Let’s face it: there is a very high probability that after you finish watching Resident Alien, you will be left with the question, “Okay… what next?” Alan Tudyk’s portrayal of Harry, the strange alien who is trying to figure out a way to live in a small town, is the kind of thing that has a very uncommon combination of being funny, nonsensical, and having a heart, which is very difficult to find a substitute for. However, don’t worry: while Harry is planning his next move, there are a lot of shows that you can watch that consist of the same combination of sci-fi weirdness, comedy, and, to your surprise, tender moments. There is a countdown of 10 shows that are a substitute for the same kind of desire, but each of them has a different way of giving you the pleasure of being eccentric and coming from another world.
10. Upload
Think afterlife, but with a digital twist. In this witty near-future satire, humans can transfer their consciousness into a virtual paradise, and the consequences are as surreal as they are laugh-out-loud funny. From Greg Daniels (The Office, Parks and Rec), Upload is incisive, clever, and full of questions about technology, class, and what it means to be human. If you enjoyed the cultural satire of Resident Alien, you’ll feel right at home here.
9. Eureka
What if all of the neighbors in town were geniuses? That’s Eureka, a weird and wonderful show where advanced experimentation regularly gets out of control. From runaway machines to talking houses and community connections on an emotional level, the show has much humor and creativity while maintaining the “small town with big secrets” vibe.
8. Solar Opposites
Developed by the genius behind Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites is an animated sitcom featuring a family of aliens struggling (and failing) to assimilate into American suburbia. Hilarious, chaotic, and frequently genius, Solar Opposites is like Resident Alien except with the volume turned up. Special mention for “The Wall”, a subplot involving humans being miniaturized and commanded to construct their own miniature society.
7. People of Earth
Rather than a single alien in hiding, this show gathers a whole cast of individuals who think they’ve been abducted. Half-tender and half-laugh-out-loud funny, it explores the abductees’ idiosyncrasies as thoroughly as those of the aliens themselves. The cast of characters and deadpan humor make it an undiscovered treasure for anybody who enjoys offbeat science fiction comedy.
6. The Orville
Seth MacFarlane’s ode to Star Trek is as much office comedy as intergalactic adventure. The Orville straddles irreverent humor and surprisingly introspective storytelling. Like Harry in Resident Alien, the crew must balance outlandish situations with profound questions regarding morality and humanity.
5. 3rd Rock from the Sun
One is amusing, but an entire family? Comedy gold. John Lithgow and his “crew” land on Earth to observe humans and find themselves caught up in absurd antics as they try to live like us. It’s sheer slapstick and excess humor, but at its core, it has that same “aliens learning to love humanity” that Resident Alien feeds on.
4. Futurama
This cult favorite plants delivery man Fry a thousand years in the future, amidst robots, mutants, and space-faring misfits. Amongst the biting social commentary, wacky sci-fi ideas, and surprisingly sappy storylines, Futurama brings the same blend of zaniness and heart that makes Resident Alien so irresistible.
3. American Dad
MacFarlane hits again, this time with Roger, an extraterrestrial in hiding with the Smith family in suburbia. Roger’s myriad costume changes and anarchy-driven schemes alone are worth the ticket price. Though the show is more satire than sci-fi, it hits the same nerve in fans who enjoy watching an alien attempt to make sense of humanity.
2. Sneaky Pete
No extraterrestrials involved—but bear with me. Giovanni Ribisi is a con man masquerading as someone else within a family that is oblivious to the fact. The tension of staying hidden in plain sight and the sparks of unexpected bonding ring Harry’s situation perfectly. Imagine it as a down-to-earth version of Resident Alien, all the tension, no UFOs.
1. Mork & Mindy
The first alien-in-disguise sitcom. Robin Williams’ Mork was the template for so many subsequent alien comedies, including Resident Alien. Goofy, affectionate, and finally quotable, Mork & Mindy is a testament that having an outsider bumble through human traditions never grows old.
So, if you’ve burned through Harry Vanderspeigle’s antics and need more eccentric sci-fi with a dose of heart, these shows will keep your binge streak alive. Some are weirder, some are warmer, but all of them carry that special mix of “out of this world” fun and human connection that makes Resident Alien such a gem.