| Alf's Hit Talk Show | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Talk show |
| Presented by | Gordon Shumway |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 7 |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 23 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Burt Dubrow Productions |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | TV Land |
| Original run | July 7 – December 17, 2004 |
Alf's Hit Talk Show is an American cable television talk show that aired on TV Land. It ran for seven episodes in 2004. The host is the puppet character Gordon Shumway, of '80s television fame. At the beginning of each show, Alf is introduced by his "sidekick", Ed McMahon. The show ran in a 30-minute block and featured guests such as Drew Carey and Joe Mantegna. Prior to the series' debut, Entertainment Weekly described Alf's Hit Talk Show as "a one-shot, a lead-in" for TV Land's marathon of the original ALF sitcom.[1] This offers the impression that the series may not have been intended to last.
Contents |
The show's format is traditional: Alf sits behind a desk and talks to celebrity guests who drop by for brief chats. In between, there is light banter and some prerecorded comedy skits, usually featuring McMahon or comic actor Kevin Butler. On Alf's desk is a large bowl of snack food (popcorn, peanut brittle, or the like) which the guests are invited to eat. (Alf himself, being an alien, and a puppet to boot, does not partake.)
Running jokes on the show include Alf's stated penchant for eating cats, and McMahon's bewilderment at how he ended up saying "And now... Heeeere's Alf!" on a late-night cable show hosted by a B-list '80s celebrity who isn't even human.
The show's pilot gained enough viewers to merit more episodes; however, as evident by its short run, Alf's Hit Talk Show was not a hit and is regarded among the greatest talk show flops. In 2009, GetBack.com included it with nine other programs on a list of the "Worst Talk Shows in TV History."[2]
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