History Main / MistakenForAliens

Yet another variant of MistakenForIndex. For aliens not from space, see MistakenNationality. For magical beings mistaken for aliens, or vice-versa, see AlienFairFolk.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': A crossover with ''Series/TheXFiles'', "The Springfield Files" features Homer reporting an alien sighting. It turns out the whole time it was Mr. Burns, who was mistaken for an alien from the results of the various dubious medical treatments he undergoes and glowing green in the dark, a side effect of working at the nuclear power plant.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Starvin' Marvin in Space", the people of Australia thought Marvin was an alien. To be fair, he ''did'' emerge from a spaceship.

Yet another variant of MistakenForIndex. For aliens not from space, see MistakenNationality.

* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': One ayakashi possessed a cymbal[[labelnote:*]]Specifically, a sohachi-bon, whose name is a regional slang term for "FlyingSaucer".[[/labelnote]] and flew around near a road, causing people to report [=UFOs=]. When [[AgentMulder Lucy]] investigates the area, she runs into Shirogane, who had shapeshifted into Matsuri's male form. She had only seen that form in her dream and Shirogane [[INeverToldYouMyName calls Lucy by name unprompted]], so she assumes "Shiromatsu" was a [[TelepathicSpacemen psychic alien]] and his ninja gear was a spacesuit. Shirogane decides to [[SureLetsGoWithThat go along with it]], and when he leaves her, the cymbal ayakashi passes overhead, convincing Lu he'd flown off to space.

* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': One ayakashi possessed a cymbal[[labelnote:*]]Specifically, a sohachi-bon, which is also a regional slang term for "FlyingSaucer".[[/labelnote]] and flew around near a road, causing people to report [=UFOs=]. When [[AgentMulder Lucy]] investigates the area, she runs into Shirogane, who had shapeshifted into Matsuri's male form. She had only seen that form in her dream and Shirogane [[INeverToldYouMyName calls Lucy by name unprompted]], so she assumes "Shiromatsu" was a [[TelepathicSpacemen psychic alien]] and his ninja gear was a spacesuit. Shirogane decides to go along with it, and when he leaves her, the cymbal ayakashi passes overhead, convincing Lu he'd flown off to space.

* Averted in the TV Show, ''Series/{{Community}}''. Abed plans to 'mess with' Troy by using the classic sitcom set up for this, except that he didn't fool Troy for a second.

* ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' has an unfinished episode where Zim tricks Dib into thinking RecurringExtra Poonchy, Drinker of Hate was an Irken invader. HilarityEnsues.
** Aside from most humans falling for his PaperThinDisguise, "Abducted" [[InvertedTrope inverts}} this by having a pair of stupid aliens abduct Zim because they honestly believe that he's a "normal human" like he [[HughMann constantly and loudly claims to be]].

* One possible explanation for the case of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly-Hopkinsville_encounter Hopkinsville Goblins]] is that they were simply great horned owls, combined with witnesses with too much alcohol in their blood.

* Depending on your definition of "another world", the fact Rincewind twice (''Discworld/{{Eric}}'' and ''Discworld/TheLastContinent'') appears in a summoning circle and is therefore assumed to be a demon probably counts.

** Aside from most humans falling for his PaperThinDisguise, "Abducted" {{Inverts}} this by having another group of stupid aliens abduct Zim because they honestly believe that he's a "normal human" like he [[HughMann constantly and loudly claims to be]].

* ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' has an unfinished episode where Zim tricks Dib into thinking Poonchy, Drinker of Hate was an Irken invader. HilarityEnsues.

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'' episode "The Lawndale Files" is largely based on this. Some [[MenInBlack mysterious government agents]] coming to the school, plus various characters acting odd for various reasons, makes Daria and Jane start to low-key wonder if aliens are invading, even though they both know that's ridiculous. Meanwhile, other characters misinterpret their comments to think that ''they're'' aliens.

-->'''Mario''': Luigi, ''we're'' the aliens!

* In ''Series/TheAddamsFamily'' episode "[[Recap/TheAddamsFamilyS1E27TheAddamsFamilyAndTheSpaceman
The Addams Family and the Spaceman]]", the Addams are mistaken for aliens by the military, who approach them claiming to wish peace and asking them lots of questions. As a consequence, The Addams believe the army men are aliens as well because of the crazy coincidences.

* In ''Series/TheAddamsFamily'', the Addams are mistaken for aliens by the military, who approach them claiming to wish peace and asking them lots of questions. As a consequence, The Addams believe the army men are aliens as well (because of their green wardrobe).

* {{Inverted}} with the Uruyoms of ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive''. Though they ''are'' aliens in the colloquial sense (as their species originates on another planet), they've been in hiding on this planet long enough that all the Uruyoms seen on-panel are ''not'' aliens in the legal sense, but natural-born U.S. citizens. They can be rather insistent about this.

* One possible explanation for the case of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly%E2%80%93Hopkinsville_encounter Hopkinsville Goblins]] is that they were simply great horned owls, combined with witnesses with too much alcohol in their blood.

* One possible explanation for the case of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly–Hopkinsville_encounter Hopkinsville Goblins]] is that they were simply great horned owls, combined with witnesses with too much alcohol in their blood.

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' has Fred and Barney trying to help a pop-music group that has an "alien" gimmick get to the concert, at the same time that the radio announcer uses an overly-cryptic ad warning people "The Way-Outs are coming!" in a ''Radio/WarOfTheWorlds''-style fashion, and ''this'' makes the rest of Bedrock pull out the TorchesAndPitchforks.

* Inverted in ''Fanfic/WanderOverFostersAUOneshot''. Wander is an alien from another planet, but everyone but Bloo believes he's just a traumatized ImaginaryFriend who ''thinks'' he's an alien.