CW’s ‘Aliens in America’ a sweet family comedy

“Aliens in America,” debuting at 8:30 tonight on the CW, accomplishes quite a nifty feat. It quickly brushes by American paranoia and settles into being a touching family sitcom.

“Aliens” focuses on Justin Tolchuck (Dan Byrd), a socially awkward high school student who’s looking to fit in (or at least not be a target).

His mother, Franny (Amy Pietz), is sold on the idea of getting an exchange student to pal around with Justin. But instead of the Nordic god she was hoping for, the Tolchucks get Raja (Adhir Kalyan), a skinny Pakistani Muslim.

Naturally, problems ensue. The knee-jerk stereotyping of all Muslims is lampooned, as when one teen girl says, “I’m angry at Raja because his people flew planes into our buildings.” Still “Aliens” manages to handle a heavy topic with a light touch.

Something strange happens, however, as Justin and Raja become fast friends, though this does nothing for Justin’s social status. While Justin’s father, Gary (Scott Patterson, “Gilmore Girls”), applauds this development, both Franny and his blossoming younger sister, Claire (Lindsay Shaw), are appalled.

Like the show it follows, “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Aliens in America” is a sweet family comedy. It’s a marked improvement on the other new sitcom it’s opposite, “The Big Bang Theory.” Let’s hope that this series doesn’t remain alien to viewers.