#4: Pennsylvania 6-5000

[ALFicionado]

Production #1003 - 13 Oct 86

Believing he's doing his patriotic duty and concern over nuclear weapon build-up, ALF cracks Air Force One's radio signal codes and calls the President - - which lands Willie in jail.

Written By: Donald Todd
Directed By: Peter Bonerz

Guest Cast: Vince McKewin (Stele)
Meshach Taylor (Addison)
Harry Shearer (Larry)
Richard Sanders (Hogarth)
Arthur Rosenberg (Defoe)

Title: The title refers to a song by the Glenn Miller Band.

[ALFsince86]

This episode has elements that I normally do not like in plots. I don't like it when someone intends to do something good and it turns out bad (too much stress for me). I also don't like it when an innocent person goes to jail (ditto the first reason). However, that being said, this is a very creative episode. Many times a TV series really doesn't take off until it's second or third season (sometimes longer), but this episode knows the characters well and fits everything together cleverly. My favorite line: "Just who are all these people, and why are they always on the phone?"

The resolution to the problem is great. While it may have seemed far-fetched in 1986, now we have internet hackers that aren't much older than Brian was in this episode. I gave it five stars because while it may not make my Top Ten list, I would expect to see it in any critical "Best of ALF" list or review (and certainly it shouldn't be deleted from any marathon an individual or cable station might have).

[ALFicionado]

Many times a TV series really doesn't take off until it's second or third season (sometimes longer), but this episode knows the characters well and fits everything together cleverly.

I so agree with this. Most shows' first seasons aren't one of the best seasons, with ALF it's the complete opposite. They hit it off the park from the get-go, making one of the best first seasons of any show out there.

This is not one of my favorite episodes of this season, but I really like it and the message it conveys. One of the episodes you need to show to those who says ALF was just a kids show. ALF was much more than that and this episode is a proof of that fact.

One of my favorite parts must be where they very amusingly illustrate that Reagan doesn't know how a phone works Love the Reagan impression as well, definitely sounded like him.

I gave this episode a 4-star rating.

[Mystiness EX]

3 stars from me. While the show borders a bit on "far-fetched", I like the creativity they had and the line about Reagan being on the airplane and "how far could he go?" cracks me up everytime I think about it. Also the part where Melmac exploded because every Melmacian plugged their hair-dryers in at the same time. LOL!

[Calmly Taken Flame]

Meshach Taylor, who played Addison, one of the cops who turn up at the Tanner house....didn`t he play Hollywood in the Mannequin film ?

I was SO sure there was already a thread about this on here, but I can`t find it using all manner of keywords to locate it !