ALF (1986 — 1990)

The American television sitcom, ALF (1986–1990), originally aired on NBC from September 22, 1986 to March 24, 1990. The show follows the story of an alien named Gordon Shumway, also known as ALF (which stands for ‘Alien Life Form’), who crashes into the suburban home of the Tanners – a middle-class family living in the San Fernando Valley of California. Gordon is from the planet Melmac and had followed a radio signal to Earth. Despite his real name being Gordon Shumway, the Tanners affectionately call him ALF. The family consists of Willie, his wife Kate, their daughter Lynn, son Brian, and their cat Lucky – whom Gordon has a desire to eat. After taking him in, they must keep ALF hidden from both the Alien Task Force and their curious neighbors Trevor and Raquel Ochmonek until he can repair his spaceship. In the meantime, he spends most of his time hiding out in the kitchen. As the series progresses, it is revealed that Melmac was destroyed in a nuclear war.

In the season one episode Pennsylvania 6-5000, ALF attempts to persuade the President to end the nuclear program, worried about Earth meeting the same fate as Melmac. However, his poorly chosen words lead to the involvement of national security and the FBI, resulting in Willie being arrested. Fortunately for ALF, he was away from Melmac at the time of its destruction because he served in the Melmac Orbit Guard. Although he is without a home, ALF is not the sole survivor of his species. Despite causing chaos and challenges with his cultural shock, survivor guilt, boredom, despair, and loneliness, ALF becomes a permanent member of the Tanner family. While they come to adore him, some episodes also reveal their fear of how their lives would be impacted if his secret were to get out.