The science fiction genre continues to thrill television audiences after more than 70 years, taking viewers to different worlds and exploring far-out concepts. However, just because the genre boasts rich storytelling potential and spectacle, it is, of course, not at all immune to the dangers of a sudden cancellation. In an era when even an early renewal order can't guarantee subsequent episodes, that means some sci-fi shows end on cliffhangers, never to be given a satisfying conclusion.
With the stakes often so high for sci-fi television, that makes these unresolved plot threads all the more frustrating for fans following a series and invested in the characters. From being stranded across time and space to fan-favorite characters faced with mortal peril, these cliffhangers threaten to overshadow a show's legacy. Here are the biggest television cliffhangers in the sci-fi genre that were left unresolved by cancelations from the studios or networks producing them.
With the stakes often so high for sci-fi television, that makes these unresolved plot threads all the more frustrating for fans following a series and invested in the characters. From being stranded across time and space to fan-favorite characters faced with mortal peril, these cliffhangers threaten to overshadow a show's legacy. Here are the biggest television cliffhangers in the sci-fi genre that were left unresolved by cancelations from the studios or networks producing them.
- 11/19/2023
- by Samuel Stone
- Slash Film
Ryan Reynolds is bringing back a beloved TV character.
“A.L.F.” first hit screens in the ’80s, with a synopsis reading: “The adventures and misadventures of Alf, under the real name Gordon Shumway, on his home planet of Melmac before he crashlanded on Earth.”
Confirming he’s bringing back Alf, Reynolds captioned a clip teasing his Maximum Effort Channel: “Holy cats! Having our own @maximumeffort Channel means doing fun things like making new Alf content for Alf re-runs.
“Marketing should be Fun. Thanks to our intrepid #MaximumMoment partners @MintMobile, @forhims, @ring, @fuboTVOfficial, @Mntn, and of course Alf,” he added, thanking his partners.
Read More: Scarlett Johansson And Ex Ryan Reynolds Got An Unusual Wedding Gift From Samuel L. Jackson
Reynolds said, according to Entertainment Weekly, “At Maximum Effort, we love taking risks and blurring the lines between shows and sponsorship because we believe both can be equally entertaining.
“Besides my irrational love of Alf growing up,...
“A.L.F.” first hit screens in the ’80s, with a synopsis reading: “The adventures and misadventures of Alf, under the real name Gordon Shumway, on his home planet of Melmac before he crashlanded on Earth.”
Confirming he’s bringing back Alf, Reynolds captioned a clip teasing his Maximum Effort Channel: “Holy cats! Having our own @maximumeffort Channel means doing fun things like making new Alf content for Alf re-runs.
“Marketing should be Fun. Thanks to our intrepid #MaximumMoment partners @MintMobile, @forhims, @ring, @fuboTVOfficial, @Mntn, and of course Alf,” he added, thanking his partners.
Read More: Scarlett Johansson And Ex Ryan Reynolds Got An Unusual Wedding Gift From Samuel L. Jackson
Reynolds said, according to Entertainment Weekly, “At Maximum Effort, we love taking risks and blurring the lines between shows and sponsorship because we believe both can be equally entertaining.
“Besides my irrational love of Alf growing up,...
- 7/24/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
Alf is making a comeback. Ryan Reynolds is reviving the classic TV show that ran from 1986-1990 through sponsored segments as part of a deal with Fubo and his Maximum Effort. It will premiere on Maximum Effort this Saturday, July 29 in the channel’s first series of “Maximum Moments” with Alf creator Paul Fusco and Shout! Studios, along with sponsored content for Mint Mobile, Fubo, Hims, Mntn, and Ring featuring Alf himself.
“At Maximum Effort, we love taking risks and blurring the lines between shows and sponsorship because we believe both can be equally entertaining,” said Reynolds, Maximum Effort co-founder. “Besides my irrational love of Alf growing up, one of the reasons we licensed this show was precisely because Paul, Shout! Studios and our intrepid brand partners wanted to plot with us to bring Alf back to life. Tune in this Caturday!”
The marathon will feature episodes of Alf, whose...
“At Maximum Effort, we love taking risks and blurring the lines between shows and sponsorship because we believe both can be equally entertaining,” said Reynolds, Maximum Effort co-founder. “Besides my irrational love of Alf growing up, one of the reasons we licensed this show was precisely because Paul, Shout! Studios and our intrepid brand partners wanted to plot with us to bring Alf back to life. Tune in this Caturday!”
The marathon will feature episodes of Alf, whose...
- 7/24/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
The NBC comedy Alf may have been something that could only happen in the ‘80s. Alf, short for Alien Life Form, was a puppet with the voice of creator Paul Fusco. His Melmac name was Gordon Shumway. Anyway, the idea of building a family sitcom around a stuffed character is something they probably wouldn’t do today. But, if you grew up on Alf or just discovered it on Peacock, Freevee, Shout TV, Crackle, Tubi, Vudu, Fubo or Roku Channel, there are a few other shows that deliver similarly oddball comedy.
L-r: Max Wright, Benji Gregory, Alf, Andrea Elson, and Anne Shedeen | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images If you liked ‘Alf,’ meet the humanoid aliens of ‘3rd Rock from the Sun’
Alf wasn’t the last time NBC aired an alien comedy. However, in the ’90s, they cast humans as the aliens. 3rd Rock From the Sun starred John Lithgow,...
L-r: Max Wright, Benji Gregory, Alf, Andrea Elson, and Anne Shedeen | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images If you liked ‘Alf,’ meet the humanoid aliens of ‘3rd Rock from the Sun’
Alf wasn’t the last time NBC aired an alien comedy. However, in the ’90s, they cast humans as the aliens. 3rd Rock From the Sun starred John Lithgow,...
- 3/9/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Sony continues developing the 1986 NBC TV series "Alf" (aka 'Alien Life Form') for a big screen feature combining live-action and CG animation:
Jordan Kerner, who adapted "The Smurfs" for the studio will produce the new film with "Alf" creator Paul Fusco (original voice/operator of the "Muppets"-like 'Alf' hand puppet)...
...and "Alf" original TV series producer Tom Patchett. Ben Haber and Kenneth Kaufman will executive produce.
The "Alf" TV series produced 102 episodes, followed by the 1996 TV movie, "Project Alf". 'Gordon Shumway', an 'Et' who looks like Gilbert Shelton's "Wonder Wart Hog", crash lands in the garage of the suburban, middle-class 'Tanner' family.
Alf's home planet 'Melmac' exploded following a nuclear war, when he was off planet as part of the 'Melmac Orbit Guard'.
Covered in fur with a rippled snout, his heart is located in his head. He is sarcastic, slovenly and cynical,...
Jordan Kerner, who adapted "The Smurfs" for the studio will produce the new film with "Alf" creator Paul Fusco (original voice/operator of the "Muppets"-like 'Alf' hand puppet)...
...and "Alf" original TV series producer Tom Patchett. Ben Haber and Kenneth Kaufman will executive produce.
The "Alf" TV series produced 102 episodes, followed by the 1996 TV movie, "Project Alf". 'Gordon Shumway', an 'Et' who looks like Gilbert Shelton's "Wonder Wart Hog", crash lands in the garage of the suburban, middle-class 'Tanner' family.
Alf's home planet 'Melmac' exploded following a nuclear war, when he was off planet as part of the 'Melmac Orbit Guard'.
Covered in fur with a rippled snout, his heart is located in his head. He is sarcastic, slovenly and cynical,...
- 10/19/2022
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
The Good Place is back for its final batch of episodes! A review of this week’s installment, “You’ve Changed, Man,” coming up just as soon as I fall into a swamp trying to spray the Taco Bell logo on a snapping turtle…
There is no answer.
But Raylan Givens is the answer.
Holy motherforking shirtballs! Did that just happen?!?!?
Television has given us some bizarre crossovers throughout the years. There was the time Mulder and Scully from The X-Files were followed by the camera crew from Cops. Or the episode when the St.
There is no answer.
But Raylan Givens is the answer.
Holy motherforking shirtballs! Did that just happen?!?!?
Television has given us some bizarre crossovers throughout the years. There was the time Mulder and Scully from The X-Files were followed by the camera crew from Cops. Or the episode when the St.
- 1/10/2020
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
In a week where TV remakes are the latest trend comes another from Warner Bros. The studio has begun development on bringing back the beloved 80’s alien Alf.
They are currently looking for a writer to get the show off the ground, but it is said the reboot will likely focus on Alf returning to Earth, with a new family and characters.
The original sitcom aired between 1986 and 1990 focused on Gordon Shumway, a friendly extraterrestrial nicknamed Alf (an acronym for Alien Life Form), who crash lands in the garage of the suburban middle-class Tanner family.
Also in the news – HBO to tackle The Time Traveller’s Wife for TV series
The series starred Max Wright as father Willie Tanner, Anne Schedeen as mother Kate Tanner, and Andrea Elson and Benji Gregory as their children, Lynn and Brian Tanner. Alf was performed by puppeteer Paul Fusco, who co-created the show with Tom Patchett.
They are currently looking for a writer to get the show off the ground, but it is said the reboot will likely focus on Alf returning to Earth, with a new family and characters.
The original sitcom aired between 1986 and 1990 focused on Gordon Shumway, a friendly extraterrestrial nicknamed Alf (an acronym for Alien Life Form), who crash lands in the garage of the suburban middle-class Tanner family.
Also in the news – HBO to tackle The Time Traveller’s Wife for TV series
The series starred Max Wright as father Willie Tanner, Anne Schedeen as mother Kate Tanner, and Andrea Elson and Benji Gregory as their children, Lynn and Brian Tanner. Alf was performed by puppeteer Paul Fusco, who co-created the show with Tom Patchett.
- 8/2/2018
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Earth to Gordon Shumway: Book an appointment with your groomer.
Warner Bros. is in the early stages of developing a reboot of the beloved ’80s alien sitcom Alf, TVLine has learned exclusively. The original series — which centered on a hairy, sarcastic extraterrestrial who is taken in by a middle-class family — ran for four seasons NBC, with the series finale airing March 24, 1990. All told, 102 episodes were produced.
Warner Bros. is searching for a writer to spearhead the update. A rep for the studio declined to comment for this story.
Despite being off the air for nearly three decades, Alf — an...
Warner Bros. is in the early stages of developing a reboot of the beloved ’80s alien sitcom Alf, TVLine has learned exclusively. The original series — which centered on a hairy, sarcastic extraterrestrial who is taken in by a middle-class family — ran for four seasons NBC, with the series finale airing March 24, 1990. All told, 102 episodes were produced.
Warner Bros. is searching for a writer to spearhead the update. A rep for the studio declined to comment for this story.
Despite being off the air for nearly three decades, Alf — an...
- 8/1/2018
- TVLine.com
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