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| Coneheads | |
|---|---|
| Name | Coneheads |
| First appearance | "The Coneheads" (Saturday Night Live sketch, 1977) |
| Creators | Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Lorne Michaels |
| Notable actors | Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Lindsay Crouse, Michelle Burke |
| Species | Extraterrestrial (fictional) |
| Homeworld | Remulak (fictional) |
| Occupation | Suburban residents, retail workers (fictional) |
Coneheads The Coneheads are a fictional extraterrestrial family introduced on Saturday Night Live in 1977, portraying satirical immigrants assimilating into American suburbia. The sketches, created by Dan Aykroyd and performed alongside Jane Curtin and Gilda Radner, blended science fiction tropes with social satire and became a recurrent franchise spanning film, television, merchandise, and cultural reference. The characters intersected with numerous performers, producers, and media properties across late-20th-century pop culture.
The Coneheads originated in the improv and sketch context of Saturday Night Live under producer Lorne Michaels, developed by Dan Aykroyd with input from cast members including Jane Curtin and Gilda Radner. Early influences cited by creators include Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone, and writers like Rod Serling and Harlan Ellison, as well as comedians such as Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, and John Belushi. The Coneheads concept drew on science-fiction cinema traditions exemplified by Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and directors like John Carpenter and Ridley Scott for aesthetic cues. Production elements involved set designers who had worked on Saturday Night Live and collaborated with studios like NBC and distributors connected to Universal Pictures affiliates.
The Coneheads' recurring appearances on Saturday Night Live featured sketches written by Dan Aykroyd with contributions from writers from the National Lampoon circle and performers such as Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, and guest stars including Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, and Bill Murray. Episodes directed by John Landis and producers like Lorne Michaels often placed the Coneheads in scenarios referencing institutions like American Airlines terminals, New York City diners, and suburban locales comparable to Eden Prairie-style communities. Musical cues used in sketches invoked composers associated with television such as Bernard Herrmann and network composers with credits on NBC programming.
The Coneheads expanded to a 1993 feature film produced by Paramount Pictures and directed by Steve Barron, starring Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and actress Michelle Burke with cameo performers including Chris Farley, David Spade, Sinbad, Ellen DeGeneres, and Angelica Huston. Screenwriters and producers drew on sitcom traditions developed by writers with credits on Cheers, The Simpsons, and Newhart, while special effects teams had worked on projects like Back to the Future Part II and Jurassic Park to create prosthetics and makeup inspired by effects houses such as Rick Baker Studio and artists from Industrial Light & Magic. Television syndication brought episodes to networks including Fox, ABC, and cable channels like TBS and Comedy Central, and home video releases were distributed by companies such as Paramount Home Video and retailers tied to Blockbuster LLC and Best Buy.
Primary characters—played by Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin—interacted with cultural figures and institutions across sketches and the film, engaging guest performers like John Goodman, Dan Castellaneta, and Mary Tyler Moore in cameo roles. The Coneheads contributed to late-20th-century satire alongside peers from Second City, National Lampoon, and The Groundlings, influencing comedians such as Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, and writers who later worked on Saturday Night Live seasons. Cultural impact is evident in references within The Simpsons, Family Guy, Seinfeld, and in homages by directors like Jon Favreau and Edgar Wright. Academic analyses appeared in journals associated with Columbia University, UCLA, and NYU media studies programs, and retrospectives were included in exhibitions at institutions such as the Museum of Broadcast Communications and Paley Center for Media.
Merchandise ranged from action figures produced by toy companies collaborating with Hasbro and Kenner licensees to apparel sold through retailers like Macy's and Target. Spin-offs included comic-book adaptations published by houses like DC Comics-adjacent imprints and licensed paperback novels from publishers such as Penguin Books and Bantam Books, as well as audio collections released on labels connected to Rhino Records and Warner Music Group. Promotional partnerships involved tie-ins with McDonald's Happy Meals, appearances on Good Morning America and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and special segments for events organized by Comic-Con International and fan conventions hosted in cities like San Diego, New York City, and Chicago.
Category:Saturday Night Live characters Category:Fictional alien families