People Of Earth Episodes 1-4 Reviews: Don't Get Weird OK? You Are Special!

"People Of Earth" is a new offering from TBS. The show begins with journalist Ozzie Graham (Wyatt Cenac) driving along a dark deserted night road. He has visions of a deer talking to him and then hits one in the road. Or does he? Ozzie keeps having flashbacks of the incident.

He is sent to the small town of Beacon to do a story on an alien abductee support group. They prefer to be called "experiencers". The story is accidentally-on-purpose published with the members' names (much to the chagrin of Ozzie). He quits his job and finds he has WAY more in common with the Star-crossed group than it first appeared. Ozzie was abducted as well.

We learn that there's more than one type of alien (and they all work together). There's the reptilians, the grays, and some Nordic looking dudes (think of an albino elf Liv Taylor).

Other episodes elaborate on the stories of other group members. Therapist Gina Morrison (Ana Gasteyer from "SNL" fame) had an ET experience of her own. Richard says his wife has been kidnapped (but she actually just wants a divorce). Gerry and Yvonne may have a connection. Kelly and Chelsea seem to be in love with the same alien abductee (and they dont like to share).

Jonathan (Ozzie's former boss) shows up in town and says he bought the Beacon Journal (the newspaper where Ozzie currently works). What Ozzie doesnt know is that Jonathan is a reptilian and has been instructed by his lizard bosses to retrieve their "valuable asset" or else. Why are the aliens so interested in Ozzie?

What makes this show about aliens decidedly "human" is that each member of Star-Crossed shares a sense of loneliness. Alien experiences has also cost each person dearly. Ozzy now lives in a hotel with his fish Abraham. Gina works at Crockery Hutch (instead of being a paid therapist). At least they all have each other.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). With only 10 episodes at 30 minutes each, "People Of Earth" is a quick fun distraction. There's no heavy thinking involved. The cast is also stellar-- especially Wyatt and Ana. Plus how can we go wrong with a show that's co-produced by Conan O'Brien? I'll keep coming back for more.