History of ALF 4 TVTOME

[Rob W. Case]

He was an alien from a planet called Melmac. He crashed into a garage of a family of four called The Tanners. His name was Gordon Shumway, yet the Tanners called him ALF, which stood for Alien Life Form. That is the story of ALF on television, but there is another story, regarding to the origin of the television show itself.

To the dedicated fans who visit my ALF page at TVTOME.COM, this is the story of ALF. In this recollection, we will examine the origin of this phenomenal TV show. We will also discover for the first time anywhere the possibility of the root of ALF, and how he was an alleged character on an unaired show called “Whizzle Falls”.

The Root of Alf?:

I started as the main editor for ALF in 2001. Since 2001, I have been e-mailed by at least one producer of the show (who acknowledged that his name was misspelled (lol), as well as fan e-mails of the show, and questions regarding its origin. One man, by the name of Ron e-mailed me, going on an extensive quest to see how ALF came about and how the character evolved into a major superstar. I am going to share with you the content of the e-mails (cleaned up a bit spelling wise, and such) from their raw form. It will make this historical look at ALF a lot more fun.

Subject: A request regarding ALF's origin
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 18:55:31

Hello,
I'm writing to you because I have been approached by someone regarding a business deal who claims to have been the original creator of ALF. A certain Jim Gentry claims to have created a bunch of characters for a series called Whizzle Falls around 1982, in cooperation with Johnny Carson Productions, and that ALF was one of those characters. He further says he sold the characters to NBC, which then developed the show, ALF. But I've been told that ALF is actually a Warner Brothers property, when it was aired on NBC in 1986. Did Paul Fusco work for Warner Brothers? Where did he get ALF from? Is it possible he got it from the batch of characters introduced as Whizzle Falls? The intellectual property/business affairs folks at NBC have not heard of Mr. Gentry (we're talking 20 years ago, of course), but they are looking through old files to see what turns up Can you tell me anything about this? Thank you, Ron Aryel

Before I continue with my reply, it is interesting to note that when ALF originally aired, the end credits showed the CARSON PRODUCTIONS logo at the end of the program. This was the trademark logo that flashed when the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson ran their end credits. Later, in syndication, it was dubbed as an “alien production” next to the copyright date, and straight to the Warner Brothers Domestic Distribution logo.

My Reply:

Sent by Rob Case: Sunday, March 16, 2003 2:38 AM
Subject: Re: A request regarding ALF's origin

Hi Ron,
Thank you for asking me this question as it is very, very interesting. I am sorry that it's taken so long for me to reply, but I have been trying to research this. Paul Fusco did and probably still does work for Warner Brothers. In fact, after Mel Blanc (the man who did the See Si Sou routine in the Jack Benny Program in the 1950’s and did Looney Tunes characters throughout the 1940’s to the 80’s) died, Paul Fusco took over the voice of Tweety. One thing is for sure and that is Alf has been the property of Warner Brothers during the whole run of the series. NBC was just a client that ordered episodes to be made from Warner Bros. (as all sitcoms are ordered from a studio and is dropped when it isn't very profitable). Anyway, it is Warner Property. Warner Brothers has really capitalized off of it in the 80's. There was even an ALF cartoon for kids to accompany the weekly sitcom. As for this guy you mentioned, it is possible that he could have submitted the idea without copyright protection and it was stolen out from under him. The film The Truman Show was thought out by some guy and was told that it would never sell. Then later, the movie was made and the thief made lots of money. That is always a possibility. You should ask him questions, but don’t put words in his mouth. As for the show Whizzle falls, it doesn't exist. I have a book and CD-ROM with all of the TV shows ever made from 1948-1996 and it isn't in there. What it sounds like to me is that he came up with the idea in 1982 for Whizzle Falls, but it never flew. Next time you see him, ask him if he was paid for his idea. They could have paid him something, picked a specific character, and then screwed him out of having a share of the franchise. I have ran several Google searches and nothing comes up for any of this. When watching ALF's opening credits, it says that the show was created by Tom Patchett and Paul Fusco, which to me sounds like a team effort in the creation. Now for Alf Tales, it says that the creator of that show was David Cohen, who also worked on the series, but in the toon version he is labeled as the creator. This must mean that those three men are responsible for creating the tv shows and not necessarily responsible for creating the ALF character himself. Unfortunately, that is all I have at the moment. Please get back to me if you ever find out some of answers to this question. I would definitely like to know. Thanks.
Rob Case


Coming Soon: The History of ALF part 2

[Rob W. Case]

Ron then e-mailed me one more time. Here are the contents of the saved e-mail.

From :
"Ron Aryel"
Rob, I appreciate your getting back to me. You have been very helpful in confirming Warner Bros' ownership of the character. I have been able to confirm that Johnny Carson Productions did indeed produce a pilot, "Whizzle Falls," for NBC in the 1982-83 time frame. It included 30-35 puppet characters, and was never aired. Mr. Gentry says that one of these characters, the "Dogulator," became Alf. He says NBC bought them from him (he brought the characters and concept to Carson Productions, which then assigned April Kelley to write a first script). Jeff Zotsing (I may have badly misspelled the last name) at Carson Productions has been there for 20 years; he doesn't remember Gentry because it was too long ago. Gentry tells me this is Johnny Carson's nephew. An NBC lawyer called me and told me she could probably find out whether a contract existed between Gentry and NBC, but she wouldn't be allowed to tell me. If I could find a 20 year old Daily Variety or Hollywood Reporter, (the two main industry papers) with Gentry in them somewhere, that would confirm his connection to Alf. The Writer's Guild of America identified for me three writers as having written the script for Whizzle Falls - April Kelley, Jeff Franklin and one other I don't recall at the moment. Mr. Gentry brought them up in conversation and correctly attributed their work. So I'm still missing an important link, but I may get still get it. I'm not sure the libraries in Kansas City have the movie industry papers from 20 years back, even on microfilm. But I'll be checking. Thanks again, Ron ----

Could the above information be a coincidence?

This is an interesting piece regarding the series. It comes from the book entitled "Prime -Time Hits, Television's Most Popular Network Programs." (P. 318-319 C. 1993 by Billboard Books.)


"The character was the brainchild of a former Connecticut high school teacher turned puppeteer for cable and PBS. Paul Fusco had created ALF in 1984 as part of an outer-space program for SHOWTIME, but the project never blasted off. He continued to shop his little creature around town to such animators as Muppeteer Jim Henson and Walt Disney Studios, but without any success. Then his agent sent him to packager Bernie Brillstein, who had helped develop "Saturday Night Live," "Hee-Haw," and "The Muppet Show." Brillstein brouight in writer/producer Tom Patchett, and together Patchett and Fusco developed a concept to present top NBC head Brandon Tartikoff. At their pitch meeting, Fusco brought along a green hefty bag with something hidden inside. At just the right moment, he undid the bag and produced ALF, who began rubbing his fuzzy snout on Tartikoff's sleeve. The results, he knew, an instant sale. Fortunately for Fusco, it was love at first sight for Tartikoff and the other NBC brass. "We all loved ALF," said NBC exec Warren Littlefield. "It was the funniest pitch meeting I've ever seen."

The e-mails in some ways are related to ALF being a CARSON Production, and kind of links ALF’s affiliation with Johnny Carson and the Tonight Show, yet the latter part, quoted from Billboard Books, address the names that we actually see in the ALF programs themselves. Which story is true? Could both of them be true, one way or another?



On September 26, 1986 ALF was introduced to family audiences on NBC. To promote the show, NBC used its star power from other popular sitcoms of the day to attract more attention towards the little guy. Betty White and Bea Arthur of the popular NBC sitcom “The Golden Girls” (then in its second season) pretended to flirt with ALF to promote the show. Bryant Gumbel had ALF for breakfast on “The Today Show.” ALF also appeared on other shows or plugs from casts of such shows as “Friday Night Videos,” “The Orange Bowl Parade,” “NFL 86,” “Hollywood Squares,” “Family Ties” etc.


When ALF first started, most of the storylines in the first season revolved around the Tanner family hiding the alien in their home. Throughout the first season, ALF almost had encounters with the neighbors, and outside people. Alf liked to eat cats, as his species ate them on the planet Melmac. As many zany storylines hit the airwaves, (like when ALF went on a camping trip with the Tanners, or when ALF snuck into an airplane, only to have flown it when the neighbor passed out in the air), the show was a hit. Children loved ALF and adults found it “cute.” As the popularity grew, so did the demand for goods.

Alf Memorabilia:
In 1987, there was an incredible boom in ALF memorabilia. ALF was on lunch boxes, beach towels, stuffed animals, Topps trading cards and stickers (sold for 25 cents a pack), puppets, water bottles, and then some. ALF was a growing trend, and the market was so successful, the producers were watching.

[Rob W. Case]

The Second Season:
The 1987-1988 season was huge. Not only did ALF start its second season, it also broadened into another 30 minute show on Saturday Morning cartoons. The show was called, ALF: The Animated Series. The animated series started Saturday September 26th, 1987. The show started where ALF would appear in live form (like you would see him in the sitcom), and he would reminisce about his life on the planet Melmac. The storylines of Alf’s “memories” were demonstrated in cartoon form. There, on Melmac, we saw ALF with his family, we saw his girlfriend Rhonda, and we saw him hang out with his friends Skip and Sloop. The cartoon was produced by DIC Entertainment, one of the most popular cartoon studios of the 80’s and 90’s.

Season Two:
With the animated series running, along with the sitcom running, audiences could have ALF in their living rooms twice a week. Such a strategy would have a better time creating more fans, thus providing the chance to sell more ALF merchandise. The second season of ALF, content wise, was amazing. One of the neighbors finds ALF prowling, and Willie has to find a way to get ALF out of the way. One episode was where she actually sees ALF. Then there was the episode that reunited the cast of Gilligan’s Island. It was the final time that the entire cast of Gilligan’s Island would be together in front of the cameras. Jim Backus (Mr. Howell and Mr. Magoo from the Mr. Magoo cartoons) died, as well as Natalie Schafer, and Alan Hale (the Skipper). The rest of the cast of Gilligans Island would re-unite together in Roseanne.


ALF Tales:
On September 10th, 1988 ALF had a second cartoon series. It was called ALF TALES, and it portrayed yet another cartoon version of ALF. This time around, ALF was the center of attention in recreating ALF-style versions of classic fairy tales. There was an ALF version of Robin Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Aladdin Brothers, Rapunzel, Rumplestilskin, The Princess and the Pea, John Henry, The Three Little Pigs, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Hansel and Gretel, The Wizard of Oz, The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Emperor's New Clothes, Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and King Midas. Unlike ALF: The Animated Series, ALF Tales had no live appearance by ALF himself. It was strictly animated tales.

By the third season of the sitcom version, another cycle of ALF memorabilia hit the nation. This time around, another batch of Topps trading cards were made, as well as three 3-D film reels for the 3-D viewing toy called the View Master. The third season featured a new opening sequence, and a jazzier, more exciting version of the opening theme song. As for the themes of the storylines in the seasons, the first season revolved around “hiding ALF”. The second season revolved around “Close calls in exposing ALF, or covering up for ALF sightings.” The third season revolved around more slapstick and more situation comedy storylines. One storyline had ALF hosting the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. The episode had ALF covering for an absent Johnny Carson. The episode was taped on the actual Tonight Show set, and featured Ed McMahon, who in this special one-hour episode, yelled “Heeeere’s Alf!” The show aired as a one-hour episode on October 24th, 1988. As the series continued in its third season, the character of Kate was written to go through a pregnancy. The series would then have more storylines revolving around the pregnancy, and ALF’s reaction to it. In the third season finale, ALF prepared for the baby's arrival by re-enacting scenes from "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

The storylines of the fourth season, revolved around ALF and the new baby (like the season premiere where ALF was babysitting the baby, and the baby was lost), ALF getting into situation comedy style trouble (like when a tabloid took a picture of him and the Tanner family tried to get the film negative away from the publication), and ALF making a new friend. Several storylines revolved around Willie’s brother Neil (played by JM J. Bullock, who is most famous for his role as Monroe from the show “Too Close for Comfort.”) By the end of the season, the ALF memorabilia frenzy died down. When it came to close the season, the storyline revolved around ALF getting a message from Skip and Rhonda (two aliens, one ALF’s best friend, and Rhonda, ALF’s girlfriend) that they will come to earth to get ALF so that they can all colonize a new planet, similar to that of the biology that was on the destroyed planet of Melmac. ALF said his goodbyes to the Tanners, and as the spaceship opened up its beam of light, the Alien Task Force arrived, surrounding ALF. As the Tanner family watches, ALF is stuck in the middle of the beam, as well as surrounded by the Alien Task Force. The words “To Be Continued….” Flash across the scene, intending to conclude in the fifth season premiere.

The season that never was:

The series was unexpectedly cancelled after the season finale. The show was designed to provide a suspenseful cliffhanger, only to be picked up in the fall of 1990. It was not. The ALF cartoons and the sitcom were cancelled in 1990. ALF was officially over. When the series went to syndication (WFLD FOX 32 in Chicago carried it, as well as the Family Channel), the words “To be Continued…” were removed in the now SERIES FINALE of ALF.

[Rob W. Case]

Life after ALF:

On February 17th, 1996 ALF returned in a TV-movie commemorating ten years since ALF was discovered. The movie, titled Project: ALF was aired on ABC even though the original series was aired on NBC. The movie started off revealing that ALF was indeed captured by the Alien Task Force and was gambling and wisecracking with members of the ATF. The story then revolves around a rich man who tries to unveil ALF in front of the nation, which would then subject ALF to extensive experiments and testing. The Tanner family is mentioned briefly in the beginning of the movie, but Paul Fusco was the only member of the TV show to appear in the movie.

The description of the movie is as follows…..


Six years ago, ALF was on his way back to his new home... When the Alien Task Force finally caught him. Now, the story continues to where the series ended. The Alien Task Force now protects ALF, but the leader wants to terminate him. So two officers decide to save ALF by kidnapping him. But the man the officers took ALF to wants to finally reveal him to the world. Which leads him to more danger...


In 1999, a cable channel called the Odyssey Channel (now the Hallmark Channel) aired ALF reruns. On Saturdays, ALF actually hosted an hour’s worth of reruns called “The Best of ALF.” That’s right. Paul Fusco had ALF in a kitchen type setting, hosting the episodes that would air that morning on the network.

In 2002, Alf made a comeback with the 1-800-COLLECT commercials. There, he appeared with 80’s icons like Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, and others.

On July 7th, 2004 TVLAND ran a new series called Alf’s Hit Talk Show. This show, rooted in episode # pc: 3006 (The one where ALF guest-hosts the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson) provided a talk show format, and featured ALF interviewing celebrities such as Merv Griffin, Drew Carey, Doris Roberts, Linda Blair, Tom Green, and other celebrities. The show premiered on the cable network TVLAND, which was looking for new, original programming. ALF’s Hit Talk Show started July 7th, 2004, and has not aired a new episode since December 17th, 2004.

ALF joins the DVD Revolution:

Major motion picture studios have found the ultimate way to make money off of their classic TV shows. In the past, classics have stayed alive in the minds of the people in syndication and the ratings based on syndicated series. DVD is the new way to make money on TV shows because its main target are fans, and those fans do not have to go through the work and efforts to tape the shows, cut out commercials, and end up getting more than what syndication could offer by offering bonus features that only the studio could provide. Fans experienced ALF on DVD for the first time on August 10th, 2004. Each episode was hosted by the loveable little alien, in the same way ALF’s best of shows were hosted by ALF on the Odyssey Channel. ALF fans were disappointed to learn that the ALF shows on the DVD were the syndicated episodes. The difference between syndicated episodes and the episodes that originally aired are that the syndicated episodes are edited to allow more time for commercials. Usually editing for syndication cuts off an average of 3 to 5 minutes, although now a days, original episodes air with allowing more commercial time in mind anyway without additional editing.

There is also a controversy regarding the second season DVD release. That season contains syndicated edited episodes too.

For more information about ALF, its episode guide, goofs and nitpicks, then visit my ALF page at:

www.tvtome.com/ALF/