ALF: The Animated Series
| ALF: The Animated Series | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes per episode |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | September 26, 1987 – January 7, 1989 |
ALF: The Animated Series (also known as ALF on Melmac) is a 30-minute Saturday morning animated series that aired on NBC for 26 episodes from September 26, 1987, to January 7, 1989.[1]
ALF: The Animated Series was a prequel and animated spinoff of the prime time series ALF, which had also aired on NBC from 1986 to 1990. Paul Fusco, the creator and puppeteer of ALF in the live-action series, was the only cast member to reprise his role in voice form; none of the human characters from the prime time ALF appeared in the animated series, due to the show's premise revolving around ALF (Gordon Shumway) traveling to various places on his home-world of Melmac.[2] ALF Tales was a spin-off from the series that also ran on NBC on Saturdays from September, 1988 to December, 1989. The two ALF animated series ran concurrently during the 1988–89 season as the ALF & ALF Tales Hour.[3]
Synopsis
Setting
This show is a prequel to the live action sitcom ALF, depicting ALF's life back on his home planet of Melmac before it exploded. Since the original character's name of "ALF" was an acronym for "Alien Life Form", it is never used in the animated series except for its title. The main character is Gordon Shumway who is normally referred to as "Gordon". In each episode, the puppet ALF from the sitcom appears at the introduction and conclusion of the episode, talking to the television viewers in the Tanner family's garage; either setting up the episode as if writing his memoirs "Melmac Memories" and commenting on it afterwards, reading fan mail or describing what his life was like on Melmac. The visual look of the series was created by the lead character designer Fil Barlow.[4]
The format of the series has the standard setup of a situational comedy, or sitcom, as its premise, in the style of The Flintstones or The Jetsons. Much of the humor arises from the characters taking part in ordinary everyday activities set in an alien and surrealistic environment.
The Gordon/ALF from this series is one of the cartoon characters featured in Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.
Plot
Gordon Shumway is a fairly normal teenager living in suburban East Velcro with his parents Bob and Flo, brother Curtis, young sister Augie and their dog Neep on the planet Melmac. He spends time hanging out with his friends Rick and Skip who call him "Gordo", and he has a girlfriend named Rhonda. Sometimes, the quartet would report for mandatory duty with the Melmacian Orbit Guard. The show includes an array of quirky supporting characters, which include the fortune-smeller Madame Pokipsi and the villain Larson Petty with his offsider Eggbert.
Characters
The Shumway Family
- Gordon (Gordo) Shumway / ALF (voiced by Paul Fusco) – The star of the show.
- Bob Shumway (voiced by Thick Wilson) – Gordon's father. He works at a mayonnaise factory and is an amateur inventor.
- Flo Shumway (voiced by Peggy Mahon) – Gordon's mother.
- Curtis Shumway (voiced by Michael Fantini) – Gordon's younger brother.
- Augie Shumway (voiced by Paulina Gillis[5]) – Gordon's little sister.
- Neep – The Shumway family's pet who looks like a dog but is officially a "vespa".
- Harry – The Shumway family's pet bird, a Westfellman Smulk.
Melmacians
- Rhonda (voiced by Paulina Gillis) – Gordon's girlfriend and secretly an accomplished pilot.
- Skipper "Skip" (voiced by Rob Cowan) – One of Gordon's close friends
- Rick Fusterman (voiced by Paul Fusco) – One of Gordon's close friends who has a persistent stutter.
- Spudder – Curtis' friend.
- Stella (voiced by Ellen-Ray Hennessy) – Waitress at the Cats Up Diner.
- Eddie – Owner of the Cats Up Diner.
- Madame Pokipsi (voiced by Deborah Theaker) – The fortune smeller.
- Colonel Cantfayl (voiced by Len Carlson) – A colonel in the Orbit Guard and Sargent Staff's immediate superior.
- Sargent Staff (voiced by Len Carlson) – An often overbearing sergeant in the Orbit Guard who Gordon is usually at odds with. He is Gordon, Skip and Rick's superior officer in the Orbit Guard.
- Freda Fusterman (voiced by Marla Lukofsky)
- Tillie (voiced by Marla Lukofsky)
- Jane Appalling (voiced by Marla Lukofsky)
- TV Announcer (voiced by Marla Lukofsky)
Villains
- Larson Petty (voiced by Thick Wilson) – The primary villain of the series. He is an unspecified alien who makes attempts to invade Melmac.
- Eggbert (voiced by Dan Hennessey) – Larson Petty's offsider.
- Sloop (voiced by Dan Hennessey) – Larson Petty's other offsider.
- Louie the Pruner - A villain and owner of a salad dressing empire. He tends to tickle the feet of his victims to extract information.
- Sonny - The son of Louie the Pruner. He wanted to lick salad dressing off Gordon's feet after Gordon and Albert were captured by Louie.
Episodes
Each episode is bookended by ALF talking about his upcoming book, Melmac Memories, about his life on Melmac during his first year in the Orbit Guard.
Season 1 (1987–88)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Phantom Pilot" | September 26, 1987 | |
| During their initial year of training in the Orbit Guard, Gordon and his companions encounter a crisis when Melmac is targeted by Larson Petty. Due to an error, Colonel Cantfayl inadvertently assigns Gordon as his co-pilot, resulting in peril due to Gordon's lack of skill. Rhonda, operating as the Phantom Pilot, intervenes to assist. Larson Petty initiates another attack, deploying adhesive-filled bags. Despite Gordon's accidental ejection of Rhonda, he devises a successful strategy to ensnare Petty's fighter using a large rooftop donut sign. | ||||
| 2 | 2 | "Hair Today, Bald Tomorrow" | October 3, 1987 | |
| While Gordon slumbers, Harry plucks his hair to furnish its nest. Upon awakening, Gordon believes he has become bald and seeks a remedy from Madame Pokipsi. Following an altercation where Gordon disparages her skills, Pokipsi retaliates by casting a "Baldness Touch" curse upon him. To break the curse, Gordon must embark on a quest to acquire a rare golden egg. In a misguided attempt, he steals Pokipsi's crystal ball but struggles to control its power. Eventually, Harry lays a golden egg, which Gordon presents to Pokipsi as restitution, prompting her to lift the curse. | ||||
| 3 | 3 | "Two for the Brig" | October 10, 1987 | |
| Gordon mistakenly installs a classified engine into Sergeant Staff's dilapidated car. The sergeant sells the car to Milo Fleece, a used car salesman, who further sells it to Eggbert, an associate of Larson Petty. Upon discovering the engine's absence, Sergeant Staff and Gordon are incarcerated. Despite being handcuffed together, they successfully escape and recover the engine, subsequently returning it to Larson Petty, who had installed it in his new tank. | ||||
| 4 | 4 | "Gordon Ships Out" | October 24, 1987 | |
| Close companions Gordon, Rick, and Skip opt to share accommodations following disputes with their parents. They secure a rental garbage scow from Solly, a real estate agent known for driving a Lamborghini Succotash. To generate funds, they organize a rent party, which proves unsuccessful, leading to interpersonal discord and endangering their camaraderie. Concurrently, Skip's pet termite, Woody, inadvertently sets the boat adrift. They narrowly escape peril when they unintentionally drift into an Orbit Guard firing range, and later encounter a sea monster attracted by Rick's "electric narf" music. | ||||
| 5 | 5 | "Birdman of Melmac" | October 31, 1987 | |
| During a lecture delivered by avian expert Thor Thundersocks, the Shumway family learns that their pet bird, Harry, is in fact Westfellman Smulk, believed to be the last surviving member of an allegedly extinct species. In an effort to safeguard Harry, Thundersocks transforms the Shumway household into an ideal bird habitat, causing significant disruption to the family's living space. As Harry gains notoriety and becomes increasingly haughty, Gordon discovers a photo album depicting Harry's extensive family lineage, including numerous individuals of the supposedly extinct species. | ||||
| 6 | 6 | "Pismo and the Orbit Gyro" | November 7, 1987 | |
| Gordon and Rick, accompanied by Rhonda, embark on their routine maintenance journey to the planetary core to service the Orbit Gyro. During maintenance, Gordon damages Pismo, the Gyro's controlling robot. Despite Gordon's repair attempts, a missing screw causes Pismo to malfunction. Leaving Rick in charge, they return to the surface with Pismo, but the robot's erratic behavior causes widespread traffic disruptions. | ||||
| 7 | 7 | "20,000 Years in Driving School" | November 14, 1987 | |
| Following an incident of "Gooping" for speeding on the highway, Gordon faces the revocation of his driver's license and is subsequently sent to Allen Wood Reformatory. During his time there, Gordon undergoes a driving test, inadvertently offending Mr. Bloatman, also known as the "Fat Man" who oversees the examination. Despite challenges, Gordon emerges victorious in the test, uncovering Bloatman's cheating tactics, leading to his disqualification. In response, Bloatman resorts to hostage-taking, targeting the warden. | ||||
| 8 | 8 | "Pride of the Shumways" | November 21, 1987 | |
| Gordon participates in Bouillabaseball for the Orbit Guard and catches the attention of talent scout Max Dirtsky from the Codsters. Despite Gordon's initial struggles as a player, Dirtsky offers him a professional contract. However, the Codsters begin to suffer losses due to Gordon's poor performance. Simultaneously, Curtis, a skilled little league player, overhears the team's owner placing bets against their success. In a bid to turn the game around, Gordon strategically substitutes his pet fish Bismark for the standard fish, confounding the opposing team and enabling him to score multiple home runs. Nevertheless, just as victory seems within reach, Gordon is incapacitated by a fish loaded with lead weights. | ||||
| 9 | 9 | "Captain Bobaroo" | December 5, 1987 | |
| Following a mishap with one of his inventions, Bob Shumway adopts the persona of "Captain Bobaroo," (a parody of Captain Kangaroo). While his family initially follows medical advice to indulge his delusions, Bob's actions lead to chaos when he takes his show to a mayonnaise factory, resulting in his dismissal. In a bid to address the situation, Gordon, along with Skip and Rick, pose as television executives. They inform Bob that his show, Captain Bobaroo, has been canceled but offer him the lead role in a new family sitcom titled Meet the Shumways. | ||||
| 10 | 10 | "Neep at the Races" | December 12, 1987 | |
| Gordon discovers his dog Neep's exceptional speed when chasing vehicle hood ornaments, prompting him to enter Neep in the South Toaster Sweepstakes in Appliance. Gordon sells shares to Snake, the biker gang leader, to fund Neep's training. Despite setbacks like Neep's overindulgence, they win the race with Gordon's help. However, the bikers' motorcycles are damaged, leading to conflict as Snake seeks prize money for repairs, forcing Gordon and his friends to flee Appliance. | ||||
| 11 | 11 | "Salad Wars" | December 19, 1987 | |
| Gordon's family embarks on a wagon train holiday in their mobile motorhome but diverges to explore Salad Dressing Town's theme park. Concurrently, the park's proprietor, Louie the Pruner, seeks rare plastic pussy willow seeds from farmer Albert. Albert seeks refuge aboard the Shumway's vehicle as Louie pursues them in a flower-picking machine. Gordon and Albert endure captivity, facing interrogation aimed at extracting information. Gordon and Albert manage to evade their captors and collaborate to distribute the seeds, leveraging the annual eruption of Mount Snout. This act ensures widespread dispersal of Albert's seeds, despite the challenges encountered during their ordeal. | ||||
| 12 | 12 | "Tough Shrimp Don't Dance" | January 2, 1988 | |
| While engaged in litter eradication efforts on Melmac using an ionizer ray from an orbiting spacecraft, Gordon and Rick encounter hostile encounters with the diminutive alien species known as the Muklukians. One Muklukian covertly accompanies Gordon back to Melmac, assuming his identity through an inflatable replica. Despite this ruse, Gordon successfully apprehends the imposter. Simultaneously, Larson Petty endeavors to conquer Melmac by submerging it under a mountain of refuse. Petty seizes Rick and the Muklukians, but Gordon, aided by the Muklukian ally, orchestrates their liberation. | ||||
| 13 | 13 | "Home Away from Home" | January 16, 1988 | |
| Gordon's parents leave for a vacation, leaving him in charge of the household. Chaos ensues, leading to the collapse of the house. Unable to pay for repairs, engineers claim the house. It is then sold to Harold Williams, who takes it to the Polyester Islands. Gordon, with Rick, Curtis, and Augie, travels to the islands to retrieve the house. Using a hijacked blimp, Gordon successfully brings the house back just before his parents return. | ||||
Season 2 (1988–89)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 1 | "Flodust Memories" | September 10, 1988 | |
| The Shumaways nominate Flo for the Mom of the Millennium contest, realizing their prior oversight of her importance. After winning, Flo is signed by the dubious agent Sidley Slick, who sends her on a year-long tour of Melmac. As months pass, the family keenly feels Flo's absence, prompting them to urge her to end the tour and return home. | ||||
| 15 | 2 | "Family Feud" | September 17, 1988 | |
| Following their defeat to the Shumways on the Wheel of Cheese game show, the Fustermans initiate hostilities against their erstwhile friends. Gordon and Rick find themselves ensnared in the ensuing conflict and devise a strategy to facilitate reconciliation between the two families. | ||||
| 16 | 3 | "Clams Never Sang for My Father" | September 24, 1988 | |
| In the traditional Mayonnaise Lodge rite of passage, Bob Shumway and Frank Fusterman aim for their sons' success in the clam-wrestling contest. Although the boys lack interest, they join to fulfill their fathers' expectations. Rick's spontaneous success in making the clam sing reveals that his father had falsified his own victory photograph. | ||||
| 17 | 4 | "A Mid-Goomer Night's Dream" | October 1, 1988 | |
| As Goomer Day nears on Melmac, Larson Petty mistakenly captures Bob Shumway, disguised as Goomer. Gordon and Augie set out to find the real Goomer to enlist his help in rescuing their father. | ||||
| 18 | 5 | "The Bone Losers" | October 8, 1988 | |
| The populace of Melmac, including Rhonda, is enthralled by Professor Egovurger's discovery of the Thesaurus skeleton. Meanwhile, Gordon uncovers dinosaur remains in his yard and invents a creature named "Tunadacyl." Unaware that Neep stole the bones from the museum, Gordon attempts to return them. Simultaneously, Egovurger plots to steal the bones, but his scheme is foiled, leading to his arrest for fraud. | ||||
| 19 | 6 | "Thank Gordon for Little Girls" | October 15, 1988 | |
| Gordon creates the "Shumwidget" from a discarded piece of wood and struggles to find its purpose. With Augie's help, they secure a large order from a department store. However, their production line turns into a sweatshop. Augie leads her troupe of Dust Bunnies on strike and takes over the company. When faulty widgets cause customer complaints, Gordon and Augie must collaborate on a solution. | ||||
| 20 | 7 | "Hooray for Mellywood" | October 29, 1988 | |
| Gordon's screenplay is acquired by Herschel Orsen Mucus, a key figure in Mellywood. However, Mucus transforms the script into the latest Gutsquisher installment, starring Ron Fishbait. Displeased with the changes, Gordon schemes to destroy the film production. | ||||
| 21 | 8 | "The Spy from East Velcro" | November 12, 1988 | |
| Gordon inadvertently adopts the persona of the esteemed agent James Bonzo after discovering a rare winning trading card and Bonzo's distinctive shoe phone. This leads him into the clutches of the eccentric Ernst Stavro Blofish, who seeks to secure the winning cereal card for victory in the Spy Land competition. With the assistance of Curtis and their spy-oriented comrades, Gordon foils Blofish's scheme. | ||||
| 22 | 9 | "He Ain't Seafood, He's My Brother" | November 19, 1988 | |
| The Muklukian renegades execute the abduction of Curtis Shumway, orchestrating his transport to their planetary domain with the intention of facilitating their ascension to the throne of Mukluk. Subsequently, Fescue, a representative of the Muklukian faction, appeals to Gordon for assistance in dethroning the renegades and reinstating the rightful monarch of Mukluk. | ||||
| 23 | 10 | "Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places" | December 3, 1988 | |
| Gordon's attempt to find a date for his friend Rick at the Orbit Guard Ball backfires when Eddie's cousin Elaine develops feelings for Gordon instead. Gordon devises a complex plan to rectify the misunderstanding, while Elaine and Rick discover common interests, leading to a connection between them. | ||||
| 24 | 11 | "The Slugs of Wrath" | December 10, 1988 | |
| Following the closure of the mayonnaise factory, Bob Shumway loses his job, prompting the family's move to an abandoned farm. They aim to cultivate giant slugs and hay-wire as a secondary crop. However, their presence triggers suspicion and superstition among the locals, leading to a plan to sacrifice Bob and Flo to remedy their ailing slugs. Gordon's intervention, through the discovery of a subterranean reserve of authentic mayonnaise, resolves the crisis and restores the family's reputation. | ||||
| 25 | 12 | "Housesitting for Pokipsi" | December 17, 1988 | |
| Gordon, Rick, and Skip agree to house-sit for Madame Pokipsi while she attends a conference out of town, during which she transforms Rick into a sandwich. In a bid to reverse the transformation, Gordon uses Madame Pokipsi's malfunctioning crystal ball against her advice, triggering a series of chaotic events in the household. | ||||
| 26 | 13 | "Skipper's Got a Brand New Dad" | January 7, 1989 | |
| Gordon and Rick, upon discovering Skip's orphaned history, initiate a search for his birth parents. Simultaneously, Larson Petty's uncle's demise uncovers an inheritance intended for his estranged son, Eggbert. Petty contends that Skip is the rightful heir, yet Skip prioritizes paternal bonds over financial gain. Subsequent inquiries by Gordon reveal Sloop as Petty's true offspring. However, Petty's newfound wealth quickly dissipates due to medical costs stemming from a hang-gliding accident. | ||||
Home media
On May 30, 2006, Lionsgate Home Entertainment released both the first nine episodes of ALF: The Animated Series as ALF Animated Adventures – 20,000 Years in Driving School and Other Stories; and the first seven episodes of ALF Tales entitled ALF and The Beanstalk and Other Classic Fairy Tales on DVD in Region 1.
Some episodes can also be found in the special features section of the collectors edition release of the original live action series.
The complete series was remastered and subsequently released on October 17, 2023, by Shout! Factory in the DVD box set ALF: The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition). The box set release also included the original 1986–90 sitcom, ALF Tales and Project: ALF.[6][7]
See also
Notes
References
- ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-1538103739.
- ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 72. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- ^ Hyatt, Wesley (1997). The Encyclopedia of Daytime Television. Watson-Guptill Publications. p. 4. ISBN 978-0823083152.
- ^ "Fil Barlow". IMDb.
- ^ Damian Inwood. "Pi Theatre, Independent Vancouver Theatre >> The Baroness and the Pig". Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
That's what Vancouver actresses Diane Brown and Tabitha St. Germain do with the delightful black comedy, The Baroness and the Pig. (...) St. Germain – better known to Vancouver audiences as Paulina Gillis – plays the Baroness as a naïve gentlewoman, full of prissy mannerisms and twittering, bird-like movements.
- ^ "ALF and Co-Creator Reunite to Provide New Commentary on Classic Episodes". MovieWeb. 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
- ^ "Pilot Ep. PLUS New Commentary by ALF! | FULL Episode: S1 Ep1". YouTube. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
