ALF: The Animated Series
ALF: The Animated Series (also known as ALF on Melmac) is a 30-minute Saturday morning animated series that aired on NBC for 26 episodes from September 26, 1987, to January 7, 1989. "ALF: The Animated Series" was a prequel and animated spinoff of the prime time series "ALF", which had also aired on NBC from 1986 to 1990. Paul Fusco, the creator and puppeteer of ALF in the live-action series, was the only cast member to reprise his role in voice form; none of the human characters from the prime time "ALF" appeared in  the animated series, due to the shows premise revolving around ALF (Gordon Shumway) traveling to various places on his home-world of Melmac. "ALF Tales" was a spin-off from the series that also ran on NBC on Saturdays from September, 1988 to December, 1989. The two ALF animated series ran concurrently during the 1988–89 season as the ALF & ALF Tales Hour. Synopsis. Setting. This show is a prequel to the live action sitcom "ALF", depicting ALF's life back on his home planet of Melmac before it exploded. Since the original character's name of "ALF" was an acronym  for "Alien Life Form", it is never used in the animated series except for its title. The main character is Gordon Shumway who is normally referred to as "Gordon". In each episode the puppet ALF from the sitcom appears at the introduction and conclusion of the episode, talking to the television viewers; either setting up the episode as if writing his memoirs "Melmac Memories" and commenting on it afterwards, reading fan mail or describing what his life was like on Melmac. The visual look of the series was created by the lead character designer Fil Barlow. The format of the  series has the standard setup of a situational comedy, or sitcom, as its premise, in the style of "The Flintstones" or "The Jetsons" and it predates the non-Tracey Ullman Show episodes of "The Simpsons", which has a similar family arrangement of two parents, three children and a dog; The Simpsons Tracey Ullman Show shorts, which debuted in April 1987, featured two parents and three children, but, unlike ALF:The Animated Series, would not feature any sort of pet as part of the family arrangement. Much of the humor arises from the characters taking part in ordinary everyday activities set  in an alien and surrealistic environment. Gordon/ALF from this series is one of the cartoon characters featured in "Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue". Plot. Gordon Shumway is a fairly normal teenager living in suburban East Velcro with his parents Bob and Flo, brother Curtis, young sister Augie and their dog Neep on the planet Melmac. He spends time hanging out with his friends Rick and Skip who call him "Gordo", and he has a girlfriend named Rhonda. Sometimes the quartet would report for mandatory duty with the Melmacian Orbit Guard. The show includes an array of quirky supporting  characters, which include the fortune-smeller Madame Pokipsi and the villain Larson Petty with his offsider Eggbert. Episodes. Each episode is bookended by ALF talking about his upcoming book, "Melmac Memories", about his life on Melmac during his first year in the Orbit Guard. Home media. On May 30, 2006, Lionsgate Home Entertainment released both the first nine episodes of "ALF: The Animated Series" as "ALF Animated Adventures – 20,000 Years in Driving School and Other Stories;" and the first seven episodes of "ALF Tales" entitled "ALF and The Beanstalk and Other Classic Fairy Tales" on DVD in Region 1. Some  episodes can also be found in the special features section of the collectors edition release of the original live action series.