The Orville

Seth MacFarlane created this American television series — science fiction told as comedy and drama at once — and he plays Captain Ed Mercer. Set in the 25th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the mid-level exploratory spaceship "Orville" (ECV-197) from the Planetary Union. The crew includes First Officer and Captain's ex-wife Kelly Grayson (Adrianne Palicki), Dr. Claire Finn (Penny Johnson Jerald), pilot Gordon Malloy (Scott Grimes), security officer Alara Kitan (Halston Sage), Lieutenant Commander John LaMarr (J. Lee), officer Bortus (Peter Macon), and artificial intelligence Isaac (Mark Jackson). The series blends elements of comedy and drama, exploring themes of interpersonal relationships, ethics, and social issues through the lens of science fiction. It premiered on September 10, 2017, on Fox, and has released three seasons to date. The third season, subtitled "New Horizons," was released on the Hulu platform in 2022.