The Official Newsletter of the ALF Websites!

22nd September 2011 “All the News that’s Fit to Print” Price: 1/2 Wernick ALIEN LIFE FORM IN BIRTHDAY SHOCKER! EXCLUSIVE!

It was on this very day in 1986 that our favorite Regardless of it all, we have all been loyal and alien crash landed into the Tanner family garage. dedicated fans for 25 years. In more recent years, From this point forward, none of our lives would we waited patiently for the DVD sets to be ever be the same. We all remember watching the released, and had gotten our “ALF fix” by watching show on Monday nights, and often could not bear old and deteriorating VHS tapes; though the true the weeklong wait for the next new episode; so mark of an “ALFaholic” is searching the new eBay much anticipation for a thirty-minute program. auctions in the wee hours of the morning for

rare collectibles! If that was not bad enough, the summer hiatus was even more excruciating. Many of us also This newsletter was created for all of the ALF watched the sitcom for its complete run on NBC, fans of the past, present, and future. This is an and were crushed when it was cancelled after exciting time to be a fan, and projects such as these only four seasons; another prime example of a will surely inspire a whole new generation of ALF television show that ended before its time. admirers…as well as bring back fond memories! We had all but given up hope on there ever Included in the following pages: the toughest ALF being a continuation to the last episode of the quiz you’ll ever take, a look back on episode #1, ALF sitcom, “Consider Me Gone,” but in 1996 information on an all-new ALF website, an our hopes and dreams finally came true when exclusive interview with (creator and the movie Project: ALF was released as ABC’s voice of ALF), and more! We hope you enjoy this Movie of the Week. special 25th anniversary newsletter. The Most Ridiculously Difficult ALF Quiz . . . EVER! WARNING – FOR EXTREME ALF FANS ONLY!

Yo! My name is Sam Stokes, administrator of the ALF Wiki (http://alf.wikia.com), where we archive all kinds of information about every possible aspect of ALF from the TV shows, movie, comics, video games, merchandising - anything you can think of about ALF is there. And if it’s not, you can add it! Now on to the quiz! This quiz is designed to see whether you are a certifiable ALF maniac, or simply an ALF fan (which is okay, too). If you are a certifiable ALF maniac, then this quiz will be a piece of cat . . . I mean cake! If you need a little extra help, just surf on over to the ALF Wiki to figure out the answers! 1. On the episode “Night Train,” Willie and ALF run into a hobo in a train car named Gravel Gus. Gravel Gus mentions two friends of his that have no teeth. What are their names? 2. On “ALF’s Special Christmas,” Tiffany 9. ALF’s grandfather is known for saying, shows ALF a picture that she drew of herself “Don’t look back. Something might be as an angel. When ALF sees this, he asks broken.” What was his name? Tiffany if she is from what planet? 10. According to the Melmacian deity Barry, 3. After the destruction of Melmac, what who can party with him anytime? became of ALF’s friends Rick and Stella? 4. On the episode “It Isn’t Easy Bein’ Green,” Check your answers below to find out how you Willie refers to the instrumental bridge of measure up . . . the Asparagus song using a term referring to 0-Yo! You have actually seen the show, right? what musical composer? 1-3 - You could be a Junior Orbit Guard on Melmac! 5. When ALF realizes that he was born in (Of course, there is no Melmac anymore, so take that wedlock (a disgrace to Melmacians) he joins as you will). a silent monastic order where “peace and 4-6 - Not bad for someone without fur . . . tranquility allow for the contemplation of life’s vicissitudes.” What was the name of 7-9 - You know about as much as the head librarian of the monastic order? the Melmacian National Library – and she’s read both books! 6. When Immigration visits the Tanner residence in search of an illegal alien, 10 - Are you sure you’re not from Melmac?

Trevor Ochmonek stops by and gives Willie (Count your stomachs, if you’re not sure)

downwind” burps who

a business card for his cousin who is a 10.“He

Satchel Grandpa

lawyer. What is his cousin’s inmate number? 9.

it ate they before food their wash to Melmacians taught He 8.

“don’t!”) said ALF though even town, to love her took (she Ruby 7. Before ALF met Rhonda, he was engaged 7.

Miserables) Les in Valjean Jean as number inmate same (The 24601

to another woman for 58 years before 6.

Dominion Peaceful the of Brothers

breaking it off. What was the name of 5.

bridge.”) Verdian dramatic my for “Now says, (Willie Verdi Giuseppe

ALF’s fiancée? 4. Mercury on parlor tanning a opened and married got They 3.

Bungarea

8. Racky was the name of a raccoon that 2.

Flatcar and Litchfield

became a Melmacian hero. What did Racky 1. do to become a hero? Answers EXCLUSIVE! PAUL FUSCO Q&A

Hi Guys I like the ceramic ALF table lamp that was made. The most unusual First of all I want to give you my item: The ALF wind sock. Was a bad sincere thanks for keeping ALF alive idea from the start... who knew people out there and for the wonderful actually bought wind socks? After way you are keeping the fan base seeing the finished product, ALF was informed and in contact. I really heard to remark: “I don’t render well appreciate the efforts you are in vinyl”. making. It has helped to keep us in the public eye and generate 6) Do you still keep in touch new interest so we can hopefully with any of the ALF cast/crew introduce the “ol’ Alfer” to a new members? Sam Stokes - USA generation of fans... We would have kept the Tanner family now to your questions... Yes - I recently caught up with Anne active in the 5th season in some Schedeen and Max Wright who both way - It was never our intention to 1) Out of all the ALF still live in LA. episodes, which one is your write them out totally of the favorite and which one are you 7) There are a number of continuing series. We just needed most proud/fond of? references to crew member more characters and a new Mark Witherspoon - UK names in many ALF episodes. environment for ALF to play in and by Did all of the crew members putting him in a new situation it could That’s a hard question because there take these tongue-in-cheek open his world up more for different were a few that I really liked. The one references in stride, or did any situations. I personally like (not because I wrote of them come as a surprise to it) was the episode entitled the particular crew member? 10) When the sitcom was still “Alone Again Naturally.” I felt it had Sam Stokes - USA on the air, did you have an idea a certain charm and blend of humor of how you wanted the show to Sometimes it was a surprise - It was end? and pathos. I used the actual names mostly done as an inside joke to these Anders Landby, Sweden, of my next door neighbors as two people who all considered it an honor No. When we finished the 4th season characters in the show. to have their name mentioned. we did not know if we would be doing 2) Are there any current plans 8) Will the unedited versions a 5th season. That’s why we left the to bring ALF back to television of the ALF DVDs be released or the big screen last episode with a “To be continued” in the USA and will the rest of feeling. NBC at the time was pretty Sam Stokes - USA the ALF cartoon episodes be sure we would come back for released to DVD? YES!! We are currently in talks another season but said if they didn’t Sam Stokes - USA about doing an ALF theatrical do another season, they would let us MOVIE...and it seems to be very I am not aware of any plans for that do a special one hour show or movie promising. That could be big. at this time... however if there is an so we could tie up all the loose ends 3) Where is the Tanner house ALF movie and there is a big enough we left. The current management at located? demand for merchandising to be NBC at the time never lived up to that Shumway - USA produced again, maybe something can promise and that’s why we were left up be done about it. The actual house is in a suburb of in the air. Fortunately, ABC picked up Los Angeles called Pacific Palasades. 9) During the last Q&A, you on this promise and allowed us to do mentioned that season five “Project: ALF” as a two hour made for 4) Does RALF still exist? would have had ALF living on TV movie. I always felt bad for the fans Mark Witherspoon - UK a military base. My question that we never were able to resolve RALF is still around...hoping to is, how big of a part would the everything before the series was work again. main characters, namely the canceled. By the way, when we went Tanner family, have had in the off the air, the show was still doing very 5) What’s your favorite item fifth season, if any? Would they well in the ratings. The reason they of ALF merchandise? What’s have had guest appearances the most unusual item of ALF every now and then or would pulled the plug was that the network merchandise you have seen? they have been written off the needed the time slot to put on one of Mark Witherspoon - UK show for good? the shows they were producing called “Fresh Prince of Bel Air”. Anders Landby, Sweden, ALF at 25: Looking back at Episode 1

“We . . . we have a visitor . . .” Willie Tanner - September 1986

by Samuel Stokes

It was the 1980s, when we all wore Little did the world know that on credited as the voice of ALF, nor tight rolled jeans and listened to the 22nd of September 1986 we is Michu Meszaros credited with Michael Jackson . . . on 45! (Kids, would be invaded by a being that appearing in the ALF costume in if you don’t know what a 45 is, ask would steal our hearts . . . and try shots where ALF is seen walking your grandparents). It was a tense to eat our cats! That is the day around. Paul Fusco went to great time, with the U.S. and Russia on when orbit guard Gordon Shumway lengths to preserve the of uneasy terms with each other. crash landed into the Tanner family’s ALF. Even today, ALF is more than Was the world ready for a space garage – an event that would the sum of his parts; he transcends alien invading our homes? forever change their lives and ours. the mechanics and the and truly is a life form all his own. Well, there was 1982’s E.T. but in But how did NBC come to sign an ALF’s own words, “Why are you alien life form as the star of his own And he’s still a part of our lives always comparing me to E.T.? I’m sitcom? What sort of red tape did after all of this time. I was a fan of nothing like E.T.!” Nothing could be they have to go through to keep the the show from the first season. truer than this statement. E.T. was Alien Task Force from storming the I was the age of Brian as the show a relatively quiet, introspective alien set? And what sort of extravagant originally aired and now, 25 years with cosmic powers of telepathy luxuries did ALF demand during later, I have an autographed photo and healing. ALF on the other hand the contract negotiations? Okay, of ALF on the wall in my office. was loud and sarcastic, and had so we all know now that ALF was Join me as I take a trip down amazing powers of infinite stomach really a technically elaborate puppet memory lane back to 1986, when capacity and the cosmic ability to requiring three people to operate, ALF showed on TV for the very program the VCR. but at the time you wouldn’t know first time. it. Never is the creator Paul Fusco The show opens with Willie locking an A.L.F. – an alien life form. knowledgeable of Earth’s cultures. on to an unknown object in space Willie waxes on about how For example, it is later learned that on the infrared ALF was part of a dinner theatre radio band. production of Man of la Mancha, This would and ALF’s Melmacian buddies Skip be the first of and Rick are once seen teasing him many times about asking Rhonda out on a date Willie is seen by singing The Beach Boys song fiddling around ”Help Me, Rhonda.” with the radio Although the family was nearing the equipment in conclusion that they needed to call the garage, but the authorities, they are conflicted the only time when ALF wakes up and asks for we would hear help in repairing his spaceship. ALF speaking Of course, they don’t get too far in his native into the conversation before ALF Melmacian is ready to a snack. “You got a cat?” language and, asks ALF, to the Tanners’ shock. of course, the He is forbidden from eating cats, only time we would see a spaceship meeting a space alien is the but Kate reluctantly allows him to crashing into the garage. culmination of a lifelong dream, to have a dented cat food can. In the “We . . . we have a visitor . . .” which Kate immediately responds, end, Kate gives Willie one day to “We’ve got to get rid of it!” From the opening credits alone, we help ALF with his ship before they Willie calms down and begins think- could see that the Tanner family’s decide what to do. Not a moment ing more pragmatically and agrees lives were about to get very later Lucky the cat careers through that it is not safe to keep the A.L.F. interesting. We see ALF removing the kitchen window with ALF in the lens cap to the family’s hot pursuit. “He’s quick camcorder, a giant beast of a – I’ll give him that!” machine that could give the average Although ALF is quite human bursitis, not to mention a fond of cats (in the vertically-challenged Melmacian. culinary sense), We see through his camera lens ALF never eats a cat Kate shooing him away as she gets while he is living with in the shower, Lynn shooing him the Tanners. He is, in away as she uses the phone, and fact, only once seen ALF setting the camera down to eating a cat hair, when chase Lucky through the house. visiting his friend Jody. It became immediately evident However, in a flashback that life with ALF was going to be during the episode, challenging for the Tanners, but “Help Me, Rhonda,” always interesting. he is seen dining on a whisker omelet with tail After the opening credits, ALF and to which the hairy on the side, while his friends Skip Lynn hastily carry the marooned visitor responds, in the Tanner’s and Rick dine on chili cat and feline visitor inside to the coffee table. own language. It is never explained and fries, respectively. Kate asks, “What is it?” to which how ALF has become knowledge- Brian immediately responds that able of Earth languages, but it is one When the alarm clock goes off it is a real alien. Willie, a science piece of evidence among many that the next morning, Kate lets out a enthusiast, concurs that it is indeed Melmacians must have been quite blood-curdling scream when she ALF at 25: Looking back at Episode 1 (continued)

finds ALF lying in bed next to her. the Tanners a significant amount of them and asks them to contact him An equally mortified ALF runs into money on two separate occasions. or even stop by, promising to intro- the bathroom with Willie and learns When ALF finds out that gold and duce them to the Tanners . . . before many new things about human platinum are valuable substances on eating their cat. ALF’s friends would hygiene rituals. ALF peaks through Earth (though they are worthless in fact attempt to come pick him up the window, providing the nosy on Melmac), he sells the gold and twice. The first time, ALF didn’t go neighbor Raquel Ochmonek her platinum plumbing on his because he decided he would miss first glance at the alien. spaceship to buy Lynn a Ferrari. the Tanners too much, and since he Raquel would in fact see ALF two Later, they rented it to the set was only in his late 220s, he figured decorator for the movie Jupiter he had plenty of time later down Guys in order to pay ALF’s gambling the line to catch up with them. debt to Nick “the Fish.” However, About four years later, ALF decided with the spaceship in a state of that he would go with his friends disrepair, it seemed that ALF was to colonize a new Melmac. without the means to leave Earth. Unfortunately, the Alien Task Force Furthermore, he was unable to intercepted and decoded the return to his home planet of transmissions between ALF and Melmac (which ALF reveals is not Skip, capturing ALF before he could only its name, but also what it was be picked up (little did they know made out of), because it exploded. what a handful he was going to be more times - once in person when for them). When Darnell Valentine of the Alien the backyard gate between the Task Force knocks on the door to In the final moments of the first Tanners and the Ochmoeks is left follow up on a tip from Mrs. Och- episode, ALF is livening up the open, and later in that same episode monek, Kate is conflicted about scene at the dinner table. when ALF hooks the camcorder up whether or not to turn ALF in, Laughter is coming from all sides to Raquel’s cable box in order to considering there is nowhere else as ALF cuts one joke after another. talk to her over the TV and assure for ALF to go. When the officer That is, laughter is coming from all her that she isn’t going crazy. A described the things that might sides but the one where Kate is frightened Mrs. Ochmonek wastes be done to ALF in the Alien Task sitting. Although Kate was still no time reporting what she saw to Force’s lab, she decides that ALF apprehensive about sharing her the Alien Task Force, who would should stay, and sends the man away. household with an A.L.F. it was be a constant force to be reckoned clear to see that ALF was quickly with during the series and would becoming part of the Tanner family, ultimately capture ALF in the final and indeed part of our families episode of the series. But don’t as well. worry . . . as seen in Project: ALF, ALF sets up poker games with the Happy 25th Anniversary, ALF! guards in his cell and soon has them kowtowing to his every whim as many of them owe him the shirt off their backs because of their gambling losses. Willie labors tirelessly, with no help Later, ALF uses Willie’s radio to from ALF, to repair his spaceship, attempt to send a message to his but Willie doesn’t have the parts or friends to let him know that he is the technical knowledge required to living happily with a family on Earth. fix the ship. The derelict craft would However, in a heart-rending speech, never be repaired, but it did earn he expresses how much he misses ALF News

NEW ALF Website online soon! In Memoriam: Mark Ebert http://alfanatic.webs.com (2/24/1974 – 8/3/2011) Mark Ebert, of Lancaster, OH, passed away at This new ALF fansite, which the age of 37. He graduated from Beavercreek took the creator years to High School and received a bachelor’s degree in make, is filled with information Pastoral Studies from Columbia International about your favorite alien and University. contains a lot of new material that can’t be found He was a member of the First Baptist Church of on any other ALF site on Carroll and worked at Verizon Wireless. the internet. Additionally, Mark was an ALF fan since 1986 and You’ll also find an exclusive interview with a member of the ALF TV Fan Forum for nearly one of the cast members of ALF on the site! 6 years. He will be greatly missed. THE GREAT BIG ALF WORDSEARCH! LYNN PETE BRIAN FUSCO SKIP FOOD WILLIE MELMAC KITCHEN ALF KATE BLINKY RHONDA LUCKY TANNER ALIEN ERIC SPACESHIP BURNT SIENNA GORDON SHUMWAY NO PROBLEM OCHMONEK TALK SHOW ALIEN TASK FORCE EXTRATERRESTRIAL ALIEN LIFE FORM LOS ANGELES ALF News

For more information on ALF check out these great websites:

www.alftv.com

www.bringbackalf.com

http://alf.wikia.com

The Extraterrestrial Times 25th Anniversary Issue has been brought to you by ALF fans for ALF fans. This would not have been possible without the generous help of Jeremiah Eis and Sam Stokes and very special thanks to Paul Fusco. Designed by Mark Witherspoon.

Gordon Shumway will return... The ALF Extraterrestrial 25th Anniversary Newsletter is a not-for-profit fan publiction. ALF is Copyright © Alien Productions and respective licence holders. No attempt to infringe this copyright is intended.