credit: www.amazon.com
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: May 30, 2006
Number of Discs: 4
Number of Episodes: 27
Running Time: 550 Minutes
MSRP: $39.98
Creators:
Paul Fusco
Tom Patchett
Cast:
Paul Fusco …. ALF (Gordon Shumway) (voice)
Max Wright …. Willie Tanner
Anne Schedeen …. Kate Tanner
Andrea Elson …. Lynn Tanner
Benji Gregory …. Brian Tanner
John LaMotta …. Trevor Ochmonek
Liz Sheridan …. Raquel Ochmonek
Josh Blake …. Jake Ochmonek
The show:
(Note: When I took on this assignment I thought it would be fun. A nice trip down memory lane, I thought this was a good show when I was a kid…. Oh how wrong I was… and yes, I watched EVERY episode.)
The show ‘ALF’ is the story of an alien who escaped his home planet just before it was destroyed. He then crashed on earth and was expected into an American families life…. No, it’s not Superman. His name is Gordon Shumway and he’s from the planet Melmac, Willie dubbed him ALF and the rest is history.
So this is the third season of ‘ALF’, 27 episodes bring the grand total of the shows numbers to 78. The episodes in season 3 really aren’t that different from each other (accept for a few): ALF eats all the food, ALF spends loads of Willie’s money, ALF breaks something priceless of Kate’s, ALF tries to eat the cat, and ALF points out the faults of others with gusto while not acknowledging any of his own.
Some big things happen in the world of ALF this season. Kate gets pregnant (it was quite odd to see her have the baby then a couple episodes later see her pregnant again, hmmm….) (upon further research the episodes are not on the discs in order of air date, why?) and ALF moves from the garage up into the basement… and uh… I guess that’s it.
ALF is a selfish, self-indulgent mooch who doesn’t do anything nice for anyone unless it benefits him. When he makes a mistake he really doesn’t care. He’s not a likeable character in the least and one has to wonder who this show lasted as long as it did.
Watching this show posed a few questions:
How did this show get to a 3rd season?
And after that, how did it get a 4th season?
Were people stupid in the 80’s? Cause this show is not funny.
Why do the Tanners put up with him?
Why do the Tanners “love” him? He does nothing to earn this from them.
However, there were a few diamonds in the rough. Okay, maybe not diamonds more like cubic zirconias. Anyway, here are the best episodes:
Disc One:
Tonight, Tonight: ALF hosts The Tonight Show. Guests include: Ed McMahon, Dr. Joyce Brothers, & Rich Little. This is basically just a dressed up clip show. How they got all those guests to do the show is beyond me but it was pretty funny.
Disc Two:
Suspicious Minds: ALF thinks the guy who moved next door is Elvis Presley. Maybe it’s cause I’m a huge Elvis fan but this episode got more laughs out of me than any of them.
Disc Four:
Torn Between Two Lovers: Lynn has two dates to the dance (uh-oh!). Okay, not a good episode but her boyfriend has a sweet mullet that’s worth mentioning.
One thing that’s interesting to note is that the two best episodes were co-written by Al Jean, who went on to be one of the producers and writers of ‘The Simpsons’ in the good ol’ days.
Mr. Shumway, himself.
The DVD:
VIDEO: How does it look?
(Presented with a 4.3:1 full screen aspect ratio)
For a show almost 20 years old, it looks pretty good. These are the syndicated versions of the episodes. I’m not complaining, these episodes are long enough as it is.
Score: 8/10
AUDIO: How does it sound?
(Dolby 2.0 Surround)
Again, for an old show it sounds fine. Although, the laugh track gets really annoying.
Score: 7/10
SPECIAL FEATURES:
On each disc ALF introduces each disc then provides a little synopsis for each episode. Alf also tells that his cartoon is coming out on DVD soon. That’s it. Pretty lame.
Score: 1/10
| InsidePulse’s Ratings for ALF | |
