Series Description

The My Favorite Martian TV show was a 30 minute sci-fi comedy series on CBS about a man from the planet Mars who became stranded on Earth after his spacecraft crashed. An Earthling named Tim O'Hara took the friendly Martian into his home and allowed him to pose as his Uncle Martin. Uncle Martin looked just like any Earthling except for his antennae which were usually hidden inside his forehead. Most of the TV show's themes revolved around Uncle Martin's powers going crazy, causing a problem that might reveal his true identity. He sometimes also would get some crazy Martian illness that would be easily detectable. Then the rest of the show involved fixing the problem or explaining away the illness so Uncle Martin could remain anonymous and continue living with his good friend Tim.

My Favorite Martian Cast

Ray Walston .... Uncle Martin
Bill Bixby .... Tim O'Hara
Pamela Britton .... Mrs. Lorelei Brown
Ann Marshall .... Angela Brown
J. Pat O'Malley .... Mr. Harry Burns
Alan Hewitt .... Detective Bill Brennan
Roy Engel .... The Police Chief

My Favorite Martian Trivia

Uncle Martin's spaceship crashed near Los Angeles, California when he quickly changed course in order to miss hitting a NASA rocket plane.

J. Pat O'Malley appeared in the very first episode of the 1969 TV show "The Brady Bunch"! He played the role of Mr. Tyler. The episode was titled "The Honeymoon".

In 1966, right after My Favorite Martian finished shooting, Bill Bixby had a supporting role in the movie "Doctor, You've Got To Be Kidding". One of his scenes was shot near a fireplace. That scene used Mrs. Brown's living room from "My Favorite Martian" as it's set!

In episode #37 of the series, "The Incredible Hulk", Ray Walston guest-starred with Bill Bixby who played the (starring) role of Dr. David Banner. The episode was titled, "My Favorite Magician"! Actually, both of the actors were members of a professional magicians' club in Hollywood!

Ray Walston won 2 emmys and was nominated for a 3rd for his role on the series "Picket Fences".

While filming episode #105, "Stop the Presses, I Want to Get Off", a Lion suddenly roared and crashed into a glass partition (breaking it) that was separating him from Bill Bixby! No one got hurt but it scared the h... out of Bill! Actually, the scene was originally supposed to be with Ray Walston and he refused to do it. They had to do a re-write of the script and everything! And don't worry ... the Lion wasn't hurt either.

During his inital interview, Bill Bixby said to the Producer, "Hello, I'm Bill Bixby." The Producer replied, "No, you're not. You're Tim O'Hara.

Most series are shot in 1 or 2 days per week with the rest of the week available for rehearsals. Due to all the special effects used on My Favorite Martian, they had to shoot 5 days per week leaving little or no time for rehearsals!

The series was filmed on stage 10 of the DESILU Studios. After My Favorite Martian, "Star Trek - The original series" used stage 10 to shoot scenes which took place on alien planets.

Uncle Martin's spaceship was made of wood and then painted silver. It was sold at a car auction in 1985 for $750!

Bill Bixby was the 2nd actor (Michael Landon was 1st) to star in 3 television shows that lasted 3 years or more. They were "My Favorite Martian", "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" and "The Incredible Hulk".

Just in case anyone isn't aware of it, we have to note how uncanny it was that Ray Walston played the part of someone tracking down Uncle Martin in the Disney remake film (also titled "My Favorite Martian") starring Christopher Lloyd!

Nine years after My Favorite Martian was over, Bill Bixby was a panelist on a game show called "Masquerade Party". You know, one of those where they have to guess who is the disguised person. Ray Walston was one of the guests. Surprise Bill!

Pamela Britton played the starring role on the 1957 "Blondie TV Show" that was based on the popular Blondie comic strip. The show only lasted one year.

Theatrical Movie

My Favorite Martian (1999 Starring Christopher Lloyd)