BrainDead (2016)
The darkly comic CBS series where alien parasites descend on Washington D.C. and start eating the brains of America's politicians.
BrainDead - Series Information
- Original Title: BrainDead
- First Air Year: 2016
- Last Air Year: 2016
- Created by: Michelle King, Robert King
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama, Comedy
- Content Rating (US): TV-14
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (45 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 13
- Status: Canceled
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: June 13, 2016 (United States - TV-14), June 13, 2016 (Canada - 14+), June 13, 2016 (Germany - 16), June 13, 2016 (France - 10), June 13, 2016 (Australia - MA 15+), June 13, 2016 (Spain - 16)
- Networks: CBS
- Alternative Titles: ブレインデッド (JP), BrainDead - Alieni a Washington (IT)
- Production Companies: Scott Free Productions, King Size Productions, CBS Studios
- Production Countries: United States of America
BrainDead - Plot
A young fresh-faced Hill staffer gets her first job in Washington, D.C. and discovers two things: 1. The government has stopped working, and 2. alien spawn have come to earth and eaten the brains of a growing number of Congressmen and Hill staffers.
BrainDead - Trailer
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Where to Watch BrainDead
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BrainDead - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Michelle King
- Robert King
Main Cast
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead
- Danny Pino
- Aaron Tveit
- Tony Shalhoub
- Nikki M. James
- Johnny Ray Gill
- Charlie Semine
- Jan Maxwell
- Megan Hilty
- Beth Malone
Writers
- Jonathan Tolins
- Jacquelyn Reingold
- Lawrence Kaplow
- Peter Parnell
- Aurin Squire
BrainDead - FAQs
What is the premise of BrainDead?
BrainDead follows Laurel Healy, a wide-eyed newcomer to Capitol Hill who stumbles onto a terrifying secret: alien parasites have been tunneling into the skulls of Washington politicians and eating their brains, explaining — with darkly comic logic — why Congress has completely stopped functioning.
Why did BrainDead get cancelled after one season?
CBS cancelled BrainDead after its sole season due to disappointing ratings. Despite strong critical praise for its sharp political satire and inventive genre blending, the show struggled to find a wide enough audience on a broadcast network, and creators Michelle and Robert King moved on to other projects.
Where can you watch BrainDead?
BrainDead is currently available to purchase on Amazon Video. Streaming availability may vary by region, so it's worth checking your local platforms for the latest options.
Is BrainDead based on a true story?
Not literally — no alien parasites have been confirmed in Congress. That said, creators Michelle and Robert King drew direct inspiration from the dysfunction and gridlock of real American politics, using the sci-fi conceit as a satirical lens to skewer Washington's partisan paralysis with gleeful, absurdist wit.
Who are the main actors in BrainDead?
Mary Elizabeth Winstead leads as idealistic staffer Laurel Healy, joined by Aaron Tveit as her Republican counterpart Gareth Ritter and Tony Shalhoub as the deliciously unhinged Senator Red Wheatus. Danny Pino, Nikki M. James, and Johnny Ray Gill round out the core ensemble with sharp comic timing.
How was BrainDead received by critics?
Critics embraced BrainDead warmly, praising its audacious genre mashup of political drama, horror, and comedy. Reviewers highlighted the witty writing, Mary Elizabeth Winstead's charming lead performance, and Tony Shalhoub's scene-stealing turn. Many considered it one of the more inventive and underappreciated network series of 2016.
Did BrainDead have musical recaps between episodes?
Yes — one of BrainDead's most beloved quirks was its sung "previously on" recaps, performed in the style of a folk ballad. These witty musical summaries became a fan favorite, offering a playful and self-aware way to catch viewers up while perfectly capturing the show's irreverent comedic sensibility.
What shows are similar to BrainDead?
Fans of BrainDead's alien-invasion-meets-political-comedy blend may enjoy 3rd Rock from the Sun for its fish-out-of-water alien humor, or Threshold and Invasion for sci-fi conspiracy thrills. The Good Fight, also from creators Michelle and Robert King, shares the same sharp political wit in a more grounded legal drama setting.
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