ALF's Hit Talk Show

ALF's Hit Talk Show is 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]

ALF's Hit Talk Show
GenreTalk show
Presented byALF
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes7 (list of episodes)
Production
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time23 minutes
Production companyBurt Dubrow Productions
Release
Original networkTV Land
Original releaseJuly 7 (2004-07-07) –
December 17, 2004 (2004-12-17)

Format

The show's format is traditional, with ALF sitting behind a desk talking 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 foods (such as popcorn or peanut brittle) which the guests are invited to eat. (ALF, being an alien and a puppet, 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]

Episodes
No.TitleOriginal air dateProd.
code
1
July 7, 2004
Drew Carey & Dennis Franz cameos: Joan Rivers & Henry Winkler (Kevin Butler)TBA
2
November 12, 2004
Joe Mantegna & Merv Griffin cameos: Jack Sheldon105
3
November 19, 2004
Bryan Cranston & Leon Redbone102
4
November 26, 2004
Tom Arnold & James Nelson and his talking dog (ventriloquist)106
5
December 3, 2004
Doris Roberts & Kevin Butler (comic actor)101
6
December 10, 2004
Tom Green & Linda Blair & Jack Sheldon (Kevin Butler)104
7
December 17, 2004
Eric Roberts & Vincent Pastore103

References
  1. Susman, Gary From Carnac to Melmac Archived 2012-10-20 at the Wayback Machine 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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