Episode 104: You Don't Have a Pet to Be Popular

Aliens in the Family
Air Date	August 3, 1996
Written by	Susan Borowitz & Andy Borowitz
Director	Tom Trbovich

Spit's alien pet Varch gets out of quarantine and joins the Brody household. Heather develops an instant dislike for the creature -- especially when the animal eats her new boyfriend, Ethan. The boy is rescued, but Heather is furious.

Heather finds Varch in her closet and throws a shoe at it -- and she's surprised when he doesn't wake up. Satisfied, she thinks the troublesome critter is finally dead. It turns out that the animal periodically sheds its exoskin -- and the other kids have fun preying on Heather's guilty conscience before she learns the truth.

Meanwhile, Sally tries to put Bobut on a no-pudding diet.

Notes

• Heather's boyfriend Ethan is played by James van der Beek, who became famous two years later as the star of Dawson's Creek.

James van der Beek as Ethan.

Cast

Featuring:

• Blaze Berdahl (Jennifer)
• James van der Beek (Ethan)
• Peter Linz (Varch)
• Carmen Osbahr
• Fred Newman (voice of Varch)

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