ALF
Season 3
DVD cover
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes26
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseOctober 3, 1988 (1988-10-03) –
May 8, 1989 (1989-05-08)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 2
Next →
Season 4
List of episodes

The following is a list of episodes from the third season of ALF.[1] Most episode titles are named after popular songs.

Broadcast history

The season aired Mondays at 8:00-8:30 pm (EST) on NBC.

DVD release

The season was released on DVD by Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

Cast

Episodes

See also: List of ALF episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)		Rating/share
(households)
531"Stop in the Name of Love"Nick HavingaSkip Frank & Gwyn GurianOctober 3, 1988 (1988-10-03)300129.6[2]18.3/29[2]

Lynn's date at the drive-in goes well until she discovers ALF hiding in the back of the car.

The episode title is based on the Supremes song.
542"Stairway to Heaven"Burt BrinckerhoffPhilip WhitehillOctober 10, 1988 (1988-10-10)300528.7[3]17.6/27[3]

ALF meets his guardian angel who makes him see life without the Tanners, and vice versa.

The episode title is based on the Led Zeppelin song.
553"Breaking Up is Hard to Do"Nick HavingaSteve PepoonOctober 17, 1988 (1988-10-17)300230.2[4]18.6/30[4]

Trevor and Raquel have a falling-out, so ALF and Jake try to get them back together.

The episode title is based on the Neil Sedaka song.
564"Tonight, Tonight"Burt BrinckerhoffLisa A. Bannick, Steve Pepoon, Al Jean & Michael ReissOctober 24, 1988 (1988-10-24)300630.2[5]18.5/28[5]
575

ALF hosts The Tonight Show with Ed McMahon and promotes ALF with clips from Season 2. Frederick de Cordova, Teresa Ganzel, Tommy Newsom, Rich Little, Joan Embrey, Tim Wade, Joyce Brothers and Eugene Greytak (as Pope John Paul II) also appear.

Note: This is a one-hour clip show.

The episode title is based on the Genesis song "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight".
586"Promises, Promises"Burt BrinckerhoffBeverly ArcherOctober 31, 1988 (1988-10-31)300424.2[6]15.1/24[6]

ALF reveals that Lynn is dating Eddie (Michael Des Barres) to her parents' dismay.

The episode title is based on the Naked Eyes song.
597"Turkey in the Straw"Nick HavingaTom Patchett & Steve HollanderNovember 14, 1988 (1988-11-14)300829.7[7]18.0/27[7]
18.0/27[7]
608November 15, 1988 (1988-11-15)30.0[7]
Part 1: The Tanners are invited to a Thanksgiving dinner with the Ochmonek's bizarre relatives.
Part 2: ALF must avoid the Alien Task Force when a homeless guy blows the whistle on him.

Guest stars: David Ogden Stiers as Flakey Pete, Michael Champion as Sgt. Matt Fox

The episode title is based on the American folk song.
619"Changes"Nick HavingaLisa A. BannickNovember 21, 1988 (1988-11-21)300729.9[8]18.0/28[8]

Kate starts working and then discovers that she is pregnant.

Note: The plot device of Kate being pregnant was written to accommodate Anne Schedeen's real-life pregnancy.

The episode title is based on the David Bowie song.
6210"My Back Pages"Burt BrinckerhoffRon BurlaNovember 28, 1988 (1988-11-28)301224.2[9]15.6/23[9]

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 episode title is based on the Bob Dylan song.
6311"Alone Again, Naturally"Burt BrinckerhoffPaul FuscoDecember 5, 1988 (1988-12-05)301324.0[10]15.5/23[10]

ALF mistakenly believes his cousin Blinky is living in Barstow, getting himself captured by a deranged freak show owner (Kathleen Freeman).

The episode title is based on the Gilbert O'Sullivan song.
6412"Do You Believe in Magic?"Tony CsikiScott Spencer GordenDecember 12, 1988 (1988-12-12)300930.9[11]18.6/28[11]

Willie introduces ALF to simple magic tricks.

The episode title is based on the Lovin' Spoonful song.
6513"Hide Away"Burt BrinckerhoffSteve PepoonJanuary 9, 1989 (1989-01-09)301428.7[12]17.6/26[12]

After a verbose houseguest of Willie's reveals he is in the Witness Protection Program, ALF is convinced gangsters are stalking the Tanners.

The episode title is based on the Freddie King song.
6614"Fight Back"Nick HavingaSeth WeisbordJanuary 16, 1989 (1989-01-16)301630.8[13]18.1/27[13]

When Jake easily repairs Willie's car, he and ALF think the mechanic may be sabotaging the car for needless repeat business, so they start Operation Sam-Scam to furnish proof.

The episode title is based on a song by either Solomon Burke or Discharge.
6715"Suspicious Minds"Nick HavingaAl Jean & Michael ReissJanuary 23, 1989 (1989-01-23)301034.0[14]20.4/30[14]

ALF believes that a reclusive new neighbor is Elvis Presley, and is further convinced when the man displays Elvis-like tendencies.

The episode title is based on the song popularized by Elvis.
6816"Baby Love"Nick HavingaLisa A. BannickFebruary 6, 1989 (1989-02-06)301138.9[15]22.8/32[15]

When Raquel plans a surprise baby shower for Kate, one of the neighbors brings her baby to the party. Meanwhile, ALF has an allergic reaction to a baby and he tries to move in with Jake.

The episode title is based on the Supremes song.
6917"Running Scared"Gary ShimokawaSteve PepoonFebruary 13, 1989 (1989-02-13)301730.0[16]17.8/27[16]

The extortionist Lee Fraser threatens to turn ALF in to the immigration authorities for being an illegal alien.

The episode title is based on the Roy Orbison song.
7018"Standing in the Shadows of Love"Nick HavingaDavid Cohen & Roger S.H. SchulmanFebruary 20, 1989 (1989-02-20)301530.7[17]18.4/27[17]

Jake has a crush on a girl at school named Laura (Carla Gugino) but cannot express his feelings. ALF, inspired by the story of Cyrano de Bergerac, ghostwrites love letters for Jake.

The episode title is based on the Four Tops song.
7119"Superstition"Gary ShimokawaSteve PepoonFebruary 27, 1989 (1989-02-27)302029.1[18]17.6/26[18]

ALF blames his streak of bad luck on a Melmac superstition of burning a history book.

The episode title is based on the Stevie Wonder song.
7220"Torn Between Two Lovers"Nick HavingaBeverly ArcherMarch 6, 1989 (1989-03-06)302134.2[19]20.7/30[19]

Thanks to ALF's mismanaged phone calls, Lynn gets two dates with Danny and Randy for a dance.

The episode title is based on the song popularized by Mary MacGregor.
7321"Funeral for a Friend"Paul FuscoScott Spencer GordenMarch 20, 1989 (1989-03-20)302330.0[20]18.0/28[20]

ALF acquires an ant farm and then arranges a funeral after the ants die.

The episode title is based on the Elton John song.
7422"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark"Nick HavingaAlicia Marie SchudtMarch 27, 1989 (1989-03-27)302228.0[21]17.1/27[21]

To prepare Brian for his Boy Scout trip, ALF and Jake camp out to overcome his fear of the outdoors at night.

The episode title is based on the Robert Cray song.
7523"Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?"Howard StormPaul Fusco & Lisa A. BannickApril 10, 1989 (1989-04-10)302628.1[22]17.6/28[22]

Jake's mother (Randee Heller) visits him and ALF catches her stealing Kate's brooch.

The episode title is based on the Rolling Stones song.
7624"Like an Old Time Movie"Nick HavingaNelson CostelloApril 17, 1989 (1989-04-17)300322.7[23]14.7/26[23]

While the Tanners are away and leave some old movies to entertain him, ALF imagines in black and white that he and the Tanners are silent-movie stars.

The episode title is based on the Scott McKenzie song.
7725"Shake, Rattle and Roll"Nick HavingaRon BurlaMay 1, 1989 (1989-05-01)301824.0[24]14.5/24[24]

After experiencing a mild earthquake, ALF prepares for the worst.

The episode title is based on the Big Joe Turner song.
7826"Having My Baby"Nick HavingaLisa A. BannickMay 8, 1989 (1989-05-08)301925.1[25]15.7/27[25]

ALF re-enacts scenes from The Dick Van Dyke Show, as Kate prepares to give birth.

Note: The baby, Eric William Tanner, first appears at the end of the episode.

The episode title is based on the Paul Anka song.

References

  1. ^ "ALF". TV Guide. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. October 12, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306106992.
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  6. ^ a b "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. November 9, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306136856.
  7. ^ a b c d "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. November 23, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306124674.
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  11. ^ a b "A very 'Brady' ratings hit". Life. USA Today. December 21, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306159082.
  12. ^ a b "NBC clinches season's ratings title". Life. USA Today. January 18, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306171627.
  13. ^ a b "NBC scores super ratings". Life. USA Today. January 25, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306147740.
  14. ^ a b "Midseason entries boost NBC". Life. USA Today. February 1, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306144802.
  15. ^ a b "CBS gallops to a tie with NBC". Life. USA Today. February 15, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306163263.
  16. ^ a b "NBC's back alone on top". Life. USA Today. February 22, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306175741.
  17. ^ a b "CBS up despite Grammy drop". Life. USA Today. March 1, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306152931.
  18. ^ a b "Hit-and-miss program changes". Life. USA Today. March 8, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306184202.
  19. ^ a b "NBC, in front with 'Left Behind'". Life. USA Today. March 15, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306172200.
  20. ^ a b "A 'Brewster' boost for ABC". Life. USA Today. March 29, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306173300.
  21. ^ a b "ABC's roller-coaster week". Life. USA Today. April 5, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306171172.
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  25. ^ a b "NBC sweeps top 11 spots". Life. USA Today. May 17, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306203436.
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