Info:
DVD Release date: September 5, 2006 (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
Color/1989-90
MSRP: $39.98
Number of Discs: 4
Number of Episodes: 24
Running Time: approx. 500 minutes
Total Running Time for Special Features: n/a
Languages and subtitles: English, Closed Captioned.
Special Features: “Interactive Menus Hosted by ALF”
Introduction:
ALF is back on DVD one last time with the final
season, Season 4 The Syndicated Version. We were all
outraged when we found out that Lionsgate used
syndicated copies for season one, but for seasons two
and on they label it on the back of the box (in
semi-small print) that this is indeed a “syndicated
version.” Anyhow, the Tanner family is back for one
last hurrah on DVD with Willie (Max Wright), Kate
(Anne Schedeen), Lynn (Andrea Elson), and Brian (Benji
Gregory). The nosy neighbors the Ochmoneks (Trevor and
Raquel) are also back, who always seem to find
something fishy going around in the Tanner household.
Will they ever figure out who ALF is? Find out on the
last season DVD of ALF!
Memorable Episodes / Notable Guest Stars:
ALF produced actually only 22 episodes for the final
season, but they had two left over from season three
(“Mind Games” and “Fever”), and NBC didn’t air them
until season four, so we have 24 episodes actually.
Some famous ALF season four episodes include “Wanted:
Dead or Alive” where Willie resembles a crook; the
episode “We’re in the Money” where ALF uses a
computer to make stock market deals; “Fever” is where
gets his first Earth cold; “Make ‘em Laugh” where ALF
becomes a stand-up comic; “When I’m Sixty-Four” is the
one where ALF sneaks into retirement homes; “I Gotta
Be Me” has Lynn moving in with her boyfriend; and the
series finale “Consider Me Gone” is the one where ALF
announces he is leaving Earth but gets caught by the
alien task force.
Famous guest stars include David Alan Grier in
“Wanted: Dead or Alive,” JM J. Bullock in various
episodes, Anne Meara in “Break Up to Make Up,” Casey
Kasem, David Spade, Brandon Tartikoff in “Make ‘em
Laugh,” Dan Castellaneta in “Stayin’ Alive,” and Dean
Cameron in various episodes.
Packaging:
The packaging is pretty much the same as previous
seasons. The box cover is in purple this time with
little star like shapes and ALF singing with a
microphone. The ALF logo is in red. The back of the
box has a brief synopsis of the show, four ALF Facts,
and ALF season four credits. There is also a photo of
ALF’s with a nice jacket and holing a microphone on
one hand and holding the DVD set on another! The case
also has the same cover as the box and the same back
as the box, like last time. Inside the case of course
are the 4 discs and also an episode index sheet. The
discs are not overlapping, like season three’s set.
The episode index sheet lists what episodes are on
each disc with episode titles, and who wrote and
directed the episode. It also features two quotes from
ALF!
All the discs are in purple-blue color scheme and have
the ALF logo in red with the words season four in
white. Disc one has ALF’s face with a shot of a planet
on the far left. It also mentions that disc one
contains episodes 1-6. Disc two has ALF’s body with a
rose in his mouth and has episodes 7-12. Disc three
has ALF in a red Hawaiian shirt pointing to the sky.
Disc three features episodes 13-18. Disc four has a
tough looking ALF with a gold chain and a silver chain
representing a dollar sign, something out of the
closet of Mr. T. Disc four has episodes 19-24.
Basically all of the photos on the discs are the same
as the previous sets. Each disc has its own holder.
Menu Design and Navigation:
The menu screens are probably the best thing about the
ALF DVDs! ALF himself hosts the menu screens again!
They are very interactive. This is fun to watch. Each
disc has a different menu screen, with ALF saying
different things. This time ALF is selling his own
cell phone. Disc one he mentions all-new ALF mobisodes
are available, disc two he is selling the ALF 1000
Cell Phone, disc three he is selling ring-tones and
customizes them with burps, and disc four he mentions
video messaging on the ALF 1000. Just like it was on
previous sets, when you select the episodes option,
you go to a screen with all the episodes listed. There
is a play icon, a photo from the episode, and a
question mark icon. When you click on the question
mark, ALF gives you a brief video synopsis of the
episode—in his own words! ALF was again really
involved in this DVD, it seems! The 4th disc also has
a credits option, which is the credits for the DVD, on
who was involved basically on the menus and more.
There is no scene selection screen for each episode,
but there are chapters on each episode, which you can
use with your remote. I think there are about 5
chapters or so.
Video and Audio Quality:
The video and audio look decent and expect the same as
you did for previous seasons. The set is newly
remastered, so you can tell how crisp the video looks
and how good the audio sounds. The audio is in 2.0
Dolby Digital Surround. I didn’t find any faults in
the audio or video. Each episode runs about 21:30 or
so. So, again, these episodes are of the syndicated
versions. It clearly says that on the back of the box.
There is one episode that “could” be unedited; the
episode “Make ‘em Laugh” runs 23:27. Breakdown of
each disc follows:
Disc one:
80. Baby, Come Back (9/18/1989) 21:26
81. Lies (9/25/1989) 21:27
82. Wanted: Dead or Alive (10/2/1989) 21:27
83. We're in the Money (10/9/1989) 20:53
84. Mind Games (10/16/1989) 21:26
85. Hooked on a Feeling (10/23/1989) 21:27
Disc two:
86. He Ain't Heavy, He's Willie's Brother (10/30/1989)
21:27
87. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (11/6/1989)
21:27
88. Live and Let Die (11/13/1989) 21:26
89. Break Up to Make Up (11/20/1989) 20:11
90. Happy Together (11/27/1989) 21:26
91. Fever (12/4/1989) 21:26
Disc three:
92. It's My Party (12/11/1989) 21:26
93. Make 'Em Laugh (1/8/1990) 23:27
94. Love on the Rocks (1/15/1990) 21:27
95. True Colors (1/22/1990) 21:27
96. Gimmee That Old Time Religion (1/29/1990) 21:07
97. Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades (2/5/1990)
21:27
Disc four:
98. When I'm 64 (2/12/1990) 21:15
99. Mr. Sandman (2/19/1990) 21:26
100. Stayin' Alive (2/26/1990) 21:26
101. Hungry Like the Wolf (3/3/1990) 21:26
102. I Gotta Be Me (3/10/1990) 21:08
103. Consider Me Gone (3/24/1990) 20:44
Special Features:
There are no special features for season four other
than ALF hosting the menus. ALF mentions on disc four
that there is an Easter egg. Is he jiving? I didn’t
find it, but maybe if there is one, someone will find
it.
Final Comments:
That’s a wrap! Now we have all four seasons on DVD,
but not unedited. Again, Lionsgatee did explain to us
why they used those edited prints instead of the
originals (if you do not know, read here:
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=2067).
And they do mention on the box that these are indeed
syndicated versions, but I am not happy getting edited
episodes, so my score again will be down. If you want
to watch ALL the episodes in their entirety, then I
guess this is not for you. ALF hosting the menu is fun
to watch though. Maybe some day we will get to see ALF
unedited. Maybe someone has them all from NBC. I’m
sure the masters are not in that bad shape. Oh well,
let’s hope they release more ALF animated sets soon,
but for now go out and buy the last season of the
sitcom on DVD!
Final Numbers (out of 5 stars - How our point system works)
Video Quality: 4.5/5
Audio Quality: 4/5
Special Features: 0/5
Menu Design/Navigation: 5/5
Overall: 3/5
-- Reviewed by pavanbadal on 09/17/06
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