The Dark Secrets and True Realities Behind ALF

Imagine starring in one of the most popular TV shows of the 1980s, only to have it become a living nightmare- that’s what happened with the show ALF, with struggles and heartbreak consuming the actors that starred in the show. "ALF," which aired from 1986 to 1990, was not just another family sitcom. It followed the Tanner family, an average American household, whose world was turned upside down when a cat-hungry alien from the planet Melmac crash-landed into their lives. ALF was short for Alien Life Form-and they chose to keep his existence a secret, despite his quirky antics. ALF was hilarious and it had millions watching, but the lives of the actors behind this beloved show were far from the cheerful image they played on screen.
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#recollectionroad #movies #tv #alf

[@themovieguy2095]

I would like to thank the cast for enduring their hardships for this show. Their contributions made q lot of families and their children very happy including myself.🙏

[@Freedom4Ever420]

Remember ALF? He’s back, in POG form.

[@jpmnky]

First thing I thought of was Milhouse showing Bart his ALF pogs.

[@whiteydiamond]

No

[@princessmarlena1359]

“You traded my soul for POGS!? NOOOOOO!”

[@DavidGutierrez-kj8tm]

Classic.

[@bruce_just_]

Member berries 😂

[@MADWORLD1427]

I was an extra on an episode of Quantum Leap and Max Wright was a guest star, we had a two hour conversation and he could not have been nicer!

[@johnmguzman7491]

Which Quantum Leap Episode?

[@Kolokotronis-z6j]

It’s because the “ WANTED “ you. He was secretly gay . Look it up

[@MADWORLD1427]

@ It was a two part episode with Max and Meg Foster as guests set in the south,

[@LordBonesaw]

I’m 38 years old and still have my talking alf that I’ve had since I was a kid….. memories

[@shawnadkins3668]

I'm 45 and still have mine. I got it for Christmas in 1988.

[@aguythatworkstoomuch4624]

My favorite show as a kid!!!

[@MrBlairskie]

This and Dinosaurs were so good

[@wanorman2007]

I think it's a credit to the talent of the actors who worked under such impossible conditions that they were able to make the show a success.

[@billybarnett9518]

Yeah, although I do question Max Wright's frustration with a puppet getting the better lines, it's what he signed up for.

[@lchpdmq]

You know what’s also hard? Picking up trash or driving a truck long distances

[@ja37d-34]

Impossible conditions? geta life trash

[@brianaucuba230]

One of my favorite 1980s shows. Very creative and unusual at the time, I am surprised that it got green lit by network executives.

[@Xypher888]

CIA project

[@jeremyprice5323]

Tell you what, pay me 5k an episode ( in 80s money) to talk to and work with a puppet for a living, and won't hear a peep out of me.

[@TaliAlba33]

Actors/actresses are divas... They b*tch about anything

[@RustyShackleford-p3i]

True but it isn't exactly a dream job for an actor. It's all relative

[@TheMpo1986]

that's $19,154.37 in today's money.

[@judythompson8227]

I was devastated when Alf was canceled...

[@joeybaseball7352]

Alf was cancelled over ownership issues. Not due to bad ratings. Ultimately NBC decided to cancel Alf,and replace with The Fresh Prince, because they could own The Fresh Prince outright, while Paul Fusco owned Alf.

[@kingdjack6]

I thought Fresh Prince was owned by Warner Bros.

[@MadDragon75]

Oh, I am just a few years older than Benji. I grew up watching Alf. This is depressing.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

99% of all artists aren't really valued, appreciated, recognized, nor do they live fulfilling lives. Ironically, nearly ALL artists end up as puppets for the wealthy, influential, and popular. It is what it is.

[@syhazhooat4240]

I know....Benji and his service dog. I'm sad for him but also his poor dog was essentially trapped in the car. Life really sucks, sometimes. ☹

[@lunjastihomanija6061]

The man who wore the Alf costume in the popular American TV series "ALF" was Michu Meszaros, a Hungarian actor of short stature. Meszaros was born in 1939 in Budapest, Hungary, and was only about 83 cm tall (2 feet 9 inches) due to a rare form of dwarfism. He portrayed Alf in scenes where the character needed to move or physically interact, while most of the time a puppet operated by puppeteers was used. Due to his height, he was perfect for the role of the alien Alf, appearing in full-body scenes, while the character’s voice was provided by Paul Fusco, who was also the co-creator of the series. Michu Meszaros also performed in circuses before becoming a Hollywood actor. He passed away in 2016 in Los Angeles.

[@3DJapan]

"not just another family sitcom". It kind of was, every family sitcom had to have a gimmick. Alien, British butler, Bigfoot, foreign cousin, black kids in a white family, robot daughter...

[@JohnnyUtah-71]

LOL I completely forgot about that boot-leg robot daughter show. Vicki was her name, I believe.

[@D-Fens_1632]

My favorite was Punky Brewster. The old kid's mom abandoned her in a grocery store cliche. Shit mildly traumatized me.

[@3DJapan]

@@JohnnyUtah-71 V.I.K.I. Small Wonder.

[@3DJapan]

Oh I forgot a troupe. Male housekeeper. Both Charles in Charge and Who's the Boss?.

[@jonstefanik9400]

​@@JohnnyUtah-71Small Wonder.

[@Mr-Clark]

I loved ALF. Greatest show. The Ochmoneks were a riot 😂

[@Frogman1943]

no, no. its Ouch! My Neck!

[@willswalkingwest7267]

I used to love watching ALF with my two cats.

[@normanred9212]

Santa is just Odin

[@davidm4566]

Dinner AND a show, eh?

[@froggy8030]

What makes me sad is they never looked back at the show and realised that their great skills and acting chops are as big a part of what made ALF great as those who brought ALF to life. Max Wright and Benji Gregory especially had a great natural rapport with ALF and that's what made ALF seem so real.

[@paulnicolosi4792]

I did a game show with Alf back in 86, The Hollywood Squares. I was a contestant and lost. They sent me home with ‘a lovely parting gift’…A year’s supply of Tuna Helper….😮

[@princessmarlena1359]

Cool.

[@Pixl8dwhmsy]

🐟 😂❤

[@STEPHANTODD]

Sounds like you won to me!

[@Pixl8dwhmsy]

@@STEPHANTODD great 😃👍 comment! 💕

[@ROGER2095]

I'm curious: How many boxes of Tuna Helper is a year's supply?

[@1977TA]

I’d say you failed to mention the source of the show’s behind the scenes problems. Paul Fusco, co-creator and ALF’s voice and primary handler was responsible for the hostile work environment. His insistence that ALF be treated like a living breathing member of the cast made the difficult set working conditions worse. You should consider adding a segment covering Paul Fusco or make a separate video about him.

[@filaspeaks1094]

Paul was also a racist, not surprised the cast hated that job

[@GR-bn3xj]

​@filaspeaks1094 Do you think that just because of that one video or something else?

[@igorrodrigues7382]

​@@filaspeaks1094how do you know that? Haven't seen that anywhere.

[@hubbaman9885]

Do you know that for sure? Or are you stating that because he is white?

[@1977TA]

@@hubbaman9885 My comment is based on facts. You can easily find information about Fusco's on set demands during the production of ALF.

[@mikeyb650]

Actors: sign on for a show where the puppet is the star. Also Actors: mad about working on a show where the puppet is the star.

[@tbird-z1r]

Max Wright was just a narcissist the whole time.

[@joehansen9447]

I was stationed in Germany in 89,90 and Alf was huge there!

[@Cormano980]

Yeah, dubbed on ZDF

[@mistermax3034]

Alf or Adolf?

[@Theoderich11]

@@mistermax3034both

[@proximacentaurib1560]

@@mistermax3034Adolf was born in 89!

[@boni1982]

In ex YU also.

[@josephbrown9685]

It’s my understanding that the issues of working with Alf were less about the technical challenges of the puppet and more about dealing with the toxic personality of Alf’s puppeteer.

[@A92CB7]

So this was American Dad before American Dad

[@BODUKE3201]

But in more real life form lol

[@normanred9212]

You start to realize seth MacFartlane is the least original creator ever

[@RandomVideoWatcher7]

I didn't like American dad but I enjoyed alf.

[@EricssonRotaryBiscuit]

I'm fairly sure the American Dad alien dynamic is based on a real life claim by some guy who said he used to work for the CIA and became friends with an alien who survived from the Roswell crash, even insofar as the guy claimed the alien spent time in his house. Wish I could remember the guy's name.

[@DABA2024]

Seth steals everything. Not an original joke in that guy.

[@melaniewantsabeer243]

Honestly, another childhood memory destroyed, so sad

[@rydamusprime]

Remember Alf? He's back, in Pog form.

[@mresturk9336]

One of the added stresses not mentioned here was the entire set took place on a highly elevated platform so the puppeteer could work below. This put the actors much closer to the stage lights, making conditions insanely hot during most of the filming.

[@piotrbiedowicz1602]

Alf as a tv series was brilliant👍👍👍

[@piyber4]

ALF went to Springfield, OH and was never seen again.

[@ChristopherM720]

My dad and I used to watch this together while I was in high school, so, it remains a huge positive memory for me. Hopefully that gives a positive to the remaining living members of the cast. It was ridiculous and silly and yet just fun. A perfect rep of the 80s. And sure, it was difficult to make, but everyone who has worked landscape, roofing, construction or in the kitchen of a restaurant knows that feeling. The fact you made millions laugh while talking about eating cats and an alien named Gordon...that's what made it worthwhile.

[@StonerJames]

If there is one thing Alf is not it is tragic. This was one of my favorite shows as a kid. I never missed an episode!

[@brianhumphrey6791]

I own the series on DVD

[@crowgrl13]

I've read up on the problems with this show, and most of them seemed to be due to the man who was ALF's puppeteer. You were not allowed to talk to the guy, you had to talk to ALF. Also, there were trapdoors all over the set for the puppeteer and he would demand retakes if he noticed during a take that anyone looked down as they walked to avoid falling into them. His anger was usually directed at the kids. So it seems that the man problem was ALF's "handler".

[@ensabahnur7657]

DAMN

[@AudieHolland]

He was also the creator, writer, producer, and director of the sitcom, according to Wikipedia.

[@dapper_gent]

one time he got so upset that Alf forgot to break character after they lost their shit!

[@GR-bn3xj]

Yes, but without him, there would be no show. He may have been hard to work with, but outside of the dad, I haven't seen them in anything else, so they probably wouldn't have been even B list famous without him. I think it was both a curse and a blessing being on that show.

[@EricssonRotaryBiscuit]

​@@dapper_gentRemember the leaked Christian Bale on set rant from some years back? I now can't stop thinking of something along those lines except with Alf.

[@juliusquasar1565]

I always found the show pretty funny when I was a kid. I even watched some of the episodes on Tubi not too recently, and it brought back some good memories/laughs. What a shame how it ended.

[@McPh1741]

I used to have an ALF for President poster hanging in my room back then. Vote Melmacian. I think I still have it somewhere.

[@johnmguzman7491]

Want to sell it?

[@mikezxzx]

at 44 years old I still watch this and find humor in it... My wife laughs at me haha A comedy ahead of its time but also timeless.

[@florenciabalori3625]

I'm Uruguayan and grew up watching Alf, I absolutely adored this series.

[@mrparkerdan]

that daughter was gorgeous 😍😍😍

[@billybarnett9518]

So was Kate.

[@Frogman1943]

the mom was too until she got that super short haircut

[@GunV-qu2nm]

​@Frogman1943 Kate was on an episode of Bonanza years earlier with very long hair, and was gorgeous

[@billybarnett9518]

@@GunV-qu2nm That episode where ALF had a crush on Lynn but Kate thought he had a crush on her, I wonder how it would've played out if ALF really did have a crush on Kate. Lol

[@lchpdmq]

Can you imagine complaining about the pressures of working with a puppet?

[@ricardoramirezv]

What a f* nightmare! lol

[@cromwell.is.awesome]

This show is GOLD!!!!!!! I have the 1986 Stuffed ALF, he has comforted me on trips. I'm going to be an ALF fan for life, ALF changed my life, I keep watching it and the animated series today, If I had money, I'd revamp ALF and get people who love it to help out

[@peterpayne2219]

ALF was SUPER popular in Japan. You can tell this by comparing the English Wikipedia vs the Japanese Wikipedia page, the latter of which is much longer. It's bizarre how these things happen.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Max is the last guy I'd guess would have a wild side, him and Conrad Bain. haha.

[@matthewcolicigno8132]

Oh no it took 25 hours of work per week to film ALF. Imagine having to work 40 hours each week for your entire life.

[@Omegavision79]

Non-stop?

[@McCallumMade]

25 hours to shoot an episode, not 25 hours per week.

[@freedomforall5071]

I bet Those 25 hours be like working 400 hrs a week!

[@dylancooper3690]

Andrea Elson was so beautiful on the show, still is. Just a lovely person.

[@CelestialpsychicSeven]

The more I watch this the more it breaks my heart! I watch the show every night when I go to bed to this day! So sad to know that they actually lived like that during the making of it!😢😢

[@ArnaldRimmer]

All ive got to say is, God bless you all for a great childrens program back in the day!

[@annbyrd2196]

I still have my Alf,too. My husband loved that show ❤️

[@suselew]

What about the actor who played Alf?

[@HardRockMiner]

Actor? ... Alf went back to Melmack once the series ended. He opened a pet store there.

[@chrlpolk]

@HardRockMiner It was rated one of the best restaurants in town!

[@maxwellcrazycat9204]

@@HardRockMiner A cat rescue I heard.

[@Maxi2327-f1j]

You talked about all the main cast except for the actor that played ALF.

[@Ezrajab1]

Michu mizarious died a while back. I forget the year.

[@TheFunnyCave]

I didn’t realize it was so hard to work with a puppet. The set of Sesame Street must be a nightmare.

[@ImTheDaveman]

While I've never confused characters with the actors, many people tend to get a feel for what the actors might be like based on the characters they portray. Its almost like those disembodied voices of radio DJs - we build a mental picture of what they might look like., then one day you see a promo picture of the DJ and you're mind is blown! Not even close (in most cases) - the same is true with assuming an actor's personality might be roughly similar to the character they give life to. Surprisingly a few actors do come remarkably close - but not perfectly.

[@OwenGriffin-u5i]

ALF was not exactly a ground breaking sitcom. But it was definitely a note worthy show for the 80's

[@ryandonovan5205]

The NORM SHOW was the most underrated and underappreciated sitcom of all time

[@pinebarrenpatriot8289]

I loved Alf. I have great memories of the 80's and Alf was a part of that. RIP to Benji Gregory and his service dog🙏

[@stevengarman4848]

I also suffer from severe insomnia problems like the young ALF star. It is a very difficult medical condition to live with.

[@maxwellcrazycat9204]

So maybe he did fall asleep in the car with his dog.

[@alexjarman9658]

I grew up right at that time watching Alf and even had the trading cards. It was very popular

[@glennabate1708]

A cat hungry alien from the planet melmack. Lol

[@troycassidy6177]

The animated series was cool, that would be good for a reboot

[@Super_Mario128]

Yeah, I remember the animated series more than the live action version.

[@Lisa..4]

ALF was one of my favorite shows. 😢

[@EricssonRotaryBiscuit]

I remember having a VHS tape of an Alf cartoon that had like two episodes on it. It was set on his home planet when he was still living with his own family.

[@johntuttle2825]

I liked ALF alot. My whole family did. I had no idea about any of this. The guy that played Alf passed away a few years ago after the sequel movie. I think. Thanks. Shocking stuff though.

[@napoleonblakneyjr.8405]

I love this show. Got all 4 seasons on DVD.

[@timroot4207]

Thank you !

[@user-vm5ud4xw6n]

My husband and I really loved watching ALF!!

[@formulah113]

How is all their real life troubles blamed on the TV show? What happened to those in poltergeist is truly sad.

[@ShaneSkaalerud-nk2jk]

Very interesting information. I wasn't aware of most of these people acting with a puppet.

[@PhillipLemmon]

I loved (and still love) this show!

[@raggraves]

Wait, Alf is a puppet? I suppose next you’re going to tell us Santa Claus isn’t real .. 😘

[@CelestialpsychicSeven]

That's too bad! I don't know why people have to be like that! That would have been such an honor to play a character like Alf!🙏🏽💚

[@Teelirious]

Also, after spending the entire run of the show shielding him from the evil government agency who wanted to torture him for his alien knowledge, in the final episode...the evil agency catches him and we never see ALF again. Dark.

[@davidm4566]

They had a tv movie or miniseries around 96 where ALF was in a government lab. The Tanners were mentioned as having gone into witness protection but were not on it. I don't remember much except it was sort of depressing.

[@steve1302000]

They could have gone out and roofed houses if it was just too hot in the studio

[@nicks.12]

I read somewhere that after reading his last line, Max Wright went to his dressing room, grabbed his belongings, and left without saying one word to anyone.

[@bluetarantulaproductions6179]

ALF's real name is Gordon Shumway

[@chaseadams5037]

This is one of my absolute favourite shows ever!!

[@scottysmediaproductions]

Good video. Would have been great had you used up to date pics of all the actors in the different shows they were in.

[@Sarappreciates]

ALF sounds like kind of a Diva.

[@rhvoriginals3083]

Alf’s best performance in the ratings was 10th, during its second season. Best show in the 80s, my ass.

[@Misguidedchild0351]

They complained…. Think about how those on Sesame Street felt.

[@keatonthekoopatroopa246]

They had something similar? I know they are really sad when the actor who played Mr. Hooper died.

[@quentinbryantart5684]

"...let me know if I've missed anything" YEAH..ALF!

[@robertbannon6361]

“Alf” was all a true story , the man keeps throwing the truth in our faces. #alfthetruth

[@thecheethamcompound17]

I think before people join the marines, they should spend at least two years filming a tv show with a puppet in order to truly understand what struggle is…

[@pezjme]

You obviously didn't look at Max Wrights' IMDB.

[@keithwiggins3131]

Alf was also a cartoon series.

[@chynnadoll3277]

Max Wright would have made a really good “Mr. Wilson” if Dennis the Menace had been rebooted during the eighties.

[@fastesteddiealive]

Mr Belvedere better or the guy who makes the jump to conclusion mat in office space

[@MisterMister5893]

@@fastesteddiealivelol was watching office space earlier. He’s in a movie called man from earth.

[@ranchdressing1037]

that's too bad.. they're all pretty memorable, which is rare.

[@erichitsthewoods4612]

He's eating the dogs and the cats!!!!

[@JacobSanders-zc7sq]

We have tens of thousands of cat-hungry aliens here in the US right now. ALF was predictive programming, an ominous warning. lol

[@wilderfacepalm]

HEY WILLY, I ATE YOUR CAT! HA HA

[@edwardjski]

Alf's comb-over looks awfully familiar.... and his orange tone....

[@JacobSanders-zc7sq]

@@edwardjski The gov't was always after ALF too.

[@edwardjski]

@@JacobSanders-zc7sq The government may have been after him but Alf wasn't after the government. And wasn't a criminal.

[@JacobSanders-zc7sq]

@@edwardjski Stop thinking like at 16-year-old girl.

[@1971bdott]

I'm surprised you didn't talk about one of the writers who turned out to be a massive heroin addict. Apparently was spending $10,000 a week on heroin. Ben Stiller made a movie about his life. It was called permanent midnight..

[@TheWhiteMartinLutherKing]

Ben Stiller is a fuckin american icon. He didnt do heroin

[@padraigcollins6525]

That’s a great film. They had to call the show Mr Choppers rather than Alf in the film for copyright reasons.

[@emmafrost7151]

I loved the show when I was a kid. ALF was like the out of work smart-mouth uncle that moved in with your family until he gets back on his feet again, could be a pain in the ass, but at the same time you wouldn’t know what you would do without him.

[@shaunsteele6926]

I can still remember being 7 years old in 1986, eagerly waiting for the premiere of ALF.

[@writeralbertlanier3434]

Alf was a pretty horrendous production for the cast. Max Wright pretty much loathed both the Alf character and the actor behind the puppet. I think he despised being on the show. Anne Shedeen I think has noted how it was totally surprising that the behind the scenes bedlam , anger and frustration never really leaked to the media This was a really volatile and fractious set from what I have found out. I think it was a living nightmare for the cast.

[@Thefuturelooksbright13]

I saw Alf on TV some show couple months ago and he looks great. Didn’t age a bit better than the humans

[@ARCJ78]

Young Sheldon?

[@Thefuturelooksbright13]

@@ARCJ78 no Alf the furry star of the show. He looks the same today.

[@ARCJ78]

@@Thefuturelooksbright13 What show did you see Alf on recently? I think it was Young Sheldon.

[@TheGeneral_LUFC]

Loved this show

[@unleashedrsn8473]

One of my favorite shows ever!

[@StripesNoCommentary]

I loved watching this series as a young kid. It’s so depressing to hear this😢

[@hotmanchicken4209]

I feel bad for all the cats Alf consumed throughout the shows episodes 😢 R.I.P 🐈

[@helenestiernstrand6575]

Funny to see Alf get accolades via Young Sheldon😊

[@GunV-qu2nm]

Used to love this show from 9-13 years old(86-90) I tried to watch it again in my 40s and oohhhhhh boy it aged like milk.

[@timothyjohns7007]

It wasn't called the Max Wright show.

[@ai6894]

I always wondered how the _ALF_ show runners would have cast Eric Tanner. If the baby had gotten older in the next seasons.

[@PALM311]

Ok, he didn't like playing second fiddle to a puppet, but it was called ALF, not Willie. He knew what the role was when he auditioned for, and then accepted. Liz Sheradin (Mrs Ochmonek) went on to be Jerry Seinfelds mother in, Seinfeld.

[@johnmcgraw3568]

The kid finally gained notoriety as the the comedian Theo Vaugh manghn many years later

[@michaeldehart3253]

If they think working with a puppet is rough they should have tried working construction or maybe welding. I can’t take these actors seriously.

[@dunc221]

The greatest show ever! ALF is the greatest !

[@edsanville]

Max Wright's character and his wife always did seem so exhausted most of the time on that show. Hard to put your finger on it, but it was palpable and kind of a weird vibe.