"3rd Rock From the Sun" Episode Guide (EPG) - Season 1
Bradley Whitmarsh
Episode Guide for: "3rd Rock From the Sun"
Copyright © 1996 Bonnie Lynne Kretschmer (pen...@primenet.com)
Updated June 15, 2000
Created by: Bonnie Lynne Kretchmer
Written by: Bonnie Lynne Kretchmer (thru 11/13/96)
(pen...@primenet.com)
Nathan E. Humbard (11/13/96-4/30/00)
(na...@usit.net)
Bradley Whitmarsh (5/1/00-present)
(bra...@110.net)
Thanks to: Someg...@aol.com and Cal at cal...@primenet.com
This guide is also posted in alt.tv.3rd-rock around the first and
fifteenth of each month. It is also posted on the web at:
http://110.net/~ps3776/3rdrock
Characters:
Dick Solomon (John Lithgow): "The High Commander"
Sally Solomon (Kristen Johnston): "A decorated military officer" (a
Lieutenant)
Tommy Solomon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt): "A seasoned intelligence
specialist"
Harry Solomon (French Stewart): "They had an extra seat"
Dr. Mary Albright (Jane Curtin): Anthropologist, officemate, and
obsession of the High Commander
Nina Campbell (Simbi Khali): Secretary for Dr. Albright and Dr. Solomon
Mamie Dubcek (Elmarie Wendel): The Solomons' landlady
Producers: Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner
Bios are available at the NBC web page for "3rd Rock":
http://www.nbc.com/thirdrock/home.html
United States (NBC) time slot (all exceptions noted):
09 Jan 1996 to 16 Apr 1996: Tuesday, 8:30 EST/PT, 7:30 CST/MT
23 Apr 1996 to 21 May 1996: Tuesday, 8:00 EST/PT, 7:00 CST/MT
11 Aug 1996 to 14 Sep 1997: Sunday, 8:00 EST/PT, 7:00 CST/MT
17 Sep 1997 to 11 Nov 1998: Wednesday, 9:00 EST/PT, 8:00 CST/MT
08 Dec 1998 to 20 Jul 1999: Tuesday, 8:00 EST/PT, 7:00 CST/MT
27 Jul 1999 to 07 Mar 2000: Tuesday, 8:30 EST/PT, 7:30 CST/MT
14 Mar 2000 to present: Tuesday, 8:00 EST/PT, 7:00 CST/MT
In Germany, it airs on ZDF: Saturday at 11:20 or 11:40 (local time), 6
eps under the title "Hinterm Mond Geich links." In New Zealand, it
airs on TV3: Tuesday at 8:00 (local time). In 1996 in the UK, it aired
on British Sky 1: Friday at 8:00 (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, I have no other information about foreign time slots.
Note about 1st season Nielsen ratings:
A show's rating is a percentage of all 95.9 million American TV's,
including those turned off, which are tuned in to that show for that
week. A rating of 1.0 would correspond with 1%, or 959,000 homes tuned
in (1995-96 season figures).
Note about episode numbers:
The episode numbers are assigned by the production company in the order
that the shows are produced. The first digit in an episode's number
indicates the season; the last two indicate the filming order within
the season. For example, episode #101 is the first episode filmed in
the first season; #209 is the ninth episode filmed in the second
season.
Tuesday, January 9, 1996 (debut)
Nielsen rating: 15.2 Ranking for week: 10th
"Brains And Eggs" (ep. #101)
Our four lovable aliens come to earth and assume the form of humans,
rent a 3rd floor apartment and Dick gets a job as a Physics professor.
Sally learns lessons about being female, Tommy discovers the agony of
puberty and Harry discovers the joy of holding a flashlight. At the
last minute, it is Dick who prolongs the 2 week assignment (much to the
dismay of Sally and Tommy), because they can't leave until they have
explored Feelings (the core of the human experience). In particular,
those of his office mate Dr. Albright.
Leon: Ian Lithgow (Yep! John's son!)
Tuesday, January 16, 1996
Nielsen rating: 15.2 Ranking for week: 8th
"Post-Nasal Dick" (ep. #105)
Tommy has his first make-out session and brings a bug home to the
entire household. Sally and Harry discover that sneezes are great, but
every one finds out that the rest of being sick is a real drag (if not
a bonding experience). In spite of this, Sally develops an instinctual
desire to take care of everyone else, while Harry gets comforted by a
hallucinated image of Martha Stewart. Despite being sick too, Dick
goes to a wedding with Dr. Albright--after taking an entire bottle of
cough syrup. Martha Stewart has a cameo.
Tuesday, January 23, 1996
Nielsen rating: 15.0 Ranking for week: 11th
"Dick's First Birthday" (ep. #106)
Dick has his first birthday on earth and consequently has his first
mid-life crisis. Sally discovers that she is in her prime and that
everything is geared toward her. Tommy starts health class in school
but can't get answers to the mechanics of sex. Harry discovers
self-help info tapes.
Tuesday, January 30, 1996
Nielsen rating: 13.5 Ranking for week: 13th
"Dick is From Mars, Sally is From Venus" (ep. #103)
Dick explores being the patriarch of the family by giving everyone cute
nicknames. Harry drinks liquids to discover which are toxic. Tommy is
officially commanded to attend high school, but finds no motivation to
be a jock and develops an attitude. The apparent solution is for
Tommy, Dick and Harry to bond as men, so they watch TV together. When
Sally goes on a date and he doesn't call, Dr. Albright and Nina help
comfort her and Sally learns to like being a woman.
Tuesday, February 6, 1996
Nielsen rating: 13.2 Ranking for week: 15th
"Dick, Smoker" (ep. #107)
The aliens go to a movie and Sally gets a kernel of popcorn stuck in
her tooth. Tommy reanimates a frog in a science experiment (which
develops a taste for human flesh) and Dick takes up smoking. When Dick
locks himself in a stairwell (trying to find a place to smoke indoors),
Sally learns what it would be like if Dick weren't around so much and
she had to be the high commander. Harry finds Dick. Two days later
the Janitor finds the both of them.
Tuesday, February 13, 1996
Nielsen rating: 11.7 Ranking for week: 18th
"Green-Eyed Dick: (ep. #109)
Dick discovers the joys of cuddling (well at least he wants to) and
then jealousy when Dr. Albright's old boyfriend (Jeff) comes to visit
her. A dog follows Harry home and he names it Scruffy. Sally is sent
to investigate what makes men attractive to women (and thus help Dick
score). When Harry must give Scruffy away (because of the lease), he
stumbles onto an answer to Sally's quest. Ed Begley Jr. guest stars as
Jeff.
Tuesday, February 20, 1996
Nielsen rating: 13.3 Ranking for week: 18th
"Lonely Dick" (ep. #110)
Dick misses Dr. Albright when she leaves town for a few days and the
rest of the aliens visit a mall and discover all new worlds. Tommy
meets August and discovers the excitement and confusion of being in a
relationship. Sally discovers soap and the entire addictive world of
cosmetics. While Dick and Tommy try to cope with the women in their
life, Harry gets a facial and discovers that some men do fine without
women. Phil Hartman guest stars as Phillip.
August: Shay Astar
Tuesday, February 27, 1996
Nielsen rating: 13.0 Ranking for week: 16th
"Body and Soul and Dick" (ep. #113)
Harry (and the rest of the aliens) get cable. Tommy hangs out with a
cheerleader, but there's trouble: something is missing and it really
ticks off August. Dr. Leonard Hamlin (we don't know what he does, but
everyone at the university has to kiss up to him) dies and asks Dick to
deliver his eulogy, honestly. Dick succeeds (at least in the eyes of
the humans). The aliens contemplate the brevity of human life and
Tommy tries to make amends with August by bringing her to the funeral
(a nice place--you have to dress up). John Mahoney guest stars as Dr.
Hanlin.
Monday, March 4, 1996 (8pm EST/MT & 7pm CST/PST)
(Night of 1,000 laughs)
Nielsen rating: 10.4 Ranking for week: 33rd
"Ab-Dick-ted" (ep. #112)
The Solomon's experience the annoyance of relatives and this causes
Dick to despair. So Dick invites Dr. Albright and her brother Roy over
in order to study how she deals with relatives. There Roy reveals that
he was abducted by aliens (much to the dismay of Dr. Albright and
causing panic among the aliens). While Dick is talking to Dr.
Albright, Sally sneaks off with Harry in order to kill Roy. Tommy
warns Dick of this and is then off with August to watch 'They Came to
Talk' with her. Dick stops Sally before she kills Roy and learns that
you forgive your family 'even if they touch your radio, refuse to make
smoked chubb and disobey your orders not to kill'. Bronson Pinchot
guest stars as Roy.
Tuesday, March 5, 1996
Nielsen rating: 11.7 Ranking for week: 19th
"Brains and Eggs" (ep. #101) (pilot)
Rerun. See January 9, 1996.
Tuesday, March 12, 1996
Nielsen rating: 13.3 Ranking for week: 16th
"Truth or Dick" (ep. #102)
Sally and Harry are assigned the mission of getting Drivers' Licenses
and eventually succeed due to Sally's ability to lie. Dick goes to the
rules committee on behalf of Dr. Albright and there he tells the truth
(to the dismay of Dr. Albright). Tommy gets a pimple and finds out
that teenagers hang out at the mall. While Sally is very good at
lying, Dick just can't get the hang of it.
Tuesday, March 19, 1996
Nielsen rating: 11.7 Ranking for week: 18th
"The Art of Dick" (ep. #111)
Sally commands the bake sale at Tommy's school and she does it with
success, but not without casualties. Dick and Harry go to an art
class. There Harry discovers that he is good at this, but Dick is not.
This gets Dick's goat until he realizes that if he cannot create art,
he can at least be the inspiration. His attempt to do so both amuses
and amazes Dr. Albright and Nina.
Tuesday, March 26, 1996
Nielsen rating: 12.6 Ranking for week: 17th
"Frozen Dick" (ep. #117)
Harry gets a job at a video store and really takes charge. Tommy has
to write a book report on Dickens' David Copperfield so he rents the
video (what a magician!). Dr. Albright and Dick go to Chicago to
receive awards and Dick tries to make it a stress-free experience for
her. He gets them kicked off the plane and then they try to drive
there in the snow. Suffice it to say, they never arrive in Chicago.
Sally fears the end of the world at the hands of albino brain chiggers
(snow) and almost has to repopulate the world with Leon. John Raitt
guest stars as Trucker Gil.
Tuesday, April 2, 1996
Nielsen rating: 11.7 Ranking for week: 16th
"Angry Dick" (ep. #104)
The aliens move from watching humans to trying to interact with them.
Harry goes with the old stand-by (watching TV). Dick meets Frank
(their neighbor) and Sally meets his wife. Sally learns about cooking
and talks about being a woman with Frank's wife. Dick's relationship
with Frank is strained by a 3am visit and the practice of parking the
car over the property line (and a little snobbishness as only Dick can
do it). When Dick learns to resort to violence, mutual respect is
achieved and the relationship is mended (though we have yet to see them
again).
Tuesday, April 9, 1996
Nielsen rating: 12.2 Ranking for week: 12th
"The Dicks They Are A-Changin'" (ep. #108)
Dick's evasiveness causes Dr. Albright to mistake him for 60's activist
Manny Rosenburg, but this is not all bad--it's a real turn-on for Dr.
Albright. We also see many amusing flashbacks involving a young, hip
Mary Albright. Harry joins a CD club and finds it more of a burden
than a deal. He gets a grab bag of music then eventually passes on the
curse. Tommy creates and documents some colorful pasts for the entire
family and things return to normal (well sorta).
Tuesday, April 16, 1996
Nielsen rating: 10.9 Ranking for week: 20th
"Post-Nasal Dick" (ep. #105)
Rerun. See January 16, 1996.
Sunday, April 21, 1996 (8pm EST/MT & 7pm CST/PST)
Nielsen rating: 9.4 Ranking for week: 32nd
"I Enjoy Being a Dick" (ep. #116)
Harry has some unusual reactions to several consecutive blows to the
head. Sally wants to have her own money to spend, so she and Harry
(she will not go unaccessorized) get jobs in a pancake house. Dick
dresses in women's clothing to infiltrate a women's study group that
Dr. Albright and Nina attend. Tommy wants to tell August the truth
about his being an alien, but never quite gets it out. The first time
August gives him a hair cut, the second time she sees Dick in a dress.
Tuesday, April 23, 1996
Nielsen rating: 11.2 Ranking for week: 24th
"Dick Like Me" (ep. #115)
The aliens discover that every human has some ethnicity, and they have
no clue what they are. Sally has an imminent date with Mr. Randall and
is mortified by the fact that she can't dance. Dick decides that they
are Italian (because Dr. Albright thinks that they are sexy) but that
doesn't work. However, it all works out. Sally finds out that there
is some dance she can do and Mrs. Dubcek tells them that they are
Jewish (at last, now they know!).
Mr. Randall: John D'Aquino
Tuesday, April 30, 1996
Nielsen rating: 10.3 Ranking for week: 28th
"Assault With a Deadly Dick" (ep. #114)
Dick gets an ATM card, so they go to the mall and the car radio is
stolen. Dick orders Tommy to join the basketball team, but he just
isn't cut out for it. But Tommy can live with that and as a bonus, so
can August. Reporting the crime to the police doesn't get the radio
back, but Sally does find some common ground with a police officer.
Then Dick gets mugged at the ATM machine. When he confronts the mugger
(and beats him senseless) it makes him feel better. Wayne Knight guest
stars as Don, the police officer.
Tuesday, May 7, 1996
Nielsen rating: 8.7 Ranking for week: 45th
"Father Knows Dick" (ep. #119)
Harry is in search of his purpose on this mission. In order to help
guide him, Dick decides to be his father. Sally continues her mission
to study/relationship with Mr. Randall by meeting his mother. Harry
runs away (for a while) when he is unable to find a purpose and Dick
tells him he has a receiver chip to 'THE BIG GIANT HEAD' in his brain.
(Editorial note: Harry's running away is the funniest scene they've
shot yet.) Sally's meeting with Mr. Randall's mother is far from
tranquil, but this isn't all bad news, Sally holds her own. A brush
with death causes Harry to realize that it is not your purpose that
matters, but the search. They also give up the father-son
relationship (to the relief of them both). Naomi Judd guest stars as
Francis Randell.
Tuesday, May 14, 1996
Nielsen rating: 8.8 Ranking for week: 42nd
"Selfish Dick" (ep. #120)
When Sally passes out at the sight of blood, Tommy, Harry and Mrs.
Dubcek take her to the emergency room. When a great office opens up
Dr. Albright and Nina move into it, without Dick. Sally is going to be
fine, but Dick is not. Dick decides to become selfish in a ruthless
campaign to get Dr. Albright back. Tommy, Harry and Sally take lab
coats and impersonate doctors in a take off of medical shows. Dick
tells the university powers that Dr. Sutor (75 years old) deserves the
big office. In the end, the campus priest gets the office (while Dr.
Sutor gets forced retirement). Dr. Albright and Nina move back into
Dick's office, but they aren't very happy. Dick realizes that
selfishness doesn't work very well. The others get caught and thrown
out of the hospital, but not before they see babies. Sally likes them.
Harry Morgan guest stars as Dr. Sutor.
Tuesday, May 21, 1996 (season finale)
Nielsen rating: 8.9 Ranking for week: 33rd
"See Dick Run" (ep. #118)
Tommy has Harry send a status report to the Big Giant Head which paints
a rather stagnant picture of Dick. Dick asks Mary out, and Nina
persuades her to say yes. Dr. Albright has fun with Dick on their date
and ends up in bed with him. The Big Giant Head actually reads this
report, sees the mission as a failure and is sending replacements.
This makes Tommy and Sally ask August and Mr. Randell how much they
need them. Dr. Albright is upset when Dick breaks their second date
because of a an upsetting call from "a friend with a big head" and she
goes out to talk with Dick on the roof. Harry discovers that the only
replacement that came was for Dick, so the others are staying. Dick is
dragged away from Mary to meet him. The replacement (also John
Lithgow) has the same human body as Dick but acts very differently. He
traps Dick in the basement, makes a bad impression on the others in the
group and sweeps Dr. Albright off her feet.
Tuesday, May 28, 1996 (8:30pm CST/MT, 9:30pm EST/PT)
Nielsen rating: 8.9 Ranking for week: 27th
"Lonely Dick" (ep. #110)
Rerun. See February 20, 1996.
Sunday, June 2, 1996 (10pm CST/MT, 11pm EST/PT)
Nielsen rating: 6.7 Ranking for week: 50th
"Dick, Smoker" (ep. #107)
Rerun. See February 6, 1996.
Tuesday, June 4, 1996
Nielsen rating: 8.7 Ranking for week: 31st
"Dick Like Me" (ep. #115)
Rerun. See April 23, 1996.
Tuesday, June 11, 1996 (7pm CST/MT, 8pm EST/PT)
Nielsen rating: 8.3 Ranking for week: 34th
"Body and Soul and Dick" (ep. #113)
Rerun. See February 27, 1996.
Tuesday, June 18, 1996
Nielsen rating: 7.6 Ranking for week: 35th
"Green-Eyed Dick" (ep. #109)
Rerun. See February 13, 1996.
Tuesday, June 25, 1996
Nielsen rating: 8.0 Ranking for week: 26th
"Truth or Dick" (ep. #102)
Rerun. See March 12, 1996.
Tuesday, July 2, 1996
Nielsen rating: 8.4 Ranking for week: 13th
"Angry Dick" (ep. #104)
Rerun. See April 2, 1996.
Thursday, July 11, 1996 (8:30p CST/MT, 9:30p EST/PT)
Nielsen rating 12.6 Ranking for week: 3rd
"Brains and Eggs" (ep. #101)
Rerun. See January 9, 1996.
Tuesday, July 16, 1996
Nielsen rating: 7.9 Ranking for week: 25th
"Lonely Dick" (ep. #110)
Rerun. See February 20, 1996.
Thursday, July 18, 1996 (8:30pm CST/MT, 9:30pm EST/PT)
Nielsen rating: 11.6 Ranking for week: 5th
"The Art of Dick" (ep. #111)
Rerun. See March 19, 1996
(This was the episode that actually aired, despite the fact that NBC
announced it was to air "Frozen Dick" (ep. #117). It aired on the west
coast only due to coverage of the TWA airliner off the coast of Long
Island.)
"3rd Rock" did not air on Tuesday, July 23, 1996 or Tuesday, July 30,
1996 due to broadcast of the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Monday, August 5, 1996 (8:30 CST/MT, 9:30 EST/PT)
Nielsen rating: 12.8 Ranking for week: 4th
"Dick, Smoker" (ep. #107)
Rerun. See February 6, 1996.
Thursday, August 8, 1996 (8:30 CST/MT, 9:30 EST/PT)
Nielsen rating: 13.8 Ranking for week: 2nd
"Assault With a Deadly Dick" (ep. #114)
Rerun. See April 30, 1996.
Sunday, August 11, 1996 (7 CST/MT, 8 EST/PT)
Nielsen rating: 8.4 Ranking for week: 26th
"Dick's First Birthday" (ep. #106)
Rerun. See January 23, 1996.
Thursday, August 15, 1996 (8:30 CST/MT, 9:30 ET/PT)
Nielsen rating: 10.8 Ranking for week: 3rd
"Frozen Dick" (ep. #117)
Rerun. See March 26, 1996.
Sunday. August 18, 1996 (7 CST/MT, 8 EST/PT)
Nielsen rating: 7.8 Ranking for week: 23rd
"The Dicks They Are A-Changin'" (ep. #108)
Rerun. See April 9, 1996.
Thursday, August 22, 1996 (8:30 CST/MT, 9:30 ET/PT)
Nielsen rating: 14.8 Ranking for week: 2nd
"Dick Like Me" (ep. #115)
Rerun. See April 23, 1996.
Sunday, August 25, 1996
Nielsen rating: 7.7 Ranking for week: 33rd
"Ab-Dick-ted" (ep. #112)
Rerun. See March 4, 1996.
Sunday, September 1, 1996
Nielsen rating: 6.7 Ranking for week: 38th
"Selfish Dick" (ep. #120)
Rerun. See May 14, 1996.
Sunday, September 8, 1996
Nielsen rating: 8.3 Ranking for week: 30th
"Father Knows Dick" (ep. #119)
Rerun. See May 7, 1996.
Thursday, September 12, 1996 (8:30 CST/MT, 9:30 ET/PT)
Nielsen rating: 14.8 Ranking for week: 3rd
"I Enjoy Being a Dick" (ep. #116)
Rerun. See April 21, 1996.
Sunday, September 15, 1996
Nielsen rating: 11.6 Ranking for week: 12th
"See Dick Run" (ep. #118)
Rerun. See May 21, 1996.
Total number of episodes produced during the 1st season: 20
The 1st season consisted of 43 NBC airings of "3rd Rock" episodes,
including reruns. Multiple episodes on the same night are counted
separately.
(End of 1st season episode guide)