Is it Hard to Enjoy This Show Now... - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

SBTB Geek · 10-01-2013, 12:33 PM

The show's appeal was definitely based on the novelty of the ALF puppet, the writing could have been better, but I don't think it was that bad or terribly corny-safe like most other 80's family sitcoms. It's just that some of the jokes didn't age well--it happens.

The 80's were so pop culture rich that it was almost impossible for writers to ignore what was on the news, music, etc. The majority of 80's are so dated as a result, and that's why there's so few of them on syndication. Cosby, Golden Girls, and Cheers often seem like the only exceptions.

MacLeaper · 10-14-2013, 01:10 PM

Quote:

The 80's were so pop culture rich that it was almost impossible for writers to ignore what was on the news, music, etc. The majority of 80's are so dated as a result, and that's why there's so few of them on syndication. Cosby, Golden Girls, and Cheers often seem like the only exceptions.

Perhaps, but that doesn't stop me from loving a number of 1980s shows anyway. (I suppose it helps that I grew up with many of them.) But even with older shows, I think a good student of history should be able to get most of the pop culture jokes that are there- but even if they don't, it's not like that's the only funny thing in the show- it's not so big a deal to me.
I LOVE "ALF" myself and yeah- there are some pop culture references to things of the 1980s, but that's true with many shows. Just like the shows of today will be dated to the 2010s when viewed in reruns in the future.
It happens- oh well. The good shows have good writing that endures because of timeless good qualities that don't rely on pop culture references of the time.

TMC · 08-31-2014, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

They never made it public while the show was going on. I never heard about it until I had the internet. Regardless what they think, Alf was a good show and it gave alot of people joy. It's too bad that they didn't enjoy the experience but that's life I guess.

I think regardless, after finding out how hostile the set was, watching ALF most certainly takes on a surreal new quality.

vampirevsrobot · 09-02-2014, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

I gotta side with the puppet on this one. Lots of actors in Hollywood standing in line for roles.

I agree as well.

What actor (or any human being alive on the planet) wouldn't want to star in a major hit on Network television?

Even so, ALF wouldn't be the same to me without Willie (Max Wright).

Anyway, here's an interesting tidbit I found via the "Archive of American Television", in which Bernie Brillstein, one of the executive producers of ALF calls the cast, "The worst casting ever done..." (he stops himself); and later says, "the cast just didn't work".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuLLipDhA9U

The video begins @ the 6 minute mark.

king of comedy · 09-02-2014, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

I do find the idea that the human actors were jealous of ALF stupid because for all intents and purposes, ALF was the star of the show. It wasn't called The Max Wright Show or The Tanners and Their Alien. Rowdy C on his TV Trash show (while reviewing the Project ALF TV movie) compared it to signing up to be a human performer on Sesame Street and later complaining that Big Bird and Oscar were getting all of the good lines.

Sesame Street, The Muppets were a million times better than ALF.

vampirevsrobot · 09-02-2014, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king of comedy

Sesame Street, The Muppets were a million times better than ALF.

You think so?

I don't know, at least ALF had some personality on his own...

'80sSitcoms · 09-09-2014, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

I admit to watching it and liking ALF but I was yound I didn't know any better, and watching the reruns on The Hub I can't believe how excrutiantingly bad it is, hard to believe people made it a hit.

The jokes especially by ALF are horrendously bad and I hate how they jazzed up the opening theme in season 3 and 4.

I'd forgotten how good ALF is. I was pleasantly surprised when I bought the DVDs and saw how great the show was and holds up. I think the performances and lines are wonderful, and particularly how well---and adult---ALF himself is written and performed.

tlc38tlc38 · 09-09-2014, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I'd forgotten how good ALF is. I was pleasantly surprised when I bought the DVDs and saw how great the show was and holds up. I think the performances and lines are wonderful, and particularly how well---and adult---ALF himself is written and performed.

I agree with you on this. It holds up really well. I remember back when I was young, both my grandpas loved ALF---pretty much ALF and the evening news were the only 2 shows they watched.

vampirevsrobot · 09-09-2014, 09:27 AM

I haven't seen the show until recently now on HUB.

Minus the laugh track, it's actually a clever show!

And Tom Patchett ("The Bob Newhart Show") is one of the executive producers here!

**edited**

Furienna · 12-08-2014, 09:22 PM

It is really sad that the cast hated working on the show that much. But still, Paul Fusco has said that they all knew what they were in for. So some of their complaints, especially the one about playing second bananas to the actual star of the show, do sound really petty. Some people think that they are angry in retrospect because their careers never took off after "Alf" ended. But on the other hand, I guess minding trap doors for four whole years doesn't sound that funny. And it also seems like Paul Fusco maybe wasn't the easiest person to work with. So I say the truth probably lies somewhere in between.

TMC · 12-09-2014, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Furienna

It is really sad that the cast hated working on the show that much. But still, Paul Fusco has said that they all knew what they were in for. So some of their complaints, especially the one about playing second bananas to the actual star of the show, do sound really petty. Some people think that they are angry in retrospect because their careers never took off after "Alf" ended. But on the other hand, I guess minding trap doors for four whole years doesn't sound that funny. And it also seems like Paul Fusco maybe wasn't the easiest person to work with. So I say the truth probably lies somewhere in between.

Tina Fey when she was on Howard Stern's radio show brought up how ALF's handlers were extremely difficult to deal w/ during NBC's 75th anniversary TV special.

king of comedy · 12-09-2014, 05:45 PM

I want to see that on youtube.

Mace Dolex · 12-09-2014, 06:24 PM

The one episode I havent ever seen but only heard of that I dont think even The Hub ever aired is that Christmas episode where ALF befriends a girl or something, it was an hour long episode I think and no laughtrack to it.

candlefires · 01-21-2015, 02:34 AM

I still enjoy it, everyones gonna have their opinions.

QTMcWhiskers · 05-07-2017, 05:51 PM

Max Wright, I recall reading, didn't like playing the straight man out to Alf's antics. That's one reason he didn't care for the show at the time, but rewatching the episodes it is his reactions that I'm laughing with.

Kids may have had Alf being the center of attention, arguably with Benjie and Lynn, but without the human family involved Alf had little and Max steals the show as Willie. Alf was a novelty (but a good one!), but Max was the star - part of the human family ensemble that kept the show going and the audiences felt it was only Alf that made the show.

It's also terrible what has happened to the cast since, never mind the grueling stage conditions in working with a big puppet. It almost makes the series finale poignant, but not for the same reason as in front of the camera - which was very dramatic and felt far more urgent than a typical sitcom outing.

But neither the follow-up TV movie nor the cartoon had anywhere near the chemistry as the original live-action show.

Seasons 3 and 4 did take a downward turn, but the first two years are definitely worth their weight in gold.

09-09-2014, 09:27 AM	#24
vampirevsrobot Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2014 Posts: 170	I haven't seen the show until recently now on HUB. Minus the laugh track, it's actually a clever show! And Tom Patchett ("The Bob Newhart Show") is one of the executive producers here! edited
	Last edited by vampirevsrobot; 09-10-2014 at 03:16 AM.

10-01-2013, 12:33 PM	#16
SBTB Geek Smooth Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 21, 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,004	The show's appeal was definitely based on the novelty of the ALF puppet, the writing could have been better, but I don't think it was that bad or terribly corny-safe like most other 80's family sitcoms. It's just that some of the jokes didn't age well--it happens. The 80's were so pop culture rich that it was almost impossible for writers to ignore what was on the news, music, etc. The majority of 80's are so dated as a result, and that's why there's so few of them on syndication. Cosby, Golden Girls, and Cheers often seem like the only exceptions.

12-08-2014, 09:22 PM	#25
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,277	It is really sad that the cast hated working on the show that much. But still, Paul Fusco has said that they all knew what they were in for. So some of their complaints, especially the one about playing second bananas to the actual star of the show, do sound really petty. Some people think that they are angry in retrospect because their careers never took off after "Alf" ended. But on the other hand, I guess minding trap doors for four whole years doesn't sound that funny. And it also seems like Paul Fusco maybe wasn't the easiest person to work with. So I say the truth probably lies somewhere in between.

12-09-2014, 05:45 PM	#27
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	I want to see that on youtube.

12-09-2014, 06:24 PM	#28
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,660	The one episode I havent ever seen but only heard of that I dont think even The Hub ever aired is that Christmas episode where ALF befriends a girl or something, it was an hour long episode I think and no laughtrack to it.

01-21-2015, 02:34 AM	#29
candlefires Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2015 Posts: 11	I still enjoy it, everyones gonna have their opinions.

05-07-2017, 05:51 PM	#30
QTMcWhiskers Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 06, 2017 Location: USA Posts: 124	Max Wright, I recall reading, didn't like playing the straight man out to Alf's antics. That's one reason he didn't care for the show at the time, but rewatching the episodes it is his reactions that I'm laughing with. Kids may have had Alf being the center of attention, arguably with Benjie and Lynn, but without the human family involved Alf had little and Max steals the show as Willie. Alf was a novelty (but a good one!), but Max was the star - part of the human family ensemble that kept the show going and the audiences felt it was only Alf that made the show. It's also terrible what has happened to the cast since, never mind the grueling stage conditions in working with a big puppet. It almost makes the series finale poignant, but not for the same reason as in front of the camera - which was very dramatic and felt far more urgent than a typical sitcom outing. But neither the follow-up TV movie nor the cartoon had anywhere near the chemistry as the original live-action show. Seasons 3 and 4 did take a downward turn, but the first two years are definitely worth their weight in gold.