"ALF" (1986) TV series 1986-1990

Creators:

Paul Fusco
Tom Patchett

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | unknown

Release Date:

22 September 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A furry alien wiseguy comes to live with a terran family after crashing into their garage.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Cat | Hiding | Space | Mistaken Identity

Awards:

3 wins & 12 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Dec. 14	12:00 AM	WGNAMER	Hit Me With Your Best Shot	#2.21
Mon. Dec. 14	12:30 AM	WGNAMER	Promises, Promises	#3.6

Cast

Paul Fusco	...	ALF / ... (103 episodes, 1986-1990)
Max Wright	...	Willie Tanner (101 episodes, 1986-1990)
Anne Schedeen	...	Kate Tanner (101 episodes, 1986-1990)
Andrea Elson	...	Lynn Tanner (101 episodes, 1986-1990)
Benji Gregory	...	Brian Tanner (101 episodes, 1986-1990)

Runtime:

Argentina:30 min | Germany:25 min (100 episodes) | USA:30 min (102 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | USA:TV-G | Canada:G | Argentina:Atp | Singapore:PG

Company:

Alien Productions

Trivia:

The final episode ("Consider Me Gone") was, indeed, intended as a cliffhanger. At the time it was filmed, NBC was still up in the air over whether the show would be cancelled. The cliffhanger format was intended to help persuade NBC to give the show one more chance, if only to resolve the "To Be Continued" ending. Six years later, the TV movie Project: ALF (1996) (TV) finally brought closure - although the lack of the original human cast, and poor writing, cause many fans to reject Project: ALF as part of the show's canon.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the opening credits of Season 1/2, the studio lights are visible on the left hand-side in the shot of Brian.

Quotes:

ALF: Uh, can I make a suggestion? Hello, read my lips.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Bench: Life Before 'Seinfeld' (2004) (V)

Alien Life-Form. Those were the days...

Saturday teatime viewing in the '80's along with stuff like "The A-Team". ALF pretty much reeks of its decade, which is probably why it was cancelled in early 1990. It's by no means the first show to revolve around such a concept; in fact, stylistically I remember it being very similar to "Bigfoot & the Hendersons". Unfathomably though, ALF was somehow more lovable than Bigfoot, enough to spawn merchandise like cuddly toys, amongst other things. Must've been the charm of the show itself, rather than the looks of its furry star! Even as an adult, there are few things more entertaining than a guy in a costume cracking wise. The humour was never vulgar, but often funny, a balance that many shows in this format often fail to strike. Better it had a brief but successful run rather than drag itself out embarrassingly past its sell-by-date. ALF was very much a product of his time, and that perhaps is why I remember him so fondly. It seems like it was produced in the halcyon days of family viewing. They really DON'T make 'em like this anymore...