ALF: The Animated Series
| ALF: The Animated Series | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Created by |
Paul Fusco Tom Patchett |
| Starring |
Paul Fusco Peggy Mahon Tabitha St. Germain (as Paulina Gillis) Thick Wilson Dan Hennessey Rob Cowan |
| Country of origin | United States Canada |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes per episode |
| Production company(s) |
DIC Entertainment Alien Productions Lorimar-Telepictures Saban Entertainment (1987–89) Telepictures/ParaMedia Scott Free Productions |
| Distributor |
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution Sony Pictures Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original 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 and a spin-off based on the live-action sitcom ALF that aired for 26 episodes on NBC from September 26, 1987 to January 7, 1989. ALF Tales was a spin-off from the series that also ran on NBC on Saturdays from September 1988 to December 1989.
This show is a prequel to the live action sitcom ALF, depicting ALF's life back on his home planet of Melmac, much resembling a 1950s/1960s small town. Since the name "ALF" was an acronym short for Alien Life Form and only given to Gordon Shumway later on Earth, "ALF" is never used in the animated series except for its title. ALF would always be referred to as "Gordon", his true name, or "Gordo" by his friends Rick and Skip. In nearly every episode a live action ALF would appear at the introduction and conclusion of the episode; reading fan mail and saying that this show is a response to a huge demand of people wanting to know what his life was like on Melmac.
Much of the humor arises from the characters taking part in surrealistic activities while treating them as ordinary and unremarkable. For example, in order to prove their manhood and win their distinguished antlers, the sons of members of the Mayonnaise Lodge (formed of men who work in the mayonnaise mines) must wrestle a clam and make it sing. Other episodes had issues somewhat similar to Earth issues, such as when Gordon's parents take part in a free vacation, while failing to realize it is a time share scam: the scam artist literally steals the Shumway residence and transplants it to the time share plots, then uses brainwashing machines to convince Flo and Bob to buy a house they already own.
Another one which was a play on the original TV series was a TV show which ALF and his family loved about "the Earthling who crash landed on Melmac" where a human was shown saying "On my homeworld we keep cats as housepets" and a Melmacian telling him "Well, here we eat them!" Gordon/ALF from this series is one of the cartoon characters featured in Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.
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