3rd Rock FROM the Sun is an American sitcom television series that aired FROM 1996 to 2001. It follows the adventures of a group of aliens who have come to Earth to observe human life. The show stars John Lithgow, Kristen Johnston, French Stewart, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Jane Curtin. The title of the show is derived FROM the phrase 'third rock FROM the sun, ' which refers to Earth being the third planet FROM the sun.