Without naming names (which I'll sometimes do as a courtesy), I was once taken to task on social media by an actor who thought I was somewhat confused for considering ALF (1986-2004) as Science Fiction. (It's not, but it's arguably Fantasy, which kinda/sorta still falls in my wheelhouse.)
There wasn't a lot of back-and-forth, honestly. I think it was just intended as a good natured jab thrown my way, almost if to say that I was a polite rube for considering the sitcom anything that deserved any great recognition. (FYI: per IMDB.com, the sitcom has 7 award wins, no easy feat in Tinseltown I've also been told.) In any event, the back-and-forth stopped when I -- ahem -- educated the actor that the word alien was in the show's title. Apparently, the man didn't know that ALF actually stood for Alien Life Form. And ... there you have it.
But, no, ALF was not a show I watched. I may've caught the occasional episode when I couldn't find anything else on the Boob Tube. I've never been a fan of sitcoms -- traditional or otherwise -- so I watch them sparingly. (Same thing with musicals, as many readers here know.) And the point I was ultimately making to the actor and anyone who followed the brief thread was that such genre projects big and small still deserve a bit of light shone on them from time-to-time because that's the right thing to do for serious thinkers in any collective. ALF wasn't for everyone, but that doesn't make it forgettable.
I bring this up today because I noticed this morning that former child actor Benji Gregory -- one of the leads to the program -- was found deceased in his automobile; and I wanted to mark his passage, sad that it is. As a talent, he stood toe-to-toe with that alien critter; and he helped bring laughter -- that spark of joy that makes us human -- to so many during his time in the spotlight. IMDB.com reports that the young man even enjoyed three nominations from the Young Artists Awards in consecutive years 1987, 1988, and 1989 ... again, no small feat, indeed.
So our warmest prayers today are extended to the family, fans, and friends of Benji Gregory.
May he forever rest in peace.
-- EZ
There wasn't a lot of back-and-forth, honestly. I think it was just intended as a good natured jab thrown my way, almost if to say that I was a polite rube for considering the sitcom anything that deserved any great recognition. (FYI: per IMDB.com, the sitcom has 7 award wins, no easy feat in Tinseltown I've also been told.) In any event, the back-and-forth stopped when I -- ahem -- educated the actor that the word alien was in the show's title. Apparently, the man didn't know that ALF actually stood for Alien Life Form. And ... there you have it.
But, no, ALF was not a show I watched. I may've caught the occasional episode when I couldn't find anything else on the Boob Tube. I've never been a fan of sitcoms -- traditional or otherwise -- so I watch them sparingly. (Same thing with musicals, as many readers here know.) And the point I was ultimately making to the actor and anyone who followed the brief thread was that such genre projects big and small still deserve a bit of light shone on them from time-to-time because that's the right thing to do for serious thinkers in any collective. ALF wasn't for everyone, but that doesn't make it forgettable.
I bring this up today because I noticed this morning that former child actor Benji Gregory -- one of the leads to the program -- was found deceased in his automobile; and I wanted to mark his passage, sad that it is. As a talent, he stood toe-to-toe with that alien critter; and he helped bring laughter -- that spark of joy that makes us human -- to so many during his time in the spotlight. IMDB.com reports that the young man even enjoyed three nominations from the Young Artists Awards in consecutive years 1987, 1988, and 1989 ... again, no small feat, indeed.
So our warmest prayers today are extended to the family, fans, and friends of Benji Gregory.
May he forever rest in peace.
-- EZ
RSS Feed