ALFsplaining

"Dorothy is planning to marry Whizzer, but ALF's Melmacian hiccups put the wedding in jeopardy."

It barely seems like two seconds since Dorothy was being appalled by her new neighbour Whizzer and now they're hitched. What a strange time to be alive...especially if you're an unpleasantly hiccuping ALF. Is there a connection between these two plot lines? Good luck if you can find it. We even brought in a ringer to help!

You'll probably know Ruth Husko from being brilliant on social media here - https://x.com/dank_ackroyd - but is increasingly turning up in lots of interesting places. She does turn down many podcasts however so we're extremely fortunate to have her here as a new convert to the cause. The cause of ALF's anus.

And if you're still here after reading that last sentence, perhaps consider joining the Orbit Guard. You'll get a tons of bonus stuff and keep this here show on the air for many weddings to come. Visit ⁠https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra⁠ for more.

"Lynn is depressed over being dumped by a boyfriend for a prettier girl, so ALF enters her in a beauty pageant to increase her self-confidence."

Its an oddly familiar plot as excuse for some great gags about clog dancing. ALF is at his jerky best here but perhaps for once its well placed? Your hosts as ever are Ben Baker and John Matthews who are dressed in a crimpolence blouse with ruffs from Top Shop and rather too much make-up.

And if you want to pay for them to get perms, perhaps consider joining the Orbit Guard. You'll get a tons of bonus stuff and keep this here show on the air for many Halloweens to come. Visit ⁠https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra⁠ for more.

"After watching a presidential debate, Kate has recurring dreams of running against ALF."

Another election? Did we not just do that? Well, its time to strap on your best Uncle Sam hat and never wear trousers as its a politically charged episode of ALF today - so much so we've actually bumped it up the running order a little to make it super topical and relevant. I mean, as much as a sitcom about a hairy dwarf alien can.

Kissing babies and taking names as always are your hosts Ben Baker and John Matthews who wonder if ALF as President might actually be a good thing. Especially as we recorded this a week before the election cycles results were announced....

And if you want to support our Super-PAC campaign, perhaps consider joining the Orbit Guard. You'll get a tons of bonus stuff and keep this here show on the air for many Elections to come. Visit ⁠https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra⁠ for more.

"Not allowed to go trick-or-treating, ALF attends Willie's Halloween party and tries to convince his boss to give Willie an overdue promotion."

Ghoul-d morning ghouls and man...ghouls? Can you tell its the Halloween episode of ALF this week? And boy is it a treat with "Gordo" finally allowed to let his freak flag fly around real human beings...but with a catch. Or, more accurately, a zipper. Dressed as Fake Shemps in the corner as always are your hosts Ben Baker and John Matthews.

And if you want to pay their bail after their costumes accidentally fell off in town, perhaps consider joining the Orbit Guard. You'll get a tons of bonus stuff and keep this here show on the air for many Halloweens to come. Visit https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra for more.

"When the Tanners become part of the new Thompson Rating System, ALF rigs the ratings in order to prevent his favorite show, Polka Jamboree, from being cancelled."

The Tanners go TV tonto for the second time in a month as the writing staff have a lot of fun sending up broadcasting tropes, including the actual Head of Programming at NBC who is played here by someone oddly familiar.

To help us tiptoe through the tube bits we have an expert in the field who loves his archive telly so much he's just written the definitive book on the subject. You can pre-order Tim's book "The Golden Age of Children's TV" from Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Golden-Age-Childrens-TV/dp/1785306405

...unless its ages into the future then just regular order it.

And if you want to support our - what can only be described as shenanigans - please join The Orbit Guard for lots of ace video and audio extras about our Melmacian chum: https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra

"ALF, after being deeply saddened by the fact that his parents got married before his birth - which is a taboo on Melmac - runs away to a monastery."

Ah that standard sitcom trope! Join Ben Baker and John Matthews in their finest fibre cassocks for some monky business exploring ALF's family tree, religious intolerance (of ALF) and Willie's darkest secret. You'll find us easily - we're the ones eating paste.

Want to be part of a very non silent order? Join the Orbit Guard here and support us doing this every week: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra

"Raquel's claim of seeing ALF makes her subject to ridicule and prone to depression, so ALF decides to defend her."

ALF has driven another person mad with his antics although for once its merely his existance that proves to be a stumbling block. Still, you know there's a great episode in store when the Ochmoneks are central to a story! And here Raquel comes face to snout with ALF at long last.

Watching from behind the fence are Ben Baker and John Matthews, two British ALF fans who love to talk about the four-toothed furry feller's antics so pull up an avocado and try not to go cuckoo...

Want to buy us some cutlery? Join the Orbit Guard here and support us doing this madness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra

"After becoming addicted to reruns of Gilligan's Island, ALF dreams that he has joined the castaways."

If you heard Friday's set up, you'll know that this is an episode of a sitcom all about a sitcom character becoming obsessed with a different sitcom. Confused? Dont be. Just join Ben Baker and John Matthews in the lagoon with your coconut cream pie and say "aloha" to ALFsplaining, little buddy. Then get digging.

Want to help get us off this fecking island? Join the Orbit Guard here and support the hard work that goes into this very silly series: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra

More ALFsplaining? So soon? Well, as Monday's episode entirely revolves around the American sitcom "Gilligan's Island" - a sitcom not especially well known in the UK - we thought it would be polite to record a little introduction to what that series was all about. And to help, we've got a real life American as a guest!

Not only is he a writer and editor at the website TV Line, Charlie Mason has written the lyrics to several Eurovision favourites including Conchita's "Rise Like A Phoenix"! But more importantly, he knows about all things Gilligan and this is a lovely little sidebar chat which should set you up nicely for Monday's madness.

Want more? Join the Orbit Guard here and support us doing this madness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra

"ALF has to go one week without destroying anything in the Tanners' house."

Welcome wherever you are to the series by series watchalong of the American sitcom "ALF" with Ben Baker and John Matthews - and would you believe it but we've actually run out of season one! Clearly the producers felt it couldn't top the image of Racquel Ochmanek being spun around in an airplane toilet so had to immediately stop and take victory laps across America.

And so here we are for season two and to assist us with easing back into the Shumway swimming baths, we have a guest joining us today - Rob Manuel of B3ta, Fesshole and countless other glorious wastes of your online time - but is he a fan of the Melmacian marvel? Well, you'll have to listen and find out!!!!! Also: no.

Find Rob online here: https://x.com/robmanuel

And his new "Fesshole" podcast is available via these here links: https://pod.link/1748844286

Want to support our journey through season 2 and beyond? Join the Orbit Guard here and help us with this madness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ALFsplainingExtra