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Who Was ALF the Alien? The 80s Sitcom Icon That Crashed Into Primetime
- TalkTeaV
- May 15
- 3 min read
Updated: May 24
TalkTeaV Spotlight: Revisiting the fur-covered alien who crashed his spaceship into a suburban garage and became a member of the Tanner family.
ALF (NBC, 1986), as featured on Pluto TV. Used for editorial commentary under fair use. © NBCUniversal.
Who Was ALF the Alien?
Furry, sarcastic, and always hungry for cats, ALF first appeared in American living rooms in 1986 and quickly became a pop culture icon. Short for “Alien Life Form,” ALF’s real name was Gordon Shumway—a wisecracking extraterrestrial from the planet Melmac who found himself living with the suburban Tanner family after his spaceship collided with their garage.
ALF premiered on NBC on September 22, 1986, and ran for four seasons, ending on March 24, 1990, with a total of 99 episodes. The show was created by Paul Fusco and Tom Patchett, with Fusco also performing and voicing ALF.
To bring the character to life, Fusco operated ALF's mouth with his left hand while managing his right arm onscreen, assisted by two other puppeteers—Lisa Buckley and Bob Fappiano—who controlled ALF’s left arm and facial movements. In scenes requiring a full-body view, actor Michu Meszaros wore the ALF costume.
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ALF (NBC, 1986), as featured on Pluto TV. Used for editorial commentary under fair use. © NBCUniversal.
Meet the Tanners
The show followed the lives of the Tanner family, who took ALF in and tried to keep him hidden from the government and nosy neighbors:
Willie Tanner (Max Wright), the father
Kate Tanner (Anne Schedeen), the mother
Lynn Tanner (Andrea Elson), their teenage daughter
Brian Tanner (Benji Gregory), their young son
ALF’s mix of sarcasm, mischief, and misunderstood Earth customs led to classic sitcom setups and family-friendly chaos.
ALF’s Popularity
During its early seasons, ALF was a consistent ratings winner, earning a strong following among kids and adults. The character was everywhere—on lunchboxes, T-shirts, toys, and even in comic books.
TV Guide once described the series as “a mix of slapstick and sweetness” that made an unlikely alien the heart of a primetime sitcom. The series ended without closure, but a follow-up TV movie, Project: ALF, aired in 1996 and attempted to wrap up the story.
Where Is ALF Now?
While ALF has never fully left the spotlight, revival efforts haven’t taken off. However, reruns and streaming availability have kept the character alive. As of 2025, selected episodes are available on platforms like Peacock and Pluto.
ALF may have vanished from NBC’s lineup more than 30 years ago, but he remains one of TV’s most memorable outsiders—proof that a wisecracking space alien can feel right at home no matter where you land.
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