It’s been a while since viewers were forced to say goodbye to The CW sitcom Aliens in America, but fans of series star Adhir Kalyan (pictured at right in the photo with Aliens co-star Dan Byrd), also known as Muslim exchange student Raja Musharaff on the series, have a reason to get happy early in the New Year.

Next week, the actor debuts on the FX dramedy Nip/Tuck, which resumes its fifth season — after almost a year away! — with the midseason premiere “Ronnie Chase.” The big event takes place at 10pm EST on Tuesday, January 6.

Kalyan plays Dr. Raj this time, and you can preview his appearance in the short behind-the-scenes video after the jump. He’s looking good as a doctor, although who knows how long he’ll survive around “challenging” — to say the least — plastic surgeons Sean and Christian.

Incidentally, the South African actor also plays the character Sanjay in the upcoming Kevin James (Hitch, The King of Queens) comedy flick Paul Blart: Mall Cop, which I’m really looking forward to seeing for some reason. (It must be all those billboards I passed by while holiday shopping…)

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Entertainment Weekly reports that 22-year-old Aliens in America star Dan Byrd (Justin Tolchuck) is joining the cast of Heroes for a minimum of three episodes during the upcoming “Volume 4: Fugitives” segment of the superhero saga.

Says the website: “Byrd has been cast on Heroes in the recurring role of David, a dark and twisted kid who tells lies easily and has a cruel streak. Word is he’ll be a possible apprentice to Sylar (Zachary Quinto).”

Wow! I didn’t see that casting coming, but I can totally see Byrd doing a fantastic job in the role. He looks like he can project a certain inner, geeky nastiness if he tries; just remember some of his less flattering moments on Aliens, usually involving jealousy of Raja.

NOTE: Pictures indicate series currently covered at Comedy Centric

Well, I can’t exactly say I didn’t see it coming.

TV Guide reported the bad news on Friday (yesterday) evening that insiders have unofficially confirmed the cancellation of the delightful rookie sitcom Aliens in America. Talk about bummer and a few other choice expletives I choose not to include.

The writing was very clearly on the wall, however, not only because of the show’s consistently poor ratings throughout its first season — although the numbers weren’t that bad for a generally low-rated, aspiring network like The CW — but because of the outside ventures recently announced for some of the series’ stars.

For instance, Gilmore Girls veteran Scott Patterson (patriarch Gary Tolchuk) has been hard at work on the feature flick Saw V, while Adhir Kalyan, who plays Muslim exchange student Raja Musharaff, landed an extended guest-star stint on the hit FX dramedy Nip/Tuck in April.

I can only hope the other series regulars find new work on great series on better networks in the near future.

So long, Aliens, I’m gonna miss ya!

Original Air Date: April 27, 2008

JUSTIN becomes Mr. Know It All after dinner one night when his fortune cookie tells him he’s “the excellent judge of character.” RAJA, however, definitely doesn’t know much about character, at least when it comes to girls. As a result, his niceness and compassion for those who are ostracized allows one painfully irritating student named MINDY WEINBLAU to ensnare him, seemingly forever at first. Everybody else just wisely runs in the opposite direction whenever Mindy approaches.

When Mindy — nicknamed Mental Mindy and whom Justin describes as overbearing, needy, and compulsive, her good qualities — asks Raja to sign her petition against anti-petitions or whatever, Raja’s kindness obliging initiates an alarming pattern. He volunteers to be her study partner in their Italian class when nobody else will, and then agrees to help her at her volunteer job working with the elderly one Saturday, thereby giving Mindy the impression that they’re falling in love.

Although Justin warns Raja repeatedly that he shouldn’t get too friendly with delusional Mindy, it takes a while for the message to finally sink in. Raja returns from the day volunteering with the elderly overwhelmed by how insufferable Mindy is. He becomes even more disgusted when Justin shares what Mindy told him about the X/NC-17/R-rated dream she had of a shirtless Raja riding a horse.

The last straw comes when Mindy informs their entire Italian class she’s in love with him. But, instead of telling Mindy point-blank that he doesn’t like her, Raja wusses out and plays the Muslim card, explaining they can’t be a couple because of their “insurmountable” religious differences.

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That’s right, Aliens in America fans. Adhir Kalyan, who plays Muslim high-school exchange student Raja on The CW’s entertaining but underrated rookie sitcom Aliens in America, is heading to the McNamara and Troy offices on Nip/Tuck to play a 16-year-old wonder-surgeon.

How old is Kalyan in real life, you wonder? Twenty-five this year! So, what’s up with all of these Doogie roles?!

In any case, Kalyan’s Nip/Tuck character, unimaginatively named Raj, will step in to help out one of the series’ central plastic surgeon after bad luck befalls the other. My only hope is that Aliens in America gets renewed against all odds, ensuring that Kalyan will stay where he belongs for now — with the Tolchuks.

Kalyan’s guest-star run is scheduled to begin when Nip/Tuck returns to FX for the last half of its current fifth season. No premiere date has been announced yet.

Monday | April 21

• The Big Bang Theory: Roseanne’s Sara Gilbert makes another guest appearance as Leslie Winkle on The Bat Jar Conjecture. [8pm EST/CBS]
• How I Met Your Mother: A new Robin Sparkles video premieres on Sandcastles in the Sand, and James Van Der Beek guest stars. [8:30pm EST/CBS]
• Two and a Half Men: Both Jane Lynch and Emmanuelle Vaugier drop by to resurrect their previous roles on the ridiculously titled Rough Night in Hump Junction. [9pm EST/CBS]

Tuesday | April 22

• According to Jim: Younger viewers especially will probably appreciate the guest-star turns of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody twins Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse on I Drink Your Milkshake. [8pm EST/ABC]
• Reaper: Nice. Not only does the series resume new episodes, but previous guests Ken Marino and Michael Ian Black are back on Rebellion. The Devil had better watch out! [9pm EST/The CW]

Wednesday | April 23

• Back to You: Lovely, lovely, lovely living legend Diahann Carroll lends her beautiful presence to Hug & Tell. [8:30pm EST/Fox]
• Men in Trees: The dramedy airs its last new episode before going on hiatus until May 28. [10pm EST/ABC]

Thursday | April 24

• Ugly Betty: Fresh episodes finally kick back in. [8pm EST/ABC]
• 30 Rock: Chris Parnell, Rip Torn, and Will Arnett are all onboard for Succession. Keep in mind that the sitcom has also switched time slots with Scrubs. [9:31pm EST/NBC]

Saturday | April 26

• Drew Hastings: Irked and Miffed: A comedy special for standup lovers. [11pm EST/Comedy Central]

Sunday | April 27

• Aliens in America: After over a month of repeats, new episodes start back up with The Muslim Card. [8:30pm EST/The CW]

Here come the Tolchuks, Canada! …or maybe not.

Wonder Years star Fred Savage takes the directing reins for this installment of Aliens in America, “One Hundred Thousand Miles.”

All of the Tolchuks prepare to go on a family vacation to Vancouver, with student guest Raja in tow. But, when they get to the airport, something happens that totally and thoroughly derails their plans. This event then leads to a number of consequences, some good and some (temporarily) bad.

Aliens in America airs Sundays on The CW at 8:30pm EST.

Original Air Date: March 2, 2008

After FRANNY horrifies JUSTIN with the news that she’s scored two tickets for them to the forthcoming Sound of Music sing-along, Justin and CLAIRE are horrified again to learn that RAJA has asked their mom to drive them to school.

Raja can’t understand why the siblings are so against an easy trip, until they arrive at school and Franny embarrasses Justin by yelling after him to pick up their Sound of Music tickets while also calling him Pumpkin. This grabs the attention of super bully TREY TOZER (Enormous Guest Star Dylan Taylor), who’s obsessed with weird self-made weapons and who’s so freaky, even other bullies are scared of him. Trey promptly informs Justin that he’s going to kill him at lunchtime.

To avoid a butt-kicking, Justin tries to stay out of Trey’s way for the rest of the day. The bully bumps into him in the hallway anyway, but grows bored while accosting him with his numchuks. Trey then decides to experiment with other weapons until he finds the right one for the occasion. Fortunately, Justin is sent to MR. MATTHEWS‘ office when his mom calls with the news that she won’t be able to pick the kids up later because she was just in a car accident.

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