Looking Back On "Aliens in the Family"

[@alishahird897]

For some reason, I feel like toys existed. I vaguely remember seeing something....maybe just in a commercial maybe, I want to say happymeal/fast food kids toy. Could this show have had some lined up for production and when the show got scrapped, the toys were tossed. I wish I could really remember, I was 11 then.

[@belowaverage6216]

I have never clicked on a KZbin video faster. I adored this show and everyone thinks I'm weird for it. So glad someone looks at it fondly. Can't help with the Spit doll thing, unfortunately, but good luck in your search! Love your work!

[@DJDarkDarsi]

"I have decoded Stonehenge!" *looks about too keep it secret* "It is a recipe for Toast" Ok this gave me a chuckle...

[@Red-Wolf-Ben]

I don't know if you're still checking comments two years later, but all eight episodes are now on KZbin! I just finished watching them all myself! Any chance of a second look back video? I found myself absolutely LOVING this show, and hearing you talking about what could have been had the show been given a fair chance to, as you say, mature... agh, it's almost painful. Also, you're pointing out how similar Bobut sounds to Baby Bear - mind blown! Didn't even realize that was the same voice actor!

[@BuckarooBanzai84]

Thanks for the info! =)

[@CJolieTV]

All of the episodes are online now!

[@maxordman4100]

I vaguely remember watching a couple episodes of this show when I was younger. Great job on this video. All those scenes with the hints at alien and human romance are so gross, but there were certain times this show made me laugh. It’s nice to know that someone else has fond memories of it!

[@andrewgilbertson5672]

Oh man, I had forgotten that I knew this until seeing this thumbnail brought the memories crashing back...! Respect your elders- and the TOS 'Amok Time' parody- is the episode I remember. That, and one where the baby creates a clone of himself.

[@ratjuice4987]

I was born in 2005 and didn’t grow up with shows like this but i still find this really interesting to watch, and i luv ur channel❤️

[@BuckarooBanzai84]

HO-LY Shnikes!!! I can't believe I found someone else who remembers this show, let alone made the same connection to 'Family Guy'!!! For YEARS, I thought I'd just imagined it! Thank you SO MUCH for reminding us! =)

[@Bucky749]

Looked up aliens in the family toys on google And what showed up was some blue alien dolls on of them was wearing plaid shirt like spits wears . Could that have bin the doll you saw and having seen the tv show your mind altered it’s appearance cause you saw it in passing ? Just other theory but also saw a lot books with the tittle aliens in the family witch I’m sure had nothing to do with the show .

[@ColinLooksBack]

That's possible. I'm pretty sure I'm just getting memories mixed up in retrospect.

[@jacobs.9661]

I could listen to you talk for hours about The Muppets. You always pick really cool and fascinating topics.

[@georgerobertson7010]

Me too, keep up the great work!!

[@TheAnchorArmsChad]

When did we get a Baby Admiral Ackbar?

[@daphnerogers4277]

IT'S A TRAP!

[@andrewgilbertson5672]

He's due for The Mandalorian, season 2. ;-)

[@jenneacubero1036]

Bowling Dude Maybe he's the kids' biological father...don't picture it, guys.

[@Mael_Str0M]

In Rise of Skywalker, Aftab Ackbar is the Admiral’s son. But in Legends, he had like 3 young kids in Heir to the Empire.

[@spindleclown]

I'll have to look into this! I was a big fan of Dinosaurs as a kid, and I love The Secret Life of Toys.

[@agentadvocate]

I'm so happy to see you cover this! I hadn't though about Aliens in the Family for decades! To second another comment, seeing you cover other puppetry shows of the 90's like 'Professor Iris' would be fantastic. Love your channel.

[@maxbrandt6]

I completely missed this one! Then again, mid to late 90s was spent playing 40k and Battletech late into the night with friends so TGIF meant something different to me in those days.

[@LOLproductions444]

I would love to see you do a video on the Muppets in 2020. I feel that Disney has almost neglected the brand and characters. Would be cool to see a video on how you think they could bring the franchise back :)

[@TwilightLink77]

Joe Scho There’s going to be a new Muppets series on Disney+.

[@Horseprincess259]

This is my first time learning about the show i’ve never heard of it🐸

[@20newleigh]

I named a kitten after Snizzy. I wish the show had lasted, too. My 8/9 year old self wants a comeback! I don’t remember toys, but I do remember having Happy Meal Dinosaurs toys, and wish I could find those.

[@cartoongamegirl3335]

Here’s some suggestions: Professor Iris Little Star The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon

[@austinreed7343]

Professor Iris? We live in a world alongside creatures called Pokémon. Some of us battle alongside them and catalog them. Are you a boy or a girl? Also, what are you fighting for?

[@cartoongamegirl3335]

Austin Reed I’m a girl and I’m Canadian.

[@georgerobertson7010]

I used to watch those shows all the time when I was a kid, I distinctly remember the episode of Little Star where Melo received his mom’s cuckoo clock and trades it for captain pops tennis racket, I also remember the episode of Professor Iris that taught about Bees.

[@georgerobertson7010]

Also I loved the adventures of Dudley the dragon as a kid

[@plattyppus]

I never knew this existed! So awesome. I love learning about obscure puppet &muppet stuff. Great video!

[@Red-Wolf-Ben]

All eight episodes are now on KZbin if you're interested, I just got done watching them myself!

[@dinopunch4208]

Oh my gosh....I love you and this channel so much!!! I watched this entire series until it got cancelled with Muppets tonight on TGIF with my grandma in the 90s. ❤️ I wish I could find some place to watch it with her again cause we had the entire series taped but it got lost. 😭

[@connorthompson8376]

I saw one episode as a kid, and was so disappointed when I never saw it again.

[@wolfsongstudios9992]

I saw the doll once in a vintage toy store not far from where I live

[@jocompp541]

Fun fact, the actress who played Heather, the teen daughter, was the cover model for the character Rachel in the 90's book series Animorphs.

[@Bling_The_Visual_Creator]

We watched the show in South Africa in 1999, it played along with kids day shows during the week. I was 13 then and I enjoyed it a lot... I even wanted to name my kid in Bobut.

[@DubayBay]

Good video broski oh, never seen the show but it definitely looks interesting. Keep up the good work with the videos.

[@tavvyprods1275]

@Colin LooksBack This is Ben V and I’ve come to tell you that I’ve become a fast fan of your videos and your history with obscure Disney/Muppet/Nostalgic stuff. I’m hoping one day you do a look back on the two Warner Bros Sing Along VHS’s “Sing-Along Looney Tunes” and “Quest For Camelot Sing Along”.

[@Rubberman202]

Never heard of this series, but you know, I love it whenever Muppets or Jim Henson puppets are involved in anything. Also, thanks for reminding me that Muppets Tonight was a thing, and how Clifford was the host of that... Shame they never did anything notable with Clifford after that. :(

[@seanmyster6]

Kinda dumb how the alien kids looked like actual aliens, but the mom was basically a human with ridges on her temples. 😒

[@kaylemathewcomendador6964]

seanmyster6 So they look more human when they get older 🤷‍♂️? That’s the closest I can think off at the moment 🤨🤷‍♂️🤔.

[@belowaverage6216]

I believe it's explained in an episode that they look more like their birth father, who is far more exaggerated than the mom. Not that that excuses lazy character design on the mother haha

[@diamndz1021]

@seanmyster6 they do that a lot of times with female characters that aren't human and I'll never know why. they give them very few physical qualities of the species they're supposed to be which is super lazy

[@MrJimmyTide]

Margaret Trigg was fucking gorgeous. Unfortunately her looks were her undoing. RIP.

[@snowangelnc]

I remember when Heather tells Spit that Tiffany wants to go out with him, he's not too thrilled to hear it. He's not all that attracted to earth girls. One of the reasons he gives - Spit: And another thing, what's with all this hair? Heather: What do you mean? Mom's go a lot of hair. Spit: Hey! She's got a gland problem! WHY DO I REMEMBER THAT?????!!!!!

[@ScratStitch]

This actually looks terrifying. Those aliens are very unintentionally creepy.

[@jenneacubero1036]

I haven't seen this show but from what you've said about it, it seems like a good show that left before it's time like with "Fortune Hunter". And it kind of reminds me of "Out of this World" with "The Brady Bunch" mixed in. Yet, the alien biology is so weird. Why are Prissy and the mom humanoids while the alien kids look like... well...aliens? Anyway, I have just looked up this show and the mom, Margret Trigg, had sadly passed away in 2003.

[@ColinLooksBack]

Yes, I read about Margret Trigg's life and it's a rather sad story. As for why the mom looks human, I forgot to mention that the kids take after their father, while the mother is regarded as less attractive in her own species.

[@Furby_Productions]

I think there could of been two more possibilities for you seeing the doll. 1) It was probably just a generic alien or reptile plush that looked like Spit. 2) You probably somehow saw a prototype for a canceled toy line based on the show.

[@Bucky749]

I remember seeing a couple of episodes of this show once the first one with giant candies and one evolving a made up holiday With similarities to Christmas . And passports are involved .

[@baldarmstrong6532]

This show used to be on KZbin, all episodes. Back in 2009 or so.

[@motxmod]

It's returned kzbin.info/aero/PLbss8UBS3V6fpblljPJ4evk1liPpSlX8b

[@SuperCosmicMutantSquid]

I actually liked this show and wish concepts like this would make a return to primetime/streaming. Just lighthearted more fantsical content with creative productions. Something wholesome and funny to just chill to.

[@seanharris37]

"I REQUIRE CHOCOLATE PUDDING !"

[@opinian1068]

Oh wow! Robert Westenberg was Prince/Wolf in the original production of Into The Woods (you can get it on DVD). I'm not surprised he upstaged a muppet. He's spectacular :)

[@mightyfilm]

I'd say that's the problem. Dinosaurs DID get a biting edge after a while. It made fun of Scientology LONG before South Park got into trouble for it, and it flew under the radar. And let's not forget the heartbreaking dark environmental message of the last episode. Aliens in the Family was basically "Let's make fun of old sitcoms" when even that trope was overused. To be honest, I watched a few when there was a few on KZbin years ago, and they weren't exactly bad, but they just were shy of being good. It's obvious that they were trying to make the next Baby and Robby Sinclair, but failed to do so, and to us Dinosaurs fans it was just PAINFULLY obvious. Add to the fact it just missed the timing of the merchandising potential these kinds of family sitcoms had. Remember, even Capitol Critters had a toyline and a BK Kid's meal promotion, and Family Dog had a video game, and they were the patron saints of failures of Simpsons wannabes. But I'd say the most damning thing IS Third Rock from the Sun. That did the alien observer trope with a sly maturity and with an excellent cast. The show questioned and deconstructed human concepts. Aliens in the Family, for however hard they tried, did the typical family laugh track sitcom schtick with aliens thrown in. Still better than most cable tweencoms, but it just didn't offer the same snark Dinosaurs did. Of course, the Alien sitcom I still mourn the loss of was "The Neighbors," which was too good for the lousy Friday Night slot ABC shoved them on, after Tim Allen's unfunny new (at the time) series that's bafflingly still on the air, on a network Disney now owns anyway. I say that apolitically, of course. It's a bad show with unlikable characters from BOTH sides of the aisle.

[@snowangelnc]

"did the typical family laugh track schtick with aliens thrown in" That sums it all up right there.

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

I remember the title of this show, I don't think I ever saw it.

[@20newleigh]

Also, I adore The Jim Henson exhibit in Queens, and I don’t remember this show being mentioned as part of Henson studio history. I’ve gotta go back with this mission!

[@disneymomonabudget8290]

I totally forgot about this show!

[@elecman1716]

5:46 that needs to become a meme

[@JodieWithanIEOfficial]

I thought I was the only one who remembered this show. I remember the second episode where Bobit fears Sally will leave when he helps her fall for a guy at the mall.

[@MorganLegerInVaulting]

The episode you are talking about where Spit sneezes and his head expands is Bobut Conquers All where he gets a cold. Ironically, I am covering the show this month and aquaired all the episodes. Want to see what you missed? Please contact me! I want to help you fill in the missing gaps! Thank you. Do not take this as spam! Just being a devoted Muppet fan to another.

[@Sandlot1992]

I never heard of this show since I was just 3 going on 4! btw is that one of your parent's home movies at 11:13?

[@ColinLooksBack]

Yes, that's me around the time the show was airing.

[@moonstoneuniverse8516]

I should now announce you can find all episodes on KZbin 💙🌙

[@TickleMonster333]

I want to share that I thought I saw a Toy of Bobut at Target

[@tardisrider25]

Never seen this one. I feel like it's weird I've never even heard of it.

[@garthdavis4320]

Gamemachine Well consider yourself lucky.

[@tardisrider25]

@@garthdavis4320 That bad huh?

[@salkinreslif9830]

I never heared of this series before, but the Muppets here look ultra grest. They seem even more alive than most of the farscape puppets (also from Jim Henson Studios).

[@Charlie-hv3dh]

Love your channel!

[@mssouthernbelle8840]

This show actually came out in the 80's. I remember watching it. It was short lived and it preceded Dinosaurs which I watched in high school. I remember thinking it was a great show but because the baby spoke with multiple syllable words that it was not going not make it.

[@ZuperNEZ]

The aliens took all the toys with them, which is why you can't find any. But they forgot to wipe your memory.

[@tracyndiyob162]

8:38 that sounds like a description of moonbeam mcswine(wish those comics had another animated adaptation.:3) and i vaguely remember seeing a spit doll on a likely now defunct fast food toy website though can't remember the name.

[@BumpBobLooly]

If the show continued I can see an episode where Doug Brody’s ex-wife and Cookie’s ex-husband make an appearance.

[@carminecdinoproductions]

Please do more videos about some other direct-to-video puppet series like Toby Terrier! I grew up with Toby and his canine crew!

[@mr.stripes4428]

I don't know if you stumbled upon a parallel universe, do you remember if it felt like you somehow did?

[@BuckarooBanzai84]

"Attention, beast; I require pudding!" XD XD XD

[@KyleRDent]

You should check out the British kids sitcom 'My Parents Are Aliens'. No puppets, but it was really popular here.

[@snowangelnc]

I'd say the reason it never clicked with me was it felt a little too gimicky. It was like they wanted to churn out another family sitcom but needed to throw in some kind of new twist to distinguish it from all the other ones that were already out there. Then someone at the board meeting came up with the idea, "Hey, I've got it! We'll do one with a blended family, but this time we'll have half of the family be aliens!"

[@ElOchentero]

Colin, if you like to review obscure failed shows I recommend you to look for Lost on Earth, also has puppets and is a whole trip of weirdness!

[@amparolopez6236]

I like these look backs, maybe you should do more sitcoms. Perhaps how some ideas can fail, perhaps with some of the wackest ones.

[@garthdavis4320]

I remember this series. It was simply a knockoff of The Brady Bunch.

[@reeef]

Great now I'm going to search the internet relentlessly for the last episodes

[@garthdavis4320]

Reef Good luck with that.

[@Red-Wolf-Ben]

They're all here now, I just finished them!

[@davidponseigo8811]

All episodes are on KZbin !

[@coenh1922]

I have never heard of this series sounds nice unfortunately, I could only find one official clip from the series on KZbin hopefully more will surface

[@Red-Wolf-Ben]

All eight episodes are now on KZbin, if you're still interested! I just finished it myself!

[@Genevieve0880]

Honestly, I only liked Mork and Mindy, I always found Alf too creepy for my taste, I couldn't handle how he was.

[@DeathInTheSnow]

This premise wasn't completely lost. In the UK there was a live action show called "My Parents Are Aliens" that ran for ages. It was slightly different - the aliens were sufficiently humanoid to be passing and they also adopted three human children, but it had the same antics. Lots of retooling throughout though. May be worth seeking if you have to scratch that itch.

[@troyhight238]

What they could do if they wanted to bring the show back is that they could put it on a streaming service like Netflix or Disney plus and they could add more of today's elements to the show.

[@TwilightLink77]

Wonder if this show is next to be on Disney+?

[@jacobpottage6938]

There are some dolls if you look it up but I did not find this specific one.

[@LowQualityCheese]

Can anyone upload S1, Ep4 You Don't Have a Pet to Be Popular. Episodes are on YT, but some are titled/numbered wrong. The Ep 4 on YT isn't Ep 4. Ep 4 is the only episode missing.

[@primusvsunicron1]

6:00 he knows what he wants

[@mpowe123]

I require pudding!

[@ModelsExInferis]

Never seen this show before, probably didn't get a showing here in the UK if it only ran for eight episodes. I'm sure I can find it if I look in the right place! I've had instances where I think I've seen or heard something before but can't find any information, I put it down to either the Mandela Effect or a Quantum Roaming Black Hole! 😉

[@thecoolkids4364]

We’re is part 3 of villains retrospective

[@spooderdude5949]

YESSSS!!

[@nickmontoya3001]

Maybe the doll u thinking about is a Mandela effect type of thing

[@reeef]

The fact that you don't have more subscribers just shows their is no hope for humanity

[@Toxicfish321]

That shit gave me nightmares

[@Slig1977]

This show was like the bastard child of Dinosaurs and Third Rock From The Sun

[@davidponseigo8811]

Never saw the doll, your insane. That's the more likely scenario !

[@sweetboxoforeos963]

What a decent video about aliens in sitcoms

[@jerramaurice7836]

I’ve always saw it as a Dinosaur shoe wannabe

[@russellharrell2747]

Were the aliens Mon calamarians?

[@jamescooper8856]

Anyone heard of My Parents are Aliens.

[@amparolopez6236]

Aliens in the Family by Norman Leer; a thrilling political incorrect alien father trying to keep his political incorrectness in his planet. Starring Alien Bunker, Editih Martian, and there daughter Marian Sputnik and son in law (Orson Sputnik).

[@davidponseigo8811]

Seriously, Urckle complained. Whatever !

[@Quartzer.]

I wish I could help but I was born after this show ended its run and I'm not sure where to look so...

[@ZombieFobby]

That Putt-Putt music in the background at the begining 👌

[@ColinLooksBack]

"And my homework?"

[@crazypinkwerewolf]

i think the show was canceled because the aliens were weird

[@garthdavis4320]

Crazypinkwerewolf Nah. It was canceled after one season because of low ratings. That and it just wasn’t funny enough.

[@davidponseigo8811]

All episodes are on KZbin !