	"Roseanne," "Grace Under Fire," and "Cybill". 
	 also "The Cosby Show" and "A Different World." 

Linwood Boomer has produced: 

	"Night Court" and "The Boys Are Back"

Executive Producers/Writers and Creators: 

	Bonnie and Terry Turner

Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner have written for: 

	"She TV," "Wayne's World," "Wayne's World II," "The 
	Brady Bunch Movie", and were formerly writers with 
	"Saturday Night Live." 
 
Production Company: 

	The Carsey-Werner Company and YBYL Productions. 

Their address is:

	3rd Rock from the Sun
	Carsey-Werner Productions
	4024 Radford Ave., Bldg. 2
	Studio City, CA 91604

List of the Senior Staff 

The list is in show order with number of episodes done in the
parentheses after the name.  Writers & Directors are credited
by show title.

Executive in charge of production: Courtney B. Conte (20)
Co-Executive Producer: Joe Fisch (20), David Sacks (11)
Supervising Producers: Bill Martin (23) & Mike Schiff (23)
Produced by: Patrick Kienlen (24)
Co-Producer: Bob Kushell(23), Christine Zander(23)
Associate Producer: Timothy Ryder (20)

Written by:	
	 1) Bonnie and Terry Turner (Brains and Eggs; Body and
		Soul Dick; Truth or Dick)
	 2) Micheal Glouberman & Anderw Orenstein (Post-Nasal 
		Dick; The Dick's They are A-Changin'; Assault
		with a Deadly Dick; Much Ado About Dick)
	 3) Andy Cowan (Dick's First Birthday)
	 4) Bill Martin & Mike Schiff (Dick is from Mars, Sally
		is from Venus; Dick, Smoker; See Dick Run; See
		Dick Continue to Run)
	 5) Joe Fisch (Green-eyed Dick, Dick Like Me)
	 6) Christine Zander (Lonely Dick; I Enjoy Being Dick;
		Big Angry Virgin from Outer Space)
	 7) Bob Kushell & Christine Zander (Ab-Dick-ted)
	 8) Bob Kushell (The Art of Dick; Father Knows Dick
		Hotel Dick)
	 9) Linwood Boomer (Frozen Dick; Angry Dick)
	10) David Sacks (Selfish Dick)


Director: 
	1) James Burrows (Brains and Eggs & See Dick Run)
		(also "Cheers," and "Frasier"), 
	2) Robert Berlinger (Truth or Dick, The Art of Dick,
		Frozen Dick, Angry Dick, The Dick's They Are
		A-Changing, I Enjoy Being Dick, Assault with 
		a Deadly Dick, Father Knows Dick & Selfish 
		Dick, See Dick Continue to Run; Hotel Dick;
		Big Angry Virgin from Outer Space; Much Ado
		About Dick)

*****CHANGE*****
The following represents stats for only the first season.

*Reason & Rant*
Due to the rapid display of the credits and my deteriorating
VCR :( I am no longer able to log the end credits because I
am unable to read them either when I pause the VCR or when
the tape plays up to speed.  Just a brief moment on the stump
here for a former theatre techie to say that this sucks rocks!
I would like to credit all the folks whose hard work goes into
making this show, but I am unable to due to a stupid assumption
that no one wants to read the end credits!  *pant*  *pant*
Okay.  End rant.  Enjoy the rest of the FAQ.  :o)

*1st Season Staff*
Executive Story Consultant: Andy Cowan (12)
Creative Consultant: Mark Brazill (19)
Production designer: Garvin Eddy (20)
Director of photography: Ken Lamkin, Ron Browne (20)
Unit production manager: Henry Lange Jr., Micheal Kelly (19),
	Chris Halle
1st Asst Director: Jo Ann Singer, Micheal Kelly (19)
2nd Asst Director: Jim Weis, Phyllis Guarnaccia (19)
Casting by: Liberman/Hirschfeld (20), Michael Katcher, C.S.A.
Editor: Vince Humphrey (5), Greg Wong (12), Briana London (3)
Music by: Ben Vaughn (20)
Music Supervisor: Lana Hale (13), John McCullough (7)
Production Co-ordinator: Patty McManus (20)
Script Supervisor: Sandra Pearson (20)
Technical Co-ordinator: Jim Buck, Jeff Wheat (19)
Set Decorator: Rochelle Moser (4), Tara Stephanson (17)
Property Master: Cliff Bernay (20)
Gaffer: Jack Harmon, Bill Tenny (19)
Key Grip: John Tierney, Andy Anderson (19)
Costume Designer: Melina Root (20)
Make-up Artist: Bruce Hutchinson, Wendy Hogan (19)
Hair Artist: Pixie Schwartz (20)
Production Sound: Norman Webster (15), Bill Remhild (5)
Re-recording: Tamera Johnson, Craig Porter(20), Todd Grace(19)
Graphics by: SVC Television London (20)
Assistants to the Producers: Gil Goldburg (20), Laura 
	Black (20), Linda Parker (20), Sean Veder (19)
Writers' Assistants: Sonja Cannon, Katy Ballard (19), Jeanne 
	La Plante (4), Karla Tofte (15)

Origination: CBS/MTM in Studio City, CA 


-------
2.07 How to Contact NBC, the Staff, The Cast
-------

NBC requests that all fan mail and requests for information 
about Third Rock From The Sun be sent regular mail to the
production company address below:

	3rd Rock from the Sun
	Carsey-Werner Productions
	4024 Radford Ave., Bldg. 2
	Studio City, CA 91604

To contact NBC with general questions, write to:

	NBC
	30 Rockefeller Plaza
	New York, NY 10112

E-mail:

	NBC Interactive Entertainment

	<Entertainment@nbc.com> or
	<Shows@nbc.com>

Web:

	The NBC Web Site 
	

-------
2.08 Recognition and Awards
-------

At the end of its first season, "3rd Rock" received a Bronze
Award from the prestigious "Montreux Golden Rose Festival", a
European film festival held in Switzerland.  Until 1993, sitcoms
were not recognized for this major creative award.  3rd Rock is
the first U.S. sitcom in history to receive this honor which was
awarded for the Feb. 27 episode, "Body and Soul Dick" (See the
Episode Guide for details).

Also, on June 1, 1996 "3rd Rock" was nominated by the Television
Critics Association for Outstanding Comedy Series.  All of the
other nominees are established and highly acclaimed sitcoms.  
They include "Seinfeld", "Frasier", "The Simpsons", and "The 
Larry Sanders Show".  "3rd rock" is definitely a long shot, but
the nomination alone indicates that critics think very highly of
the show.  Awards will be given out on June 20, 1996.

It was reported in August that 3rd Rock captured two honors in 
the annual TV Guide Readers Poll.  The were voted as the Best
Midseason Replacement Series and Best Unearthly Life Form.  Dr.
Dick Solomon and Dr. Mary Albright came in second for Couple
You'd Like to See Together.  The winning couple in that category
are Dr. Niles Crane and Daphne Moon from Fraiser.

Nominations for the Emmy Awards were also announced in early
August.   3rd Rock received 3 nominations.

---
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Comedy Series
James Burrows

Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series
Pixie Schwartz

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
John Lithgow
--- 

On Sunday night September 8, 1996, John Lithgow won the Emmy for
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.  Congratulations!



3.0 Frequently Asked Questions

-------
3.01 Has 3rd Rock been picked up for another season?
-------

Yes.  Third Rock is on the NBC schedule for Fall 1996.


-------
3.02 When has/is/will 3rd Rock be aired?
-------

In the United States on NBC the timeslot has been as follows: 
1996 Jan. 9th to April 16th: Tuesday, 8:30 EST/PT and 7:30 CST/MT
1996 April 23rd to May 28th: Tuesday, 8pm EST/PT and 7pm CST/MT
1996 Sept 22nd to present: Sunday, 8pm EST/PT and 7pm CST/MT

In Germany, it airs on ZDF: Saturdays at 11:20 or 11:40pm (local
	time), 6 eps under the title "Hinterm Mond Geich links"
In New Zealand, it airs on TV3: Tuesdays at 8pm (local time)
In 1996 in the UK, it aired on British Sky 1: Fridays at 8pm 
	(local time), it is unknown when it will air in 1997.
In Australia, it airs ATN 7 in Sydney and HSV 7 in Melbourne.

For more information about foreign channels that air the show,
look at the official 3rd Rock page at http://www.3rdrock.com/.

So far, we have no other information about foreign time slots.


-------
3.03 Is Ian Lithgow (Leon) related to John Lithgow?
-------

Yes.  Ian Lithgow is John's son from a former marriage.


-------
3.04 Who/what is the Big Giant Head?
-------

The Big Giant Head is the unseen leader from the home planet, 
who sent the aliens to earth.  
He was first mentioned in episode #113, "Body & Soul Dick".


-------
3.05 What is Harry's function?
-------

Contrary to what we are told in the introduction (they had an
extra seat), it turns out that Harry is the groups conduit 
for communicating with the Big Giant Head.


-------
3.06 How are the Solomons related to each other?
-------

Harry and Sally are Dick's brother and sister and Tommy is 
Dick's son.


-------
3.07 Where did they come from?
-------

Outer Space.  As yet, the name of their home planet has
not been revealed.


-------
3.08 But didn't they come from 3rd Rock?
-------

No.  3rd Rock From the Sun refers to the earth.


-------
3.09 What are their alien names?
-------

That hasn't been revealed yet, either.


-------
3.10 Where do you come up with the titles?
-------

One can collect the titles as they are shown by checking the
NBC primetime listings web page and selecting the "3rd Rock
from the Sun" link at:

 http://NBC.theGIST.com/previewlistings/gridw.tv1

The networks chose not to place the titles in the credits of
the show, but they are in the descriptions of the shows that
are found at the website.  Past titles can be found in the 
Episode Guide located at: 

 http://avimall.com/entertain/thirdrock.txt


-------
3.11 Why do they always put 'Dick' in the title?
-------

It is a fun tradition that has *usually* been followed by the
writers of the show.  However, there are two notable exceptions
so far: the pilot, called "Brains And Eggs" and the 2nd season
episode #203 "Big Angry Virgin from Outer Space".

-------
3.12 Are the episodes aired in production order?
-------

No.  It seems that episodes are and will continue to air out
of order.  This can be seen by looking at the episodes and
their production numbers in the order in which they were aired.
As you can see, the production numbers are out of sequence.

Air#    Air date  EP#        Episode Title
1.01    01-09-96  101      Brains and Eggs (Premiere)
1.02    01-16-96  105      Post-Nasal Dick
1.03    01-23-96  106      Dick's First Birthday
1.04    01-30-96  103      Dick is from Mars, Sally is from Venus
1.05    02-06-96  107      Dick, Smoker
1.06    02-13-96  109      Green-Eyed Dick
1.07    02-20-96  110      Lonely Dick
1.07    02-27-96  113      Body and Soul Dick
1.08    03-04-96  112      Ab-Dick-ted (Special night)
1.09    03-12-96  102      Truth or Dick
1.10    03-19-96  111      The Art of Dick
1.11    03-26-96  117      Frozen Dick
1.12    04-02-96  104      Angry Dick
1.13    04-09-96  108      The Dicks, They Are A-Changin'
1.14    04-21-96  116      I Enjoy Being Dick (Special night)
1.15    04-23-96  115      Dick Like Me
1.16    04-30-96  114      Assault with a Deadly Dick
1.17    05-07-96  119      Father Knows Dick
1.18    05-14-96  120      Selfish Dick
1.19    05-21-96  118      See Dick Run (Part 1)

2.01    09-22-96  201&2  See Dick Continue to Run (Part 2)
2.02    09-29-96  205      Hotel Dick
2.03    10-06-96  203      Big Angry Virgin From Outer Space
2.04    10-13-96  204      Much Ado About Dick

-------
3.13 How can I get tickets for the show?
-------

See Section 6.03

-------
3.14 How can I submit script ideas?
-------

NBC says they don't accept unsolicited scripts or script 
ideas.  None of the networks will accept scripts or story 
ideas unless they are submitted by an agent.  In fact, 
manuscripts will be returned unopened.

