ALF: The Complete Series – Deluxe Edition (DVD Review)

• Reviewed by: Tim Salmons
• Review Date: Dec 19, 2023
• Format: DVD
• 

Director

Various

Release Date(s)

1986-1990 (October 17, 2023)

Studio(s)

Alien Productions (Shout! Studios)

• Film/Program Grade: B
• Video Grade: B+
• Audio Grade: B+
• Extras Grade: B-

Review

One of the cornerstones of 1980s television, the ALF series certainly took on a life of its own with audiences at the time, gaining enough popularity to warrant everything from guest appearances on other programs, cartoon spin-offs, and lots and lots of merchandise. Indeed, it was difficult to run into someone at the time who didn’t have an ALF lunchbox or t-shirt hung up in their closet. The simple premise of an Alien Life Form (A.L.F.) crash-landing on Earth after his home planet, Melmac, explodes and becoming a part of a run-of-the-mill American family lasted four seasons before being canceled with one of the most upsetting cliffhangers ever, especially for those who were children at the time the show was airing.

ALF is rather tame by any measure, but it offers plenty of good humor with a mild TV edge. ALF never says anything that’s particularly risque, but he does manage to offer insight into every day human behavior and culture. He’s silly with a penchant for poking fun at everything that he doesn’t understand, but at the same time, he’s charming enough that he never feels overwrought. The only being that’s in any danger from him is the family cat, whom he sees as a potential meal (lunch). He spends his days with his newfound family, experiencing their lives through their highs and lows, and occasionally breaking out of his traditional sitcom trappings to host The Tonight Show or be the president of the United States, albeit in dream sequences. In short, ALF is a show that appeals more to nostalgia these days than new fans, although I’m sure they’re out there, too. It’s a cute show that, for a time, was the butt of a lot of jokes about 80s sitcoms. It seems to have outlived that distinction, and this new DVD boxed set from Shout! Studios, ALF: The Complete Series – Deluxe Edition, is physical proof of that.

The original ALF series was shot on videotape, though everything has been done to make it look as good as it can on DVD. Presented in the original 4 x 3 format at 60i resolution, the bitrate generally ranges from 5 to 7Mbps, occasionally spiking above or below that. Despite the show’s soft, low-fi appearance, it’s fairly clean and clear with good definition and color. There are occasional tiny tape-based blips, but it’s an otherwise pleasant presentation. ALF: The Animated Series was animated on film and the live action segments were shot on videotape, but both were finished on videotape. Like its predecessor, tape is the source for this release, also presented in 4 x 3 at 60i resolution. It’s definitely a soft image that lacks solid line definition, but there’s good color and contrast to be had with the same bitrate. (The debut episode, Phantom Pilot, has a digital hiccup at the 00:59 mark, which lasts no more than a frame). ALF Tales was also animated on film and finished on videotape, and it’s of the same caliber. Project: ALF was shot on 35 mm film by director of photography Henry M. Lebo with Panavision cameras and lenses, and (apparently) finished on videotape at the aspect ratio of 1.33:1 (presented here in 1.78:1). It’s worth noting that Liberation Hall released the film on Blu-ray earlier this year, and it’s likely that Shout! Studios didn’t have the rights to include that presentation here. Still, it’s a very fine one with the same type of resolution and bitrate, and has more definition than its counterparts, as well as good color, contrast, and a surprising amount of high detail.

The audio for all of these programs, which is presented in English 2.0 Dolby Digital with optional English subtitles, is also of acceptable quality. There’s not much in the way of major dynamics or speaker-to-speaker movement, but they’re full-fledged stereo experiences nonetheless. They’re also clean with no issues to speak of.

ALF: The Complete Series – Deluxe Edition is spread across 24 DVDs in three clear, multi-disc amaray cases. These discs also include the animated follow-ups ALF: The Animated Series and ALF Tales, as well as Project: ALF, the 1996 TV movie sequel, which served as a finale for the original show. Also included is a 32-page insert booklet that contains a “Celebrity Data Sheet” for ALF, a note from creators Tom Patchett and Paul Fusco, episode listings and synopses, cast and crew photos, sketches, memorabilia, and production credits. Everything is housed in a thin slipcase. Honestly, I’m not a fan of this packaging because the discs fall off of their hubs with no effort at all, and the amaray cases are thin and easily breakable. Separate thin cases housing two discs each would have been a far more preferable option.

(Almost) all of the episodes of the original show in this release are presented in their original broadcast versions (the Lionsgate DVD releases featured the syndicated versions, which were trimmed for time and altered for music rights), aside from the sixteenth episode from the first season, Try to Remember. Portions of that episode were re-filmed for future airings in light of a purportedly real-life incident involving the endangerment of a child, who imitated ALF’s actions in the episode. The original broadcast version couldn’t be located and apparently couldn’t be included from other, lower quality sources (for whatever reasons). The remaining episodes are completely uncut with their original soundtracks (including music), meaning that this represents the definitive presentations of the show on home video. The other two shows, ALF: The Animated Series and ALF Tales, have never been available on optical disc until now. Each disc contains the following series episodes and extras (running times are included):

ALF (THE COMPLETE SERIES)

DISC ONE: SEASON ONE – EPISODES 1-7

1. A.L.F. (24:08)
2. Strangers in the Night (24:39)
3. Looking for Lucky (23:38)
4. Pennsylvania 6-5000 (24:39)
5. Keepin’ the Faith (24:46)
6. For Your Eyes Only (24:38)
7. Help Me, Rhonda (24:38)

DISC TWO: SEASON ONE – EPISODES 8-14

8. Don’t It Make Your Brown Eyes Blues? (24:42)
9. Jump (24:39)
10. Baby, You Can Drive My Car (24:38)
11. On the Road Again (23:44)
12. Oh, Tannerbaum (24:38)
13. Mother and Child Reunion (24:39)
14. A Little Bit of Soap (24:30)

DISC THREE: SEASON ONE – EPISODES 15-20

15. I’ve Got a New Attitude (24:39)
16. Try to Remember (48:06)
17. Border Song (24:39)
18. Wild Thing (24:39)
19. Going Out of My Head Over You (24:19)
20. Lookin’ Through the Windows (24:39)

DISC FOUR: SEASON ONE – EPISODES 21-25

21. It Isn’t Easy... Bein’ Green (24:38)
22. The Gambler (24:29)
23. Weird Science (24:29)
24. La Cucaracha (24:19)
25. Come Fly with Me (24:29)

DISC FIVE: SEASON TWO – EPISODES 1-7

1. Working My Way Back to You (24:19)
2. Somewhere Over the Rerun/The Ballad of Gilligan’s Island (23:39)
3. Take a Look at Me Now (24:30)
4. Wedding Bell Blues (23:49)
5. Prime Time (24:10)
6. Some Enchanted Evening (24:01)
7. Oh, Pretty Woman (24:38)

DISC SIX: SEASON TWO – EPISODES 8-13

8. Something’s Wrong with Me (24:39)
9. Night Train (24:40)
10. Isn’t It Romantic? (24:00)
11. Hail to the Chief (24:40)
12. ALF’s Special Christmas (48:24)
13. The Boy Next Door (24:19)

DISC SEVEN: SEASON TWO – EPISODES 14-20

14. Can I Get a Witness? (24:39)
15. We’re So Sorry, Uncle Albert (24:40)
16. Someone to Watch Over Me, Part 1 (24:39)
17. Someone to Watch Over Me, Part 2 (24:25)
18. We Gotta Get Out of This Place (24:39)
19. You Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hound Dog (24:19)
20. Hit Me with Your Best Shot (24:19)

DISC EIGHT: SEASON TWO – EPISODES 21-25

21. Movin’ Out (24:39)
22. I’m Your Puppet (24:30)
23. Tequila (24:30)
24. We Are Family (23:39)
25. Varsity Drag (24:09)

DISC NINE: SEASON THREE – EPISODES 1-6

1. Stop in the Name of Love (24:29)
2. Stairway to Heaven (24:08)
3. Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (24:08)
4. Tonight, Tonight Part I (25:26)
5. Tonight, Tonight Part II (23:53)
6. Promises, Promises (24:09)

DISC TEN: SEASON THREE – EPISODES 7-13

7. Turkey in the Straw, Part I (24:09)
8. Turkey in the Straw, Part II (23:08)
9. Changes (24:09)
10. My Back Pages (23:19)
11. Alone Again, Naturally (23:49)
12. Do You Believe in Magic? (23:38)
13. Hide Away (23:19)

DISC ELEVEN: SEASON THREE – EPISODES 14-20

14. Fight Back (23:09)
15. Suspicious Minds (23:39)
16. Baby Love (23:28)
17. Running Scared (23:59)
18. Standing in the Shadows of Love (23:19)
19. Superstition (23:09)
20. Torn Between Two Lovers (23:58)

DISC TWELVE: SEASON THREE – EPISODES 21-26

21. Funeral for a Friend (23:09)
22. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (23:09)
23. Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow? (23:09)
24. Like an Old Time Movie (23:29)
25. Shake, Rattle and Roll (23:09)
26. Having My Baby (23:48)

DISC THIRTEEN: SEASON FOUR – EPISODES 1-6

1. Baby, Come Back (23:09)
2. Lies (23:29)
3. Wanted: Dead or Alive (22:49)
4. We’re in the Money (23:28)
5. Mind Games (23:09)
6. Hooker on a Feeling (22:49)

DISC FOURTEEN: SEASON FOUR – EPISODES 7-12

7. He Ain’t Heavy, He’s Willie’s Brother (22:49)
8. The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face (23:49)
9. Live and Let Die (23:49)
10. Break Up to Make Up (23:19)
11. Happy Together (22:49)
12. Fever (22:48)

DISC FIFTEEN: SEASON FOUR – EPISODES 13-18

13. It’s My Party (22:49)
14. Make ‘Em Laugh (23:39)
15. Love on the Rocks (23:40)
16. True Colors (23:19)
17. Gimme That Old Time Religion (23:48)
18. Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades (23:09)

DISC SIXTEEN: SEASON FOUR – EPISODES 19-24

19. When I’m 64 (22:59)
20. Mr. Sandman (22:49)
21. Stayin’ Alive (23:49)
22. Hungry Like the Wolf (23:19)
23. I Gotta Be Me (22:59)
24. Consider Me Gone (23:48)

ALF: THE ANIMATED SERIES (THE COMPLETE SERIES)

DISC SEVENTEEN: SEASON ONE – EPISODES 1-7

1. Phantom Pilot (22:22)
2. Hair Today, Bald Tomorrow (22:12)
3. Two for the Brig (21:39)
4. Gordon Ships Out (22:14)
5. Birdman of Melmac (19:00)
6. Pismo and the Orbit Gyro (22:19)
7. 20,000 Years in Driving School (22:25)

DISC EIGHTEEN: SEASON ONE – EPISODES 8-13

8. Pride of the Shumways (22:33)
9. Captain Bobaroo (22:26)
10. Neep at the Races (22:07)
11. Salad Wars (23:52)
12. Tough Shrimp Don’t Dance (22:29)
13. Home Away from Home (22:58)

DISC NINETEEN: SEASON TWO – EPISODES 1-7

1. Flodust Memories (21:48)
2. Family Feud (22:27)
3. Clams Never Sang for My Father (23:28)
4. A Mid-Goomer Night’s Dream (23:04)
5. The Bone Losers (24:09)
6. Thank Gordon for Little Girls (22:28)
7. Hooray for Mellywood (20:46)

DISC TWENTY: SEASON TWO – EPISODES 8-13

8. The Spy from East Velcro (22:45)
9. He Ain’t Seafood, He’s My Brother (21:58)
10. Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places (22:28)
11. The Slugs of Wrath (24:02)
12. Housekeeping for Pokipsi (22:28)
13. Skipper’s Got a Brand New Dad (22:57)

ALF TALES (THE COMPLETE SERIES)

DISC TWENTY-ONE: SEASON ONE – EPISODES 1-7

1. Robin Hood (25:11)
2. Sleeping Beauty (23:36)
3. Cinderella (22:29)
4. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (23:18)
5. Jack and the Beanstalk (22:12)
6. The Aladdin Brothers and Their Lamp (21:48)
7. Rapunzel (24:44)

DISC TWENTY-TWO: SEASON ONE – EPISODES 8-13

8. Rumpelstiltskin (23:02)
9. The Princess and the Pea (22:28)
10. John Henry (20:14)
11. The Three Little Pigs (21:38)
12. Alice in Wonderland (21:56)
13. Peter Pan (22:37)

DISC TWENTY-THREE: SEASON TWO – EPISODES 1-8

1. Hansel & Gretel (21:42)
2. The Wizard of Oz (21:17)
3. The Elves and the Shoemaker (21:39)
4. The Emperor’s New Clothes (21:41)
5. Goldilocks & the Three Bears (21:41)
6. Little Red Riding Hood (21:11)
7. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (22:42)
8. King Midas (22:43)

DISC TWENTY-FOUR: PROJECT ALF & BONUS MATERIALS

• Project: ALF (91:16)
• A Look Back at ALF with Creators Paul Fusco and Tom Patchett (34:16)
• “Alf on Alf” Audio Commentaries with ALF and Tom Patchett:
  • A.L.F. (24:34)
  • La Cucaracha (24:20)
  • Working My Way Back to You (24:19)
  • Some Enchanted Evening (24:01)

Project: ALF is, as previously mentioned, the made-for-TV follow-up that served as a finale to the original series, but also as a backdoor pilot for a new show, which never materialized. A Look Back at ALF features conversations with the show’s creators, Paul Fusco and Tom Patchett, reflecting on the history of the show and what it’s meant to people around the world. The audio commentaries with ALF (Fusco) and Patchett also contain pop-up trivia facts and jokes.

Not carried over from the Lionsgate DVD sets is an unaired version of the pilot, a gag reel, and all of the menu-based ALF bonus content. The ALF Files Canadian DVD release showcased a few episodes of the show, as well as an audio commentary on the episode Try to Remember with ALF, Paul Fusco, and Tom Patchett, which hasn’t carried over either. Also not included from the Project: ALF Blu-ray release is an audio commentary with Paul Fusco moderated by Jonathan Gross. And if we’re counting everything, the original version of the Try to Remember episode, as well as the syndicated versions from the Lionsgate DVDs, aren’t here. So while this is not a complete compendium, it comes pretty close... as close as we may likely ever get. Aside from the packaging, it’s an excellent release that fans of the show will be happy to finally own.

- Tim Salmons

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