Roswell

Network: The WB, UPN
Episodes: 61 (hour)
Seasons: Three

TV show dates: October 6, 1999 — May 14, 2002
Series status: Cancelled/ended

Performers include: Shiri Appleby, Jason Behr, Katherine Heigl, Brendan Fehr, Majandra Delfino, Nick Wechsler, William Sadler, Colin Hanks, Emilie de Ravin, Mary Ellen Trainor, John Doe, Garrett M. Brown, Adam Rodriguez, Jason Peck, Diane Farr, Devon Gummersall, Julie Benz, Desmond Askew, Jim Ortlieb, Steve Hytner, Michael Chieffo, Sara Downing, Jo Anderson, and Nicole Brunner.

TV show description:
This show is set at the site of the 1947 UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico. The US Army finds the alien pods and takes them to a base for study. Four incubation pods are saved by an Air Force pilot who stashes them in a new ship hidden in a nearby rock formation. Some 40 years later, three aliens emerge and appear to be six-year-old humans with little memory of where they came from.

Two are found and adopted by a couple of lawyers named Evans. The aliens lead essentially normal lives as Max and Isabel Evans (Jason Behr and Katherine Heigl). The third young alien is found, placed in a home with an abusive foster father, and raised as Michael Guerin (Brendan Fehr). The three remain close and share secrets as their alien abilities begin to appear.

High school students Liz Parker (Shiri Appleby), Maria DeLuca (Majandra Delfino), and Alex Whitman (Colin Hanks), live in the small town of Roswell. Liz’s parents own the Crashdown Cafe, an alien-themed diner. At one point, Liz is accidentally shot while waitressing there. Max runs over and places his hands on her and heals her. A silver handprint where he touched her is visible for a time afterward. This event begins to raise the suspicions of some, particularly Sheriff Valenti (William Sadler).

In Biology class the next day, Liz gets a sample of Max’s saliva and finds his cells don’t look human. She confronts him and he admits the truth about the three being aliens. Soonafter a romance begins to form between Max and Liz, much to the chagrin of the Sheriff’s son, Kyle (Nick Wechsler).

Despite the fact that Max has sworn her to secrecy, Liz tells Maria, and eventually Alex is let in on the secret as well. They all work together to prevent the Sheriff from finding out the truth and alerting the FBI. Michael and Maria develop a romantic relationship, as do Isabel and geeky Alex.

As the series progresses, the friends discover the fourth alien from the pods, Tess Harding (Emile de Ravin). They also begin to discover the aliens’ destiny as Government and alien forces begin to close in.

Developed, produced, and co-written by Jason Katims, this sci-fi show is based on the Roswell High book series for young adults. Melinda Metz and Laura J. Burns, the writer and editor of the book series, are staff writers for the television series.