"Alien Nation" (1989) TV series 1989-1990

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

18 September 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A flying saucer crashed in the Mojave Desert and its inhabitants turned out to be alien slaves, bred to be super intelligent and strong...

Plot Keywords:

Alien Technology | Alien Species | Alien | Futuristic | Police

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Gary Graham	...	Detective Matthew Sikes (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Eric Pierpoint	...	Detective George Francisco (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Michele Scarabelli	...	Susan Francisco (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Charles Howerton	...	V.O. Opening Narration (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Sean Six	...	Buck Francisco (19 episodes, 1989-1990)
Terri Treas	...	Cathy Frankel (17 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ron Fassler	...	Captain Bryon Grazer (16 episodes, 1989-1990)
Lauren Woodland	...	Emily Francisco (15 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jeff Marcus	...	Albert Einstein (11 episodes, 1989-1990)
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs	...	Sergeant Dobbs (9 episodes, 1989)

(more)

Series Directed by
John McPherson		(5 episodes, 1989-1990)
Harry Longstreet		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Gwen Arner		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
David Carson		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Stan Lathan		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Tom Chehak		(2 episodes, 1990)

Series Writing credits
Kenneth Johnson		(22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Rockne S. O'Bannon		(21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Diane Frolov		(9 episodes, 1989-1990)
Andrew Schneider		(7 episodes, 1989-1990)
Steven Long Mitchell		(5 episodes, 1989-1990)
Craig W. Van Sickle		(5 episodes, 1989-1990)
Tom Chehak		(4 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Produced by
Tom Chehak	....	producer (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Mary Dick	....	associate producer (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Diane Frolov	....	co-producer (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
David C. Johnson	....	assistant associate producer (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Kenneth Johnson	....	executive producer (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Andrew Schneider	....	supervising producer (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Art Seidel	....	producer (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Mary Komatar	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 1989)

Series Original Music by
Steve Dorff		(10 episodes, 1989-1990)
Larry Herbstritt		(9 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Cinematography by
Roland 'Ozzie' Smith		(21 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Film Editing by
Alan C. Marks		(7 episodes, 1989-1990)
David Strohmaier		(7 episodes, 1989-1990)
Stephen Mark		(3 episodes, 1989)
Richard E. Westover		(3 episodes, 1990)

Series Casting by
Irene Cagen		(21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Meg Liberman		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Ira Diamond		(20 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Set Decoration by
Sam Gross		(21 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Costume Design by
Brienne Glyttov		(21 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Makeup Department
Michèle Burke	....	key makeup artist (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
William Howard	....	key hair stylist (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Richard Snell	....	makeup artist (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Katalin Elek	....	makeup artist (14 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ken Diaz	....	makeup artist (13 episodes, 1989-1990)
Dianne Roberson	....	hair stylist (8 episodes, 1990)
Ellis Burman Jr.	....	makeup artist (6 episodes, 1990)
Edouard F. Henriques	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1990)
Lynne Brooks	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1990)

Series Production Management
John Liberti	....	unit production manager (18 episodes, 1989-1990)
Burt Bluestein	....	unit production manager (3 episodes, 1989)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alice Blanchard	....	second assistant director (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ken Stringer	....	first assistant director (9 episodes, 1989-1990)
Venita Ozols	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1990)
Carol Green	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1989)
Tom Connors	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1989)
John Liberti	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1989)

Series Art Department
Craig Binkley	....	property master (11 episodes, 1989-1990)
Richard Dinieri	....	property master (10 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Sound Department
Charles Bruce	....	sound editor (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Claude Riggins	....	sound mixer (21 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Special Effects by
Burt Dalton	....	special effects coordinator (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Rick Stratton	....	special effects makeup (21 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Stunts
Jon H. Epstein	....	stunt coordinator (11 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Ted Harrison	....	key grip (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
George Stephenson	....	camera operator (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
J. Michael Marlett	....	gaffer / key gaffer (18 episodes, 1989-1990)
Tom Hayes	....	key gaffer / gaffer (3 episodes, 1989)
Robert Reed Altman	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
John Burnett	....	director of photography: second unit (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jerry Herrin	....	costume supervisor: men (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Diana Wilson	....	costume supervisor: women (21 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Editorial Department
Ron S. Herbes	....	first assistant picture editor (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ron South	....	assistant film editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
James Burt	....	music editor (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Kenneth Johnson	....	composer: theme music (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
David Kurtz	....	composer: theme music (21 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Transportation Department
Dean E. Mason	....	transportation coordinator (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
James Nordberg	....	transportation (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Gina August	....	driver (11 episodes, 1989)

Series Other crew
Gale Anne Hurd	....	consultant (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Steven Long Mitchell	....	executive story editor (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Craig W. Van Sickle	....	executive story editor (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Don Winklebauer	....	location manager (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ray Quiroz	....	script supervisor (13 episodes, 1989-1990)
Enid L. Kantor	....	production coordinator (12 episodes, 1989-1990)
Edward L. Jeffers	....	location manager (11 episodes, 1989-1990)
Stephanie Shayne	....	adr loop group (11 episodes, 1989-1990)
Judi Brown	....	script supervisor (8 episodes, 1990)
Steve M. Miliotti	....	craft service (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Kenneth Johnson Productions
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Other Companies

• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Movie Movers  hair and make-up trailers

Runtime:

60 min (22 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA

Company:

Kenneth Johnson Productions

Trivia:

During the opening credits, we hear alien lyrics being sung: "E take nas naj...nah sus gah nilpa." This is actually the names of produces Kenneth Johnson's wife and daughter (Katie Johnson and Susan Appling Johnson) sung backwards. In fact, most of the alien language was, in fact, backwards English, which helped to keep gramatical rules intact. Other inspiration for the language came from Russian, as well as nonsensical and made-up words.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown (1994) (TV)

Why did this Series only last One Season???

This series is fantastic! I do not understand why it only lasted one season. It gave us so many insights into the relationships between people of all "races". It allowed us to see the pain of "inter-species" relationships and the acceptance of beings "different" from us. As the series unfolded, it was uplifting to see how people can overcome their differences to get along and thrive on earth. There are so many lessons that we can ALL learn from this series. We can get along in peace and harmony.