When extraterrestrials show up on the doorstep of his alien-worshipping cult in 1977 California, a mediocre grifter must pull off the greatest con of his life: convince his followers that these visitors are the saviors he promised—and fool the aliens into not blowing up the planet. It's RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES meets PEOPLE OF EARTH.

SYNOPSIS:

SERIES REGULARS

Former small-time gambler and conman SEBASTIAN STARLIGHT (40s/white; delusional optimist; a Zach Galifianakis- type) finagled his way into leading an alien-worshiping cult while on the run from loan sharks. Charismatic but perpetually in over his head, Sebastian is always convinced he can solve his mounting problems by pulling off a bigger con.

Sebastian's nephew RYAN "RETROGRADE" BUCKLEY (20s/white; a [1] deadpan Jack Quaid type) is his reluctant accomplice and right-hand man. In on the con but constantly conflicted due to his genuine care for those in the cult, including his love for one of the cult’s yoga instructors, Ryan struggles with guilt while trying to keep his uncle's schemes from totally spiraling out of control.

Astrophysicist STACEY WILLIAMS (40s/any ethnicity; a no-nonsense America Ferrera-type) works at a government extraterrestrial search facility. Brilliant but frustrated by the lack of respect in her field, Stacey discovers the cult's compound while tracking an alien signal and becomes the voice of reason and science in dealing with the aliens.

Cunning alien "spirit medium" SHARZA (appears 30s/Star Trek late 60s era blue human-looking alien; seductive mystic; a dramatic Bob the Drag Queen-type) has her own hidden agenda. Sharza uses her psychic abilities and charm to manipulate humans and impress the alien ship captain to secure a powerful place as his side.

Insecure bureaucrat ZEEJER (appears 40s/Star Trek late 60s era blue human-looking alien; a neurotic David Cross-type) is the lieutenant nominally in charge of the alien expedition. Zeejer is constantly trying to gain favor with the alien ship captain and elbow out Sharza to fulfill his own political ambition.

THE PILOT

SEBASTIAN STARLIGHT is at the end of his rope. He’s gambled away all the donations from the alien-worshiping cult he’s leading, his followers are growing restless, and bookies are closing in to collect on his debt. Convinced he can pull off one more scheme, he stages a fake "sign from the aliens.” It backfires spectacularly, and his followers begin to abandon him.

RYAN usually goes along with his uncle’s charades, while still trying to protect the naïve yoga instructor he’s in love with and the other cult members he's grown to care for. But after the fake sign debacle, Ryan declares he is leaving as well, furious at his uncle's escalating lies.

Enter STACEY and her bumbling assistant, working at a secret government research facility, who track a mysterious signal from space that leads them to the cult's compound in hopes of achieving first contact. Also converging on Sebastian are the loan sharks who found his hideout.

With his grift falling apart, and the thugs arriving to collect payment, everything is falling apart for Sebastian. Then…in a spectacular twist of fate, actual aliens arrive! SHARZA and ZEEJER descend from their spaceship, each vying to be the first to find a mysterious elixir that they need to save their species. They’re prepared to destroy the Earth for an easy energy boost if they can’t find it.

Betting on the ultimate con, Sebastian convinces his followers these aliens are here to save them, as promised. And with the aliens’ advanced technology, he sees dollar signs if he can figure out how to hustle them as well. The loan sharks, drawing the line at alien encounters, run for the hills.

Sebastian offers to help Zeejer and Sharza find the elixir they need, and heads into their ship to figure out his next move, bringing Stacey along for expert help as she plays along as a cult member. Meanwhile, two cult members – rival aliens from an enemy species in disguise—begin to secretly plot their next step after luring the spaceship here in order to sabotage the mission.

SEASON ONE

Sebastian attempts to navigate Zeejer and Sharza’s intense rivalry and unpredictable alien behavior to maintain control of the cult. The aliens entertain themselves by taking psychedelics and exploring Earth culture, narrowly missing being exposed to new people passing through. But they get impatient waiting for Sebastian to procure the mysterious substance they need.

Meanwhile, Stacey stays undercover in the cult, trying to bring order to the chaos, and becomes increasingly suspicious of other aliens in their midst, realizing the ship’s arrival was no coincidence. She enlists Ryan’s help and forms an unlikely alliance with Sebastian as these rival alien moles are working against him to stop him from delivering the alien elixir.

Sebastian finally has a breakthrough: the cult helps him extract the aliens’ treasured elixir from a rare cactus. Some alien crew members can’t resist trying it before leaving—but the moles have sabotaged the recipe. It unexpectedly changes them into entirely different creatures who ally themselves with the moles and turn everything upside down. And a new enemy from Sebastian’s past is on their way— a mafia boss, who is bringing Sebastian’s ex-wife and young son along too.

THE BELIEVERS’ charming fraud Sebastian is no different than his followers—looking for the easy way out instead of doing the hard work to grow. But in the face of something genuinely extraordinary, he must face the truth and transform himself for the better.