season 1 - Latest News & Reviews

SummaryGordon Shumway, last known survivor from the planet Melmac, crash-lands his spaceship into the Tanner family's suburban garage. Willie dubs him "ALF", short for Alien Life Form. After convincing a military officer that they are not harboring a space creature, the Tanners decide to take ALF in as a member of the family.

Created By:Tom Patchett, Paul Fusco

❮ ALF

Season 1

5 Seasons

Season Premiere:

Sep 22, 1986

Metascore

Mixed or Average

Based on 7 Critic Reviews

User score

Universal Acclaim

Based on 14 User Ratings

8.4

My Score

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Apr 1, 2022 • 24 m

Original Unaired Pilot

The Tanner family is having an ordinary life until late that night a UFO crashes into their garage, leaving them with a being from another world.

Episode 1 • Sep 22, 1986 • 21 m

A.L.F.

Alien life form Gordon Shumway crash lands into the garage of the Tanner family. The Tanners call him "ALF" decide to keep his presence a secret so that the U.S. Government will not take away the space being and subject him to experiments.

Episode 2 • Sep 29, 1986 • 22 m

Strangers in the Night

When everyone is leaving the house for the night except Brian and ALF, Kate doesn't want ALF to babysit him, so they ask Mrs. Ochmonek to babysit. When Mrs. Ochmonek starts to watch Psycho (1960), ALF tries to sneak out of the bedroom.

Episode 3 • Oct 6, 1986 • 22 m

Looking for Lucky

Lucky is missing and the evidence suggests that ALF ate Lucky, although he claims to be innocent.

Episode 4 • Oct 13, 1986 • 21 m

Pennsylvania 6-5000

ALF, having lost his planet in an explosion, becomes very concerned about earth's nuclear proliferation. He uses Willie's short wave radio to contact the President aboard Air Force One - to the great displeasure of the FBI.

Episode 5 • Oct 20, 1986 • 22 m

Keepin' the Faith

ALF is insulted that the Tanners consider him a parasite. He tries to make money to be less of a burden on the family, but puts Willie's credit card over the limit purchasing "Terry Faith Cosmetics" to sell at a house party.

Episode 6 • Nov 3, 1986 • 21 m

For Your Eyes Only

Alf becomes the friend of a lonely blind woman.

Episode 7 • Nov 10, 1986 • 30 m

Help Me, Rhonda

To cheer up the sad ALF, Brian and Willie start broadcasting a message into space - and are very surprised when old friends of ALF answer them and offer to pick up ALF.

Episode 8 • Nov 17, 1986 • 30 m

Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue?

ALF develops a crush on Lynn and starts to sabotage the dates with her boyfriend Scott while trying to come up with something to impress her.

Episode 9 • Nov 24, 1986 • 22 m

Jump

When ALF finds an old bucket list of Kate and Willie, Willie starts to have second thoughts about the things he did not do in life - he decides to do a parachute jump he always wanted to dare.

Episode 10 • Dec 1, 1986 • 22 m

Baby, You Can Drive My Car

ALF buys a car for Lynn after the family car continues to be unreliable.

Episode 11 • Dec 8, 1986 • 30 m

On the Road Again

Leaving ALF alone is a recipe for disaster so the family takes him along in the RV. The weather turns stormy and ALF gets bored sitting in the RV and starts complaining. Willie goes mental and kicks out ALF. In defiance, ALF wanders off.

Episode 12 • Dec 22, 1986 • 22 m

Oh, Tannerbaum

It's Christmas time. Unfortunately ALF chops the Christmas tree into firewood before anyone notices. The Tanners then have two tasks: To teach ALF all about Christmas and find a new Christmas tree as well.

Episode 13 • Jan 12, 1987 • 22 m

Mother and Child Reunion

Kate's mother arrives for a surprise visit that forces the Tanners to lock ALF in the garage. The problem is that ALF just can't stand being not allowed to roam around in the house, so he just has to do something.

Episode 14 • Jan 19, 1987 • 22 m

A Little Bit of Soap

Dorothy thinks ALF's favorite TV soap opera is sleaze, and shows him her favorite which ALF thinks is boring. Angered, ALF argues that he could write a better script than the writers. So ALF actually writes a script and sends it in.

Episode 15 • Feb 2, 1987 • 22 m

I've Got a New Attitude

ALF plays matchmaker with Dorothy and her new boyfriend Whizzer.

Episode 16 • Feb 9, 1987 • 46 m

Try to Remember: Part 1

ALF bumps his head and loses his memory. All he knows is that his name is Wayne Schlagel and that he's an insurance agent. The Tanners try to make ALF remember who he really is.

Episode 17 • Feb 9, 1987 • 21 m

Try to Remember: Part 2

ALF still believes that his name is insurance agent Wayne Schlagel and has also called the police to the Tanners. The Tanners have only a short while, so they try to make ALF remember who he really is by telling more stories from the past.

Episode 18 • Feb 16, 1987 • 30 m

Border Song

While ALF now is into gardening, Willie has a problem at work: A lost Mexican boy is at his office and Willie is trying to track down his father. When that fails, Willie has no option but to bring the boy home.

Episode 19 • Mar 2, 1987 • 19 m

Wild Thing

ALF enters a phase where his erratic behavior and hunger for cats will, as he says, make him into a lunatic. He wants Willie to build a cage where he can be locked in until the phase is over. But ALF has the great ability to deceive.

Episode 20 • Mar 16, 1987 • 30 m

Going Out of My Head Over You

Tired of lying to keep ALF a secret to others, Willie goes to see a therapist.

Episode 21 • Mar 23, 1987 • 30 m

Lookin' Through the Windows

During a power outage, ALF believes that Raquel was murdered by Trevor when he watches them have arguments through their windows.

Episode 22 • Mar 27, 1987 • 21 m

It Isn't Easy... Bein' Green

Willie is making the final changes to Brian's song in the school pageant where the kids dress as vegetables. Unfortunately, Brian forgets the lyrics. ALF, who has been introduced to rap music by Lynn, offers to help.

Episode 23 • Apr 6, 1987 • 30 m

The Gambler

ALF discovers the alluring world of horse racing thanks to Kate's mom who bets on them. When the concept of a bookie is explained to ALF, he gets the bright idea of getting the Tanners some money through betting.

Episode 24 • Apr 13, 1987 • 22 m

Weird Science

Brian needs to come up with a project for the Science Carnival. On his own, Brian creates a model of the Solar System. ALF points out that there are inaccuracies and offers to help. He tells Brian that there are two more planets.

Episode 25 • May 4, 1987 • 22 m

La Cuckaracha

An insect from Melmac has an unexpected reaction when exposed to earthly chemicals.

Episode 26 • May 11, 1987 • 21 m

Come Fly with Me

When ALF wins a free weekend at a vacation home, Trevor offers to fly everyone there with his plane. ALF, who doesn't want to pass on the free holiday, smuggles himself aboard as cargo.

Critic Reviews

View All

Metascore

Mixed or Average

Based on 7 Critic Reviews

29% Positive
2 Reviews

29% Mixed
2 Reviews

43% Negative
3 Reviews

Jun 16, 2015

The New York Times

One of the better [of the season's family sitcoms], simply because it's kind of cute and a bit offbeat.

Jun 16, 2015

Chicago Tribune

There is more of a silliness to it. No question, ALF is dumb and puerile. I rather liked it. [22 Sept 1986, p.5C]

Jun 16, 2015

Washington Post

ALF himself is funny enough to keep the show bubbling. He has a sardonic insouciance. [22 Sept 1986, p.C1]

Jun 16, 2015

San Diego Union-Tribune

Too gimmicky for my taste. [22 Sept 1986, p.D-1]

Jul 2, 2013

Time

ALF is no place to look for plausibility -- or charm.

Jun 16, 2015

Los Angeles Times

This is another of those TV comedies that simply aren't funny...ALF would be more engaging if the Tanners were more engaging. He also would have been lots of satirical fun and a far more interesting observer of the human condition had he been given a Woody Allen-type neurotic voice rather than one that was merely inanely goofy.

Jun 16, 2015

Miami Herald

Well, call me a party pooper, but I was bored to tears by the thing. It's just the type of silly gimmick that I'm quite susceptible to. Yet I found ALF shrill, predictable and not in the least bit funny. I'm pretty sure that's because it is shrill, predictable and not in the least bit funny. [22 Sept 1986, p.C1]

User Reviews

User score

Universal Acclaim

Based on 14 User Ratings

8.4

93% Positive
13 Ratings

0% Mixed
0 Ratings

7% Negative
1 Rating

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Where to Watch

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