ALF – Season Three
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: D Episodes: C
ALF was always one of the odder hit TV shows and by
having an alien who was actually also a puppet, was part of a dysfunctional
family typical of bad 1980s TV and was accepted like he and the situation was
beyond normal always struck me as odd.
With the commercial breaks and the fact it was new at the time, the show
seemed like an odd fluke. Today, going
through the Season Three set, its eccentricities are magnified out of
its time period and without any breaks.
The show was never offensive and except for a disturbing
scandal involving the male lead we will pass on, it was a show that was
suitable at best. It actually outlasted
Mork & Mindy, while it never eclipsed My Favorite Martian and
proved that people would accept major puppet characters outside of the Muppet
world. ALF still owes a legacy to Jim
Henson, but is not as charming or is supposed to be. He is a light comedian at best and continues to be so in new
appearances, so ALF also is a host in the menus, though the 4 DVD set has no
real extras.
The 1.33 x 1 image was shot on professional NTSC video and
has aged fairly well, if not as well as some similar productions. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is fairly good,
but again, nothing exemplary. The
combination is adequate and at least as good as it ever looked on TV. Lionsgate has issued an acceptable, basic
set for fans and they at least will not be disappointed.
- Nicholas Sheffo
