Tom Patchett Movies

This made-for-television comedy picks up where the popular alien TV-series ALF left off. Captured by the military on his way back home, ALF is forced to undergo experiments at the hands of the unsympathetic Col. Gilbert Milfoil (Martin Sheen). Two military officers take pity on poor ALF and decide to free him from his captors. They escape and set out on a road trip that takes them on some bizarre adventures -- but ALF isn't out of the woods just yet. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi

The second In the Line of Duty fact-based TV movie of the 1990-1991 season, In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas stars Michael Gross as an urban FBI agent. His quarry is Gordon Kahl (Rod Steiger), leader of a right-wing extremist movement whose battle against authority has led to murder. Charged with killing two federal marshals, Kahl holes up in the Dakota hills, with his fanatical followers running interference as the feds close in. Though the film takes no sides, it details the sort of financial and social pressures that might bring forth a charismatic madman like Gordon Kahl. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The fourth and final season of ALF was marked by the additional of a new recurring character: J.M. J. Bullock as Neal Tanner, obsequious younger brother of Willie Tanner (Max Wright), whose household has been hosting visiting space alien ALF for lo these past three years. Neal's apparent determination to remain with his brother's family on a permanent basis makes it all the more difficult for the Tanners to keep ALF's presence a secret from the dreaded Alien Task Force. A more significant addition to the cast had occurred at the tail end of season three, when Willie's wife, Kate (Anne Schedeen), gave birth to the family's third child, a son named Eric. Accustomed to trading wisecracks with the Tanner's older kids, Lynn (Andrea Elson) and Brian (Benji Gregory), ALF finds his conversations with baby Eric to be rather one-sided, so he finds other ways to express his fondness for the kid -- such as changing his first diaper in the season opener. From this point, let's jump ahead to the season finale, as chaotic an episode as has ever been concocted for any sitcom. Contacted by Skip and Rhonda, two fellow space creatures who like ALF had managed to escape the planet Melmac before it exploded into oblivion, ALF is invited to join his countrymen in establishing a new space colony. After bidding a tearful farewell to the Tanners, ALF prepares to leave their home -- when suddenly the minions of the Alien Task Force descend upon our nonplussed hero and place him under arrest! And that's the last we see of ALF until the 1990 TV movie Project: ALF, which belatedly details his fate after his capture. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the first episode of a two-part story, ALF shows his gratitude to the Tanners by devouring their entire Thanksgiving dinner--then giving Willie's best clothes away to a tramp named Flakey Pete (David Ogden Stiers). Fortunately, the Ochmoneks invite the Tanners to spend Thanksgiving with them. Unfortunately, Flakey Pete recognizes ALF as an alien--and he intends to cash in on this knowledge. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The beleaguered Tanner family continues to conceal the presence of their resident space alien from the authorities as ALF begins its second season. Series co-creator Paul Fusco is back as the voice of the pint-sized, giant-nosed extraterrestrial ALF, who in his efforts to "do right" by his adoptive family succeeds only in causing chaos whenever he moves a muscle. In the season's opening episode, Willie Tanner (Max Wright) becomes so fed up by ALF's antics that he exiles the alien to the family garage, whereupon ALF tries to get back into Willie's good graces by promising to be a good little...whatever he is for a whole week (fat chance!). The season's second episode is the now-classic spoof of Gilligan's Island, in which TV addict ALF finds himself marooned in an island of his own making with Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Dawn Wells, and Russell Johnson! And in episode three, snoopy next-door neighbor Raquel Ochmonek (John LaMotta) becomes convinced that she's off her trolley when she accidentally sees ALF -- compelling the alien himself to convince Raquel that she's of sound mind (sort of). These three episodes pretty much set the tone for the rest of the season. New to ALF during season two is Josh Blake as Jake Ochmonek, the 15-year-old son of the Tanners' neighbors. Also new was the series' elevated spot in the Nielsen ratings; it ranked in tenth place, up from 28th place during its first season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The acronymic letters in the title of this NBC sitcom stood for "Alien Life Form," as a good a way as any to describe the protagonist, an orange-haired, pint-sized 299-year-old space alien with an aardvark-like nose and a propensity for mischief and comic sarcasm. Known on his home planet Melmac as Gordon Shumway, ALF (his voice provided by the series' co-creator Paul Fusco) crash-landed in the earthbound garage of the Tanner family: dad Willie (Max Wright), a social worker, mom Kate (Anne Schedeen), and children Lynn (Andrea Elson) and Brian (Benji Gregory) -- in the final season, the Tanner family was increased by one baby son, Eric, played by twins J.R. Nickerson and Charles Nickerson. Persuading the Tanners not to turn him over to the authorities (he can't return to Melmac, which has recently blown up!), ALF moves in with the family -- a decision the Tanners often have reason to regret, inasmuch as ALF has a bad habit of breaking things, poking his huge nose into other people's business, and doing his best to make a meal of the family's pet cat. Whenever snoopy neighbors like the Ochmoneks or other visitors showed up, ALF was hidden in the kitchen, where he proceeded to eat everything in sight. As he attempted to repair his spaceship, ALF did his best to soak up earthling culture by watching network television.

In the series' final season, ALF was able to make contact with two other surviving Melmacians named Skip and Rhonda, and was about to leave the Earth to establish a new world, when suddenly he was captured by the dreaded Alien Task Force -- at which point the series ended, leaving our hero's ultimate fate up in the air. Debuting September 22, 1986, ALF proved to be one of NBC's most popular series, not to mention a merchandising bonanza. ALF himself began showing up as a "guest star" on such series as The Hollywood Squares and The Tonight Show; perhaps it should be explained that the character was essentially a puppet, though he was "played" by uncredited dwarf actor Michu Meszaros in those scenes where he was shown walking about. Nearly six years after the final ALF telecast on June 18, 1990, a TV movie sequel, Project: ALF, explained what had happened to the furry little alien after the government closed in (he was living on an Air Force Base and enjoying all the comforts of home, including endless supplies of Earth food -- but no cats!) From 1987 to 1990, an animated version of the property, variously titled ALF and ALF Tales, was seen on NBC's Saturday-morning schedules. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This made-for-television movie stars Tim Matheson as a good-looking attorney who runs into the girl of his childhood dreams who, way back when, didn't even notice him. Now she does. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi

The Great Muppet Caper is the second Muppet film and it is considerably more complex than its predecessor, The Muppet Movie, which was essentially just a road movie. As the film begins, Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear are reporters who have failed to bag a story of a London jewel heist, which happened under their watch. The real criminals managed to escape and frame Miss Piggy as the thief. Kermit, Fozzie and the Great Gonzo set out on a mission to solve the mystery and track down the criminals who stole the Baseball Diamond. There are fewer star cameos and songs in The Great Muppet Caper than in The Muppet Movie, although appearances from John Cleese and Charles Grodin are particularly memorable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

Having consulted his friends and patients to face up to their fears and phobias, Bob experiences an epiphany of sorts when he nearly falls down an elevator shaft. Convinced that his days are numbered, Bob can't be talked out of his conviction -- not even by those whose problems he has solved in the past. Series executive producer Tom Patchett makes a guest appearance as Mr. Death (or, to be more precise, Mr. Dave Death); others in the cast include Oliver Clark as Mr. Herd and Lieux Dressler as the Laughing Lady. Written by Sy Rosen, this classic Bob Newhart Show episode originally aired on February 12, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The name of this Bob Newhart Show episode is proof incarnate that the series' producers were growing tired of coming up with clever titles that would never show up on screen. Yes, Bob is in the hospital on Christmas Eve, and he's not the only one who is miserable. Merie Earle makes another appearances as octogenarian Mrs. Loomis, while Graham Jarvis plays Dr. Bickwell. Written by Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses, the episode originally aired on December 20, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Bob's plans to hold a surprise party for his therapy group are messed up by the non-arrival of one patient, Mr. Gianini. Somewhat miffed, Bob exiles Gianini in absentia. Expressing long-withheld hostility towards the missing member, the rest of the group applauds Bob's action, but they quickly change their tune (and the target for their animosity!) when they discover that Gianini has been killed in a freak accident -- buried under a ton of zucchini. Written by Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses, "Death of a Fruitman" originally aired on September 27, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The ceiling in Bob's office collapses, forcing him and his patients to do some quick improvising. It doesn't take long for Bob to establish a reputation for having the only "floating therapy session" in Chicago. Also appearing are Lucian Scott as Mr. Vickers, Jess Nadelman as Bud Brey, Don Nagel as the waiter, and Bob Newhart's real-life father-in-law, Bill Quinn as Eddie. Written by Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses, "The Ceiling Hits Bob" was telecast on March 8, 1975 (though it was filmed much earlier), as the final third-season episode of The Bob Newhart Show. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi