ALF (Alternity)

ALF is a an American science fiction/sitcom that aired on NBC from 1986 to 1991. After a furry extraterrestrial named Gordon Shumway (voiced by series' creator Paul Fusco) crashes in suburban Los Angeles, into the garage of the middle-class Tanners, a typical middle-class American family. They soon grow to like the friendly alien, whom they name ALF (short for Alien Life Form) and decide to unofficially adopt him as a member of their family. The family also makes a solemn promise not to alert the authorities of ALF's existence, as the government would likely use him for rather distasteful experiments. More often than not, each episode has ALF causing some kind of trouble for the Tanners.

Characters

 * Paul Fusco as ALF (voice and puppeteer) - The series' titular character from the faraway planet Melmac (which is also, coincidentally what it's made out of), which has recently suffered a nuclear devastation, ALF is an unofficially adopted member of the Tanner family who lives in either the garage or attic. He was also a member of Melmac's Orbit Guards. In addition, one of the Melmacian delicacies just happens to be a typical Earth housepet - cat - which tends to conflict with the presence of the Tanners' cat, Lucky.


 * Max Wright as Willie Tanner - The father and head of the Tanner household, Willie is most frequently in conflict with ALF over essentially everything the alien decides to do, from stealing his checkbook to rearranging the home furniture or using Brian's crayons to graffiti on the walls.


 * Anne Schedeen as Kate Tanner - The mother of the family and frequent 'rulemonger' according to ALF, Kate also clashes with the alien on occasion, but certainly not as often as Willie.


 * Andrea Elson as Lynn Tanner - The Tanner's oldest child, and a typical teenage American girl, Lynn sometimes finds herself in ALF's crosshairs when one of her relationships goes bad, and though he is always trying to help her out, he sometimes given the cold shoulder for his efforts.


 * Shane Culkin as Brian Tanner - The middle child of the Tanner family (youngest before the birth of Eric in Season 3), Brian and ALF are typically best friends, though sometimes ALF accidentally or purposely get Brian angry at him.

Recurring

 * John LaMotta as Trevor Ochmonek (Seasons 1 to 5) - One of the Tanners' annoying neighbors, Trevor frequently butts into other peoples' business, typically without asking. He and Raquel are often heard arguing over rather inconsequential things.


 * Liz Sheridan as Raquel Ochmonek (Seasons 1 to 5) - Trevor's wife and the snoopier of the two, Raquel can frequently be seen spying on the Tanners or several of their other neighbors.


 * Josh Blake as Jake Ochmonek (Seasons 3 to 5) - Trevor and Raquel's nephew, Jake is sent to live with them after his father goes to prison for theft, and eventually becomes good friends with ALF, albeit without his aunt and uncle's knowledge.


 * Charles Nickerson as Eric Tanner (Seasons 4 and 5) - The youngest member of the Tanner family, Eric was born near the end of Season 3, and was nearly 2 by the time the show ended.


 * Anne Meara as Dorothy Halligan (Seasons 2 to 5) - Kate's mother, Dorothy is frequently annoyed by ALF when she comes to visit the house, though he does end up helping to convince her to marry a man named Whizzer Deaver (Paul Dooley), somewhat easing her tensions with the wisecracking alien.