On this day June 21, 1989, the final episode of Hard Time on Planet Earth aired on CBS, bringing the short lived sci fi series to a quiet close. The show followed an alien warrior named Jesse, exiled to Earth as punishment for his past crimes. Forced to learn humility and humanity, Jesse was monitored by a floating robotic observer named Control as he navigated life on Earth, often getting into misadventures while trying to do good.
Starring Martin Kove, the series had a unique premise and blended action with comedic elements, but it struggled to capture a strong viewer base. It lasted only one season with 13 episodes before being cancelled. Despite its brief run, it stands out as one of the more unusual genre experiments of late 80s television.
80s insight: Hard Time on Planet Earth reflected the late 80s trend of mixing science fiction with morality tales, attempting to tap into the same audience that had embraced shows like Quantum Leap, but it never gained the same momentum.
Starring Martin Kove, the series had a unique premise and blended action with comedic elements, but it struggled to capture a strong viewer base. It lasted only one season with 13 episodes before being cancelled. Despite its brief run, it stands out as one of the more unusual genre experiments of late 80s television.
80s insight: Hard Time on Planet Earth reflected the late 80s trend of mixing science fiction with morality tales, attempting to tap into the same audience that had embraced shows like Quantum Leap, but it never gained the same momentum.
