"ALF" (1986) TV series 1986-1990

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Creators:

Paul Fusco
Tom Patchett
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | unknown

Release Date:

22 September 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Cat | Family Relationships | Cult TV | Blind Woman

Awards:

3 wins & 12 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 19	6:00 PM	WGNAMER	The Gambler	#1.23
Sun. July 19	6:30 PM	WGNAMER	Oh, Pretty Woman	#2.7

Cast

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)
Paul Fusco	...	ALF / ... (59 episodes, 1986-1990)

(more)

Series Directed by
Nick Havinga		(31 episodes, 1987-1990)
Burt Brinckerhoff		(17 episodes, 1987-1989)
Gary Shimokawa		(12 episodes, 1987-1989)
Peter Bonerz		(9 episodes, 1986-1987)
Paul Miller		(8 episodes, 1989-1990)
Tom Patchett		(7 episodes, 1986-1987)
Paul Fusco		(6 episodes, 1987-1990)
Nancy Heydorn		(5 episodes, 1986-1987)
Tony Csiki		(3 episodes, 1988-1989)
Rick Gough		(2 episodes, 1986)
Peter Baldwin		(2 episodes, 1987)

Series Writing credits
Paul Fusco		(42 episodes, 1986-1990)
Tom Patchett		(42 episodes, 1986-1990)
Steve Pepoon		(14 episodes, 1987-1990)
Lisa A. Bannick		(11 episodes, 1987-1989)
Bob Bendetson		(8 episodes, 1986-1987)
Howard Bendetson		(7 episodes, 1986-1990)
Laurie Gelman		(6 episodes, 1986-1987)
David Silverman		(6 episodes, 1987-1990)
Stephen Sustarsic		(6 episodes, 1987-1990)
Victor Fresco		(6 episodes, 1989-1990)
Donald Todd		(5 episodes, 1986-1987)
Al Jean		(5 episodes, 1988-1989)
Mike Reiss		(5 episodes, 1988-1989)
Thad Mumford		(4 episodes, 1986-1987)
Scott Spencer Gordon		(4 episodes, 1987-1989)
Alicia Marie Schudt		(4 episodes, 1987-1989)
Steven Hollander		(4 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jerry Stahl		(3 episodes, 1986-1989)
Nelson Costello		(3 episodes, 1987-1989)
Seth Weisbord		(3 episodes, 1987-1989)
Wendy Graf		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Lisa Stotsky		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Beverly Archer		(3 episodes, 1988-1990)
Ron Burla		(2 episodes, 1988-1989)
Bruce David		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Produced by
Steve Lamar	....	associate producer (78 episodes, 1986-1989)
Bernie Brillstein	....	executive producer (39 episodes, 1986-1990)
Tom Patchett	....	executive producer (39 episodes, 1986-1990)
Paul Fusco	....	producer (38 episodes, 1986-1990)
Laurie Gelman	....	co-producer (24 episodes, 1986-1987)
Thad Mumford	....	supervising producer (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Steve Cioffi	....	associate producer (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Lisa A. Bannick	....	supervising producer (14 episodes, 1988-1989)
Stephanie Hagen	....	associate producer (12 episodes, 1988-1989)
Steven Hollander	....	co-producer (9 episodes, 1988-1989)

Series Original Music by
Alf Clausen		(39 episodes, 1986-1990)

Series Cinematography by
Alan Walker		(26 episodes, 1986-1987)
Ron Miller		(9 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Film Editing by
Steve Cioffi		(14 episodes, 1986-1990)
Robert Bramwell		(12 episodes, 1986-1987)
Michael Gavaldon		(11 episodes, 1986-1987)
Tony Porter		(9 episodes, 1988-1990)

Series Casting by
Meryl O'Loughlin		(37 episodes, 1986-1989)

Series Production Design by
David Sackeroff		(15 episodes, 1987-1990)

Series Art Direction by
David Sackeroff		(23 episodes, 1986-1987)
Thomas Fichter		(15 episodes, 1987-1990)

Series Costume Design by
Jason Cort		(49 episodes, 1986-1990)

Series Makeup Department
Mary Guerrero	....	hair stylist (39 episodes, 1986-1990)
Christy Ann Newquist	....	makeup artist (39 episodes, 1986-1990)

Series Production Management
James M. Jaffee	....	executive in charge of production (37 episodes, 1986-1990)
Steve Cioffi	....	post-production supervisor (28 episodes, 1988-1989)

Series Art Department
Carl Buck	....	property master (35 episodes, 1986-1990)
Thomas Fichter	....	assistant art director (14 episodes, 1986-1987)
Lisette Thomas	....	assistant art director (5 episodes, 1986-1987)
Richard F. Anderson	....	carpenter (unknown episodes)
Jim Mingin	....	graphic designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Doug Nelson	....	sound / audio (31 episodes, 1986-1990)
Craig Porter	....	sound sweetening / sound re-recording mixer / ... (30 episodes, 1986-1990)
Allen Patapoff	....	sound re-recording mixer / sound re-recordist (25 episodes, 1986-1990)
Dana Mark McClure	....	sound (7 episodes, 1986-1987)
Blaine Stewart	....	sound (2 episodes, 1986)
Laura King	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Valerie Stulman	....	audio assist (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Ken Tarallo	....	special effects coordinator (102 episodes, 1986-1990)
Randy Simper	....	animatronics specialist (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Jon Purdy	....	camera operator (99 episodes, 1986-1990)
Jack Chisolm	....	camera operator (36 episodes, 1986-1989)
Gary Allen	....	camera operator (35 episodes, 1986-1990)
Bob Kaufman	....	video controller (35 episodes, 1986-1989)
Carol Wetovich	....	camera operator (25 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bob Minges	....	camera operator (14 episodes, 1987-1989)
J. Kent Inasy	....	lighting technician / lighting (13 episodes, 1987-1989)
Alan Walker	....	lighting technician / lighting (12 episodes, 1988-1990)
John O'Brien	....	video controller (5 episodes, 1987-1988)
Michael Fastoso	....	grip (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Stephanie Hagen	....	post-production coordinator (24 episodes, 1986-1987)
Steve Cioffi	....	post-production coordinator (23 episodes, 1987-1988)

Series Music Department
Alf Clausen	....	composer: theme music / composer: main title theme / ... (102 episodes, 1986-1990)
Tom Kramer	....	composer: theme music / composer: title theme (102 episodes, 1986-1990)

Series Other crew
Lisa Buckley	....	special assistant to Alf / personal assistant: "ALF" / ... (38 episodes, 1986-1990)
Bob Fappiano	....	special assistant to Alf / personal assistant: "ALF" / ... (38 episodes, 1986-1990)
Linda Fusco	....	technical supervisor (37 episodes, 1986-1990)
Scott Hopper	....	production assistant / stage manager / ... (36 episodes, 1986-1990)
Terrie Barna	....	assistant to producers (36 episodes, 1986-1989)
Sheila Lauder	....	production associate (35 episodes, 1986-1990)
Susan Polmanski	....	assistant to producers / production coordinator / ... (35 episodes, 1986-1990)
Steve Cioffi	....	production assistant (27 episodes, 1986-1987)
Katy Penland	....	assistant to producers (26 episodes, 1986-1987)
Vince Poxon	....	stage manager (26 episodes, 1986-1987)
David Steven Cohen	....	executive story consultant (26 episodes, 1988-1989)
Randy Sutter	....	production assistant / production coordinator (25 episodes, 1986-1989)
Howard Bendetson	....	executive story editor / creative consultant (25 episodes, 1986-1987)
Elizabeth Gower	....	personal assistant: "ALF" (25 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bob Bendetson	....	executive story editor (24 episodes, 1986-1987)
Donald Todd	....	story editor (24 episodes, 1986-1987)
William C. Irwin	....	technical director (23 episodes, 1986-1990)
Rick Gough	....	associate director (23 episodes, 1986-1987)
A.J. Johnson	....	stage manager (22 episodes, 1986-1989)
Lloyd Garver	....	creative consultant (21 episodes, 1986-1987)
Tom Kyle	....	technical director (15 episodes, 1986-1987)
Nancy Kirschner	....	production coordinator (14 episodes, 1986-1987)
Matt Avallone	....	production coordinator (13 episodes, 1987-1989)
Steve Pepoon	....	executive story editor / story editor / ... (13 episodes, 1988-1990)
Leslie Ann Podkin	....	assistant to producers / assistant to producer / ... (13 episodes, 1988-1990)
Tony Csiki	....	associate director (12 episodes, 1988-1990)
Steve Gabriel	....	production assistant (12 episodes, 1988-1990)
Theresa Mingin	....	production assistant / production coordinator (12 episodes, 1988-1990)
Leslie Rieder	....	production assistant (12 episodes, 1988-1990)
Brad Uecker	....	production assistant / production accountant (12 episodes, 1988-1990)
Paul Ohrt	....	production assistant (11 episodes, 1988-1989)
Scott R. Reynders	....	production assistant (11 episodes, 1988-1989)
Roger S.H. Schulman	....	executive story consultant (11 episodes, 1988-1989)
Sheryl E. Hurwitz	....	production assistant / production coordinator (10 episodes, 1988-1990)
Sandy Wernick	....	executive consultant (9 episodes, 1986-1990)
Mihaly 'Michu' Meszaros	....	personal assistant: "ALF" (9 episodes, 1986-1987)
Ron Burla	....	story editor (5 episodes, 1988-1989)
Erma Elzy-Jones	....	script supervisor / production associate (3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Laura Lonsdale	....	assistant to producers (3 episodes, 1986)
Wendy Neckels	....	production associate / associate director (3 episodes, 1988-1989)
Carl Lauten	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Thad Mumford	....	creative consultant (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
John Lovelady	....	personal assistant / technical supervisor (2 episodes, 1986)
Randy Sutton	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1987)
A.J. Johnson	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1988-1990)
David Cohen	....	executive story consultant (2 episodes, 1988-1989)
Sheila Lander	....	production associate (unknown episodes)
David Michaels	....	story editor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Alien Productions

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1986-1990) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Alien Productions
• Baby Records (Italy)
• DPI (France)
• Hrvatska Radiotelevizija (HRT) (2004) (Croatia) (TV)
• Kabel 1 (????) (Germany) (TV)
• Pro 7 (????) (Germany) (TV)
• RTL Television (2006) (Germany) (TV)
• Sat.1 (????) (Germany) (TV)
• Televisión Federal (Telefe) (Argentina)
• Veronica Television (1997-????) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Warner Bros. Television (1986) (USA) (TV)
• Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) (1988) (Germany) (TV)

Other Companies

• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

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:

Two kinds of ALF puppets were used: The first one was was remotely controlled and used for all shots where ALF was shown only from the stomach up (most shots). Whenever ALF's entire body incl. his feet were visible(occasionally), another puppet with a human inside it was used. This is easily discernible as the faces of these two puppets look quite different from one another.

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: [slowly enters kitchen] The Great Orange hunter stalks his prey.
[opens fridge]
ALF: Ah, he sees it. The illusive loin of Pork the most prized catch in the refridgidary jungle. What's this?
[picks a note off the food and reads it]
ALF: "ALF don't eat this" Why would I eat this?
[throws away the note]
ALF: Ever so deftly the great orange hunter maneuvers his weapon. He strikes.
[as he does this an earthquake starts]
ALF: Whoa. Has the hunter angered the gods? Okay, I won't eat pork.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Jon Bon Jovi/Foo Fighters (#33.3)" (2007)

Another Cool And Crazy Sitcom From The 1980s

This show was cool! Alf was an alien that crashed in the Tanner's family living room. Then he ended up staying there to live. He had to hide from other humans the first couple of seasons. Then the Ochmonics and the Tanner's mother in law discovered him. One serious episode was the Christmas episode. Alf stopped an old man from jumping off a bridge, helped deliver a baby, and became friends with a girl with leukemia. A silly episode was the Gilligan's Island episode. I can still hear Alf singing the Gilligan's Island theme song in my head today! The Alf cartoon was stupid. And when they added Alf Tales the second season, it made the cartoon more stupid! It was cool to see a movie called Project Alf years later. But why did Alf appear in stupid 1800COLLECT commercials?