About the
Show
The Orville is a science fiction comedy-drama series created by Seth MacFarlane, blending humor, adventure, and social commentary in the spirit of classic space exploration television. Set aboard the USS Orville, the series follows a crew of officers navigating intergalactic missions within the Planetary Union. Mike Henry portrays Dann, a friendly and music-loving alien Lieutenant and Engineer known for his calm personality and love of curating the ship’s elevator playlists. Though his species remains unnamed, Dann became a memorable recurring character throughout the series. The Orville premiered in 2017 and continues streaming on Hulu.
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The Orville
The
History
The Orville was created by Seth MacFarlane as both a tribute to and modern interpretation of classic science fiction series such as Star Trek. Originally premiering on FOX in 2017, the series combined comedy, drama, and philosophical storytelling while following the crew of the USS Orville through deep-space missions within the Planetary Union.
Mike Henry joined the cast as Dann, a recurring character who served as a Lieutenant and Engineer aboard the ship. Known for his warm personality, subtle humor, and love of music, Dann quickly became a fan-favorite supporting character. Henry’s longtime creative collaboration with Seth MacFarlane, dating back to Family Guy and The Cleveland Show, naturally carried into The Orville.
While the show began with a stronger comedic tone, it evolved over time into a more ambitious science fiction series praised for its storytelling, visual effects, and emotional depth. After airing its first two seasons on FOX, The Orville moved to Hulu for its third season, The Orville: New Horizons, expanding both its scale and production value.
Today, The Orville continues to maintain a dedicated fanbase and is widely recognized for successfully blending humor, humanity, and classic science fiction adventure.
