Why were people obsessed with ALF? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Hawkee · 07-04-2021, 02:50 AM

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

PracTz · 07-04-2021, 10:39 AM

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.

Dude111 · 07-04-2021, 10:48 AM

I didnt ever like it

BestTVever · 07-10-2021, 01:24 PM

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.

opus · 07-10-2021, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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?

TVFactFan · 07-18-2021, 02:21 AM

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

Mace Dolex · 08-25-2021, 11:28 PM

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.

BestTVever · 10-01-2022, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

Puppet?

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.

opus · 10-02-2022, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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.

rusty spike · 10-02-2022, 02:59 AM

Elmo a puppet?

Too funny

Yong Fang · 12-07-2022, 07:58 AM

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.

07-04-2021, 02:50 AM	#1
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,734	Why were people obsessed with ALF? 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
	__________________ Hawkee and Aguilar, Hoping to be a great team

07-04-2021, 10:39 AM	#2
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	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.

07-04-2021, 10:48 AM	#3
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,386	I didnt ever like it

07-10-2021, 01:24 PM	#4
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,874	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.

07-18-2021, 02:21 AM	#6
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,951	Im surprised it did so well in the ratings. Even its last season it had better ratings than Married with Children

08-25-2021, 11:28 PM	#7
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,660	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.

10-02-2022, 02:59 AM	#10
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	Elmo a puppet? Too funny

12-07-2022, 07:58 AM	#11
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	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.