Me and The Head Honcho

[Richard J Schellbach]

I thought you guys would enjoy seeing a photo of me and my boss, back in 1989. (I'm the one on the left.)

[Admin]

Great picture, thanks for sharing! You must have some neat stories as well.

[samstokes80]

Very cool! I hadn't realized that you worked on the show. It's great to have you here on the forum!

[Richard J Schellbach]

Thanks. I'll tell you about my involvement later tonight, when I get home.

[Richard J Schellbach]

I've known Paul, Linda, Bob and Lisa for over 30 years. We all worked on those Showtime specials together. etc. Onto ALF. I went out in the first season to be Rick's "assistant" in the Help Me Rhonda episode. I did some work on the space ship interior. Back home in CT, Paul called one night and told me that the majority of the companies pitching merchandise ideas just didn't "get" the show or even come close to getting it. He asked me to take the calls from the companies and to re-write everything that was off track - which was, in fact, everything.

So;
I wrote the two calendars
Wrote both series of cards for Topps
Wrote both Bouillabaseball sets
Wrote ALF Speaks Out!
Wrote ALF Sounds Off!
Had something to do with an early ALF comic (#3???) but can't remember what I did.
I was Head Writer for ALF Magazine
Reworked the music for the Burger King records
Wrote an episode of ALF-Tales (One for SpaceCats too.)
Served as Punch Up Writer and Story Editor in the fourth season of ALF.

I'm sure there are a few other things I forgot in the lateness of the hour but they'll come to me. Sometimes I'd get items with no copy writing needed like the lunchbox with ALF in the garage, just for comments. Of course I told them the picture was flipped but no changes were ever made. Well, can't win 'em all.

Because I got very little credit on the merchandising (but paid very well) I'd stick in-jokes in to almost everything. There must be a hundred, scattered around.

I'll be happy to elaborate on anything you're wondering about. But just to nip it in the bud, early, I'm not involved with the new movie but, obviously, I wish Paul and Linda all the luck in the world with it. I hope it's HUGE!

The only thing off-base is ALF's actual performance. I've read enough here to know you guys understand why.

[ALFicionado]

Wow, I had no idea, either. That was very interesting to read and it's great to have someone who's had so much to do with the show and brand of ALF as a member of our forum. Us collectors have a lot to be thankful for regarding your job on some of the items we own.

[Joe Shumway]

Richard,

It's good to have you here. Thanks for info, and contribution you made on the show and everything else involved with Alf

[Richard J Schellbach]

It remains, to this day, one of the best times of my life. Paul certainly had input ("Bouillabaseball" was his word from before ALF and I'd say that about 10%-15% of my work is stuff he came up with and I ran with) but I loved the fact that I had so much creative leeway with all of this stuff. Paul ended up "okaying" just about every word I wrote because we thought so much alike.

In-joke: Because Sandy Wernick worked on the show, Paul decided to call paper money on Melmac, Wernicks. (Which I thought was brilliant!) When I married Eileen Skolnik, he said, "That's what we'll call the coins." So, in reality, I'm married to Melmac pocket change. Good to know.

[Richard J Schellbach]

And it's great to be here, Joe.

[Richard J Schellbach]

The Calendars: Joe Angard's company did these. Joe was a real pleasure to work with. A great guy! Paul named all of the months and a few holidays. (ALF's birthdays, Bouillabaseball Season Opens as examples) I did the rest of the holidays and the placements. I was thrilled with the way both of the calendars came out, as was Paul.

In-Jokes:
Shriek at a parrot day - my son's and Paul's shared b-day.
The Check Is In The Mail Day - my b-day.
Rut Like Crazed Weasels Day - my wife's b-day.
National Stick A Sock On Your Head Day - my brother's b-day.
Melmac's Anniversary - my wedding Anniversary. (24 years this year.)

I got no credit for the '88 calendar but my name is on the '89 calendar. By the way, I had no probem with getting no credit because most of this stuff is supposed to be coming from ALF, himself. This is, after all, merchandising - and shouldn't be bogged down with who-wrote-what.

[samstokes80]

Very cool that you were so involved in all that stuff! Glad to have you on the forum!

[Richard J Schellbach]

Thank you, Sam.

[Suburban_Sensei]

Hi, Rich! That picture is awesome, and I just have to say that your involvement sounds like you really had an interesting time with the series in various ways. Like everybody else, really excited to see somebody so close to the series on here.

[Richard J Schellbach]

Thanks, SS. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. It was a wonderful experience. I'd be happy to write more about it in the coming weeks.