Warner Archive continues its foray into cult series with the September 12, 2017 DVD release of the 2016 first season of the TBS Conan O'Brien-Greg Daniels (of "The Office" fame) sitcom "People of Earth."
The general theme of a support group for a community of people in Beacon, New York who either have had a close encounter of the third kind or desperately desire one is reminiscent of the 1988-92 Judd Hirsch NBC sitcom about similar therapy for people with intense relationship issues. The element of alien abductions contributes an "X Files" vibe.
The ineptitude and constant squabbling among the aliens whose crisis management skills are increasingly tested puts the "Office" work of Daniels to good use. Finally, the lack of a laugh track supports the theory of '80s ABC "Dirty Harry" parody "Sledge Hammer!" creator Alan Spencer that audiences do not need to be told what is funny.
The primary disappointment regarding this O'Brien-produced series is that it does not star his sidekick Andy Richter as a dumpy loser. The second letdown is a complete lack of "probe Uranus" jokes.
The following YouTube clip of a TBS promo. for "Earth" can be considered an entertaining couch potato's guide to this 'verse.
"Earth" begins with respected journalist Ozzie Graham (Wyatt Cenac of "The Daily Show"), who is the straight man "Jim" of this series, attending meetings of the aforementioned Starcrossed group in the aforementioned small New York state community. His talking to frazzled group leader Gina (Ana Gasteyer of "SNL" and"Surburgatory") and the "experiencers" leads him to believe both that he is one of them and that the truth is out there.
In classic sitcom style, the first few episodes flesh out the premise of the series and introduce the characters. This begins with Ozzie interviewing each group member in his or her workplace and/or home.
Ozzie subsequently quits his prestigious Manhattan job at a media company run by dim-witted executive with a secret Jonathan Walsh, who is the Michael Scott of this office, to work for the local Beacon paper so that he can live there and join the group. An early episode has Ozzie base his decision on which member to choose for a sponsor on which of them is the least crazy.
The "Office" vibe continues with Jonathan having uptight Nancy, the "Angela" of the group, as his executive assistant.
The stand-out oddball is 30 year-old tollbooth operator Gerry, who is the Dwight of the group. He is an experiencer wannabe who keeps his 17 years of research in his booth and enters a hilariously unexpected "its complicated" relationship with a fellow group member.
The 10-episode season, which follows the British television model of providing better-quality fewer offerings each "series" than 20-or-so 21 minutes of trash, compellingly builds the lore of the program. Ozzie learns more about both his sense of a recent encounter and a related childhood incident, the group members experience their own self-realizations, and Father Doug (Oscar Nunez of "Office," who is the "Oscar" of "People") who operates the church where the group meets maintaining his faith does not prevent a mid-life crisis.
A particularly outstanding episode revolves around an open house session in which group members bring a family member or someone else close to them to come out of the closet regarding their encounter with a brother from another planet. Genuine hilarity ensues as these outsiders increasingly do not take the news well. One of the best lines has the brother of a group member demand that he choose either being an experiencer or being gay.
The season finale provides a few great cliffhangers; the group learns more about their universal importance and one of them begins a journey that may prove the adage about being careful about making wishes.
This good combination of elements leads to a good ensemble comedy for the 21st century. Many of us are alienated (no pun intended) and seek community from folks with like interests and/or experiences. We additionally are less close to those to whom we are close than the real and reel folks of the '70s. A post-coital conversation in which Gerry hesitates to accept a small favor from his new friend with benefits illustrates this well. The literal pillow talk ends with that person say "we just had sex; I can drive you across town."
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Earth" is strongly encouraged either to email me or to connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.
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