Alf's Hit Talk Show
Encyclopedia
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. This offers the impression that the series may not have been intended to last.
(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 cat
s, 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
that aired on TV Land
TV Land
TV Land is an American cable television network launched on April 29, 1996. It is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures, and networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon...
. 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
Ed McMahon
Edward Peter "Ed" McMahon, Jr. was an American comedian, game show host and announcer. He is most famous for his work on television as Johnny Carson's sidekick and announcer on The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992. He also hosted the original version of the talent show Star Search from 1983 to 1995...
. The show ran in a 30-minute block and featured guests such as Drew Carey
Drew Carey
Drew Allison Carey is an American actor, singer, comedian, photographer, sports executive, and game show host. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey eventually gained popularity starring on his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, and serving as...
and Joe Mantegna
Joe Mantegna
Joseph Anthony "Joe" Mantegna, Jr. is an American actor, producer, writer,director, and voice actor. He is best known for his roles in box office hits such as Three Amigos , The Godfather Part III , Forget Paris , and Up Close & Personal...
. Prior to the series' debut, Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
described Alf's Hit Talk Show as "a one-shot, a lead-in" for TV Land's marathon of the original ALF
ALF (TV series)
ALF is an American science fiction sitcom that originally aired on NBC from 1986 to 1990, created by Paul Fusco. The title character was Gordon Shumway, a friendly extraterrestrial nicknamed ALF , who crash lands in the garage of the suburban middle-class Tanner family.The series starred Max...
sitcom. This offers the impression that the series may not have been intended to last.
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 foodSnack food
A snack is a portion of food oftentimes smaller than that of a regular meal, that is generally eaten between meals. Snacks come in a variety of forms including packaged and processed foods and items made from fresh ingredients at home....
(popcorn
Popcorn
Popcorn, or popping corn, is corn which expands from the kernel and puffs up when heated. Corn is able to pop because, like sorghum, quinoa and millet, its kernels have a hard moisture-sealed hull and a dense starchy interior. This allows pressure to build inside the kernel until an explosive...
, 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 cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s, 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.