When ALF made it's debut in 1986 I never understood why ALF got popular in the first place? Was it because with a alien puppet as it's star made it funny to watch or was it just a funny sitcom that had something for everyone? Because as ALF continued it's run I never have seen so much merchandise for ALF such as plush toys birthday party supplies music records and much more. Did they think that ALF would become a huge celebrity of the 80's? But by the time the show ended it's run in 1990 ALF started to wane and made room for another sitcom hit
Bestie

IIRC, the show got hypped to death with crossovers and other NBC stars (in character) promoting it even before it aired. I think viewers expected it to live up to it hype but once they realized that it wasn't anywhere close as terrific as it claimed to be, ratings fell.

I didnt ever like it :D

Come on now. A smart ass alien puppet living with a family is hysterical. I get it. Some people dont like this kind of humor but I love it.

Come on now. A smart ass alien puppet living with a family is hysterical. I get it. Some people dont like this kind of humor but I love it.

Puppet? :confused:

Im surprised it did so well in the ratings. Even its last season it had better ratings than Married with Children:lol:

I think it was ALF's wisecracking antics that made him popular with kids, I watched it as a kid too and obviously found it funny but that was through rose tinted glasses, watching it now as an adult its abysmal to the point where ALF starts getting on your nerves that it makes you want to rip the puppet apart.

Puppet? :confused:
Yes puppet. I hate to break it to you but Alf was not real and a puppet :)

Puppeteers were credited on the show and major contributors.

Yes puppet. I hate to break it to you but Alf was not real and a puppet :)

Puppeteers were credited on the show and major contributors.

Wow. Live and learn. Thank god Elmo is real at least.

Elmo a puppet?

Too funny :D

ALF was ridiculous, but I liked it when it was first on, and I was a young adult.

I have read that the show was a nightmare to do. The guy who did the ALF puppet was a perfectionist and a pain. The set supposedly had "trap doors for the puppet and the person controlling it. It is fairly well known that the actors were happy when it was cancelled. The actor who played the father, Max Wright supposedly didnt even say goodbye to any of the cast or crew, he just grabbed his stuff and left. Supposedly Wright had a lot of personal problems in his life, possible drug abuse, financial issues and then died of cancer. He was a trained actor and his most famous role was a second banana to a furry muppet.