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PODCAST

ALFsplaining

Ben Baker and John Matthews

An episode by episode love letter to the 1980s sitcom ALF from a British perspective with Ben Baker and John Matthews.

tv & film tv reviews

All Episodes

00:35:43

Extrasplaining - Al Jean Interview

ALFsplaining ·

2025/03/24

Here on ALFsplaining, we are big fans of balance - be it following every Howard Jones track with one by Nik Kershaw or one of them seals with a beachball you used to see at the zoo in old cartoons. And so after speaking to the lovely Mike Reiss, Ben and John thought it only right and proper to talk to his former long-term writing partner Al Jean. Like Reiss, he also worked on Sledge Hammer, The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, The Critic, Its Garry Shandling's Show and, of course, The Simpsons

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00:45:00

Extrasplaining - Mike Reiss Interview

ALFsplaining ·

2025/03/10

In today's very special episode of "ALFsplaining", Ben and John speak to the writer Mike Reiss. If you aren't familiar with the name - firstly, C'MON - but you'll know the shows he's worked on, including "Sledge Hammer!", "The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson", "It's Garry Shandling's Show" and "The Simpsons" where he has worked for over three decades. He also co-created "The Critic", has written gags for tons

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00:36:23

You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog

ALFsplaining ·

2025/03/03

"The Tanners take in a stray dog, much to ALF's dismay. "It's big guest name time as Anne Ramsay from "The Goonies" and "Throw Momma From The Train" appears as an unscrupulous dog purchaser several months before her early passing. She does not look well throughout but still overshadows Ben Baker and John Matthews who look like stuttering tramps next to her acting chops. If you want to help us pay for a dog, perhaps consider joining the Orbit Guard. You'll

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00:39:16

We Gotta Get Out of This Place - with Nina Buckley

ALFsplaining ·

2025/02/24

"ALF moves in with his blind friend Jody in her condo."Remember Blind Jody? Well, she's back - in....well, still blind form but she needs a place to stay and apparently that means only one man. Or alien. Perfect hostsBen BakerandJohn Matthews have laid out the best silverware too for their houseguestNina "Buckers" Buckley who shocks everyone by already being a massive ALF fan!Find her being very funny here on Bluesky.And listen to her ORIGINAL IP DO NOT STEAL podcast

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00:37:00

Someone to Watch Over Me (Part 2)

ALFsplaining ·

2025/02/17

"ALF spots a criminal by his neighbor's house, and walks inside to investigate."We left Ben and John on a cliffhanger - our first of the series but far from its last - with ALF trapped Chez Ochmonek as the Police close in on him. How will Willie get him out of this one? And who'll get Willie out too? Its an exciting one so fetch your popcorn and a gunbelt as its time to visit a very strange episode of ALF indeed...And if you want to help us pay for tear gas, perhaps consider joining the Orbit Guard

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00:37:01

Someone to Watch Over Me (Part 1)

ALFsplaining ·

2025/02/10

"Willie is chosen by the neighborhood to lead a neighborhood watch. But ALF takes control of the radio and starts to talk as if he was Willie."There's a crime spree going down and ALF is the man to fix the pus-ridden streets of Hemdale. Ben Baker and John Matthews go ahead and make his day in this unusual two-part opener which occasionally feels like a totally different sitcom alltogether. And the less said about Pat Benatar Jnr the better... And if you want to help us pay for walkie

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00:40:57

We're So Sorry, Uncle Albert

ALFsplaining ·

2025/01/27

"Willie's Uncle Albert visits the Tanners, and collapses from a heart attack after getting a glimpse of the alien, causing ALF to feel grief thinking he caused the death"More murder from the Melmacian mofo? Gosh! Best get an expert in the field over! Call for Paul Abbott from The Big Beatles and Sixties Sort Out for this McCartney-music monikered episode. He'll help Ben Baker and John Matthews sort the dead men from the dead boys! This one gets dark and its entirely the fault of Paul Fusco! And

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00:38:48

Can I Get A Witness

ALFsplaining ·

2025/01/13

"ALF is put on trial for breaking the Ockmonecks' window."All rise for ALFsplaining….it's the court case of the century! Can Shumway, G prove his innocence to prosecutor Tanner, Wilbus in the court of Judge Kate? In the reporters box, Ben Baker and John Matthews scrawl crude things in their notebooks as they consider pivoting the whole show to a crime caper in order to improve the flagging ratings. Now dats moider! And if you want to help us clear this spatter, perhaps consider joining the Orbit

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00:38:34

The Boy Next Door

ALFsplaining ·

2025/01/06

"ALF befriends Trevor and Raquel's nephew Jake from New York."A replacement for Brian? Surely not! (we didnt kill him) Either way, wonder writers Al Jean and Mike Reiss are on scripting duties to introduce a new Ochmonek to the party so Ben and John will be coming the episode for Simpsons-style jokes. And for nits like usual. Obvs. And if you want to fix our telescope, perhaps consider joining the Orbit Guard. You'll get a tons of bonus stuff and keep this here show on the air. Visit

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01:06:43

ALF's Special Christmas

ALFsplaining ·

2024/12/16

Oh boy, we finally made it to the most famous ALF episode of the lot - for good reasons, you may ask? Ha ha, no. Of course not. This is a double-length but largely joke-free misery festival full of suicidal Santas and sick kids by the pound. In the midst of it all John Matthews tries to remain positive whilst Ben Baker is already on the egged nog. Listen out for some special seasonal guests and a lot of tinsel Tanner tut as we shuffle through this bumper edition like all your festive favourites. Is

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00:36:42

Isn't It Romantic

ALFsplaining ·

2024/12/02

"Seeing that Kate and Willie have been arguing of late, ALF and the Tanner children plan to recreate the couple's Niagara Falls honeymoon."What an ALF Antic! An ALFtic even! The love life of Willie and Kate is addressed by the four fingered fluff machine who uses some uncanny abilities to recreate the best day of their marriage. And we dont mean the day they met him! And if you want to give us the magic fingers, perhaps consider joining the Orbit Guard. You'll get a tons of bonus stuff and keep

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00:37:58

Night Train

ALFsplaining ·

2024/11/25

"Reminiscing his younger and more carefree days when he was known as "Boxcar Willie", Willie takes ALF to the switchyard where they jump a moving freight train."ALF and train jumping - together at last! Its no exaggeration to say this is one of the great ALF episodes of all time but will it - as Ben Baker and John Matthews fear - make a lousy episode of ALFsplaining? Time - and beans - will decide! And if you want to buy us some beans, perhaps consider joining the Orbit Guard. You'll get a tons

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00:42:06

Something's Wrong With Me - with Ruth Husko

ALFsplaining ·

2024/11/18

"Dorothy is planning to marry Whizzer, but ALF's Melmacian hiccups put the wedding in jeopardy." It barely seems like two seconds since Dorothy was being appalled by her new neighbour Whizzer and now they're hitched. What a strange time to be alive...especially if you're an unpleasantly hiccuping ALF. Is there a connection between these two plot lines? Good luck if you can find it. We even brought in a ringer to help! You'll probably know Ruth Husko from being brilliant on social media here -

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00:37:56

Oh Pretty Woman

ALFsplaining ·

2024/11/11

"Lynn is depressed over being dumped by a boyfriend for a prettier girl, so ALF enters her in a beauty pageant to increase her self-confidence." Its an oddly familiar plot as excuse for some great gags about clog dancing. ALF is at his jerky best here but perhaps for once its well placed? Your hosts as ever are Ben Baker and John Matthews who are dressed in a crimpolence blouse with ruffs from Top Shop and rather too much make-up. And if you want to pay for them to get perms, perhaps consider

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00:38:08

Hail To The Chief

ALFsplaining ·

2024/11/04

"After watching a presidential debate, Kate has recurring dreams of running against ALF." Another election? Did we not just do that? Well, its time to strap on your best Uncle Sam hat and never wear trousers as its a politically charged episode of ALF today - so much so we've actually bumped it up the running order a little to make it super topical and relevant. I mean, as much as a sitcom about a hairy dwarf alien can. Kissing babies and taking names as always are your hosts Ben Baker and John

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00:38:51

Some Enchanted Evening

ALFsplaining ·

2024/10/28

"Not allowed to go trick-or-treating, ALF attends Willie's Halloween party and tries to convince his boss to give Willie an overdue promotion."Ghoul-d morning ghouls and man...ghouls? Can you tell its the Halloween episode of ALF this week? And boy is it a treat with "Gordo" finally allowed to let his freak flag fly around real human beings...but with a catch. Or, more accurately, a zipper. Dressed as Fake Shemps in the corner as always are your hosts Ben Baker and John Matthews. And if you want

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00:38:14

Prime Time - with Tim Worthington

ALFsplaining ·

2024/10/21

"When the Tanners become part of the new Thompson Rating System, ALF rigs the ratings in order to prevent his favorite show, Polka Jamboree, from being cancelled." The Tanners go TV tonto for the second time in a month as the writing staff have a lot of fun sending up broadcasting tropes, including the actual Head of Programming at NBC who is played here by someone oddly familiar. To help us tiptoe through the tube bits we have an expert in the field who loves his archive telly so much he's just

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00:37:22

Wedding Bell Blues

ALFsplaining ·

2024/10/14

"ALF, after being deeply saddened by the fact that his parents got married before his birth - which is a taboo on Melmac - runs away to a monastery." Ah that standard sitcom trope! Join Ben Baker and John Matthews in their finest fibre cassocks for some monky business exploring ALF's family tree, religious intolerance (of ALF) and Willie's darkest secret. You'll find us easily - we're the ones eating paste. Want to be part of a very non silent order? Join the Orbit Guard

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00:39:05

Take a Look at Me Now

ALFsplaining ·

2024/10/07

"Raquel's claim of seeing ALF makes her subject to ridicule and prone to depression, so ALF decides to defend her." ALF has driven another person mad with his antics although for once its merely his existance that proves to be a stumbling block. Still, you know there's a great episode in store when the Ochmoneks are central to a story! And here Raquel comes face to snout with ALF at long last. Watching from behind the fence are Ben Baker and John Matthews, two British ALF fans

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00:37:10

Somewhere Over The Rerun

ALFsplaining ·

2024/09/30

"After becoming addicted to reruns of Gilligan's Island, ALF dreams that he has joined the castaways."If you heard Friday's set up, you'll know that this is an episode of a sitcom all about a sitcom character becoming obsessed with a different sitcom. Confused? Dont be. Just join Ben Baker and John Matthews in the lagoon with your coconut cream pie and say "aloha" to ALFsplaining, little buddy. Then get digging. Want to help get us off this fecking island? Join

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72 results

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