Created by Dan Fogelman, The Neighbors began on ABC in 2012 and ran for two seasons, with 44 episodes. The comedy follows the Weaver family, who move to Hidden Hills and discover that their neighbours are aliens in human form. These visitors have spent a decade on Earth, waiting for instructions from their leaders.
George Takei appears in four episodes as Big Bird, the father of alien leader Larry Bird. His first appearance comes at the end of the first season, in an episode that also features Mark Hamill as Commander Bill. Big Bird communicates with Earth using a device that looks like a toaster. He puts bread into it, and the bread arrives on Earth with a message burnt into it. The scene gives both actors opportunities to make jokes about Star Trek and Star Wars.
Fogelman persuaded Takei to join the programme by writing him a personal letter. Much of the comedy comes from the aliens’ difficulty understanding human behaviour, as well as the humans’ surprise at their neighbours’ unusual habits.
