Christmas
Alf , the TV series, that is to separate from the character known as Alf whose name is Gordon Shumway in the series of Alf, is a strange sitcom. The series concept is of course, a silly alien whose planet has blown up crash lands into Earth at a family's home and their whole world is turned upside and antics ensue.
Most episodes of the hit NBC series are like "We have to make the neighbors don't see Alf, except for their nephew because we need a few people to know about him." Basically, you know what kind of things to expect. Alf breaks things and bothers the family but they love him or accept him-for some reason. This is the biggest puppet TV show that has nothing to do with Jim Henson. I was watching the reruns and forgot something and that means I forgot something about this show kind of blanked until it aired again. The Christmas 2-part episode is depressing.
This season 2 two-parter comes after an episode where Kate Tanner is having dreams that Alf has become president and getting woke up every time and seeing Alf doing something goofy. The episode after this has Alf befriending the neighbors' nephew who moved in and breaking stuff at the same time.
Welcome to our second time talking about Alf, and this time the series proper from season 2, episodes 12 and 13 it's "Alf's Special Christmas".
The episode does give a different intro, no theme song just the family in a car while Alf sings over 80 ways to cook cats. If you don't know that's his thing. That actually feels like a normal episode, it lulls its prey into a trap. The Tanner family make it to an old cabin where they will be spending Christmas. Willie Tanner is very nostalgic for this place, he spent a Christmas there. Apparently, the cabin gives him warm comfort of the best Christmas he ever had. That Christmas was one where his family lost their house because his father lost his job. The man who owns this cabin named Mr. Foley, remember him for later, brought them in and let them stay. I don't think that's the best Christmas, Willie, like yeah I can understand the warmth and understanding the love of family and stuff, but none with your wife and kids are in that list or something?
Being Homeless and staying in this cabin is better than being around Alf/ Copyright ALF
Alf, being Alf, messed with the presents because of course he does. Did they explain Christmas to him in advance? I'm actually surprised they didn't do a plot where Alf has to learn the true meaning of Christmas after he was presents greedy.
Mr. Foley shows up (played by Cleavon Little) he's on his way to take us to the plot, I mean he's taking toys to the hospital for sick children. Willie explains that Mr. F goes out and repairs toys for sick kids. Mr. Foley is asked about how is wife is doing and well's she not doing that well, she died. He said that she died two weeks prior. (This is actually only the 2nd depressing thing about this episode) Anyway, Alf had snuck in the back of Foley's truck and now he's on the way to the hospital. Foley is dressed like Santa and Alf is pretending to be a stuffed toy riding in the cart.
Get your Alf Toy! Real sized only $99.99 plus shipping / Copyright Alf
Well that's nice a guy helping some sick kids in a hospital, hopefully there's no problems... they will just recover and go home, yep. Anyway Foley, helps take the Alf "toy" to the hospital room of a girl who thought Alf was cute. The funniest part of this is we see Alf having to be still and not talk for a very long time. The girl names Alf, Amanda, and talks to him like a doll, her name is Tiffany.
Not coming this fall: Alf and Tiffany/ Copyright Alf
Also, the episode went pretty long where Tiffany has to carry on talking by herself, that's until Alf draws a line a her putting earrings on him. Tiffany's reaction is stunned and surprise and not AAAAAAH AHHHHHHH AHHHHHH. He has to tell her that he's not a stuffed toy and needs to get home. He has to explain to her why. She lets him go back to "Santa".
more after the jump
Foley decides to give a gift to Dr. Willoughby , for the hospital. This is also where we find out that Tiffany was going through her biggest worry, of wondering if Santa Claus is real, a typical Christmas plot. Oh wait, no... she's dying. Alf overhears this too. The doctor says to Foley there's nothing else he can do and doesn't expect her to be around -alive- the next Christmas.
Yes, I'm reading, but somehow still confused as how this is an Alf episode
Alf goes back to her to spend some time with her. The best part of the interaction here is somewhat bitter sweet. Tiffany drew a picture of Alf and she's on there drawn with wings. We can infer that she knows her prognosis. She asking about does he miss his planet could be compared to how she might be trying cope with the concept of death. Like leaving the Earth for somewhere else. She even mentions it like that, "moving on to another world".
But yes, this special is still depressing we have 9-year-old girl who is dying and there's nothing that's going to be done about it or can be done. It's hard in a sitcom where funny things happens, oops a little mistake happens but everything will be alright before the credits. It's even a little more unnerving that the girl says she's afraid to go to sleep because she's afraid she's not going to wake up. Alf helps her think of good things to go to sleep and she does. The music doesn't help because it really makes it feel like she's going to die right here. The episode stops with Alf crying. There is a "To be Continued" sign and unlike a later time that happens, there is more here. That's a depressing first half.
Even the closing theme music at the end of episode 1 doesn't even know how to react.
The family is looking for Alf. There's some tonal whiplash as the com part of the sitcom is trying bubble out. The kids are worried about Alf being missing and might be trapped by hunter, and Kate's line is a little oops.
Hmm there's a pregnant woman in a sitcom, guess that means it's time for her to give birth, but hmm -spins wheel- she gets stuck in an elevator. Yep, and for good measure she's trapped in there with just Alf. She's giving birth and needs help and Alf decides he has to help.
This special really switched tones from dying little girl to sitcom plot of woman giving birth and silly alien is the only one there to help. I'm glad Alf had found a book to help with the process. Alf suggests that she call her baby after him- Gordon- she remarks that's a strange name for girl. (It's also a strange name for an alien) So he suggests Tiffany. Is--Is the episode trying to do some sort of death to birth circle of life thing?
That was your moment of strange because back to depressing. Remember the part where Foley gave a present to the hospital. Well the doctor opened it , before Christmas and he gave his entire life savings. He gets away in his truck, Alf is in the back still pretending to be a toy. Foley stops on a bridge and yeah uh... this is a family sitcom about a silly alien who comes to Earth after his planet blows up, spends most of his time eating and wanting to the family cat, and laughing at his own jokes. This man who is filled with heavy depression after the death of his wife stopped on the bridge to jump and end his life. Alf, dressed like Santa, gets out of the truck and works to stop him.
If you die , you can't watch my show!
Alf tells him he's an alien and George Foley doesn't believe it. He ends up thinking that Alf is just Santa Claus. I am a little confused, he doesn't believe the obvious alien is an alien but does think he's Santa. (Whatever works for him) Alf tries to find a way to say that the man is worth staying alive and that he does bring joy to people.
Alf convinces him to not die. Also Alf needed a ride home. The Tanners are also as miserable has the viewers watching feel right now. Alf shows up coming the chimney. The Tanners , later, show up to see the little girl and Alf is in the back of the car to say hello- one last time. George Foley's voice plays over with the "Yes, Virginia, There's a Santa Claus" . That's the end.
I also have to mention the episode finishes with two dedications of two deaths, the second one is the inspiration for this episode. An 8-year-old girl named Tiffany who really did die- not the actress playing the girl named Tiffany in this episode.
One of the letters he received was from a girl named Tiffany Leigh Smith, whom the character in “ALF’s Special Christmas” is based on. “I don’t remember all the details, but I saved her letters and have them on file,” Fusco says. As Hollander recalls, the real Tiffany was a 9-year-old from the Midwest suffering from leukemia and eager to have a face-to-face conversation with her favorite Melmac citizen. “Someone at the local NBC station arranged a kind of video conference setup between her in her hospital bed and ALF,” he says.
The network president thought it would be good to make an episode. There's a strange difference to this episode in a few ways. The tone is way different to a normal Alf episode. Though, I do have to say that Alf has a little dark background, in general, because of the fact that he's an alien that happens to be last of his kind. The special is done in single camera and away from the familiar home set of the series. The Tanner family, themselves, take a back seat most of the episode to focus on Alf. There's not a bunch of jokes or Alf one-liners.
Blazing Saddles actor Cleavon Little played Mr. Foley. Whom apparently really wanted to do an episode of Alf, and I understand. The not real Tiffany was played by Keri Houlihan who was on the NBC series "Our House" which umm didn't last long. They both play their roles well.
I do admire their restraint in a way, easily could have done the "magic of Christmas" thing and a big miracle of the girl getting a new treatment -u nlike real Tiffany, it's not explained what she's dying from- or something. It's pretty much implied that she'll soon no longer be on the Earth. It's dark and depressing. Maybe a little realistic for this show, but think it's a decision that didn't have to be done or forced by the higher ups to do, but didn't.
I am not the first person to write about this special, and personally held off because it kind of slipped my mind. Like a memory being pushed aside until randomly running it to the episode during a marathon on Catchy Comedy. This one is very different from not just its own show but really in the tone of Christmas anything. Most times Christmas movies and specials present a more cheerful and magical sense. Hallmark Channel has movies where people fall in love because Christmas is just that powerful. Most sitcoms do a silly little plot or find an older story to use. Tim Allen commits accidental manslaughter with Santa Claus and becomes Santa. So, it's a little deep and depressing that this special is.
Also somehow dying little girl pushes back in the mind that a man wanted to commit suicide because his wife had died and he's just not feeling it anymore. Alf telling him just by what he saw of the man helps him change is mind is great. It offers something of a relief to the despair. The woman giving birth was strange but I guess we really needed something in-between to calm down things.
I think it's depressing, strange and off kilter, but not bad. It's creative and pulls no punches for a goofy sitcom that didn't want to speak down to anyone. It's relatable to many that could be having the same feelings that Mr. Foley was having. Life's brutally hard, and even losing someone close is really hard. It's worth it to try and continue bring your heart out for others there is value in all.
But yeah, don't watch this one too much or at all , unless you can take it, crying is fine, though.
That's it for now, tune in next time when we watch something less depressing, like [insert really sad movie here].
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