#25: La Cucaracha

[ALFicionado]

Production #1025 - 4 May 87

ALF is surprised to learn he's brought an intergalactic cockroach to Earth with him. The bug starts to grow bigger when the Tanner family douses him with a solution to get rid of his uninvited guest.

Written By: Jerry Stahl
Directed By: Peter Baldwin

Guest Cast: Doug Warhit (Exterminator)

Title: The title is derived from a traditional Mexican folk song with the same name.

[ALFsince86]

One of the top ten ALF episodes!

[Blinky]

this is my favorite episode of alf out of everything, has been for sometime.

5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆

[ALFicionado]

I give this a strong 4, it's very close to a 5-star rating but not quite there. I love how different it is from other episodes of ALF, the writer for this episode was using drugs at the time, but I'd like to think he'd still write this story even if he wasn't.

Anyone else LOL at ALF's cockyness when Willie comes home and ALF has killed the roach?

[Mystiness EX]

I give this a 5-star rating. Every moment of the episode was funny! I find it especially amusing that we never got to see the giant cockroach, yet the show managed to still instill fear in the audience. I definitely love this one.

[ALFicionado]

I give this a 5-star rating. Every moment of the episode was funny! I find it especially amusing that we never got to see the giant cockroach, yet the show managed to still instill fear in the audience. I definitely love this one.

Yes, I love it when movies/shows succeed in doing that, create a certain tension and fear without actually showing the beast/monster. Lots of extra points for that.

Also, I love the eerie music in this as well as the sound the cockroach makes.

[Blinky]

>the writer for this episode was using drugs at the time, but I'd like to think he'd still write this story even if he wasn't.

I have read this somewhere before. are you talking about Jerry Stahl?

The Tanners hire an exterminator to rid their house of a cockroach, but it turns out to be no average bug, as ALF soon discovers that the creepy crawler is really another alien from outer space. "La Cuckaracha" was written by Jerry Stahl, author of Permanent Midnight.

I love this episode, would of it not happened at all if Mr.Stahl stayed off drugs?
watched 'Permanent Midnight', although never read the book yet. story about a heroin-addicted television writer. (himself)

this was from a different thread by Iggy. good addition to this thread:

Another good touch is that Kate and the kids evacuate the house leaving Willie and Alf to solve this problem on their own. It added to the tension and gave us that lovely little moment where Alf asks Willie for a hug.

The music was also great, added to the whole special feel of this episode. Same goes for the sound effects used for "Rodney".

the music was perfect, eerie like Axel said.
the soundtrack also reminds of of a song by my favorite band.

[ALFicionado]

I have read this somewhere before. are you talking about Jerry Stahl?

I love this episode, would of it not happened at all if Mr.Stahl stayed off drugs?
watched 'Permanent Midnight', although never read the book yet. story about a heroin-addicted television writer. (himself)
'

Indeed I am. Haven't seen the movie yet, but I've definitely heard about it.

[shreddinghead]

This is one of my favorites. Just the face alone alf makes in terror when willy describes the bugs size after being sprayed for a second time makes it worth a 5-star rating. There's also an easter egg in this episode, as alf describes a species of bugs in melmac as jaffees, the same name of the executive in charge of production of the tv series James M. Jaffee. I wonder what the M stands for?