"Willie introduces ALF to simple magic tricks."
And 'simple' is very much the watchword for this strangely empty sort of episode. Still lots of great gags and business like a trick made inside Kate's sun hat and straight up arson from Willie. The stupifying Ben Baker and John Matthews are your glamourous assistants trying to work out Captain Eo, Senor Wences, "Racy" Don Johnson, Nina Buckley and ALF dressed as Jimmy White fit into the tale.
Merry Christmas and thank Jebu there's no "Special" one this time. To celebrate, why not consider joining the Orbit Guard and helping us produced this season of ALFsplaining and monthly exclusives from the Shumway extended universe. Click here for more of the details: https://www.patreon.com/c/ALFsplainingExtra
"ALF mistakenly believes his cousin Blinky is living in Barstow, getting himself captured by a deranged freak show owner."
Its a tale of secret cousins, trash newspapers, kidnap, taking a glimpse and unimaginable powers. Ben Baker the Amazing Aardvark and John Matthews the Hairy Parrot stand exhausted in the middle of it. Glue an antenna on this!
Want to find a friend or two? Why not consider joining the Orbit Guard and helping us produced this season of ALFsplaining and new exclusives from the extended universe. Click here for more of the details: https://www.patreon.com/c/ALFsplainingExtra
"Seeing Willie and Kate reminiscing over their old stuff in the attic and show the family film footage of them attending the Woodstock festival, ALF asks Willie about the 1960s, causing Willie to ponder if he abandoned the ideals he held during those years."
The Wonder Years was doing big business in 1988 with its melancholic boomer look back at the sixties so if its good enough for Fred Savage, its good enough for the boy Shumway who is once again tormenting Willie's dreams. Ben and John as ever are there to ogle the results.
If your share our ideals maaaaaaaaaaan, why not consider joining the Orbit Guard and throwing some bread at this groovy season of ALFsplaining and new exclusives from the extended universe. Click here for more of the details: https://www.patreon.com/c/ALFsplainingExtra
"Kate starts working and then discovers that she is pregnant."
My that is inconvenient timing but if anyone knows how schedule a joke its Willie Tanner and his clearly fully functional downstairs which has put a fictional baby in Kate's fiction factory. Its an episode clearly written on the fly to accommodate Anne Schedeen's real-life pregnancy and Pod Detectives Baker and Matthews have a few ideas when it might have happened. And WHERE.
If you want to support this hairy progeny of ours, why not consider joining the Orbit Guard and supporting this season of ALFsplaining and new exclusives from the extended universe. Click here for more of the details: https://www.patreon.com/c/ALFsplainingExtra
"ALF must avoid the Alien Task Force when a homeless guy blows the whistle on him."
Im sure he's had worse blown on him....I mean, erm....happy Thanksgiving. Or Fappinao if you're from Melmac like ALF who is in danger of being pulled apart for experiments thanks to the shady behaviour of Flakey Pete. Its almost like his name was trying to tell us something.
Sat in the van waiting for action are Ben Baker and John Matthews with some magazines and a deflated balloon for company. Also: Trevor sings!
If we continue stuff your bulging turkey, why not consider joining the Orbit Guard and supporting this season of ALFsplaining and new exclusives from the extended universe. Click here for more of the details: https://www.patreon.com/c/ALFsplainingExtra
"The Tanners are invited to a Thanksgiving dinner with the Ochmonek's bizarre relatives"
TWO PARTS? And we're getting double Trevor and Raquel?? Strap us down and feed us rubber vomit! And who wrote this? The bloke who did ALF's Christmas Special? Oh ffffff......
...well, this is going to be an interesting Fappiano for Ben Baker and John Matthews. But could it be a miracle?
If we stuff your turkey, why not consider joining the Orbit Guard and supporting this season of ALFsplaining and new exclusives from the extended universe. Click here for more of the details: https://www.patreon.com/c/ALFsplainingExtra
NOTE: If the video doesnt play, check out the alternate source here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovYesOJsi88
And this is the panto poster we are discussing: https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social/post/3m52374ra622q
If you've got this far into the series of "ALFsplaining" you'll be unsurprised that Ben Baker and John Matthews are pretty obsessional men. Not about anything predictable of course - this ALF podcast proves that! But as we've a week between episodes of the sitcom, we thought you might like to learn about another of our big shared loves - panto posters.
Listen or watch along to the pilot of "Pantosplaining" where we pluck a poster from panto history and look at what we can find out about it for a real deep dive with many diversions into silliness.
Why is Chris Quinten the new Robocop?
Which position does Jess Conrad play in the Showbiz XI?
What makes a good celebrity photograph?
And will Norman Collier ever get that microphone fixed?!?
Let us know if you like it and follow us on our new Bluesky account here: https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social
If you've got this far into the series of "ALFsplaining" you'll be unsurprised that Ben Baker and John Matthews are pretty obsessional men. Not about anything predictable of course - this ALF podcast proves that! But as we've a week between episodes of the sitcom, we thought you might like to learn about another of our big shared loves - panto posters.
Listen along to the pilot of "Pantosplaining" where we pluck a poster from panto history and look at what we can find out about it for a real deep dive with many diversions into silliness.
Why is Chris Quinten the new Robocop?
Which position does Jess Conrad play in the Showbiz XI?
What makes a good celebrity photograph?
And will Norman Collier ever get that microphone fixed?!?
Let us know if you like it and follow us on our new Bluesky account here: https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social
"ALF reveals that Lynn is dating Eddie to her parents' dismay."
They do seem obsessed with Lynn dating oddballs, dont they? And few come odder than Michael "Des" "Barnes", aka that British bloke who was in all the American sitcoms.
Equally odd and also with erm...well you know, Ben Baker and John Matthews are also here. But you knew that.
If we make your teeth chatter comedically, why not consider joining the Orbit Guard and supporting this season of ALFsplaining and new exclusives from the extended universe. Click here for more of the details: https://www.patreon.com/c/ALFsplainingExtra
"ALF hosts The Tonight Show for Johnny Carson...."
ALF is live across America and its not a dream sequence. I mean, its not really much of anything but who needs explanations when you've got the U.S' most beloved late night talk show of all time? Its all a ruse to make a clip show but there's a fair bit of new material with the ALFer meeting lots of interesting guests, including...The Pope?
In the wings, Ben Baker and John Matthews wait eagerly to see if they've been bumped. To help their case, they've invited a returning special guest to explain all things Carson - writer, musician and real life American Charlie Mason. Find more of his stuff on soaps.com.
If we make you shout "HIYO!" in the streets, why not consider joining the Orbit Guard and supporting this season of ALFsplaining and new exclusives from the extended universe. Click here for more of the details: https://www.patreon.com/c/ALFsplainingExtra
"Trevor and Raquel have a falling-out, so ALF and Jake try to get them back together."
Oh boy, its an Ochmonek episode! Finally things will be getting back on track after a weird pair of openers. This comedy masterclass will be overseen by visiting romance experts in the field Ben Baker and John Matthews who attempt to bring harmony to another episode of ALF.
If thinking of us makes Chicago's music appear in your minds, why not consider joining the Orbit Guard and supporting this season of ALFsplaining and new exclusives from the extended universe. Click here for more of the details: https://www.patreon.com/c/ALFsplainingExtra
"ALF meets his guardian angel who makes him see life without the Tanners, and vice versa."
A wonderful life - it is?! ALF's getting out of the house by means of fantasy again and this time it involves Sheena Easton. Ben Baker and John Matthews look on confused and wondering how this all ties into "Saved By The Bell", Bloomingdale's or Donald Trump. All will be revealed inside!
Want some of our personal Preparation Shumway? Join the Orbit Guard and support our journey through the remaining two seasons whilst getting tons of bonus stuff too: https://www.patreon.com/c/ALFsplainingExtra
"Lynn's date at the drive-in goes well until she discovers ALF hiding in the back of the car."
We're back! Unless you're listening to this in the moon year of 2027 in which case we never went away so shut up. Ben and John are here with more than a little befuddlement as to the....everything of this episode, and in particular, the beer mat it was seemingly penned upon. Please still love us, Uncle Fusco.
If this is very much your kind of root beer, why not consider joining the Orbit Guard and supporting the next season of ALFsplaining and beyond. Click here for more of the details: https://www.patreon.com/c/ALFsplainingExtra
The second part of our exclusive chat with Paul Fusco, the man who gave the world ALF, voice and soul.
In this part he talks about the strangest merchandise to make the shelves, celebrity fans, who ALF would be feuding with on social media right now, the influence of Monty Python and The Two Ronnies on his humour, there's an encounter with right wing pundit Bill O'Reilly, why ALF is needed more than ever in the current climate, his annoyance of "dark side" anecdotes about the series, why Jerry Stahl was wrong, where next for the lad Shumway and lots more.
Oh, and yes, we ask him what ALF smells like.
It's a brilliant interview and we're so grateful for his time which long exceeded what we were hoping for. He's a funny, genuine guy and we hope one of the revivals takes off so he can adopt us as the children he never wanted.
Want even more sidebar Shumway in your eyes and ears? Join the Orbit Guard here and support us doing this: https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra
What do you do when you finally meet God?
Its a question Ben and John are about to learn the answer to as they meet the person central to their obsession this past fifty episodes - Paul Fusco, puppeteer, producer, writer, and creator of both the show and, of course, ALF himself.
He gives a rare all-access interview talking about how ALF came to exist, his early work, the oft-reported tensions on the set, the show he regrets turning down, battles with executives, the nearly made "ALF" prequel movie, the legend of Bernie Brillstein, why he didnt become a popstar and lots more.
In fact so such more that we're continuing it next week!
Want more sidebar Shumway in your eyes and ears and other extremities? Join the Orbit Guard here and support us doing this madness: https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra
NOTE: DONT LISTEN TO THIS ONE BEFORE YOU HEAR SEASON TWO!
Thought you were done with Ben Baker and John Matthews for the summer? Not even close!
Not only will we have lots more exciting one offs here and there but there's the now standard series lookback where we go over our favourite episodes of the second run alongside some listener-doxxing stats, an investigation into the TV landscape our furry friend thrived in, questioning Dan Aykroyd's part in the ALF phenomenon, the crowning of the series' MVP and hear some messages from our most adoring fans. Yes, plural.
Want more content as you wait for season 3? Join the Orbit Guard here and support us doing this madness: https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra
"After realizing that Willie and Kate have emptied Lynn's college fund to support him, a guilty ALF gets ten newspaper routes to earn money for the family."
Another episode in which ALF learns a valuable lesson about....nah, of course not...although he is briefly aware of his impact on the Tanners. Ben Baker and John Matthews fully weigh up the impact he's had on them too as we reach the end of season two and our last review episode for a while.
There'll still be regular updates - audio and video - for the Orbit Guard who support this show being made via https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra but right now, we are more fried than a something cat sizzler burger something something....etc....
....see what we mean?
Its been a blast though and we'll be back before you know it. And we might even bring a couple of pals....
"The Tanners plan a party for ALF, who is depressed that he is the only one of his species."
There have been some odd episodes of ALF this season but your hosts Ben Baker and John Matthews might have been officially outfoxed by this mix of dream sequences, sketches, downplayed melodrama, boffo gags, horrendous sound effects and confusing the blind. We'll miss it when its gone.
If you want to help us buy more cheap imitation porcelain, perhaps consider joining the Orbit Guard. You'll get a tons of bonus stuff and keep our self-produced show on the air. Visit https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtrafor more.
"ALF plays pink elephant for Kate's alcoholic friend Maura"
Crack open a tinny and pour that nebuchadnezzar of floor polish as its a boozy, woozy sort of episode with a very special message - although your hosts Ben Baker and John Matthews are struggling to find it in amongst the salad and dry heaving. Maybe don't listen to this one whilst eating....
If you want to help us buy more delicious medicinal pints, perhaps consider joining the Orbit Guard. You'll get a tons of bonus stuff and keep our self-produced show on the air. Visit https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra for more.
"ALF gets a ventriloquist dummy in the mail that takes control of him."
Well that all seems perfectly straightforward! Join Ben Baker and John Matthews for a surprisingly not very meta look into a puppeteer's art, soul and hooves. Helping them out on pre-recorded tape are former guests Al Jean, Mike Reiss and Phil Fletcher who all add some interesting pointers on the episode which is good because the first two wrote the episode...and the last one has probably seen it.
If you want to help us buy more oil to take care of our little wooden pals, perhaps consider joining the Orbit Guard. You'll get a tons of bonus stuff and keep our self-produced show on the air. Visit https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra for more.