ALF (character)

{{Short description|Protagonist and titular character of American television series ALF}} {{Other uses|ALF (disambiguation)#Fictional characters}} {{Infobox character | name = {{ubl|Gordon Shumway|"ALF"}} | series = ALF | image = GordonShumway.png | caption = Gordon "ALF" Shumway in ''ALF'' | first = "A.L.F." | creator = Paul Fusco | lbl1 = Performed by | data1 = Paul Fusco | lbl2 = {{nowrap|Portrayed by}} | data2 = Michu Meszaros {{nowrap|(In-suit performer, ''ALF'' season 1)}} | full_name = Gordon Shumway | nickname = {{ubl|ALF|Gordo}} | species = Melmacian | gender = Male | family = {{ubl|Bob Shumway (father)|Flo Shumway (mother)|Curtis Shumway (brother)|Augie Shumway (sister)|Sherman Shumway (great great grandfather)}} | significant_other = Rhonda (girlfriend) | origin = Melmac }} '''Gordon Shumway''', also known as '''ALF''' (acronym for "Alien Life Form"), is the protagonist and title character of the American television series ''ALF'' and its animated spin-offs, ''ALF: The Animated Series'', and ''ALF Tales''. ALF also starred in the poorly received television film ''Project ALF'', and hosted the short lived talk show ''ALF's Hit Talk Show''. Paul Fusco created and plays ALF, and he also provides the voice for the character. On ''ALF'', Lisa Buckley and Bob Fappiano assisted Fusco with performing the furry brown alien. During the first season of ''ALF'', Michu Meszaros occasionally wore a full costume when full body shots were needed of the character.

Since ''ALF'', the character has appeared in various other media, including television series, comic books, and video games.

==Concept and creation== Paul Fusco created the character in 1984 using an alien-looking puppet, that he used to annoy his family and friends. Bernie Brillstein was approached to see Fusco's audition with a puppet character but was initially uninterested, having managed Jim Henson for years by that point, and regarding Henson as the best puppeteer in the business. However, Fusco's brief performance as ALF won over Brillstein, who thought the character was hilarious and strong enough to be the focus of a series.<ref>Brillstein, Bernie and David Rensin(2004). The Little Stuff Matters Most, {{ISBN|1-59240-079-5}}</ref><ref name="history">{{cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/86458/out-world-oral-history-alf|title=Out of This World: An Oral History of ALF|date=September 22, 2016|last=Rossen|first=Jake|access-date=June 12, 2020|publisher=Mental Floss}}</ref>

Fusco was notoriously secretive about his character up until the series' premiere. During the show's production, Fusco refused to acknowledge that the puppet ALF was anything other than an alien. All involved with the production were cautioned not to reveal any of ALF's production secrets.<ref name="history"/>

To avoid wear and tear on the principal ALF puppet, the performers rehearsed with a crude early version of ALF, nicknamed "RALF" for (''Rehearsal Alien Life Form'' or ''Repulsive Alien Life Form'').<ref name="history"/><ref name="UConn">{{cite web | title=Paul and Linda Fusco speaking at the Litchfield County Writers Project; University of Connecticut: Torrington Campus; Drama 251: American Film; April 4, 2007 | via=YouTube | url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_bnq0ebgw | access-date = November 30, 2012}}</ref> Fusco did not like to rehearse and would often substitute his hand or RALF for the real ALF puppet during rehearsals.<ref name="UConn"/>

==Performance== To perform the titular alien on the ''ALF'' sitcom, Paul Fusco inserted his left hand into the head of the ALF puppet to perform the character's mouth, leaving his right hand to serve as ALF's right arm. Underneath the trap doors and holes on the set floor, Fusco would be assisted by a second puppeteer, Lisa Buckley, who was responsible for controlling the character's left hand. From off-screen, a third puppeteer, Bob Fappiano, would operate his eyes and other facial features via remote control. In recent years, Paul Fusco's wife, Linda Fusco, has regularly operated ALF's left hand.

When creating ALF's voice, Fusco initially took inspiration from that of Rowlf the Dog, a Muppet character performed by his creator, Jim Henson. Rowlf's gruff voice, though, ended up straining Fusco's vocal cords, which led him to invent a new voice that was much lighter, until it evolved into ALF's voice as it is known today. However, in early episodes of the series, ALF speaks with a voice reminiscent of the earlier, Rowlf-esque voice.<ref name="history"/><ref name="UConn" />

During the first season of ''ALF'', whenever the character had to be seen in full-bodied shots, Hungarian actor Michu Meszaros would don a life-sized ALF costume. However, Meszaros's services became too costly, and the regular ALF puppet would be used for all of his scenes on the show.

== Physiology and abilities==

Alf was largely depicted as living a forced sedentary lifestyle in the series due to being required to remain in the Tanner home and backyard in order to avoid detection and capture by the Alien Task Force. However, the character indicated he had been involved in some version of Melmac's military, as he references an organization known as the Orbit Guard, and claims he had been given orders to mobilize not long before the destruction of the planet.

Despite his size, he was indicated in the pilot to be surprisingly heavy, and his heart was inferred to be located in the upper right side of his head. In the season two episode ''Something's Wrong With Me'', he claimed to have eight stomachs, which he stated to be roughly 80% of a Melmacian's primary organs. Throughout the series, Alf's body was depicted to be considerably denser and hardier than that of humans, as he survived several close range explosions with little physiological damage, though he did contract amnesia during season one in the two-part episode ''Try to Remember'' as the result of electric shock (later broadcasts of the episode would edit this to being a head injury of unknown cause).

In the season one episode ''Wild Thing'', Alf warned the Tanners of (and later underwent) what he called a "complex physiological and psychological transformation", which he stated all Melmacians go through every 75 years. This caused the individual to compulsively seek out cats, and required them to be locked away for a roughly twelve hour period from sunset to sunrise. The change also gave Alf previously unknown abilities, such as the capacity for seemingly flawless imitation, as he would duplicate the voices of Lynn, Brian, and Willie Tanner in rapid succession. The character saw an increase in speed, stealth, and strength during the episode. Evading the Tanners when he escaped confinement and stealing the Ochmonech's riding lawn mower, he travelled to a zoo, where he kidnapped a tiger off-screen, hinting at the enhancement to his physical strength during his transformation. Alf eventually returned to the Tanner home, seemingly drawn there by Brian Tanner's attempts to lure him back to the house via Alf's claimed capacity for telepathy with thoughts of a fork, concluding a running joke begun earlier in the episode.

In the comics produced by Marvel, Alf displayed the ability to turn invisible for limited periods of time by eating sponges. He also displayed the ability to attain superhuman strength due to the Melmacian body being able to develop musculature rapidly. In the issue, Alf claimed to have strength approaching that of the Grey Hulk, and was shown lifting the Tanner home completely off its foundations.

==Appearances== ===''ALF''=== In ''ALF'', ALF is an alien from the planet Melmac who has arrived on planet Earth, and lands in the Tanner family's garage. On Melmac, ALF was a member of the planet's Orbit Guard.<ref name="HMR"/> He was given the nickname "ALF", by Willie Tanner in the pilot episode. ALF was born on October 28, 1756.<ref name="MentalFloss">{{cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/55889/25-fun-facts-about-alf|title=25 Fun Facts About ALF|last=Erbland|first=Kate|date=January 4, 2016|access-date=June 10, 2020|publisher=Mental Floss}}</ref> He is troublesome, sarcastic, and cynical. ALF is generally regarded as one of the only Melmacians to survive his home planet's cataclysm. ALF stayed at the Tanner's house, in order to stay hidden from the government, and very rarely interacted with anyone outside of the family.<ref name="history"/><ref name="MentalFloss"/> In an episode from the first season, "Help Me, Rhonda", Willie is able to contact ALF's friend from Melmac, Skip, and Skip offers to fly by Earth to pick up ALF. ALF initially decides to go with Skip, but later changes his mind and decides he would rather stay with the Tanners instead.<ref name="HMR">{{cite episode|title=Help Me, Rhonda|episode-link=ALF (season 1)#ep7|series=ALF|network=NBC|date=November 10, 1986|season=1|number=7}}</ref>

Due to the series becoming popular with children, ALF didn't drink any alcohol after the first season,<ref name="MentalFloss"/> because NBC thought it made him a bad role model for children.<ref name="UConn"/> ALF is also known to try to eat cats, including the Tanner family cat, Lucky;<ref name="SYFY">{{cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/heres-more-than-everything-youll-ever-need-to-know-about-alf|title=Here's More Than Everything You'll Ever Need To Know About ALF|date=March 15, 2015|last=Zakarin|first=Jordan|access-date=June 10, 2020|publisher=SYFY|archive-date=January 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123213348/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/heres-more-than-everything-youll-ever-need-to-know-about-alf|url-status=dead}}</ref> this later stopped after an episode in which ALF tried to microwave Lucky caused a child to try and microwave their own cat.<ref name="UConn"/><ref name="MentalFloss"/> Also, the episode "Try to Remember" depicted ALF using an electric mixer in a bathtub and getting amnesia, which caused a child to attempt this and nearly electrocute himself. The episode was then edited for all future airings, with ALF slipping in the shower instead, causing the amnesia.<ref name="UConn"/> The episode also began with a PSA featuring ALF explaining the dangers of such actions.

===''ALF: The Animated Series''=== [[File:GordonShumway animated.png|right|thumb|130px|Gordon in ''ALF: The Animated Series'']] ''ALF: The Animated Series'', a spin-off of ''ALF'', depicts ALF's life on Melmac before it exploded.<ref name="Erickson"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_best_and_worst_tv_shows_about_outer_space/s1__32132597#slide_15|title=The best and worst TV shows about outer space|last=Morgan|first=Chris|date=June 5, 2020|access-date=June 10, 2020|publisher=Yard Barker}}</ref> As the animated series takes place before ALF's life on Earth, he goes by his real name of "Gordon". Each episode depicts ALF and his family in some kind of wacky situation. His family members are his father Bob, his mother Flo, his younger brother Curtis, his little sister Augie, his dog Neep, and his bird Harry. Gordon has two friends named Skip, another named Rick Fusterman, and a girl he adores named Rhonda.<ref name="ScienceFiction">{{cite web|url=https://sciencefiction.com/2020/01/04/super-saturday-alf-1987/|title=Super Saturday: 'ALF' (1987)|last=Motes|first=Jax|date=January 4, 2020|access-date=June 10, 2020|publisher=ScienceFiction.com}}</ref>

===''ALF Tales''=== In ''ALF Tales'', a spin-off of ''ALF: The Animated Series'', ALF and the other characters from ''ALF: The Animated Series'' portray various characters from fairy tales, in a more comedic manner than the original fairy tales.<ref name="Erickson">{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |page=72}}</ref><ref name="Perlmutter">{{cite book |last1=Perlmutter |first1=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |pages=20–21}}</ref> Occasionally in the series, ALF broke the fourth wall, and was seen preparing for the episode.

===''Project ALF''=== ''Project ALF'' was a 1996 television movie that was intended to wrap up the cliffhanger from the series finale of ''ALF''. In the movie, ALF was on a military base after being captured by the Alien Task Force.<ref name="history"/> The film was intended to also be a backdoor pilot for a new series, but was poorly received by the audience, partly due to the absence of the Tanners.<ref name="history"/>

===''ALF's Hit Talk Show''=== In 2004, ALF hosted the short lived talk show ''ALF's Hit Talk Show''.<ref name="history"/> It was originally intended to be a one time special, but gained enough viewers for more episodes.<ref>Susman, Gary [https://ew.com/article/2004/06/30/alf-gets-his-own-talk-show/ From Carnac to Melmac] ''Entertainment Weekly'' (June 30, 2004). Retrieved November 14, 2010</ref> The series is considered to be a flop and has been considered one of the worst talk shows in history.<ref>Harrington, Amy & Harrington, Nancy [https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/worst-talk-shows-in-tv-history/ Worst Talk Shows in TV History] FoxNews.com (November 6, 2009). Retrieved November 14, 2010</ref>

===Future appearances=== ====Film==== In 2012, it was announced that Fusco was pitching an ALF film.<ref>{{cite news|last=Zakarin|first=Jordan|title=Greetings From Melmac: ALF Creator Paul Fusco on His Star Alien and Potential Comeback|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/alf-creator-paul-fusco-movie-melmac-327330|access-date=August 9, 2012|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 22, 2012}}</ref> The film later reported to be a CGI-Live action hybrid film, to be developed by Sony Pictures Animation, with Jordan Kerner set to produce the film with Fusco and ''ALF'' co-creator, Tom Patchett.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kit|first=Borys|title='ALF' Movie Lands at Sony Animation With 'Smurfs' Producer (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/sony-pictures-animation-alf-jordan-kerner-paul-fusco-360011|access-date=August 9, 2012|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 8, 2012}}</ref> {{As of|October 2022}}, no more information has been given about the film, including whether or not it is still in development.

====''ALF'' reboot==== In 2018, it was reported that Warner Bros. was working on an ''ALF'' reboot, likely about ALF returning to earth and living with a new family.<ref>{{cite news|last=Konerman|first=Jennifer|title='ALF' TV Reboot in the Works at Warner Bros.|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/alf-tv-reboot-works-at-warner-bros-1131450|access-date=August 1, 2018|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 1, 2018}}</ref> Later that year the reboot was reported as canceled.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/no-need-to-hide-your-cats-that-alf-reboot-is-dead-1830381469|title=No need to hide your cats, that ALF reboot is dead|last=McLevy|first=Alex|website=News.avclub.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref> However, an article about the ''Head of the Class'' reboot in development at HBO Max, published by ''Deadline'' in May 2020, stated that the reboot is on the HBO Max development slate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/05/head-of-the-class-reboot-from-american-vandal-producers-scrubs-duo-bill-lawrence-pilot-order-hbo-max-1202932582/|title='Head Of The Class' Reboot Produced By Bill Lawrence Gets Pilot Order & Backup Scripts At HBO Max|date=May 12, 2020|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|access-date=June 15, 2020|publisher=Deadline}}</ref>

===Other media=== ====Marvel comics==== An ''ALF'' comic book was published by Marvel Comics,<ref name="Drax">{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/guardians-galaxy-drax-loves-alf/|title=The Guardians of the Galaxy Reveal ALF's Biggest Fan|date=May 2, 2020|access-date=June 12, 2020|last=Jung|first=Michael|website=Screen Rant }}</ref> under the banner of Star Comics. The ''ALF'' comic began in 1988 and ran for almost four years, totaling 50 issues and 3 annuals. For virtually the entire series' run, the creative team was: Michael Gallagher (script) and Dave Manak and Marie Severin (art). The comic loosely followed the continuity of the television show, and had a three stories per issue: two in the TV series universe and another inspired in the Cartoon with stories about Melmac.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://noiselesschatter.com/2016/03/03/guest-post-a-look-at-the-alf-comic-series-part-one/|title=Guest Post: A Look at the ALF Comic Series (Part One)|date=March 3, 2016|access-date=June 12, 2020|last=Roberson|first=Casey}}</ref>

====Guest appearances==== Due to the character's popularity, ALF has made many guest appearances:

* ALF starred in the 1987 television special ''ALF Loves a Mystery'', in which ALF revealed NBC's Saturday morning lineup to the viewers.<ref name="history"/> * ALF was a semi-regular on the 1980s version of ''Hollywood Squares'', where he also hosted part of one episode in March 1987.<ref name="METV">{{cite web|url=https://www.metv.com/lists/alf-has-been-a-constant-presence-on-tv-for-three-decades-from-hollywood-squares-to-the-oreilly-factor|title=ALF has been a constant presence on TV for three decades, from 'Hollywood Squares' to 'The O'Reilly Factor'|date=May 31, 2017|author=MeTV Staff|access-date=June 12, 2020|publisher=MeTV}}</ref> Later, in February 2003, ALF appeared as a celebrity guest on the Tom Bergeron version of the series, during their annual College Tournament. * ALF appeared in a Season 2 episode of NBC's ''Matlock'' in 1987. He appeared on "Hollywood Today" where he talked about the late Greg Titleman.<ref name="history"/><ref>{{cite episode|title=The Network|episode-link=Matlock (season 2)#ep31|series=Matlock|network=NBC|date=December 1, 1987|season=2|number=8}}</ref> * ALF hosted the 1989 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.<ref name="METV"/> * In 1989, ALF gave a Public service announcement for the United States Department of the Interior.<ref name="METV"/> * The animated version of ALF also made an appearance in the "all-star" animated drug-prevention television special ''Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue'' in 1990.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue|episode-link=Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue|series=Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue|network=Multiple|date=April 21, 1990}}</ref> * ALF appeared in the ''Blossom'' episode "The Geek". He appears as the guardian to the Gates of Heaven in Blossom Russo's dream in which she has died upon donating her kidneys to the Pope. When Blossom notices the Stairs to Heaven, ALF stated that the Stairs of Heaven were installed for John Bonham and even states that everyone on Melmac has three kidneys...for lunch" (which ALF was kidding about). ALF denies Blossom entrance into Heaven upon her breaking the 11th Commandment that states "Thou Shall Not Geek" by dating Pinhead Fred and schedules her to be taken to Hell. On a related note, Blossom is shown to have a plush toy of ALF.<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Geek|episode-link=List of Blossom episodes#ep9|series=Blossom|network=NBC|date=February 25, 1991|season=1|number=9}}</ref> * ALF appeared in the German version of the dark ride ''Warner Bros. Classics & Great Gremlins Adventure'' at Warner Bros. Movie World Germany. For this ride, ALF was voiced by Tommi Piper. * ALF appeared in the ''Love Boat: The Next Wave'' episode "Trances of a Lifetime".<ref>{{cite episode|title=Trances of a Lifetime|episode-link=Love Boat: The Next Wave#ep22|series=Love Boat: The Next Wave|network=UPN|date=April 30, 1999|season=2|number=16}}</ref> * In the late 1990s, ALF hosted an episode of ''Talk Soup''.<ref name="METV"/> * In 2000, ALF appeared on ''The Cindy Margolis Show''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/tv/20010301alf2.asp|title='ALF" returns to Earth for Nick at Nite '80s special|date=March 1, 2001|access-date=June 15, 2020|last=Owen|first=Rob|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|archive-date=June 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615210619/http://old.post-gazette.com/tv/20010301alf2.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> * In 2002, ALF appeared in a series of commercials for the 10-10-220 telephone service with Terry Bradshaw, Hulk Hogan, Mike Piazza, Emmitt Smith, and Toby Keith.<ref name="METV"/> * In 2002, ALF appeared in NBC's 75th Anniversary Special.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greensboro.com/special-to-mark-nbcs-75th-year/article_f62cc687-1283-5ee9-95b5-5e89bac013f3.html|title=Special To Mark NBC's 75th Year|date=May 3, 2002|access-date=June 12, 2020|last=Boedeker|first=Hal|publisher=Greensboro News & Record}}</ref> * In 2003, ALF appeared on ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/jimmy-kimmel-live/cast/192260/#350348b8ed0d1972fb1467f319039bff|title=Jimmy Kimmel Live Cast and Characters|access-date=June 15, 2020|website=TVGuide}}</ref> * In November 2007, ALF appeared as "TV Icon of the Week" on ''The O'Reilly Factor''.<ref name="METV"/> * In October 2011, ALF appeared on ''Good Morning America'' during their ''Totally Awesome '80s Week''.<ref name="METV"/> * In September 2013, ALF made a cameo on ''Saturday Night Live'' as a guest to wedding of fictional character Stefon to Anderson Cooper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/19/showbiz/snl-stefon-anderson-cooper/index.html|title=Anderson Cooper jilted at the aisle in 'SNL' wedding|last=Duke|first=Alan|work=CNN|date=May 20, 2013|access-date=July 11, 2020}}</ref> * ALF has a cameo in the 2016 ''Funny or Die'' parody film ''Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie'' as Donald Trump's best man.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/ad38087bac/donald-trump-art-of-the-deal-movie?_cc=__d___&_ccid=ff9678931539adfa |title=Funny Or Die Presents Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie |website=Funnyordie.com |date=2016-02-10 |access-date=2016-02-10 |archive-date=2021-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226090032/https://www.funnyordie.com/authors/fodtrumpmovie |url-status=dead }}</ref> * ALF made an appearance in the sixth episode of ''Mr. Robot''{{'}}s second season, "eps2.4 m4ster-s1ave.aes", once again voiced by Fusco, during the majority of a dream that parodies mid-1980s to early 1990s sitcoms.<ref>{{cite episode|title=eps2.4_m4ster-s1ave.aes|episode-link=List of Mr. Robot episodes#ep16|series=Mr. Robot|network=USA Network|date=August 10, 2016|season=2|number=6}}</ref> * In January 2019, ALF appeared in the ''Young Sheldon'' episode "A Race of Superhumans and a Letter to Alf".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20181210cbs15/ |title= (#YS211) "A Race of Superhumans and a Letter to Alf" |work=The Futon Critic |access-date=December 12, 2018}}</ref> * ALF made an appearance in the sixth episode of ''Duncanville''. He is shown to work in an 80's-themed bar where he is the drummer of its house band.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Sister, Wife|episode-link=Duncanville (TV series)#ep6|series=Duncanville|network=FOX|date=March 22, 2020|season=1|number=6}}</ref> * In June 2020, ALF appeared during a Summer Game Fest livestream event as a "Tech Correspondent" where he claimed to have created ''Vocaloid'' character Hatsune Miku.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=Nibellion|number=1275084885582065668|date=June 22, 2020|title=Alf claims he is the creator of Hatsune Miku|retweet=Geoff Keighley|access-date=June 23, 2020}}</ref>

==Influence on popular culture== ===References in other media=== ALF has also often been referred to in various other media:

* ALF appeared in ''The Simpsons''. In "Homer's Barbershop Quartet", ALF appeared in the cover Us magazine in a flashback to the 1980s. In "Bart Sells His Soul", Milhouse sells Bart's soul for ALF Pogs.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Bart Sells His Soul|episode-link=Bart Sells His Soul|series=The Simpsons|network=FOX|date=October 8, 1995|season=7|number=4}}</ref> In "The Springfield Files", ALF (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) appeared in a police line-up along with several other aliens (some of them being Gort, Chewbacca and Marvin the Martian).<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Springfield Files|episode-link=The Springfield Files|series=The Simpsons|network=FOX|date=January 12, 1997|season=8|number=10}}</ref> In "Mayored to the Mob", ALF appears at the Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Mayored to the Mob|episode-link=Mayored to the Mob|series=The Simpsons|network=FOX|date=December 20, 1998|season=10|number=9}}</ref> In "Mobile Homer", ALF appears on a TV Guide Magazine cover where Homer uses trying to hit a spider. In "The Many Saints of Springfield", ALF (reprised by Paul Fusco) appears on a magazine cover during the episode's couch gag. When Homer states that ''ALF'' was cancelled too soon, the magazine cover comes to life, and ALF states that he was pleased with his show's cancellation. * ALF has appeared on ''Family Guy''. In "I Never Met the Dead Man", ALF was seen in Peter Griffin's dream sequence.<ref>{{cite episode|title=I Never Met the Dead Man|episode-link=I Never Met the Dead Man|series=Family Guy|network=FOX|date=April 11, 1999|season=1|number=2}}</ref> In "To Love and Die in Dixie", ALF appeared on an episode of ''E! True Hollywood Story''.<ref>{{cite episode|title=To Love and Die in Dixie|episode-link=To Love and Die in Dixie|series=Family Guy|network=FOX|date=November 15, 2001|season=3|number=12}}</ref> In "Brian Goes Back to College", Peter sees Brian at the convention wearing a bow tie and asks if he is ALF.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Brian Goes Back to College|episode-link=Brian Goes Back to College|series=Family Guy|network=FOX|date=November 13, 2005|season=4|number=15}}</ref> In "Wild Wild West", Peter tries to nominate ALF for Mayor. * In the 2002 film ''Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie'', Larry says that "ALF is on in a half an hour". * ALF appeared on Eminem's T-shirt in the 2009 music video "We Made You".<ref>{{cite AV media|title=We Made You|author=Eminem|author-link=Eminem|date=April 7, 2009|type=Music Video}}</ref> * In the 2010 film ''Hot Tub Time Machine'' an episode of ALF was seen on a TV screen in the ski lodge.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Hot Tub Time Machine|date=March 26, 2010|type=Film}}</ref> * ALF has appeared multiple times in ''Robot Chicken''. The episode "But Not In That Way" sees him voiced by Seth Green. When Willie Tanner (also voiced by Green) states that Lucky (depicted here as a female cat) has given birth to a litter of kittens, ALF congratulates the Tanners as he asks if anyone is going to freak if he "eats the afterbirth".<ref>{{cite episode|title=But Not In That Way|episode-link=Robot Chicken (season 4)#ep69|series=Robot Chicken|network=Adult Swim|date=February 1, 2009|season=4|number=9}}</ref> He appears in "Secret of the Booze" in a spoof of the ''Alien'' film franchise titled "Alien Life Form" as well as two short continuations titled "Alien Life Form 3" and "Alien Life Form: Resurrection". Here, he is voiced by Mikey Day. He reappears in a sketch in the episode "Your Mouth is Hanging Off Your Face" (again voiced by Day) where he shows Brian (voiced by Green) a rap video he filmed on Melmac, where he raps about his love for eating cats, more specifically, exotic and rare breeds, in contrast to most Melmacians. After watching the music video, Brian exclaims he wants to be just like ALF, not by rapping, but by attempting to eat the family cat Lucky. ALF chortles and asks Brian to save him some of the anus which he claims is "the best part". * An ALF doll appeared in ''The Big Bang Theory'' episode "The Precious Fragmentation". Howard Wolowitz finds an ALF doll in the stuff that he, Sheldon, Leonard, and Raj find at the garage sale after they followed some guy that they thought was Adam West. Howard mentioned that his mother got him an ALF doll sometime after his father left and that he had often imagined that his father was on Melmac.<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Precious Fragmentation|episode-link=The Big Bang Theory (season 3)#ep57|series=The Big Bang Theory|network=CBS|date=March 8, 2010|season=3|number=17}}</ref> * ALF made a cameo appearance in an '80s-themed in-flight safety video for Delta Air Lines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/watch-deltas-80s-themed-safety-video/story?id=22281188|title=Watch Delta's '80s-Themed Safety Video|date=January 29, 2014|last=Brown|first=Genevieve Shaw|access-date=June 12, 2020|work=ABC News}}</ref> * ALF appeared in a Super Bowl XLV commercial in 2011, along with a host of other classic TV show characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-nfl-debuts-super-bowl-xlv-commercials-115225394.html|title=The NFL Debuts Super Bowl XLV Commercials|date=February 3, 2011|author=Grey|access-date=June 12, 2020|publisher=PRNewsWire}}</ref> * ALF was referred to in the 2012 video game ''XCOM: Enemy Unknown''.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=XCOM: Enemy Unknown|author=Firaxis Games|author-link=Firaxis Games|date=October 9, 2012|type=Video Game}}</ref> * ALF appeared in a new series of commercials for US electronics store Radio Shack in 2014. The commercials premiered during the 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII. ALF appeared in one commercial with a selection of other celebrities and characters made famous during the 1980s, and a second commercial on his own in which a Radio Shack employee demonstrated a modern cellphone.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/01/19/media/radioshack-super-bowl-ad/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120004402/http://money.cnn.com/2015/01/19/media/radioshack-super-bowl-ad/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 20, 2015|title=RadioShack's big Super Bowl ad bet goes bust|date=January 19, 2015|last=La Monica|first=Paul R.|access-date=June 12, 2020|publisher=CNN}}</ref> * ''Permanent Midnight'', a film based on Jerry Stahl, tells the story of his writing career, including ALF. ALF is changed in the film to Mr. Chompers.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Permanent Midnight|date=September 16, 1998|type=Film}}</ref> * In the 2014 movie ''Guardians of the Galaxy'', ALF puffy stickers and trading cards can be seen affixed to Star-Lord's radio/tape deck.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Guardians of the Galaxy|date=August 1, 2014|type=Film}}</ref> * In 2014, ALF starred in a series of ads to promote the DirecTV service on Latin America. Under the hashtag #alfvuelve, the marketing campaign showed ALF enjoying DirecTV on his TV, in a cellphone and in a tablet.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ardila|first1=Ignacio|title=ALF Vuelve: Leo Burnett Colombia y Alpha245 Producen Campaña para DIRECTV Latinoamérica|url=http://www.revistapym.com.co/noticias/leo-burnett/alf-vuelve-leo-burnett-colombia-yalpha245-producen-campana-directv-latinoameric|publisher=Revista PyM|access-date=April 2, 2015|date=August 1, 2014|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402193006/http://www.revistapym.com.co/noticias/leo-burnett/alf-vuelve-leo-burnett-colombia-yalpha245-producen-campana-directv-latinoameric|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015, ALF appeared in Season Two of “Mr. Robot” as the driver of a car who runs over and kills a policeman and then drives off.

* In 2015, the ''Teen Titans Go!'' episode "Oil Drums", had leader Robin saying "Let's watch ''ALF'' again. I love ALF. Yes, eat that cat, ALF, eat him. He's hiding in the kitchen drawer, ALF. But be patient. Savor the hunt, you beast!"<ref>{{cite episode|title=Oil Drums|episode-link=List of Teen Titans Go! episodes#ep90|series=Teen Titans Go!|network=Cartoon Network|date=April 9, 2015|season=2|number=38}}</ref> * Professional Rugby union player Gareth Thomas is commonly known by the nickname "Alfie", due to his alleged resemblance to ALF.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/09/19/gareth-thomas-name-alfie-rugby-alf-the-alien-hiv-gay/|title = HIV and Me: Why is Gareth Thomas called Alfie?|date = 19 September 2019|access-date = 12 October 2020|archive-date = 12 October 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201012174625/https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/09/19/gareth-thomas-name-alfie-rugby-alf-the-alien-hiv-gay/|url-status = dead}}</ref> * The Guardians of the Galaxy character Drax the Destroyer is shown to be a fan of ALF.<ref name="Drax"/> * ALF dolls have appeared on ''The Goldbergs''.<ref name="METV"/> * An issue of a Marvel ''ALF'' comic appears in the 2022 ''I Am Groot'' short "Magnum Opus". * ALF appeared on ''Impractical Jokers'', where he and the jokers punish fellow joker and ALF fan Q by making him guess the hidden ingredients that he's eating in each dish from ALF's fictional cookbook. * In an episode of ''Archer'' the eponymous protagonist used 'Gordon Shumway' as a cover identity while going undercover at a wedding in Minnesota. * In the 2023 movie Robot Dreams, ALF appears on a TV Shows Magazine cover.

===Merchandise=== Like many shows of its day, ''ALF'' was also the subject of a trading card series by Topps. Most featured stills from various episodes, but a few cards parodied baseball cards by depicting players of the Melmacian sport "Bouillabaisseball," complete with stats such as "Splats". The yellow-bordered first series was released in 1987, with a red-bordered second series released in 1988.<ref>{{cite news | last = Weinstein | first = Steve | title = ALF: The Star Trek of NBC's Furry Resident Alien : From Kids' Coloring Books to Adult Humor Publications, Cuddly Character Is Sending Merchandisers Into Orbit | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-23-ca-20778-story.html| date = December 23, 1987| newspaper = Los Angeles Times | access-date = August 26, 2010}}</ref>

''ALF''-related merchandise was sold during the show's original run, including a 1987 22-inch plush doll produced by Coleco, and a 1988 calendar with Melmac's planetary holidays, such as "Shout at a Shrub Day", prominently marked.<ref>{{cite news | title = Coleco Plays The Odds, Pays For Ads For 'Alf' |newspaper = Los Angeles Times| date = August 26, 1986 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-08-26-ca-17809-story.html | access-date = August 26, 2010 | first = Morgan | last = Gendel}}</ref> In 1987, over $250 million in ALF merchandise were sold, including $85 million worth of Coleco's dolls.<ref name="history"/>

=== Music === In 1987, Dutch remixer and producer Ben Liebrand created a song called "Stuck on Earth" with samples from an episode of ''ALF''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mixhistory.mixfreaks.nl/Liebrand/mini1987.html |title=DMH:Ben Liebrand MINIMIX |website=Mixhistory.mixfreaks.nl |date= |access-date=September 29, 2010 |archive-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315205818/https://mixhistory.mixfreaks.nl/Liebrand/mini1987.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The single charted at No. 4 in the Netherlands,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Alf&titel=Stuck+On+Earth&cat=s|title=dutchcharts.nl > ALF – Stuck on Earth|language=Dutch|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=May 21, 2018}}</ref> No. 24 on the Finland's sales-only chart,<ref name = "Finland">{{cite book |url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=14|first=Timo |last=Pennanen |year=2021 |title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 |section=ALF|page=14|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava |location=Helsinki|access-date=June 20, 2022}}</ref> No. 14 in the Flanders region of Belgium,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/4c20/Alf-Stuck-On-Earth|title=Ultratop > ALF – Stuck on Earth|language=Dutch|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=May 21, 2018}}</ref> No. 28 in Germany,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-19488|title=ALF – Stuck on Earth (single)|language=German|publisher=GfK Entertainment|access-date=May 21, 2018}}</ref> and No. 3 in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web|title=charts.nz > ALF – Stuck on Earth (song) |url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Alf&titel=Stuck+On+Earth&cat=s |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=15 November 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref>

During 1988, Burger King ran a promotion called "The Many Faces of ALF," giving away themed ALF puppets and a cardboard record with each kids meal. These records featured original recordings sung by ALF&nbsp;– titled "Melmac Girls", "Cookin' with ALF", "Melmac Rock", and "Take Me, ALF, to the Ballgame".<ref name="MentalFloss"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/ALF-The-Many-Faces-Of-ALF-Melmac-Rock/release/1487210|title=ALF (2) – The Many Faces Of ALF: Melmac Rock|website=Discogs}}</ref>

Tommi Piper, the actor who dubbed ALF's voice for German audiences, spent twelve weeks in the German pop charts in 1989. The single featured Amélie Sandmann (as the voice of Rhonda) and was called "Hallo ALF Hier Ist Rhonda" (translated "Hello ALF, This Is Rhonda"). He also featured as ALF on various themed mix albums introducing songs by pop artists of the time and other original compositions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chartsurfer.de/artist/tommy-piper-singt-alf/hallo-alf-hier-ist-rhonda-song_gchv.html|title=Hallo Alf, Hier Ist Rhonda|website=ChartSurfer}}</ref>

===Video games=== There are six video games and one printing program based on ''ALF'': 1987's ''ALF'', also known as ''ALF: The First Adventure'', for various computer systems, such as the Commodore 64, IBM, and Apple II,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/msdos_ALF_-_The_First_Adventure_1987|title = ALF - the First Adventure|year = 1987}}</ref> 1989's ''ALF'' for the Master System,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smstributes.co.uk/viewuserreview.asp?gameid=8&userreviewid=719 |title=Alf Game Review|publisher=SMS Tributes|date=2009-12-21|access-date= 2010-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419041330/http://www.smstributes.co.uk/viewuserreview.asp?gameid=8&userreviewid=719|archive-date=19 April 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref> four educational games for IBM and Apple II computers released in 1988 called ''ALF's U.S. Geography'', ''ALF's Thinking Skills'', ''ALF's World of Words'', and ''Add & Subtract With ALF'', and the printing program ''ALF's Party Kit''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/games/alfs-us-geography/videos/|title=ALF'S U.S. Geography Videos|access-date=June 12, 2020|website=GameSpot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://classicreload.com/alfs-thinking-skills.html|title=ALF's Thinking Skills|access-date=June 12, 2020|website=Classic Reload|date=3 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/alfs-world-of-words/3030-39952/|title=ALF's World of Words|access-date=June 12, 2020|website=Giant Bomb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/games/add-and-subtract-with-alf/|title=Add & Subtract With ALF|access-date=June 12, 2020|website=GameSpot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://classicreload.com/alfs-party-kit.hml|title=ALF's Party Kit|access-date=June 12, 2020|website=Class Reload|date=16 July 2016}}</ref>

===Other=== ALF was invited to the White House by First Lady Nancy Reagan to the 1987 White House Christmas Party, where President Ronald Reagan told Fusco that ''ALF'' was his favorite show.<ref name="history"/> In 2019, it was reported that a New Haven, Connecticut resident was working to get a statue of ALF placed in the city. Fusco is a New Haven native.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Fundraiser-underway-to-erect-Alf-statue-in-New-14051024.php|title=ALF, that endearing alien hatched in Greater New Haven, might get a statue|date=June 26, 2019|last=Lambert|first=Ben|access-date=June 15, 2020|publisher=New Haven Register}}</ref>

An ALF podcast "ALFsplaining" was launched in 2024 with contributions from writers Al Jean and Mike Reiss.

==Reception== ''TV Guide'' ranked ALF #8 on its "25 Greatest Sci-Fi Legends" list.<ref>{{cite book|title=TV Guide Book of Lists|year=2007|publisher=Running Press|isbn=978-0-7624-3007-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/tvguidebookoflis0000unse/page/168 168]|url=https://archive.org/details/tvguidebookoflis0000unse/page/168}}</ref> MeTV ranked ALF #2 on its list of top TV aliens, behind only Star Trek's Mr. Spock.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metv.com/lists/tv-aliens-ranked|title=TV aliens, ranked|date=May 1, 2017|author=MeTV Staff|access-date=June 22, 2020|publisher=MeTV}}</ref> On its list of "10 Most Loveable Aliens In Sci-Fi TV History", Screen Rant ranked ALF at #5.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/tv-sci-fi-loveable-aliens/|title=10 Most Loveable Aliens In Sci-Fi TV History|date=November 29, 2019|last=Stalberg|first=Allison|publisher=Screen Rant|access-date=June 22, 2020}}</ref> ALF also won the award for Favorite TV Actor at the 1989 Kids' Choice Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nick.com/kids-choice-awards/all-winners|title=All Winners {{!}} Kids' Choice Awards {{!}} Nickelodeon|publisher=Nickelodeon}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{ALF}} {{Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Male TV Star}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:ALF (TV series) Category:Extraterrestrial characters in television Category:Male characters in television Category:Puppets Category:Science fiction television characters Category:Television characters introduced in 1986 Category:Warner Bros. Television Studios characters