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Weird Science is the twenty fourth episode of ALF's first season. It originally aired in April 13th, 1987.
Plot Summary[]
Prologue[]
Willie rushes home to ask Kate what the emergency is. ALF had called the office to tell Willie to get home ASAP. ALF is upset because the TV picture tube is broken. Willie says the TV will remain that way because he's mad at ALF and because people watch too much of it
Act One[]
ALF is bored so he watches Kate doing the dishes. ALF offers to help Lynn with her homework, but it's on early American history. ALF says that the TV might heal itself if he puts it on Oral Robert's faith healing show. Brian comes into the room saying he needs to make a makes a model for the school's his science carnival. Brian decides to work on it alone. ALF then brings in a petition he signed asking the TV fixed. Willie decides to sent the TV back to the factory because its still under warranty, but then realizes that it's in Libya and that he has to pay for the shipping himself. This prompts ALF to call Consumer Ed McGansky, a TV personality that exposes shady business practices.
Brian and Lynn come in with his project which is a model of the solar system. ALF says Brian forgot the tenth and eleventh planets Dave and Alvin. They all tell ALF that he's wrong and that Brian will become a laughingstock and not be allowed to enter the contest.
ALF is making the "Prince Albert in a Can" prank call to a tobacco shop, and Brian comes in saying he failed the contest for including Dave and Alvin on the project. ALF then calls information to get the number for Brian's school
Act Two[]
Kate, Lynn and Brian are out a the movies, and Willie is at home trying to repair the TV. ALF is still bored and causes Willie to get an electric shock by turning the TV's power on. While he furiously yells at ALF, the doorbell rings, and it's Brian's principal. Willie greets her and she says she came over to talk to her about Brian's teacher after she thinks he called her (when it was ALF impersonating him) Miss Lyman reveals that during the call ALF, (as Willie) threatened to pull Brian from school and questioned the competence of the teacher. Willie excuses himself and goes in to talk to ALF. He then complains to ALF about what he did. ALF then reveals that he called the Mt. Palomar observatory, and that they do have a record of Dave, but have a different name for it; Chiron which was originally discovered by astronomer Charles Kowal. ALF then shows Willie his personal map of the galaxy showing the two extra planets. Willie apologies to ALf and goes back into the living room to try and convince Miss Lyman to accept Brian's submisison as is. She still refuses, but then Consumer Ed shows up which decides on the spot to make a special category in the science carnival for the dreamers and free thinkers.
Epilogue[]
The family is watching Consumer Ed's show for Brian's story. Willie asks ALF about the phone call to Libya which Comsumer Ed showed up which go them a free new TV.. While they are watching, their new TV breaks.
Background information[]
Production history[]
- Premiere airdate: April 13, 1987
- Production number: 1020
Title Reference[]
"Weird Science" is the title song to the film by the same name. It was written and performed by the group Oingo Boingo.
Trivia[]
- The relation of Alvin and Dave is a possible allusion to Alvin and David Seville in the franchise Alvin and the Chipmunks.
- ALF claims that he went to dental school since it was the easiest subject on Melmac, as Melmacians only have 4 teeth and ALF brushes only once a month. He was also called Mr. Science.
- The reference to Gumby was swapped by the Brazilian TV host Xuxa (Xuxa Meneghel) in the Brazilian dub (in context, her former TV show, Xou da Xuxa).