Before I had really thought out this review, I thought I really hated Aliens in America. But I had this great intro:

What do Mother Theresa and the premiere of the new CW show Aliens in America have in common?

They both had good intentions and neither were very funny.

Well, I suppose that’s not fair. I have no evidence ole’ Ma Theresa couldn’t let fly a sizzling one-liner.

Since then, though, I’ve had a change of heart. The show that I initially thought was crass and cheap play on the “naive ethnic character” genre, turned out to be a somewhat funny (and somewhat preachy) show.

The set-up for Aliens, which debuts Monday, goes like this: Justin Tolchuk is an awkward social outcast in a suburban high school. Skinny and friendless, his well-meaning parents decide to take in a British exchange student, hoping that it will be a 17-year-old Jude Law who can impart social skills upon the lad. Unfortunately, when they get to the airport it’s not mini-Jude at all, but a gawky, Pakistani Muslim teen. Their surprise is demonstrated by a score of shrill, tribal ethnic wails. Apparently, the family Tolchuk is made up of racists, so they waste little time before conspiring to send him back. However, not before Justin begins to grow attached to him.

Upon a second viewing, Aliens in America wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought the first time around. Dare I say, it really didn’t deserve the 1 I gave it in the Fall TV Preview.

The reason why Aliens initially left a bad taste in my mouth was because it seemed to be playing on cheap ethnic stereotypes for laughs. At first, I hadn’t seen any of the press surrounding the show (before I tuned in, I thought the show could have conceivably been about actual aliens from Mars) and, therefore, didn’t realize that the entire point of the show is to spread a cheery, Up With People message. So, upon first viewing, it seemed like the parents were supposed to be the sympathetic characters — they wanted a suave Brit, but got a wacky, dark-skinned, achkan-wearing Pakistani. The character of Raja seemed familiar — like a 21st century Balki Bartokomous and his naive antics were played out.

I truly didn’t get it.

Upon a second viewing, though, I was able to watch it without balking at what I had initially perceived as Raja’s clownishness. The latte liberal in me took over for a while and I didn’t necessarily fully appreciate some of the funnier moments — particularly the classroom scene with the clueless teacher, the expressive performance by Amy Pietz (the mother character) and Raja’s reflections on tooth-brushing.

I haven’t made a complete turn-around, though. Once you realize what they’re doing, the show’s message seems a little forced. I’m not necessarily excited about tuning into a sitcom that serves as my overbearing weekly reminder to be nice to all the multi-hued people of the world. Furthermore, this Associated Press article talks about how “a small minority” of critics complained that the show makes Americans seem bigoted and stupid. I might be inclined join that tiny chorus, as I was shocked at just how mean and rude the mother was to Raja. In fact, around town the kid seemed to be universally disliked from the outset.

But I suppose that when you’re not used to hanging around stupid, racist people, you tend to think they don’t exist. Shrug.

Like almost all pilots, I’m curious to see how Aliens in America develops over the course of several episodes. The writers can’t rely on Raja’s sweet and naive misunderstandings week after week and, potentially, season after season without turning into the “What has that craaaazy Pakistani done this week?!” show.

PS – if I got to re-rate the show I’d give it a 3.5. You couldn’t do halvsies on that survey, but whatever.

Shows we’re not watching that premiere tonight: Bones, Dancing with the Stars, NCIS, The Unit, Boston Legal, Cane, Law and Order: SVU. This proves it — I don’t watch all that much TV!

Returning show we are watching: House. Word on the street is that Cameron, Chase, and Foreman aren’t in this episode at all. Word on the other street is that eventually Kal Penn will show up (not tonight, but soon). I am beyond excited about this, partly because I’m picturing Kumar and House getting high together, engaging in a hilarious battle of wits, and then making everyone else uncomfortable with some racially insensitive jokes.

New show we are watching: Reaper. The buzz on this has been great, and it has the best one-sentence summary of any of this season’s new shows: 21-year-old finds out his parents sold his soul to the devil. Also, the devil is Ray Wise. That’s a recipe for success right there.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming: Ken Burns’ The War continues on PBS, for some good old fashioned learning about history.

The news will be late all week this week. I’m sleeping in.

• Maya Rudolph has left SNL, leaving Kristin Wiig and Amy Poehler as the only ladies left.
• Aliens in America and Life is Wild will stream online before they debut.
• Mama Petrelli talks to TV Guide.
• GLAAD is, unsurprisingly, underwhelmed by the number of gay people on TV.
• Spoiler chat with E-Kristin.
• And, she does a video interview with John Krasinski (shirtless) and Will Arnett. Not really shirtless.
• Our TV screens are getting covered with more and more annoying-ass pop-up ads.
• Friend of the Faux John Walker writes about Kid Nation.
• Comedian Rich Hall is the real life basis for Moe the Bartender.
• Breaking from the NYT: People judge you by what you watch.
• The Biggest Loser has already been renewed.
• Take a look at a whole lot of blonde as Kristen Bell, Hayden P. (I hate looking up how to spell her last name) and Ali Larter pose for TV Guide.
• Mo’Nique will be causing trouble on Ugly Betty.

That was a lot of television last night. I don’t think I can keep up this pace, frankly.

I found Chuck delightful. The plot requires several major suspensions of disbelief, but if you go with it, there are some funny moments. Personally, I decided halfway through that Chuck is just psychic, and they’re living in a world where computers work differently than they do in the real world. It’s a true action comedy, where the action itself is funny and doesn’t seem like it’s shoehorned in from a different show. Besides, any show that pulls off a joke about a ninja assassin with a vendetta is a-okay in my book.

Heroes was its usual Heroes mix: There were two storylines I thought were promising, one that was boring, and one that was awesome. You’ll have to decide for yourself which was which. This is not to say that Heroes isn’t great. I love Heroes. The ending, in the container… amazing. Can’t wait to see what’s going to happen.

Mandy Moore has finally found a role worthy of her awesomeness, and it is a tattooed bad girl on How I Met Your Mother. Though I occasionally find the sentimentality cloying, when that show works, it really works. Excellent season premiere.

The Pick-Up Artist. Brady’s make-over on his student? Absolutely amazing. I was shocked. But also relieved at the outcome. And as much as I love that show, I’m so glad it’s over. I can’t take the tension any longer.

And then I started watching Journeyman this morning. Meh. When Monday night is filled with that much entertainment, the weakest link must go. And it just felt like territory that The Time-Traveler’s Wife did much more thoroughly and interestingly several years ago.

Care to argue with me?