ALF
Baby, Come Back
TV Flash files “Baby, Come Back” as a desk essential hour — ALF (1986–1990) on NBC, season 4, episode 1, aired 1989-09-18, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S04E01: listed hour 79 of 102 in the ALF guide, first listed hour of season 4. It aired 1989-09-18 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Having My Baby” (S03E26). Next is “Lies” (S04E02).
Essential hour: “Baby, Come Back”. Baby, Come Back is late-run sitcom weather: four seasons of garage alien, the unresolved military ending already warming up.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
When Kate has to unexpectedly go in to work, she has no choice but to leave ALF in charge of the baby. While babysitting, ALF faces a huge dilemma when he goes outside and finds the baby missing.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Baby, Come Back sit in the ALF guide?
S04E01 is listed hour 79 of 102 — first listed hour of season 4, season 4 episode 1.
When did ALF S04E01 air?
Baby, Come Back aired 1989-09-18 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Why are fans mad about the ending?
Season four ends with ALF captured by the military, a cliffhanger the original series never resolved. Fans still want a pardon. Come for the puppet; leave arguing about the last beat.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Peak 1980s high-concept puppet comedy — rude, catchy, and pure merchandising-age energy. Gordon Shumway crashes the Tanners' garage, insults Willie, stalks the cat, and owns Nielsen. Also a cautionary tale about unresolved finales: the military cliffhanger still enrages. Few puppets ever owned Thursday the same way.
The instrument is a puppet who owns the room. NBC's *ALF* (1986–1990) crashes Gordon Shumway — Alien Life Form — into the Tanners' garage and spends four seasons insulting Willie, stalking the cat, and generating merch. Paul Fusco performing and voicing the lead; Max Wright as the human stress ball; Anne Schedeen, Andrea Elson, Benji Gregory. High-concept family sitcom met production-nightmare puppet logistics. Cat-eating jokes were the brand. The puppet was the Nielsen. The blotter will lead with the…
Filed against
- Paul Fusco as ALF (voice/puppet)
Paul Fusco was ALF — voice and puppet — on ALF, peak 1980s high-concept puppet comedy: rude, catchy, merchandising-age energy. Gordon Shumway crashes the Tanners’ garage, insults Willie, stalks the cat, owns Nielsen. Also a cautionary…
- Max Wright as Willie Tanner
Max Wright played Willie Tanner on ALF like a suburban dad who had lost an argument with a puppet — peak 1980s high-concept comedy, rude, catchy, merchandising-age energy. Gordon Shumway crashed the garage, insulted the host, stalked the…
- Anne Schedeen as Kate Tanner
Anne Schedeen’s Kate Tanner tried to parent a planet on ALF — 1980s high-concept puppet comedy, rude and catchy, Gordon Shumway crashing the garage, insulting Willie, stalking the cat, owning Nielsen. Merchandising-age energy, a military…
- Andrea Elson as Lynn Tanner
Andrea Elson played Lynn Tanner on ALF — peak 1980s high-concept puppet comedy, rude and catchy, a Melmac houseguest crashing the garage and stalking the cat. Merchandising-age energy, Nielsen heat, a military cliffhanger that still…
- Benji Gregory as Brian Tanner
Benji Gregory’s Brian Tanner was the youngest witness on ALF — peak 1980s high-concept puppet comedy, rude and catchy, a Melmac houseguest crashing the garage, insulting Willie, stalking the cat, owning Nielsen. Unresolved military…