By Michael Lyons
In the fall of 1986, when ALF debuted, no one knew what to expect about a family sitcom that featured a puppet that was supposed to be an alien from another planet (an "Alien Life Form" - ALF). But no one could have also expected positive reviews from The New York Times and The Washington Post.
This was probably an early indication of why ALF would become a surprise hit, not just with younger audiences but all demographics, and would go on for another four years.
The show's thirty-fifth anniversary this month provides an ideal opportunity to celebrate ALF, which, for multiple generations, provides comforting nostalgia of an '80's childhood.
The brainchild of puppeteer Paul Fusco, who operated ALF and provided the voice. He had even used the puppet to pitch the idea for the show to then-NBC President Brandon Tartikoff.
The show's premise is that ALF, whose real name is Gordon Shumway, is a smart-aleck alien from the planet Melmac. He crashes in the garage of the average American home of the Tanners, led by put-upon Dad (played to exhausted perfection by the underrated Max Wright). The Tanners take ALF in to keep him hidden from a government agency that may be searching for him. Meanwhile, ALF attempts to work on his spacecraft, hopes to return home, and learns about the earth.
The premise of an alien studying our planet was nothing new to prime-time TV sitcoms, with shows like My Favorite Martian and Mork & Mindy coming before ALF. Still, the concept does allow for social commentary disguised as harmless comedy.
This is what else was unique about ALF and connected with audiences. The series featured sharp writing that, while going for easy laughs, was also a quick jab that humorously held a mirror up to the world. "Some people are so blinded by the thirst for money that it causes them to lose their values and do things they shouldn't do," explained Willie in one episode. To which ALF replies, "Well, that explains Ghostbusters II."
In addition to such sharp one-liners, ALF also tackled such complex topics as nuclear war, alcoholism, consumerism, and family, without ever forgetting it was a comedy.
Debuting on September 22, 1986, on NBC, ALF was a hit, running through March of 1990. The title character was ubiquitous on merchandise throughout its run. ALF plush dolls, lunch boxes, and trading cards were just some of the many products.
There were also Saturday morning cartoon spin-offs, ALF: The Animated Series and ALF Tales. The original show, however, never got its series finale. The show's last episode, "Consider Me Gone," ended on a cliffhanger, as the creators didn't realize that NBC would cancel the show.
To provide closure for fans, a made-for-TV movie, Project: ALF, aired in 1996 on ABC to tie up loose ends.
The character also returned for the short-lived ALF's Hit Talk Show, which aired on TV Land in 2004.
For fans of ALF, the original show lives on in fond memories of another time in TV history. It provided laughs and escape, and while the felt and fur title character was, in no way, a role model, he was still beloved by many viewers who will never forget him.
Or, as ALF himself once said: "If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it's yours. if it's run over by a car, you don't want it."
Sources:
FilmFax Magazine, July-September, 2021
IMDb
Wikipedia
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