Max Wright didn't need more jokes! He was absolutely brilliant as Willie and bested alf with his dry comebacks and awkward behavior. He was my favorite character hands down!
I don’t understand why the actors disliked to play their roles. They get so much money I would even play the cat from the tanner family if they would give me money
@@BigAL68xyz He definitely hated working on Alf. In fact when they filmed the last scene with the family in final episode, they did one take and then Max Wright immediately walked off the set, got his stuff and got into his car and drove away without saying goodbye to any of the cast or crew
I loved him as a kid. I was heartbroken when I waited weeks, months and years for the show to continue after this cliffhanger. As a kid I didn't know the shows could get cancelled. Now let's talk about Dinosaurs ending. You thought Alf's ending was disturbing? Those who know Dinosaurs, know what I'm talking about.
@@mtamech535 LOL, I bet you also talk about how modern shows and movies are "woke". Don't ya. Did not realize it's been with you all along. 🙂 Enjoy all your media, as it has always had a message in there you probably do not like.
@erich6860 Hold on a second there buddy. Why don't you step off that high horse, get out of that unscathed armor and put your feet back down on the ground. I know you leftists really feel all smarmy and good about "being on the right side of history" But it's worth remembering the last time a group of national socialists felt like you do now.
One of the top 100 TV gags came from Alf; He doesn't drink alcohol, finally does, gets seriously ill. He shuts himself in the bathroom and starts loudly barfing, as the family stands outside the door wondering what to do. The barfing pauses long enough for you to hear Alf say, "Hey! I don't remember eating that!"
Thanks for this blast from the past. I remember the ending. Still one of favorite shows - and at 64 I still have some ALF collectibles....... one is when Burger King came out with the Alf doll & surf board. Yup! Top that! 🤗Much different times in the 80's. Silly shows that had a much "lighter" meaning than crap today!
You got that right brother, times have changed and not for the better. All the old shows were so much better with morals. These days they put out provocative cartoons with such bad language for kids. No wonder kids have no respect these days as we demise into the craziest generation ever.
Some Alf trivia: The actor who played Willie was so fed up with Paul Fusco that as soon as they finished filming the final episode he walked off the set, got in his car, drove off, and never looked back. Fusco wore everyone out every week wanting multiple takes of every scene. The house shown from the outside as the Tanner home was torn down so a larger house could be built on the lot.
Take out the anger part and Ed O'Neal did the same thing at the end of Married With Chilren, though none of the actors even knew it had been cancelled. Producers never bothered to tell the cast.
@@Dr.Pepper001 Lol IKR, very peculiar response. You ought to at least tell us what each cast member ate on set and at what time they each took a dump! You call yourself a trivia king!🤣👍 I do hope that comment was sarcastic enough to be associated with ALF!
For real, they knew what they signed up for, so to me it sounds like a bunch of Hollywood primadonna's just wanting a bigger paycheck, and the studio going nope, you have your contacts you already agreed to, so take it, or walk!! so they walked.
I remember watching this live as a kid and being incredibly upset at the end, like we don't know what kind of horrible things the government are doing to him and it was like no one around me cared.
Relax now. The guy in the puppet made it out alright. ;) He's probably still got some of that dough. As the creator, all that merch... ooo wee.. I think the actor who played Dad was into more trouble than Alf ever was. Nice to see him acting again!
Funny Story: As a child, I wasn't the biggest Alf fan, but my brother loved him. I was and still am a huge Full House fan (a fan of anything Miller Boyett for that matter). In order to make me watch when he would babysit me, he told me that Alf's family was related to the Tanner's from the Full House and Alf knew E.T. 😅.
When I was 14 my family and I took a tour of the NBC studio in Burbank. My mom purchased an ALF mug at the Gift shop. This was in the spring of 1989 and I still have the mug and use it to this day. It has ALF’s catchphrase “No Problem” written on it.
How about the last episode of dinosaurs where they looked out the window and the asteroid that theoretically eradicated them hit and the series ended haha
I don't remember the asteroid. I do remember it starting to snow and the dad saying something like "Everything will be ok", followed by an uncomfortable silence.
@@remc0s Yeah, it wasn't an asteroid; Earl's company caused a series of ecological disasters that resulted in an ice age that spelled their inevitable doom.
@samuelh5567 Ya. They bulldozed a marsh where these beetles would come to breed to make room for a wax fruit manufacturing plant. The beetles would eat this rapidly growing vine that begins to take over everything so they spray some kind of plant killer that ends up killing all plants. They then figure that what makes plants grow is clouds. They drop a bunch of bombs to make clouds, blotting out the sun
That was so great being out all day on your bike or doing some other adventure and you knew it was time to come home when the street lights came on. Before cell phones, internet, social media. The 80s was a grand time to be a kid!
I love Alf! He’s the one who’s out of this world, sweet baby!! Gordon Shumway was the best:) My 2nd birthday in 1987 was ALF themed.. in 1989 we were at a christmas party, there was Santa obviously,and Alf made an appearance I didn’t want to see Santa. I wanted to meet ALF.
I loved the episode where Alf goes to the monastery to "contemplate life's vicissitudes". Thd bit that always gets me is when he tells Willie it's slmost tme for vespers, then turns to the monk and sayz, "I hope that means cookies!"
From someone who’s never watched the show, thanks everyone, for a delightful drop down a rabbit hole that I normally would have passed. Thoughts and prayers to all the hearts crushed by the demise of their childhood icon. Yet, the true meaning of the final episode in the context of this series is appreciated: Life is not a sitcom. Not every problem can be solved in 30 minutes and rarely ends with laughter.
Interesting thoughts from a non-viewer. 🤔 Glad you enjoyed your rabbit hole journey! 👍 From what I remember as a young kid, watching the show was okay occasionally. It was a unique show, but others I appreciate more and still like (like "Dinosaurs" as mentioned throughout the comments here 😁).
i remember in the last episode the Tanners took him to a field, where his ship was hovering, and the military showed up, and it ended. then there was a special or something where he lived on a Military base?!
I actually think this caused me some psychological damage as a child. It was in the back of my mind all summer and I was looking forward to seeing how he was rescued but it just never came back on. Probably my first experience with a show being cancelled after a cliffhanger. Alf was just forever being held captive or worse in my mind. Pretty sure this played a huge roll in making me so cynical about everything.
I loved ALF. I still have some puppets and plushies. But my dad was recording every episode on his VCR. Which the crew at his work got him at his retirement. It was his favorite show at the time. And the only show I remember him recording. Alf is one of the better memorys of Dad.
70s and 80s TV shows that ended usually had a TV movie followup that either served as cast reunions or tied up loose ends. I bet you a million bucks they planned to do the same for Alf and probably had already written the plot to be reminiscent of E.T. , where the alien is rescued by from the government and sent on his merry way to the stars.
I was in my twenties when I watched the show. I absolutely loved it. I'm still upset about the final episode. I thought it's suppose to be a "happy end ". It not just wasn't happy, it was terribly sad. Worst end as possible.
If they wanted to, the studio could fix this for a blu-ray release. One option is to simply re-edit the episode so we see ALF getting beamed up just in time. Even better, get ALF's actor to record voice over narration for the beginning and end of the episode, accompanied by suitable music such as a gentle piano track. At the start he could say: "So here we are, the final chapter. This was to be my last week living with the Tanners. Let me tell you what happened. It began with a call to Australia…" Then at the end of the episode, ALF concludes with the following closing monolog (while still images are shown and a suitable piece of music plays): "Aaaand... stop! [picture freezes with the Task Force surrounding ALF] OK, so there you have it, that's the end of the story... they catch me and I die. [pause] Ha! They kill me! Oh? Don't you like that ending? Fine, the truth is we just run out of time to show you all the details that went on. So yeah, for a moment there, things got a little scary. I thought my friends had deserted me, when it turns out they were actually just getting into the perfect altitude to beam me up. So I spent a few minutes getting chased around that field. And that's fine, I probably needed the exercise. But then in the blink of an eye, I was gone - zapped outta there and on my way to build the new Melmac, safe and sound without so much as a scratch. Last thing I saw when I looked down was the Tanners waving. So all-in-all, I'd say my time with you humans worked out pretty well. In just four years I managed to impart a great deal of Melmacian wisdom... recipes… a cure for hiccups… the correct way to clog dance. And _OK…_ you humans _may_ have taught _me_ a few things, too. So, I guess, thanks for having me in your home. Now I've got to go, dinner's ready!"
That Anne Schedeen was hot af!!! Not the classic looker but looking real good....hot af! The type you don't expect to be wild but turns into a nymphomaniac when it's on.
I had just received Ghostbusters II for the NES, I played it that entire afternoon as I awaited the ALF finale. I was only 5 years old, I LOVED ALF. We all did back then. Then the episode concluded, and I sat there in stunned silence for about 10 seconds before I burst out into tears. My family had no idea what had just happened, I watched ALF in my room while they watched CBS. I realize it wasn't SUPPOSED to be the finale, but my god, what a gutpunch.
This and Seinfeld will go down in my "favorite shows with sad/horrible finale's list" Got into ALF in 2013 thanks to the Hub channel and have binged the show 4 times now and still love it. I skipped the finale this time because it always makes me feel emty. Yes I saw project Alf but still, it hits deep
Never watched Alf because it was my ex-wife's favorite show at the time we got a divorce. Maybe I should? Anyway, I thought the Seinfeld episode was dumb on first viewing, now I look back at it as they got what they deserved.
@@themoviemaniac8416 don't let an ex ruin a show for you, enjoy it for what it is. Also where do you find woman who like ALF because I would totally want a gf to watch it with me too and people my age (22) are only interested in cringy Netflix shows
Every single episode of Seinfeld was horrible how can you say that the ending the ending literally showed them all whining up in jail finally for all the shenanigans and bulshit that they pulled throughout the series. If anything the ending of Seinfeld was probably the best episode in the entire series not just because they all got arrested but because it was the last episode of that garbage series. Seinfeld may be able to crack a couple of good jokes as a comedian here in there I'll give him that sometimes he's okay but as an actor on TV he is absolutely the worst and makes people like the Monk look like the Pinnacle of acting
Yeah, I remember this episode and was waiting for the next season that never came. I hate when shows do this and just end leaving us hanging and wondering. This has happened with so many great shows from the 80's and 90's.
I remember seeing that ending on tv thinking they'd resolve it in the next season. No next season came. I didn't know about the movie and for the rest of my life I thought Alf was being dissected in a lab somewhere.
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🛸 ALF is a classic American sitcom about an alien named Alf who crashes on Earth and is taken in by the Tanner family. 00:39 🚀 Alf is from the planet Melmac, with a sarcastic yet lovable personality and an appetite for cats. 01:06 😄 The show's creator, Paul Fusco, pitched the idea of Alf by talking to the network executive as Alf himself. 01:34 👨👩👧👦 The Tanner family consists of Willie (father), Kate (mother), Lynn (teenage daughter), and Brian (youngest son). 03:04 🎶 The final episode of Alf features him trying to make money, connecting with his friends from Melmac, and facing capture by the government. 07:46 📺 The show's cancellation was influenced by conflicts among the cast, technical challenges with the puppet, and a desire for a different tone on set. 09:59 🌟 The show's legacy celebrates friendship, humor, and positive memories, encouraging kindness and laughter in the face of challenges.
They should've seen all the problems with the actors and just have the aliens pick up Alf just in case it was the last episode. They could always continue the story in space and on Alf's new planet for a season 5.
To be fair, BTS there was a very REAL puppeteer who sounds more demanding and crazy-making than Stanley FREAKIN' Kubrick to me now. "Joyless and Grim"??! Yikes!
I was always sad how the show ended as well as the circumstances that led up to its cancelation. And "Project Alf" wasn't great, but it gave me some peace of mind about the fate of the beloved character.
We did get the TV movie after this but while it resolved the ending somewhat without the original cast in it the whole thing fell flat. That's the reason ALF was so good, it wasn't just ALF but the Tanner family.
One of my fav bits is when Alf visits a retirement home. He hides in a room to avoid being seen by a caretaker and comes out with a thermometer in his mouth and says: "This tastes funny" ^-^
Wow, what a horrific way to end the show, especially for fans that came to care for the characters. I can only guess that another season was planned and it would focus on ALF being taken to Area 51and whacky hijinks ensuing with all the scientists he makes friends with.
I think they should have opened season 4 with the story of ALF getting abducted by the Alien Task Force. It could have been a thrilling 2 hour episode which would have allowed them to follow that story arch through the rest of the season setting up a season finale in which ALF is reunited with the Tanners, contacts his friends and this time he gets to leave earth with them. That would have served as a perfect end to the series when the show was abruptly cancelled. As difficult as the production was they should have known the end could come without warning. I feel like the season 4 we got was a missed opportunity to set the series up for a proper ending.
While I was born in 1997, in 2008 I got the whole series on DVD for Christmas (my parents still don't understand why I asked for them). My favorite scene of the whole show is when ALF described his cousin "Pretty Boy" Shumway to Willy. I never managed to see Project ALF in its entirety, but it definitely comes across as a lackluster conclusion.
that dvd set is garbage it is in syndication scenes cut out , you can find unedited episodes here on you tube , espically the pilot episode is not how it began
We were so lucky to have this show in our lives... Imagine a multiverse without ALF!!! Thanks to the creators for the 4 memorable seasons 🙏 And the finale represents the hardness and times that creators face in that television era... A lot of competition, very few opportunities and short budgets made this show... Die 🥺
Actually the 80's was the decade when CB radios began to die out quite bit. They were still really popular early on in the decade, but by the time the 80's were over with, people were pretty much done with them unless you were a long haul trucker or someone who did a lot of road traveling. We had one in one of our cars because my mom and dad would occasionally travel back and forth from South Jersey to Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas. We have family out there. I'd usually stay with my Aunt in Jersey. But occasionally I'd go with them. My mom loved playing around and talking on that thing. She was old school though. Born in a little town called Prosperity Missouri right along the Oklahoma border back in 1918. So she grew up on that type of stuff, as did my father. But he was born in Philly. He was just into communication because he was in WW2 and Korea, but he also worked for Bell Telephone in Philly for forty years. So he liked fooling around with that crap too. But by the time the 80's ended people were using them a lot less and using car phones.
CB Radios were cool on movies such as the Smokey and the Bandit and Convoy, where they had the lingo and cool phrases, but I remember in the UK it definitely didn't translate well, usually a couple of stranger danger looking cars parked up on laybys with massive ariels poking upwards. Massive difference between a 18wheeled Chevy hauling hogs and a Vauxhall Viva with a rusted right wing, horrid brown interior and cross plys 😂
And to this day Alf is still alive in a government facility out in the desert. He's nonverbal now, and spends most of his time rocking back and forth in a small cage. Don't worry, though, they let him out a few hours each day for toxic injections and anesthesia-free exploratory surgery. His last coherent words were "Ha! Please kill me!"
My daughter really enjoys Alf even though my wife and I are not fans of it despite watching it when we were kids. The show is truly a gem of 90’s pop culture.
What a way to simplify history. It wasn’t just Max Wright, everyone, even the crew hated to work with someone like Fusco. The show was intended to continue after that episode, in fact, it had the tag “to be continued” on its original airing. The main cast had been wanting to exit the show from season 2, starting season 3, some episodes revolve on single characters, others have ALF as a comedy relief and gave some of the cast more of the spotlight, possibly to appease them from quitting. On season 4, on the contrary, the cast would have less time as they would not agree to be in it for long periods or anymore, for an instance, the Ochmoneks were written out. Jake simply disappeared and one episode, in which they barely appeared, they made Willy go to jail which would explain why the Tanners would no longer interact with their neighbors as they would not forgive them for what they did. They also tried to introduce a new character, Willie’s brother, to test the waters for a new setting for ALF outside the Tanners household. For season 5, all of the original cast would no longer appear, the cliffhanger would serve as an explanation of why the Tanners would not be part of ALF’s life, at least until an agreement was reached with the actors to return after season 5. However, season 4 had the worst ratings for the show, which should have been no surprise after that terrible 3rd season (even though it was way better). The ratings were the responsible for the cancellation, the actors were out before the network decided not to renew the show after the finale.
I always found it odd Fusco didn't try to reunite the cast for the TV movie. Maybe he was bitter about what happened years later when they did the TV movie?
The actors wanted the show to end because they felt the puppet was the star of the show...who would've thought that? ALF being the star of a show called ALF?
I don't understand how people miss that context of the ending. I mean I was a kid and I understood it. Matter fact it was a big issue when it came out. A lot of kids were upset back then.
I still love ALF to this day with all my childhood ALF dolls sitting on a high shelf in my game room, and you're Damn right we were upset about that ending, I was one of the kids who not only wrote a letter to NBC in disgust but typed it by borrowing my grandfather's typewriter, and I was only 9 at the time screaming at the TV like how could they do this?!?!
does anyone else think that Alf's friends were really crappy? I will say, its sad how looking back at a show that broght be joy as a kid, that the cast members were misreable working on it (it wasn't mentioned, but along with long, tedious hours to film one episode, the set was also very hot). There are some positive stories. Schedeen (Kate) mentioned she enjoyed her on-screen kids and would often do makeup together with Elson (Lynn). Max Wright (Willie) most definately the most hostile to the show after it cancelled, but before his death he began to lighten up to it as he liked the fact that he was part of a show that brought happiness to many people.
I was very disappointed to hear that the cast didn't like working on the show, and worse yet I looked up Max Wright and he apparently developed a drug problem before dying of cancer.
The darkest part was when it said To Be Continued but it never was. The network didn't have to lie to us. They cancelled it just because they knew it would annoy the fans of the show.
For fans of the show, all they have to do is make another season of ALF WITHOUT the Tanners but with the government. Government gets sick of pampering ALF and then lets him go. Then again, maybe there is no budget for that season.....
I was one of the kids who was upset by the end of Alf, and disappointed by the movie many years later. But now a couple decades hence, I kinda like Project Alf. It wasn't what I was looking for at the time, but it's a completely serviceable movie. Alf escapes with help, and then goes on a road trip across the country. Given that it had been many years, and all his friends abandoned him to die horribly, it makes sense that he didnt gaf about them anymore. He started a new life!
I remember watching it when it originally ran and I enjoyed it! The Season 4 final did have a To Be Continued but like you said in the video. Now I'm pretty sure not hated the creator of the show and ALF it's just that how the show was produced was what really made the cast not want to go through another season. There was talks for a spin off where the next season would of took the character to a government facility where ALF reside and they were going to have the cast as guest in certain episodes too. To me it's sad that it had to end this way. Now most people don't care for the TV movie of ALF but I know I liked it. I even have a copy recorded from the TV with commercial breaks too. I know also that Paul has been trying to get ALF back on the air with a new show or even a theatrical movie too. I wouldn't mind seeing ALF back on the small screen or the big screen too. I wouldn't mind see a whole new Animated show as well. That's just me though. Great video. Keep it up.
What's really sad to me is the claim that one of the actors was not satisfied with being a part of a wildly successful show because "all the jokes went to the puppet." How did his career go after the show ended? I haven't seen him in anything else as successful since ALF. And the technical requirements of making the show taking too long for another of the actors? How much did she make per hour if it was broken down into what she got paid? I do not know, but I bet the work was not exactly back-breaking, she got to be famous, & I am willing to bet that she made more than I do. How's her career going, now, I wonder?
“Everyone wanted the show to end because they thought the puppet was the star of the show.” The show was called ALF, of course the puppet was the star of the show. When I was a kid I was so upset by them cancelling ALF I wrote a hate letter to the studio 😂
Sounds like Tina Louise on Gillan's Island. Thinking she was the star of the show. DOH! LMAO Get a clue! I always thought like most guys did. Dawn Wells Mryann was much hotter then ginger was. Before the studio made Dawn Wells cut her hair she was stunning. No guy would of chose Ginger over MaryAnn with her long bangs. no Pun intended.
@micpar2 Agreed. I never even thought about Ginger while watching the show and neither did any of my male friends. MaryAnn had everthing Ginger did not!
I'm 44 my dad just recently sent me my alf doll that he held onto since 86-87. I was grateful for that!
What a prick!
Max Wright didn't need more jokes! He was absolutely brilliant as Willie and bested alf with his dry comebacks and awkward behavior. He was my favorite character hands down!
He hated the show.
Sounds like Max wasn't happy being Alf's straightman.
@@BigAL68xyz Eventually, it turned out Max was also not a straight man in real life.
I don’t understand why the actors disliked to play their roles. They get so much money I would even play the cat from the tanner family if they would give me money
@@BigAL68xyz He definitely hated working on Alf. In fact when they filmed the last scene with the family in final episode, they did one take and then Max Wright immediately walked off the set, got his stuff and got into his car and drove away without saying goodbye to any of the cast or crew
I bought the Alf doll in 1992, I still have it. He looks exactly like Alf in the series...I'll never get rid of him.
I loved him as a kid. I was heartbroken when I waited weeks, months and years for the show to continue after this cliffhanger. As a kid I didn't know the shows could get cancelled.
Now let's talk about Dinosaurs ending. You thought Alf's ending was disturbing? Those who know Dinosaurs, know what I'm talking about.
Would that be the 'global warming' farce they tried to add into the episode?
@@mtamech535 LOL, I bet you also talk about how modern shows and movies are "woke". Don't ya.
Did not realize it's been with you all along. 🙂
Enjoy all your media, as it has always had a message in there you probably do not like.
Yeah, the ending of Dinosaurs was crazy. Pretty Dark for it's day and age.
@erich6860
Hold on a second there buddy.
Why don't you step off that high horse, get out of that unscathed armor and put your feet back down on the ground.
I know you leftists really feel all smarmy and good about "being on the right side of history"
But it's worth remembering the last time a group of national socialists felt like you do now.
Nuclear winter
One of the top 100 TV gags came from Alf; He doesn't drink alcohol, finally does, gets seriously ill. He shuts himself in the bathroom and starts loudly barfing, as the family stands outside the door wondering what to do. The barfing pauses long enough for you to hear Alf say, "Hey! I don't remember eating that!"
In season one there are a few minor instances with ALF & beer but due to his huge child fandom they quickly stopped.
@@TheRealBlackarrot LOL, beer, not OK, eating cats, OK.
@@JDoors
*EX Cat eater.
He never ate cats on the show.
Once he was with The Tanners he stopped at Lucky though tempted.
@@JDoors Producer of the show must've been a female.
@@JDoors I mean shouldn't be that bad if the Asians do too
Thanks for this blast from the past. I remember the ending. Still one of favorite shows - and at 64 I still have some ALF collectibles....... one is when Burger King came out with the Alf doll & surf board. Yup! Top that! 🤗Much different times in the 80's. Silly shows that had a much "lighter" meaning than crap today!
You got that right brother, times have changed and not for the better. All the old shows were so much better with morals. These days they put out provocative cartoons with such bad language for kids. No wonder kids have no respect these days as we demise into the craziest generation ever.
This episode always makes me cry.
Some Alf trivia: The actor who played Willie was so fed up with Paul Fusco that as soon as they finished filming the final episode he walked off the set, got in his car, drove off, and never looked back. Fusco wore everyone out every week wanting multiple takes of every scene. The house shown from the outside as the Tanner home was torn down so a larger house could be built on the lot.
Take out the anger part and Ed O'Neal did the same thing at the end of Married With Chilren, though none of the actors even knew it had been cancelled. Producers never bothered to tell the cast.
And…?
@@tavonfenwick-yb5xv -- And what? It was trivia.
He was filmed smoking crack with a male prostitute in the 90s
@@Dr.Pepper001 Lol IKR, very peculiar response. You ought to at least tell us what each cast member ate on set and at what time they each took a dump! You call yourself a trivia king!🤣👍
I do hope that comment was sarcastic enough to be associated with ALF!
Cast joins a show named after a puppet.
Cast then mad that the namesake puppet is the main character.
There’s some sound logic for ya!
Right?
Alan Young said he always knew the horse was the star on mister ed and he was OK with that
And years later the cast never became relevant again.
For real, they knew what they signed up for, so to me it sounds like a bunch of Hollywood primadonna's just wanting a bigger paycheck, and the studio going nope, you have your contacts you already agreed to, so take it, or walk!! so they walked.
@@blast4me754not even in pog form
I remember watching this live as a kid and being incredibly upset at the end, like we don't know what kind of horrible things the government are doing to him and it was like no one around me cared.
Relax now. The guy in the puppet made it out alright. ;) He's probably still got some of that dough. As the creator, all that merch... ooo wee.. I think the actor who played Dad was into more trouble than Alf ever was. Nice to see him acting again!
I'm sure they conducted all kinds of sick experiments, on a bloody puppet.
How sweet. Bless you Jay :-) LOL
Crazy how the young mind works. :)
@bobtruck1594 not so crazy, even now, I do wonder
Funny Story: As a child, I wasn't the biggest Alf fan, but my brother loved him. I was and still am a huge Full House fan (a fan of anything Miller Boyett for that matter). In order to make me watch when he would babysit me, he told me that Alf's family was related to the Tanner's from the Full House and Alf knew E.T. 😅.
Lol! That's a cute story 😅
😂 you're brother was a genius
story wasn't funny
@@iwaswrongabouteveryhthing wishing you a better day 🙏🏾
The last episode made me sad, same with that Christmas episode with the sick kid and he saw another ALF on earth.
So many 80's TV theme songs went to the saxophone version after the popular original versions. I loved Alf and the 80's😊
When I was 14 my family and I took a tour of the NBC studio in Burbank. My mom purchased an ALF mug at the Gift shop. This was in the spring of 1989 and I still have the mug and use it to this day. It has ALF’s catchphrase “No Problem” written on it.
How about the last episode of dinosaurs where they looked out the window and the asteroid that theoretically eradicated them hit and the series ended haha
I don't remember the asteroid.
I do remember it starting to snow and the dad saying something like "Everything will be ok", followed by an uncomfortable silence.
@@remc0s Yeah, it wasn't an asteroid; Earl's company caused a series of ecological disasters that resulted in an ice age that spelled their inevitable doom.
Did that actually happen in that show?
@samuelh5567 Ya. They bulldozed a marsh where these beetles would come to breed to make room for a wax fruit manufacturing plant. The beetles would eat this rapidly growing vine that begins to take over everything so they spray some kind of plant killer that ends up killing all plants. They then figure that what makes plants grow is clouds. They drop a bunch of bombs to make clouds, blotting out the sun
@@Synomayo 🙍♂️🤣
I loved ALF as a kid. It was the only time I didn't mind when my mom called me in when the street lights started to come on.😂
That was so great being out all day on your bike or doing some other adventure and you knew it was time to come home when the street lights came on. Before cell phones, internet, social media. The 80s was a grand time to be a kid!
I love Alf! He’s the one who’s out of this world, sweet baby!!
Gordon Shumway was the best:)
My 2nd birthday in 1987 was ALF themed..
in 1989 we were at a christmas party, there was Santa obviously,and Alf made an appearance
I didn’t want to see Santa. I wanted to meet ALF.
How do you remember all that stuff at 2 and 4 lol. Only thing I remember was him trying to eat cats and planet Melmac lol
I had an Alf doll as a kid and pictured him getting away from the bad guys and he lived however he wanted, went wherever he wanted.
I loved the episode where Alf goes to the monastery to "contemplate life's vicissitudes". Thd bit that always gets me is when he tells Willie it's slmost tme for vespers, then turns to the monk and sayz, "I hope that means cookies!"
A.L.F. = A Lotta Fun 🎉😂 Miss this show 😢
I remember watching this when i was a little kid, and I was so upset. I just loved Alf. This was a terrible way to end such a cute, fun show.
worse ending: Alf's friends rescue Alf but use their advance weapons to vaporize everyone else, including the Tanners.
@@NinaEye 🤣 Yeah, that might have been worse.
From someone who’s never watched the show, thanks everyone, for a delightful drop down a rabbit hole that I normally would have passed. Thoughts and prayers to all the hearts crushed by the demise of their childhood icon. Yet, the true meaning of the final episode in the context of this series is appreciated: Life is not a sitcom. Not every problem can be solved in 30 minutes and rarely ends with laughter.
Ummm ok
@@Aldorodriguez-ls9kw Now you know - And knowing is half the battle, GO JOE!!!
A.L.F. could have eloped with MORK ? Or would that be too ahead of it's time ?
Humanity is SO PATHETIC!
“The cast wanted the show to end, they were jealous of the puppet”....Narrater
Interesting thoughts from a non-viewer. 🤔
Glad you enjoyed your rabbit hole journey! 👍 From what I remember as a young kid, watching the show was okay occasionally. It was a unique show, but others I appreciate more and still like (like "Dinosaurs" as mentioned throughout the comments here 😁).
It ALWAYS creeped me out as a kid to see the full-body ALF on screen.
never bothered me
Made it seem more realistic... imo
i remember in the last episode the Tanners took him to a field, where his ship was hovering, and the military showed up, and it ended. then there was a special or something where he lived on a Military base?!
I grew up watching Alf was a great show that was a very sad cliffhanger episode for sure
I actually think this caused me some psychological damage as a child. It was in the back of my mind all summer and I was looking forward to seeing how he was rescued but it just never came back on. Probably my first experience with a show being cancelled after a cliffhanger. Alf was just forever being held captive or worse in my mind. Pretty sure this played a huge roll in making me so cynical about everything.
LOL sorry to laugh but it is hilarious how traumatic an effect this puppet show had on innocent children!
I wonder if that show warned et beings about staying in earth and what would happen if they try to escape.
I loved ALF. I still have some puppets and plushies. But my dad was recording every episode on his VCR. Which the crew at his work got him at his retirement. It was his favorite show at the time. And the only show I remember him recording. Alf is one of the better memorys of Dad.
70s and 80s TV shows that ended usually had a TV movie followup that either served as cast reunions or tied up loose ends. I bet you a million bucks they planned to do the same for Alf and probably had already written the plot to be reminiscent of E.T. , where the alien is rescued by from the government and sent on his merry way to the stars.
I remember the show but I was too young to remember anything specific I can’t believe it ended that way
Same!
Same
I was in my twenties when I watched the show. I absolutely loved it. I'm still upset about the final episode. I thought it's suppose to be a "happy end ". It not just wasn't happy, it was terribly sad. Worst end as possible.
If they wanted to, the studio could fix this for a blu-ray release. One option is to simply re-edit the episode so we see ALF getting beamed up just in time. Even better, get ALF's actor to record voice over narration for the beginning and end of the episode, accompanied by suitable music such as a gentle piano track.
At the start he could say: "So here we are, the final chapter. This was to be my last week living with the Tanners. Let me tell you what happened. It began with a call to Australia…"
Then at the end of the episode, ALF concludes with the following closing monolog (while still images are shown and a suitable piece of music plays):
"Aaaand... stop! [picture freezes with the Task Force surrounding ALF] OK, so there you have it, that's the end of the story... they catch me and I die. [pause] Ha! They kill me! Oh? Don't you like that ending? Fine, the truth is we just run out of time to show you all the details that went on. So yeah, for a moment there, things got a little scary. I thought my friends had deserted me, when it turns out they were actually just getting into the perfect altitude to beam me up. So I spent a few minutes getting chased around that field. And that's fine, I probably needed the exercise. But then in the blink of an eye, I was gone - zapped outta there and on my way to build the new Melmac, safe and sound without so much as a scratch. Last thing I saw when I looked down was the Tanners waving. So all-in-all, I'd say my time with you humans worked out pretty well. In just four years I managed to impart a great deal of Melmacian wisdom... recipes… a cure for hiccups… the correct way to clog dance. And _OK…_ you humans _may_ have taught _me_ a few things, too. So, I guess, thanks for having me in your home. Now I've got to go, dinner's ready!"
Holy crap that is grim. I hadn't seen the finale and that would have stayed with me
Well it's a testament to how good the actors were that we believed they were a happy family 💟
I mean credit where it's due.
willie an kate never looked happi 2gether. actually, they prolli acted as they dyd 2 make it look lyke they were happi.
Great english there :)@@sebastianabsolution655
That Anne Schedeen was hot af!!! Not the classic looker but looking real good....hot af! The type you don't expect to be wild but turns into a nymphomaniac when it's on.
Humanity is SO PATHETIC!
“The cast wanted the show to end, they were jealous of the puppet”....Narrater
I had just received Ghostbusters II for the NES, I played it that entire afternoon as I awaited the ALF finale. I was only 5 years old, I LOVED ALF. We all did back then.
Then the episode concluded, and I sat there in stunned silence for about 10 seconds before I burst out into tears. My family had no idea what had just happened, I watched ALF in my room while they watched CBS.
I realize it wasn't SUPPOSED to be the finale, but my god, what a gutpunch.
Max Wright walked off set, got his bags, got in his car and disappeared (literally).
This and Seinfeld will go down in my "favorite shows with sad/horrible finale's list" Got into ALF in 2013 thanks to the Hub channel and have binged the show 4 times now and still love it. I skipped the finale this time because it always makes me feel emty. Yes I saw project Alf but still, it hits deep
Never watched Alf because it was my ex-wife's favorite show at the time we got a divorce. Maybe I should? Anyway, I thought the Seinfeld episode was dumb on first viewing, now I look back at it as they got what they deserved.
@@themoviemaniac8416 don't let an ex ruin a show for you, enjoy it for what it is. Also where do you find woman who like ALF because I would totally want a gf to watch it with me too and people my age (22) are only interested in cringy Netflix shows
Every single episode of Seinfeld was horrible how can you say that the ending the ending literally showed them all whining up in jail finally for all the shenanigans and bulshit that they pulled throughout the series. If anything the ending of Seinfeld was probably the best episode in the entire series not just because they all got arrested but because it was the last episode of that garbage series.
Seinfeld may be able to crack a couple of good jokes as a comedian here in there I'll give him that sometimes he's okay but as an actor on TV he is absolutely the worst and makes people like the Monk look like the Pinnacle of acting
Wonder years
@@tylersays- Small Wonder
Yeah, I remember this episode and was waiting for the next season that never came. I hate when shows do this and just end leaving us hanging and wondering. This has happened with so many great shows from the 80's and 90's.
No internet to find out more info back then. It sucked, waiting and not knowing
Cliffhangers used to get people to complain to the network for another season to re cast like power rangers.
Mark as always, great job. It was so nice seeing the family enjoying the day. Timmy seemed to appreciate it so much
I remember seeing that ending on tv thinking they'd resolve it in the next season. No next season came. I didn't know about the movie and for the rest of my life I thought Alf was being dissected in a lab somewhere.
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:00 🛸 ALF is a classic American sitcom about an alien named Alf who crashes on Earth and is taken in by the Tanner family.
00:39 🚀 Alf is from the planet Melmac, with a sarcastic yet lovable personality and an appetite for cats.
01:06 😄 The show's creator, Paul Fusco, pitched the idea of Alf by talking to the network executive as Alf himself.
01:34 👨👩👧👦 The Tanner family consists of Willie (father), Kate (mother), Lynn (teenage daughter), and Brian (youngest son).
03:04 🎶 The final episode of Alf features him trying to make money, connecting with his friends from Melmac, and facing capture by the government.
07:46 📺 The show's cancellation was influenced by conflicts among the cast, technical challenges with the puppet, and a desire for a different tone on set.
09:59 🌟 The show's legacy celebrates friendship, humor, and positive memories, encouraging kindness and laughter in the face of challenges.
Ty; as usual it sounds like this video is 90% filler, 10% what the title promises, and 100% clickbait
Thank you 👏👏👏👏
@@chegadesuadeI enjoyed the video so if that's click bait 🪤 they can click bait me again 😂
The other actors didn't want the show to continue because Alf was the star? Well, they got their wish. Petty jealousy ruined it for everyone.
Sony apparantly wanted to make a live action/CG movie of ALF in the vein of The Smurfs and Alvin and the Chipmunks in the early 2010s.
They should've seen all the problems with the actors and just have the aliens pick up Alf just in case it was the last episode. They could always continue the story in space and on Alf's new planet for a season 5.
Imagine being jealous of an inanimate object...Hollywood lol...
To be fair, BTS there was a very REAL puppeteer who sounds more demanding and crazy-making than Stanley FREAKIN' Kubrick to me now.
"Joyless and Grim"??! Yikes!
I still watch it and I appreciate the whole cast. Good old tv
I loved Alf but I don't recall the final episode. Going to be a good video.
I remember watching this show as a kid in the 90s. That ending was disturbing!
Wow! I totally remembered the end differently. I thought he got picked up by his friends.
My mind created a much better ending.
Same.
For the fans, it was a fun show.
I never got the appeal of this show when I was a kid, but I wanted one of the stuffed ALF dolls. Damn 80’s marketing…
I was always sad how the show ended as well as the circumstances that led up to its cancelation. And "Project Alf" wasn't great, but it gave me some peace of mind about the fate of the beloved character.
The only reason I rewatch the movie is after I watch the show to feel better that ALF is safe, ending on the finale makes me depressed and empty still
What happened at the end of "Project ALF"?
Ps. As a boy had the BIGGEST CRUSH on the actress, who played the Tanner's teenage daughter! ❤
@@invisiblerevolution Spoilers: ALF's life is spared and he becomes an ambassador to Earth.
@tysargent9647
🤣 ok cool ending!
@@invisiblerevolution Yeah, so ALF does not bite the dust, thankfully.
Best show Ever i used to watch it in the 80's when i was a kid in Australia. i cried when it was finished.
Everyone associated with this show should be happy it lasted 4 seasons
We did get the TV movie after this but while it resolved the ending somewhat without the original cast in it the whole thing fell flat. That's the reason ALF was so good, it wasn't just ALF but the Tanner family.
NBC Sucked So Much.
They were Too Cheap to bring back the Actors who played the Tanner Family.
@@tigermask3831 So I'm guessing it was a money issue. I mean they paid for Martin Sheen so why not the original cast?
One of my fav bits is when Alf visits a retirement home. He hides in a room to avoid being seen by a caretaker and comes out with a thermometer in his mouth and says: "This tastes funny" ^-^
Used to crack me up when he would appear on other shows I think he was on Hollywood squares on several occasions.
Wow, what a horrific way to end the show, especially for fans that came to care for the characters. I can only guess that another season was planned and it would focus on ALF being taken to Area 51and whacky hijinks ensuing with all the scientists he makes friends with.
That's exactly what happened, in the movie.
dydnt kare 2 much love 4 willie an or kate.
I loved Alf ❤❤❤. Good memories 😊
So, the cast was less than happy that ALF was the star of... ALF?
Come on😂
Got flash back to 80's ALF and Bigfoot sitcom
I think they should have opened season 4 with the story of ALF getting abducted by the Alien Task Force. It could have been a thrilling 2 hour episode which would have allowed them to follow that story arch through the rest of the season setting up a season finale in which ALF is reunited with the Tanners, contacts his friends and this time he gets to leave earth with them. That would have served as a perfect end to the series when the show was abruptly cancelled.
As difficult as the production was they should have known the end could come without warning. I feel like the season 4 we got was a missed opportunity to set the series up for a proper ending.
This episode tapped into residual ET trauma in kids my age
Although there was much wrong with project Alf, I liked it. It is probably available on UA-cam. I suggest watching it.
While I was born in 1997, in 2008 I got the whole series on DVD for Christmas (my parents still don't understand why I asked for them). My favorite scene of the whole show is when ALF described his cousin "Pretty Boy" Shumway to Willy. I never managed to see Project ALF in its entirety, but it definitely comes across as a lackluster conclusion.
that dvd set is garbage it is in syndication scenes cut out , you can find unedited episodes here on you tube , espically the pilot episode is not how it began
The last episode ended in the most exciting moment. They let the audience hang till the movie.
Thank you for posting this. It bothered me for a long time how that show ended.
There is NO "2400" hours! It's "2359" hundred hours then it's "0000" hundred hours!
there aren't aliens, either, that we know of.
it's a fictional show.
chill.
🫡 SIR yes SIR 😬
We were so lucky to have this show in our lives... Imagine a multiverse without ALF!!! Thanks to the creators for the 4 memorable seasons 🙏 And the finale represents the hardness and times that creators face in that television era... A lot of competition, very few opportunities and short budgets made this show... Die 🥺
Actually the 80's was the decade when CB radios began to die out quite bit. They were still really popular early on in the decade, but by the time the 80's were over with, people were pretty much done with them unless you were a long haul trucker or someone who did a lot of road traveling. We had one in one of our cars because my mom and dad would occasionally travel back and forth from South Jersey to Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas. We have family out there. I'd usually stay with my Aunt in Jersey. But occasionally I'd go with them. My mom loved playing around and talking on that thing. She was old school though. Born in a little town called Prosperity Missouri right along the Oklahoma border back in 1918. So she grew up on that type of stuff, as did my father. But he was born in Philly. He was just into communication because he was in WW2 and Korea, but he also worked for Bell Telephone in Philly for forty years. So he liked fooling around with that crap too. But by the time the 80's ended people were using them a lot less and using car phones.
CB Radios were cool on movies such as the Smokey and the Bandit and Convoy, where they had the lingo and cool phrases, but I remember in the UK it definitely didn't translate well, usually a couple of stranger danger looking cars parked up on laybys with massive ariels poking upwards. Massive difference between a 18wheeled Chevy hauling hogs and a Vauxhall Viva with a rusted right wing, horrid brown interior and cross plys 😂
Thx for the Beautiful Kind Words...vd.Dude 💕
And to this day Alf is still alive in a government facility out in the desert. He's nonverbal now, and spends most of his time rocking back and forth in a small cage. Don't worry, though, they let him out a few hours each day for toxic injections and anesthesia-free exploratory surgery. His last coherent words were "Ha! Please kill me!"
The alf movie now kinda stands up. As a kid that movie 🎥 sucked.. but now I enjoy watching it!!! Keep it 💯
Dude, Alf escaped and ended up on Hollywood Squares. He was fine.
My daughter really enjoys Alf even though my wife and I are not fans of it despite watching it when we were kids. The show is truly a gem of 90’s pop culture.
Your Daughter has Good taste in TV 📺 😊
What a way to simplify history.
It wasn’t just Max Wright, everyone, even the crew hated to work with someone like Fusco. The show was intended to continue after that episode, in fact, it had the tag “to be continued” on its original airing. The main cast had been wanting to exit the show from season 2, starting season 3, some episodes revolve on single characters, others have ALF as a comedy relief and gave some of the cast more of the spotlight, possibly to appease them from quitting. On season 4, on the contrary, the cast would have less time as they would not agree to be in it for long periods or anymore, for an instance, the Ochmoneks were written out. Jake simply disappeared and one episode, in which they barely appeared, they made Willy go to jail which would explain why the Tanners would no longer interact with their neighbors as they would not forgive them for what they did. They also tried to introduce a new character, Willie’s brother, to test the waters for a new setting for ALF outside the Tanners household.
For season 5, all of the original cast would no longer appear, the cliffhanger would serve as an explanation of why the Tanners would not be part of ALF’s life, at least until an agreement was reached with the actors to return after season 5. However, season 4 had the worst ratings for the show, which should have been no surprise after that terrible 3rd season (even though it was way better). The ratings were the responsible for the cancellation, the actors were out before the network decided not to renew the show after the finale.
I always found it odd Fusco didn't try to reunite the cast for the TV movie. Maybe he was bitter about what happened years later when they did the TV movie?
Humanity is SO PATHETIC!
“The cast wanted the show to end, they were jealous of the puppet”....Narrater
Imagine being one of the main characters on one of the most popular TV shows of the time and you want it to end because you're jealous of a puppet.
I loved ALF as a kid, but even as a pre-teen, I knew the show was tilling the same ground over and over again and had run it's course.
yeah, that seems to be an NBC problem. Same with the A-Team, Friends, Seinfeld
The actors wanted the show to end because they felt the puppet was the star of the show...who would've thought that? ALF being the star of a show called ALF?
I don't understand how people miss that context of the ending. I mean I was a kid and I understood it. Matter fact it was a big issue when it came out. A lot of kids were upset back then.
I still love ALF to this day with all my childhood ALF dolls sitting on a high shelf in my game room, and you're Damn right we were upset about that ending, I was one of the kids who not only wrote a letter to NBC in disgust but typed it by borrowing my grandfather's typewriter, and I was only 9 at the time screaming at the TV like how could they do this?!?!
Yes
They were mad it was about the puppet ?..it's like going to my birthday party and being mad that my party is about my birthday
As a kid in the 80's I loved this ending.
It was like the bizarro ET.
It's like an E. T's terrible and alternate finale.
You had me at Alf. I remember watching it as a 3rd grader.
does anyone else think that Alf's friends were really crappy?
I will say, its sad how looking back at a show that broght be joy as a kid, that the cast members were misreable working on it (it wasn't mentioned, but along with long, tedious hours to film one episode, the set was also very hot).
There are some positive stories. Schedeen (Kate) mentioned she enjoyed her on-screen kids and would often do makeup together with Elson (Lynn). Max Wright (Willie) most definately the most hostile to the show after it cancelled, but before his death he began to lighten up to it as he liked the fact that he was part of a show that brought happiness to many people.
I was very disappointed to hear that the cast didn't like working on the show, and worse yet I looked up Max Wright and he apparently developed a drug problem before dying of cancer.
@@jdraven0890 yes, I read that too.
I miss these innocent clean shows. Everything now is basically rated X.
Nobody walk barefoot in the bathroom! Later...Nobody walk barefoot in the kitchen!
best scene ALF is hiding under Willie and Kates bed and they jump in the bed to chase him out and ALF yells "Gooooo Willie!!!!!!!!!!"
In the ALF cartoon they watch a show called H.A.L.F, Human Alien Life Form, and he's a puppet of Willie Tanner
Life was definitely simpler back then
Excelent show.
I always thought Alf looked like Robert DeNiro
I thought it was Seth Rogen, but Alf is occasionally funny.
This was my favorite show, I wish they would bring it back on tv
The darkest part was when it said To Be Continued but it never was. The network didn't have to lie to us. They cancelled it just because they knew it would annoy the fans of the show.
For fans of the show, all they have to do is make another season of ALF WITHOUT the Tanners but with the government. Government gets sick of pampering ALF and then lets him go.
Then again, maybe there is no budget for that season.....
There is a movie that finishes it I think I watched it on peacock
@@kennymelson3716 Project Alf. It was OK. I still wish they would have finished the series.
@@kennymelson3716
Project Alf doesn't finish, shit.
People wanted closure with the Tanners who do not appear.
@@gohjohan
Wrong, dumbass. People wanted closure with the tanners.
I haven't laughed this hard since that episode of Different Strokes when Dudley got molested by the store owner.
Hated that episode.
CB radio is more 70s than 80s.
I was one of the kids who was upset by the end of Alf, and disappointed by the movie many years later. But now a couple decades hence, I kinda like Project Alf. It wasn't what I was looking for at the time, but it's a completely serviceable movie. Alf escapes with help, and then goes on a road trip across the country. Given that it had been many years, and all his friends abandoned him to die horribly, it makes sense that he didnt gaf about them anymore. He started a new life!
I remember watching it when it originally ran and I enjoyed it! The Season 4 final did have a To Be Continued but like you said in the video. Now I'm pretty sure not hated the creator of the show and ALF it's just that how the show was produced was what really made the cast not want to go through another season. There was talks for a spin off where the next season would of took the character to a government facility where ALF reside and they were going to have the cast as guest in certain episodes too. To me it's sad that it had to end this way. Now most people don't care for the TV movie of ALF but I know I liked it. I even have a copy recorded from the TV with commercial breaks too. I know also that Paul has been trying to get ALF back on the air with a new show or even a theatrical movie too. I wouldn't mind seeing ALF back on the small screen or the big screen too. I wouldn't mind see a whole new Animated show as well. That's just me though. Great video. Keep it up.
No kidding Alf back on air would be awesome so many revivals I don't see why not revive him too could be a whole new story too.
I rather liked his talk show...
@@jayo1212 Same here!
What's really sad to me is the claim that one of the actors was not satisfied with being a part of a wildly successful show because "all the jokes went to the puppet." How did his career go after the show ended? I haven't seen him in anything else as successful since ALF. And the technical requirements of making the show taking too long for another of the actors? How much did she make per hour if it was broken down into what she got paid? I do not know, but I bet the work was not exactly back-breaking, she got to be famous, & I am willing to bet that she made more than I do. How's her career going, now, I wonder?
CBs were actually big in the 1970 not the late 80s and 90s.
“Everyone wanted the show to end because they thought the puppet was the star of the show.”
The show was called ALF, of course the puppet was the star of the show.
When I was a kid I was so upset by them cancelling ALF I wrote a hate letter to the studio 😂
Sounds like Tina Louise on Gillan's Island. Thinking she was the star of the show. DOH! LMAO Get a clue! I always thought like most guys did. Dawn Wells Mryann was much hotter then ginger was. Before the studio made Dawn Wells cut her hair she was stunning. No guy would of chose Ginger over MaryAnn with her long bangs. no Pun intended.
@micpar2 Agreed. I never even thought about Ginger while watching the show and neither did any of my male friends. MaryAnn had everthing Ginger did not!
I remember watching the last episode and it never returned ... in my young mind the government dissected ALF and that was why he never came back.
Yeah his name is Alf but that’s just his nickname.
His real name is Gordon Shumway.