ALF
Season 1
26 listed hours · 1986–1990 · NBC
From the desk
How this season is filed
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.
TV Flash files Season 1 of ALF (1986–1990) on NBC as the first listed season of 4 — 26 listed hours, 1986-09-22–1987-05-11 from “A.L.F.” (S01E01) to “Come Fly with Me” (S01E26). Titles, dates, and synopses on file — no invented recaps.
Desk essentials in this season
- S01E01 A.L.F.
A.L.F. is the high-concept crash: a rude puppet, a cat in danger, Nielsen in his pocket. Peak merchandising-age energy.
- S01E03 Looking for Lucky
Looking for Lucky is the cat-stalk thesis as a title: Gordon Shumway already the instrument, Willie already the punchline.
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S01E01 A.L.F.
Gordon Shumway, last known survivor from the planet Melmac, crash-lands his spaceship into the Tanner family's suburban garage. Willie dubs him "ALF", short for Alien Life Form. After convincing a military officer that they are not harboring a space creature, the Tanners decide to take ALF in as a member of the family.
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S01E02 Strangers in the Night
ALF decides to have some fun while a nervous Mrs. Ochmonek baby-sits Brian.
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S01E03 Looking for Lucky
When Lucky the cat disappears, everyone pins the blame on ALF.
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S01E04 Pennsylvania 6-5000
ALF calls the president to address his concerns about nuclear weapons.
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S01E05 Keepin' the Faith
ALF takes a job selling cosmetics over the phone.
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S01E06 For Your Eyes Only
ALF befriends a blind woman.
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S01E07 Help Me, Rhonda
Willie helps homesick ALF contact some other survivors from Melmac.
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S01E08 Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue?
ALF has a crush on Lynn, so he makes a music video to impress her.
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S01E09 Jump
On his 45th birthday, Willie feels unfulfilled, so ALF suggests he go skydiving.
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S01E10 Baby, You Can Drive My Car
ALF sells parts of his spaceship to buy Lynn a Ferrari.
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S01E11 On the Road Again
Willie loses his temper with ALF during a family camping trip.
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S01E12 Oh, Tannerbaum
It's Christmas time. Unfortunately ALF chops the Christmas tree into firewood before anyone notices. The Tanners then have two tasks: to teach ALF all about Christmas and find a new Christmas tree.
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S01E13 Mother and Child Reunion
ALF heads for the garage when Kate's mother pays a visit.
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S01E14 A Little Bit of Soap
ALF submits scripts to his favorite soap opera.
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S01E15 I've Got a New Attitude
ALF plays matchmaker for Kate's mother.
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S01E16 Try to Remember: Part 1
ALF hits his head and is convinced he is an insurance salesman. The Tanners try reviewing past events to try and jog his memory.
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S01E17 Try to Remember: Part 2
The Tanners continue to try and jog ALF's memory, and deal with the police at the same time.
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S01E18 Border Song
ALF befriends a young Mexican immigrant.
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S01E19 Wild Thing
ALF goes through a 24-hour period of bizarre behavior.
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S01E20 Going Out of My Head Over You
Willie and ALF talk to a therapist.
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S01E21 Lookin' Through the Windows
ALF thinks he witnessed a murder at a neighbor's house.
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S01E22 It Isn't Easy ... Bein' Green
ALF comes to Brian's aid when the boy has to play an asparagus in the school play.
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S01E23 The Gambler
ALF develops a gambling habit and winds up in trouble with his bookie.
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S01E24 Weird Science
Brian causes trouble at school when he repeats some of ALF's intergalactic knowledge.
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S01E25 La Cuckaracha
A cockroach from ALF's spaceship grows to gigantic proportions.
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S01E26 Come Fly with Me
When Mr. Ochmonek becomes sick during a flight, ALF flies the plane.
More from the 1980s.