Something Is Out There
A 1988 NBC sci-fi miniseries and short-lived weekly series.
Something Is Out There began as a four-hour NBC miniseries in 1988, then continued as a weekly series that fall, airing from October to December of that year. The plot centers on Jack Breslin, a police officer played by Joseph Cortese, who investigates murders where victims' organs are removed with impossible speed. He discovers the culprit is an alien insectoid prisoner called a xenomorph, which can shape-shift and possess people, and which escaped from a passing alien prison starship. Breslin teams up with Ta'Ra (Maryam d'Abo), a medical officer from that ship who has telepathy and superhuman agility, to hunt the creature.
The cast includes Joe Cortese as Jack Breslin, Maryam d'Abo as Ta'Ra, George Dzundza as Frank Dileo, Gregory Sierra as Victor Maldonado, Kim Delaney as Mandy Estabrook, John Putch as Wendle, Robert Webber as Commissioner Estabrook, Earl Billings as Coroner, and Michael DeLuise as Punk.
Originally a miniseries, it earned high ratings for NBC, and critics praised the chemistry between Jack and Ta'Ra. A week after its success, Brandon Tartikoff announced it would become a weekly series, with 13 episodes ordered. However, it performed poorly against the hit show *Dallas*, and after being moved to compete with *The Equalizer* and other shows, ratings worsened. The series was canceled after only six one-hour episodes aired; two more were produced but not broadcast at the time except in isolated U.S. cases. Due to its short run, it rarely appears in syndication, though the Sci-Fi Channel included it in a rotation of short-lived series and aired the previously unaired episodes. An edited version of the miniseries has also aired as a syndicated television movie. The one-hour episodes occasionally appear on Crackle's website and app.
The project was originally conceived by Frank Lupo in 1987 under the title *Invader*. NBC ordered a four-hour miniseries for May 8, 1988, with a $7.5 million budget, shot over 41 days primarily in Los Angeles and at the Disney/MGM Studios in Florida, not Australia. Producers John Ashley and Frank Lupo altered the concept for the weekly series' smaller budget. Ashley noted that with a reduced budget of about $1 million per episode and without the talents of Rick Baker and John Dykstra, changes were necessary. They decided to focus on the relationship between Jack and Ta'Ra, her special abilities, and to avoid a "mon
- type
- Television miniseries and series
- network
- NBC
- premiered
- May 8, 1988 (miniseries)
- series_run
- October to December 1988
- episodes_ordered
- 13
- episodes_broadcast
- 6
- budget_miniseries
- $7.5 million
Lore & Background
Originally conceived by Frank Lupo in 1987 with the title Invader, NBC ordered a four-hour miniseries broadcast on May 8, 1988, with a budget of $7.5 million. Shooting took 41 days on locations primarily in Los Angeles and at the Disney/MGM Studios in Florida, not Australia. The miniseries drew high ratings, and one week later Brandon Tartikoff announced it would become a weekly series. Thirteen episodes were ordered. The series fared poorly opposite Dallas and later The Equalizer and other shows, leading to cancellation after only six episodes were broadcast; two additional episodes were produced but not broadcast in most US markets.
Reader's Guide
Something Is Out There is significant as a brief but notable entry in late-1980s television science fiction. Its miniseries achieved high ratings and critical notice for the chemistry between leads Joe Cortese and Maryam d'Abo. The series attempted to shift focus from a 'monster of the week' format to the relationship between Jack and Ta'Ra, but struggled against established competition. The show's legacy includes occasional syndication on the Sci-Fi Channel, which aired the previously unaired episodes, and availability on Crackle. The miniseries was also edited into a syndicated television movie.
Did You Know?
- The miniseries was originally titled Invader.
- The series was canceled after only six of thirteen ordered episodes were broadcast.
- Two episodes were produced but not broadcast in the US except in isolated cases.
- The Sci-Fi Channel later aired the previously unaired episodes as part of a rotation of short-lived series.
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