Alf (real name Gordon Shumway), was born on October 28, 1756 on the planet Melmac. He was named after his grandmother, one of the few women on Melmac who could split a block of wood with her lips. ALF's father's name was Bob. His friends call him B.O. for short. Bob has a wonderful sense of humor and does a brilliant impression of feta cheese. ALF's uncle Goomer once worked as an actor. He appeared in such films as, "Cat on a Hot Microwave Dish", "Gone with the Fish", and "Luncheon Counters of the Worst Kind." ALF's brother Curtis aspires to play in the rock band called "The Soggy Moose." Their only top-10 hit was "I Want to Brush Your Teeth With A Flounder". ALF's aunt Eugene was a famous dancer. She appeared in Melmac's longest-running play, "I'm Dancing as Fast as I Want". ALF's aunt Bubba, was a tree surgeon. One day she met with an accident when she fell out of one of her patients.
He attended Melmac High School, and played on two varsity teams, the Skleenball team, and the BouillaBaseball team. Alf went on to attend college for 63 years, majoring in pedestrian crossing. He was also a member of the college Skleenball team. He met his first girlfriend, Babs, at a Skleenball game. After college Alf went through a series of jobs including playing professional Bouillabaseball, being a sit down comedian, running his own phlegm dealership, and finally as a member of the Orbit Guard, a cross between the National Guard and the Vienna Boys Choir. The Orbit Guard's motto is "Guard the Orbits... Whether they need it or not." During basic training, ALF learned how to pilot a space patrol ship, fire a solar blaster, and burp in three languages.
One night, while ALF was out in his Orbit Guard patrol ship, Melmac exploded in a freak boating accident. Alf wandered throughout the galaxy looking for a new home, stopping once for a warm soda and a cheesedog on Saturn. He eventually made an error at the controls and landed in the Tanners' backyard on Earth.
Alf became a part of the Tanner household. He of course caused all sorts of trouble because of his alien habits and his fondness for cat meat, which according to Alf, "tastes a lot like gerbil".
The TV show also spawned two cartoons, Alf Tales and Alf (animated). There was also a series of Alf comic books (published by Marvel). Topps produced two series of Alf trading cards. Series I in 1987 had 69 cards, and series II in 1988 had 77 cards. There was an Alf video game for the Sega Master System. Finally Coleco produced an Alf board game in 1987, which is hard to find now.
Alf Quotes
"Does Bob Hope still have teeth?"
"On Melmac we have 1st class, 2nd class, Fish, and Ham"
"No Problem"
"I'll take care of it"
"Ha, I kill me"
"Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty"
"It was an accident"
"Before you get up for that final snack, I want you to know I'll be right back"
"I'm a peoples alien"
"Yo, Lucky my man"
"Holy stork invasion, Batman"
Cast
Paul Fusco as the Voice of Gordon Schumway a.k.a. ALF
Max Wright as William "Willie" Francis Tanner
Anne Schedeen as Katherine "Kate" Daphne Tanner
Andrea Elson as Lynn Tanner
Benji Gregory as Brian Tanner
John LaMotta as Trevor Ochmonek
Liz Sheridan as Raquel Ochmonek
Anne Meara as Dorothy Halligan
Josh Blake as Jake Ochmonek
JM. J. Bullock as Neal Tanner
J.R. Nickerson or Charles Nickerson as Eric Tanner
Production Credits
Created by: Paul Fusco & Tom Patchett
Executive producer: Tom Patchett & Bernie Brillstein
Producers: Paul Fusco
Original Music: Alf Clausen
"ALF" Suit Designer: Mihaly 'Michu' Meszaros
Alf Episode Guide
Almost every episode of Alf is named after a song. Why? I have no idea. What that does mean though, is that most of these episode links actually go somewhere, (even though no one has noded the episodes yet).
1st Season 1986
- A.L.F.
- Strangers in the Night
- Looking for Lucky
- Pennsylvania 6-5000
- Keepin' the Faith
- For Your Eyes Only
- Help Me Rhonda
- Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
- Jump
- Baby You Can Drive My Car
- On the Road Again
- Oh, Tannerbaum
- Mother and Child Reunion
- A Little Bit of Soap
- I've Got a New Attitude
- Try to Remember (1)
- Try to Remember (2)
- Border Song
- Wild Thing
- Going Out of My Head Over You
- Look Through Any Window
- It Isn't Easy... Bein' Green
- The Gambler
- Weird Science
- La Cuckaracha
- Come Fly With Me
Saturday Morning Preview Special
1987
- ALF Loves a Mystery
2nd Season 1987
- Working My Way Back to You
- Somewhere Over the Rerun
- Take a Look at Me Now
- Wedding Bell Blues
- Prime Time
- Some Enchanted Evening
- Pretty Woman
- Something's Wrong With Me
- Night Train
- Isn't it Romantic
- Hail to the Chief
- ALF's Special Christmas (1)
- ALF's Special Christmas (2)
- The Boy Next Door
- Can I Get a Witness?
- We're So Sorry, Uncle Albert
- Someone To Watch Over Me (1)
- Someone To Watch Over Me (2)
- We Gotta Get Out of This Place
- You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog
- Hit Me With Your Best Shot
- Movin' Out
- I'm Your Puppet
- Tequila
- We Are Family
- Varsity Drag
3rd Season 1988
- Stop in the Name of Love
- Stairway to Heaven
- Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
- Tonight, Tonight (1)
- Tonight, Tonight (2)
- Promises, Promises
- Turkey in the Straw (1)
- Turkey in the Straw (2)
- Changes
- My Back Pages
- Alone Again, Naturally
- Do You Believe in Magic
- Hide Away
- Fight Back
- Suspicious Minds
- Baby Love
- Running Scared
- Standing in the Shadows of Love
- Superstition
- Torn Between Two Lovers
- Funeral For a Friend
- Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
- Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?
- Like an Old Time Movie
- Shake, Rattle & Roll
- Having My Baby
4th Season 1989
- Baby, Come Back
- Lies
- Wanted: Dead or Alive
- We're in the Money
- Mind Games
- Hooked on a Feeling
- He Ain't Heavy, He's Willie's Brother
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
- Live and Let Die
- Break Up to Make Up
- Happy Together
- Fever
- It's My Party
- Make 'Em Laugh
- Love on the Rocks
- True Colors
- Gimme That Old Time Religion
- Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades
- When I'm 64
- Mr. Sandman
- Stayin' Alive
- Hungry Like the Wolf
- I Gotta Be Me
- Consider Me Gone
Sources include Google, memory, Alf comics, and Alf cards. Most of the backstory comes from the cards and comics.