The '80s were a goldmine for sitcoms, and ALF was the best of them, with a kooky premise, lovable protagonist and always a valuable lesson in the end.
The Big Picture The '80s were a strange time. Technology was beginning its takeover, a former actor was president of the United States, and television was starting to push boundaries. Those lines seem tame compared to today, but this era of television was nestled in between the sweet safety of shows like The Waltons and The Brady Brunch, and edgier fare of the '90s like Seinfeld and NYPD Blue.
'ALF' Had the Format of a Traditional '80s Sitcom The premise of an alien who crash lands on earth and flees the military who are out to catch him, only to become a member of a traditional American family might sound a bit off the wall, but ALF worked by feeling so normal. That was because the craziness of its gimmick was grounded in the familiar of a run-of-the-mill sitcom.
'ALF' Had One of the Most Memorable Over-The-Top Characters ALF is a hairy, three-foot tall alien named Gordon Shumway from a planet called Melmac. He doesn't feel alien though. ALF might look different, but he's familiar. He's Robin Williams from Mork and Mindy, Steve Urkel from Family Matters, or any sitcom that had that crazy character who moves into a family's life and takes it over.
ALF was also a bit of a tragic character. He spends almost his entire life on Earth cooped up like a prisoner inside the Tanner house, sleeping in the garage. If he goes out, he risks being caught. That doesn't mean he never leaves. He sometimes does and comes close to getting himself caught. The Tanners are all ALF has. He depends on them for everything. Without him, he'd be a goner.
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