Resident Alien Creator Shocked by Controversial Scene: “Playing by Different Rules”

Alan Tudyk really dove headfirst into his role as the alien pretending to be the human Harry Vanderspeigle in Resident Alien, which you can catch on Peacock starting August 15. Even after starting to understand humanity, Harry still found himself in strange, funny, and often offensive situations, showcasing his unique struggle to fit in with the people of Patience, Colorado.

Creator and showrunner Chris Sheridan is genuinely surprised that they managed to get away with one particular hilarious Harry moment more than any other. He recalls the outrageous scene in Season 1, Episode 2, where Harry is shown sucking milk out of a cow’s udder in a flashback. “I mean, an alien sucking milk out of a cow’s teat was kind of a highlight,” Sheridan shared during an interview. “I figured, standards-wise, we could probably get away with it. But just getting away with it from a story standpoint, that moment was when I realized that we were sort of playing by different rules with this character.”

Sheridan emphasizes that they were able to explore big, crazy ideas like Harry’s unconventional antics because they always stayed within the realm of Harry’s reality. Whether it’s Harry sucking milk from a cow, humping a vending machine, or riding a horse in a cowboy hat, the show maintained its unique tone and humor through Alan Tudyk’s incredible physical acting.

The showrunner also points out the dynamic between Harry and young Max Hawthorne, played by Judah Prehn. Despite the eccentric nature of their interactions, Sheridan highlights the interesting relationship between a man and a kid who are emotionally on the same level, navigating friendship and humor in a truly captivating way.

Sheridan also expressed his fondness for the hilarious scenes involving Harry and 42, the talking octopus. He recalls the absurdity and humor in moments like Harry giving mouth-to-mouth to the octopus’s butt mouth and them sharing a final meal together. While these moments may seem outrageous, they succeeded in adding depth and humor to the show.

Get ready to binge-watch all four seasons of Resident Alien on Peacock from August 15 and experience firsthand the outrageous and comedic journey of Harry Vanderspeigle in the quirky town of Patience, Colorado.