Shout! Factory Acquires Distribution Rights to ALF and They Will Develop New ALF-Related Content
Shout! Factory has acquired the rights to the classic 80s sitcom Alf. This wonderful series ran on NBC from 1986 to 1990. That series also spawned an animated series.
Shout! Factory has also partnered with Alien Productions on the deal and the plan is to bring the Alf titles to digital entertainment platforms in the U.S. That includes the 102 episodes of the live-action series, the 26 episodes of ALF: The Animated Series, 21 episodes of the animated ALF Tales, and the TV movie Project: ALF.
Alf was created by Tom Patchett, and the story centers on Gordon Shumway, a furry, wise-cracking alien from the planet Melmac who crash lands into the garage of the Tanner family. The Tanners offer him a home and give him the nickname ALF, short for “Alien Life Form.”
It’s also said that the companies plan to develop “new ALF-related content and launch digital media initiatives and domestic syndication in streaming, electronic sell-through and video on demand.” I’m not sure what that new content will be. It’s just explained that, “Shout! Factory will leverage what it calls ‘unparalleled access’ to archived content and the original broadcast masters from Alien Productions in mounting an ‘aggressive rollout’ of pop-culture content related to ALF later this year.”
Jeffrey Peisch, Shout’s EVP of strategy and digital and SVP of programming and new business development, said in a statement, “I couldn’t be more excited that Shout! Factory will be marketing and distributing ALF and working with the series’ creators, Paul Fusco and Tom Patchett. ALF was an instant classic when it debuted on network television over 30 years ago, and the series stands the test of time and appeals to multiple generations.”
Shouts Gene Pao said, “This will not only give existing fans an opportunity to reengage with the show, but also appeal to new viewers who missed the show’s initial run on broadcast television.”
Alien Productions partners Paul Fusco and Brian Patchett went on to say:,“The home-away-from-Melmac that ALF has been looking for. We’re looking forward to bringing you ALF in a totally new way — with new content, unseen art, and restored footage not seen in 30 years. This is the moment ALF fans have been waiting for.”
I loved watching Alf when I was a kid, but I’ve gotta say, the series ended in a seriously depressing way. I honestly can’t believe they ended it the way they did! It ended with ALF being captured by the US military's Alien Task Force and imprisoned. While I loved the series, I also always hated it for that ending.
Source: Deadline