History Trivia / ALF

* HostilityOnTheSet: The difficulties in working both on a set with multiple open trap doors to accommodate a puppet and puppeteer, ''and'' with a puppeteer whose perfectionism led to most episodes taking longer than usual to film for a sitcom of that era, led most of the human cast to deeply resent having to play second fiddle to a puppet and sometimes lash out over it at whoever was convenient. "We're all puppets here!" Max Wright said at one point.

** Unfortunately, this [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALF_(TV_series)#DVD_releases carried over]] to the [=DVD=] releases and Hulu.

** One of the writers, Jerry Stahl, worked on the show while in the midst of a nightmarish heroin addiction, which he detailed in his memoir ''Permanent Midnight,'' at one point hallucinating the puppet attacking him while he was high in a bathroom stall.

* MissingEpisode: [[ChristmasEpisode ALF's Special Christmas]] (two episodes) was skipped in Japan for various reasons. However, it did not air until 2009.

* ExecutiveMeddling: In-universe in an episode of the AnimatedAdaptation; Gordon has written a movie script for a drama called ''Yo, Ma'' and it's bought... but the powers that be use it as the basis for the latest ''Gutsquisher'' action extravaganza.

** Also, the first version of the theme music was re-recorded in the key of C for some reason (it was originally in the key of D).

* HostilityOnTheSet: On top of what was a difficult experience filming (see TroubledProduction, below), most of the human cast deeply resented having to play second fiddle to a puppet and sometimes lashed out over it at whoever was convenient. "We're all puppets here!" Wright said at one point.

* TroubledProduction:
** It has been described as being what Hell would be like for actors when they die. Due to the constant arduously technical demands of making the ALF puppet come to life, to film a 22 minute episode it took 20-25 full hours. It was incredibly demanding, and reportedly almost everyone on set was miserable.

* HeAlsoDid:
** Jim J. Bullock appeared in five episodes as Willie's brother, Neal Tanner. Bullock migrated from ''Series/TooCloseForComfort'', which ended around the same time this show began.
** A few episodes were directed by Peter Bonerz, who played Dr. Jerry Robinson on ''Series/TheBobNewhartShow''.
** Beverly Archer wrote three episodes. Archer is best known for playing Iola Boylan on ''Series/MamasFamily'' and Gunny Alva Bricker on ''Series/MajorDad''.

** None of the main human cast members had any major success after ALF. Max Wright continues to act and received a Tony nomination in 1993. The other three regulars have since retired from acting. Wright wanted nothing to do with the show for a long time afterwards, but later changed his mind, acknowledging in interviews how much joy ALF (the show and character) has brought to the world over the years.

* ScrewedByTheNetwork: [=NBC=] promised that even if they canceled the show, they would make sure there would be an episode to resolve the Season 4 cliffhanger; they went back on that.
* TroubledProduction: It has been described as being what Hell would be like for actors when they die. Due to the constant arduously technical demands of making the ALF puppet come to life, to film a 22 minute episode it took 20-25 full hours. It was incredibly demanding, and reportedly almost everyone on set was miserable.

* CastingGag: "Going Out of My Head Over You" features Bill Daily of ''Series/TheBobNewhartShow'' playing a therapist friend of Willie's. Jack Riley makes a cameo as a patient not unlike Elliot Carlin. [[note]]Some sources say he's actually playing Carlin, but there is no onscreen credit and the episode later references ''The Bob Newhart Show'' as being a TV show.[[/note]]

* ActorAllusion: "Going Out of My Head Over You" features Bill Daily of ''Series/TheBobNewhartShow'' playing a therapist friend of Willie's. Jack Riley makes a cameo as a patient not unlike Elliot Carlin. [[note]]Some sources say he's actually playing Carlin, but there is no onscreen credit and the episode later references ''The Bob Newhart Show'' as being a TV show.[[/note]]

** During the show's run, Creator/{{Disney}} chairman and CEO Michael Eisner actually attempted to purchase the series outright before Alien Productions made a syndication deal with Lorimar-Telepictures.

* DirectedByCastMember: Paul Fusco directed six episodes.

** One of the writers, Jerry Stahl, worked on the show while in the midst of a nightmarish heroin addiction, which he detailed in his memoir ''Permanent Midnight.''

* PrimaDonnaDirector: Reportedly Paul Fusco was like this on the set. He was convinced that Alf was in fact real and didn't even care for the safety of the cast members in case a trapdoor came loose as he was more concerned about how Alf would look at certain angles. Fusco's behavior was possibly the main reason for the nightmarish production of the series.
** Anyone who's seen outtakes of the show will note one genuine problem. Fusco was ''constantly'' departing from the script and ad-libbing on a whim (perhaps even more so than Creator/RobinWilliams was known for) much to the other actors' and crew members' confusion and frustration.

** Anyone who's seen outtakes of the show will note one genuine problem. Fusco was ''constantly'' departing from the script and ad-libbing on a whim (perhaps even more so than RobinWilliams was known for) much to the other actors' and crew members' confusion and frustration.

* HeyItsThatGuy:
** Jim J. Bullock appeared in five episodes as Willie's brother, Neal Tanner. Bullock is best known for playing Monroe Ficus on ''Series/TooCloseForComfort''.
** David Ogden Stiers of ''[[Series/{{Mash}} M*A*S*H]]'' fame appears in the "Turkey in the Straw" two-parter as a homeless man that ALF befriends.
** Dexter Moyers from the movie ''Project ALF'' was played by Creator/MiguelFerrer.
** Peter Bonerz directed eight episodes. Bonerz is best known for playing Dr. Jerry Robinson on ''Series/TheBobNewhartShow''.
** Steve Pepoon wrote 14 episodes. Pepoon is best known for co-creating ''WesternAnimation/TheWildThornberrys''
** Victor Fresco wrote 11 episodes. Fresco is best known as creator and executive producer of ''Series/AndyRichterControlsTheUniverse'' and ''Series/BetterOffTed''.
** David Silverman and Stephen Sustarsic wrote six episodes. Both are also best known for co-creating ''The Wild Thornberrys''.
** Al Jean and Mike Reiss wrote five episodes. Both are best known as creators and executive producers of ''Series/TeenAngel'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic''.
** Donald Todd wrote four episodes. Todd is best known as co-creator and executive producer of ''Series/SamanthaWho''.
** Beverly Archer wrote three episodes. Archer is best known for playing Iola Boylan on ''Series/MamasFamily'' and Gunny Alva Bricker on ''Series/MajorDad''.
** Kevin Abbott wrote an episode. Abbott is best known as developer and executive producer of ''Series/MalibuCountry''.
** Anne Meara also wrote an episode and had a recurring role as Kate's mother, Dorothy Halligan. Meara is best known for playing Veronica Rooney on ''Series/ArchieBunkersPlace''.
** [[Series/IDreamOfJeannie Major Healey]] appears here as Larry Dykstra, Alf's therapist. Later in one episode, the character is voiced by [[Creator/HarryShearer Mr. Burns himself]].