History YMMV / ThirdRockFromTheSun

* EarWorm: The theme song, easily.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: As the cast expanded the theme song was rearranged to become a longer trumpet-driven swing number. Fans didn't like this so the show went back to the theme's original guitar-driven surf style and slightly extended it.

* TheCastShowoff: Numerous times the entire main cast gets to show off musical talents. The best is in "A Nightmare on Dick Street," wherein Harry's dream is an elaborate Broadway-style song and dance number that was shot almost entirely in one take.
** August sings a song in the episode with Tommy forming a band. Shay Astar, who played August, is now a professional singer-songwriter (though she sang only as a hobby at the time). [[JustForPun Astar became a star]]!
** Mary's lackluster but enthusiastic vocal talents are shown off at least as much as the Solomons', despite being poor enough both in-universe and on-screen for a season 3 episode to revolve around her self-recognized lack of singing talent.

* OutOfOrder:
** Nearly all the episodes in season five were aired in a seemingly random order compared to the order they were written in. This normally wouldn't be noticeable, except in "Dick Puts the ID In Cupid", he references being naked under a table at a function Mary organised. Had they aired in the order they were written in, this would make sense. However, in the order they are aired, he's referencing something that hasn't happened yet, or for first time viewers makes it appear to be a NoodleIncident.
** Much of season one was also broadcast out of order. The biggest problem caused by this is that "Dick Is from Mars, Sally Is from Venus", in which Tommy starts attending high school for the first time, was broadcast after two episodes in which Tommy was already in school. Though arguably worse was "Truth or Dick", the second episode filmed but the ''tenth'' aired. Tommy suddenly looks much younger.

* SeasonalRot: Rising star Joseph Gordon Levitt settling into a recurring role in season 6 coincided with the episode plots getting significantly DenserAndWackier. Coupled with frequent time slot changes, it was no surprise when the show never made it to a seventh season.

* TearJerker: [[Tearjerker/ThirdRockFromTheSun Now has its own page.]]

* RetroactiveRecognition: Joseph Gordon-Levitt played Tommy. After the show, Gordon-Levitt appeared in a bunch of independent films before finally becoming a big star on [[Film/FiveHundredDaysOfSummer the back of one of those indie films]] in the late 2000's.
** Every time Tommy appears on screen, it's hard to restrain yourself from screaming (in a high-pitched voice) [[Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra "COOOBRAAA!!!"]].

* TheScrappy: Tommy's first girlfriend, August. Manipulative, selfish, snooty, StrawFeminist and all-around bitch who broke up with Tommy due to his "immaturity", ''after'' [[YourCheatingHeart being caught cheating on him]] and lying about it to his face.

* MorePopularReplacement: August, Tommy's uptight girlfriend in the first two seasons, was hated by fans. Tommy's second girlfriend Alissa was much more likable and better received.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Joseph Gordon-Levitt played Tommy. After the show, Gordon-Levitt appearing in a bunch of independent films before finally becoming a big star on [[Film/FiveHundredDaysOfSummer the back of one of those indie films]] in the late 2000's.

* TearJerker: ''3rd Rock'' is a relentlessly goofy show, which sometimes makes the rare moments of drama that much more striking.
** Season 4's "Sally Forth" ends with Sally and Don's breakup in Don's car, after his marriage proposal goes south.
** The final episode, "The Thing That Wouldn't Die, Pt. 2," where the Solomons reminisce over everything they'll miss about Earth, leading to Mary realizing at the last second that she just can't leave her life behind for Dick.

** Much of season one was also broadcast out of order. The biggest problem caused by this is that "Dick Is from Mars, Sally Is from Venus", in which Tommy starts attending high school for the first time, was broadcast after two episodes in which Tommy was already in school.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Pretty much everyone loves Harry.

'''Dick''': Oh, right. ''[grabs a Post-It note and begins writing]'' "Nina...is...black. ''[slaps the note on her chest and turns back around]''

--> '''Dick''': "Nina please, we're talking about prejudice here, something you know nothing about." \\
'''Nina''': "I'm black." \\
'''Dick''': "Oh, right." *grabs a Post-It note and begins writing* "Nina...is...black." *slaps the note on her chest and turns back around*

** The dream episode. Joseph-Gordon Levitt trapped in a nightmare world and desperately trying to escape? [[Film/{{Inception}} Sure nothing like that will ever be seen again]].

* OutOfOrder: Nearly all the episodes in season five were aired in a seemingly random order compared to the order they were written in. This normally wouldn't be noticeable, except in "Dick Puts the ID In Cupid", he references being naked under a table at a function Mary organised. Had they aired in the order they were written in, this would make sense. However, in the order they are aired, he's referencing something that hasn't happened yet, or for first time viewers makes it appear to be a NoodleIncident.

* HilariousInHindsight: The dream episode. Joseph-Gordon Levitt trapped in a nightmare world and desperately trying to escape? [[Film/{{Inception}} Sure nothing like that will ever be seen again]].

*** When Dick (loudly) proclaimed his unwillingness to convict based on the fact he knew he defendant the entire case was thrown out as a mistrial.

* HarsherInHindsight: When Sally meets Janice who is played by wrestling champ Chyna, she says "Prepare to Die!" which can come off as this as Chyna has passed away in 2016.

* TakeThatScrappy: August gets her comeuppance. After they break up Tommy convinces everyone that he dumped her which constantly gets thrown in her face.* TearJerker: ''3rd Rock'' is a relentlessly goofy show, which sometimes makes the rare moments of drama that much more striking.

* GeniusBonus: During one episode, Dick comments that Easter Island was a practical joke that got out of hand. Many listeners will simply associate this joke with the massive stone heads and laugh, but a person who has read about the ecological and societal collapse resulting from overuse of natural resources due to moai construction will understand the "got out of hand" differently.

* TheScrappy: Tommy's first girlfriend, August. Manipulative, selfish, snooty, StrawFeminist and all-around bitch who broke up with Tommy due to his "immaturity", ''after'' being caught cheating on him and lying about it to his face.
** She gets her comeuppance though. After they break up Tommy convinces everyone that he dumped her which constantly gets thrown in her face.

* TearJerker: ''3rd Rock'' is a relentlessly goofy show, which sometimes makes the rare moments of drama that much more striking.

** Every time Tommy appears on screen, it's hard to restrain yourself from screaming (in a high-pitched voice) [[GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra "COOOBRAAA!!!"]].