Alf's Hit Talk Show

ALF's Hit Talk Show
Genre Talk show
Presented by ALF
Country of origin United States
Original 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
Release
Original network TV Land
Original release July 7 – December 17, 2004 (2004-12-17)
External links
Website www.tvland.com/originals/alf/

ALF's Hit Talk Show was an American cable television talk show that aired on TV Land in 2004 for seven episodes. The host is the puppet character ALF, of 1980s 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]

Format

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 1980s celebrity who is not even human.

Reception

The show's pilot gained enough viewers to merit more episodes; however, 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]

List of episodes

1. (pilot) July 7, 2004 (Wednesday) 11:00pm ET/PT

(re-broadcast) November 5, 2004 (Friday) 11:00pm ET/PT

Guest Appearances - Drew Carey, Dennis Franz

Cameo Appearances - Joan Rivers, Henry Winkler

(Pilot Episode)

2. November 12, 2004 (Friday) 11:00pm ET/PT

Guest Appearances - Joe Mantegna, Merv Griffin

Cameo Appearances - Jack Sheldon

(Production #105)

3. November 19, 2004 (Friday) 11:00pm ET/PT

Guest Appearances - Bryan Cranston, Leon Redbone

(Production #102)

4. November 26, 2004 (Friday) 11:00pm ET/PT

Guest Appearances - Tom Arnold, James Nelson and his talking dog (ventriloquist)

(Production #106)

5. December 3, 2004 (Friday) 11:00pm ET/PT

Guest Appearances - Doris Roberts, Kevin Butler (stand-up comedian)

(Production #101)

6. December 10, 2004 (Friday) 11:00pm ET/PT

Guest Appearances - Tom Green, Linda Blair, Jack Sheldon

(Production #104)

7. December 17, 2004 (Friday) 11:00pm ET/PT

Guest Appearances - Eric Roberts, Vincent Pastore

(Production #103)

References

  1. Susman, Gary From Carnac to Melmac Entertainment Weekly (June 30, 2004). Retrieved on 11-14-10.
  2. Harrington, Amy & Harrington, Nancy Worst Talk Shows in TV History FoxNews.com (November 6, 2009). Retrieved on 11-14-10.
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