An off-the-wall premise such as this is almost always certain to fail, but when you think back to the days of 'ALF' and its run on TV you never know what sort of sci-fi bonanza will become a hit, and thanks to clever and witty writers "3rd Rock from the Sun" hits on all cylinders.
This DVD set contains all 20 episodes from the first season of this hit Emmy and Golden Globe winning show as we follow the Solomons from their first days on Earth as they slowly begin to slide into an "ordinary" human lifestyle. It is the simplicity and wit of the writing that drives each episode making this show funnier than you could ever assume it would be. The ability of the writers to take such a mundane chore as waiting in line at the DMV and making it funny by comparing it to buying a gun is part of this show's charm, the overall storyline is not what guides it, it is the observations of human life along the way that keep it interesting and humorous.
On an acting front, John Lithgow is absolutely brilliant as High Commander Dick Solomon. Lithgow's ability and range to go from comedy to intense drama is astounding and here he takes the comedic side to a whole new level, and the supporting cast ain't to shabby either. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, French Stewart and the Emmy-winner Kirsten Johnston all shine and are necessary in their respective roles in turning this mad house into a cohesive project that can be watched over and over again.
As for the special features you aren't going to be getting as much as you may have liked, but then again the show has been off the air for four years, which would make obtaining any new featurettes, interviews and the like tough to get and still keep them relevant. If it is absolutely necessary, you die hards you should be able to find something in the multitude of old school cast interviews, a short behind-the-scenes look, TV Spots, a highlight reel from the first season and a boring little gag reel to wet your appetite. For the most part these features seem to be something the studio just slapped on to say they were there, but they really don't add much value.
Overall, you are buying this set for the show itself, as you are with any other TV DVD purchase, and this one is well worth the dough if TV DVDs are your thing. "3rd Rock from the Sun" is funny the whole way through, and watching it over and over again is by no means difficult.