max wright, the dad on tv's "alf"

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http://www.nndb.com/people/217/000030127/max-wright-1.jpg

one of the best comedic actors ever! the long-lost spiritual brother of conrad bain and steve buscemi. or bob balaban and spalding gray. name me one '80s tv dad that was more adorably nebbishy than this guy -- and you can't say steven keaton.

wright apparently was arrested for dwi and posession of cocaine. wonder if he was hanging out with permanent midnight dude on the set of alf.

― metal detective (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 17 June 2005 04:37 (twenty years ago)

for real tho, this show has a dark side. has there been an e! true hollywood story on it yet?

― metal detective (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 17 June 2005 04:39 (twenty years ago)

he was on norm!

― I shift gears when I see tears (deangulberry), Friday, 17 June 2005 04:46 (twenty years ago)

http://www.nndb.com/people/217/000030127/

― metal detective (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 17 June 2005 04:53 (twenty years ago)

i'm watching a couple of episodes now -- i'm amused by the show's socal-centricity! so far there have been references to oxnard and riverside!

― metal detective (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 17 June 2005 04:56 (twenty years ago)

I think there were some pretty widely disseminated tabloid pictures of this guy smoking crack and making out with some other guys who were also crackheads.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 17 June 2005 05:28 (twenty years ago)

http://www.wasteoftechnology.com/images/maxwrightforpresident.jpg

― metal detective (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 17 June 2005 05:31 (twenty years ago)

I can think of 2.9 billion males I'd rather receive head from.

― Crankypants (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 17 June 2005 05:38 (twenty years ago)

Seriously, someone who looks like him isn't exactly emanating erotic vibes.

― Crankypants (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 17 June 2005 05:39 (twenty years ago)

well, crack is involved. drugs too.

― latebloomer: We kissy kiss in the rear view (latebloomer), Friday, 17 June 2005 06:06 (twenty years ago)

hey now

― metal detective (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 17 June 2005 06:12 (twenty years ago)

He's really good in All That Jazz.

― L'Histoire d'Eric H. (Eric H.), Friday, 17 June 2005 10:44 (twenty years ago)

he's my uncle

― Homosexual II (Homosexual II), Friday, 17 June 2005 11:39 (twenty years ago)

I was going to mention All That Jazz.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Friday, 17 June 2005 12:01 (twenty years ago)

For real, Mandee?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 17 June 2005 12:08 (twenty years ago)

When we put up Brecht's The Resistable Rise of Arturo UI on the Loeb Mainstage, David Wheeler told us that Max Wright played the role better than Al Pacino did.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 17 June 2005 12:36 (twenty years ago)

http://www.geocities.com/alfwasmolested/alfcover.jpg

― tito puente, Friday, 17 June 2005 13:20 (twenty years ago)

That's ridiculous. Jim J. Bullock's not gay.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Friday, 17 June 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

Oh those misfits, misfits of science, those wild and crazy scientific guys...

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Friday, 17 June 2005 13:34 (twenty years ago)

jim j. bullock is so awesome.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 17 June 2005 13:58 (twenty years ago)

Trivia about Max Wright:

Bears an uncanny resemblance to Colonel Oliver North's lawyer during the Iran-Contra hearings. So much so, he and the ALF puppet did a short made-for-TV spoof of the Senate Commitee hearings, in which ALF was being questioned on whether or not he was an alien, and he would lean over to hear the whispered advice from Willie (played by Wright), just like Oliver North was doing during his own questioning.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:01 (twenty years ago)

http://www.lies.com/wp/images/ollie_and_brendan.jpg

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:02 (twenty years ago)

Eh...

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:02 (twenty years ago)

Jim J. Bullock! What was that show he was on? He was definitely the best thing about that show.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:04 (twenty years ago)

He was on ALF for a couple years but before that Too Close for Comfort. Also, The Jim J. and Tammy Faye Show!

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

And Hollywood Squares.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:07 (twenty years ago)

"Too Close for Comfort"! Monroe! Thank you, IMDB.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:07 (twenty years ago)

Didn't he at some point drop the I in Jim?

― Huk-L, Friday, 17 June 2005 14:08 (twenty years ago)

Ted Knight would always get peeved at Bullock and he would say "Monroooooooe", drawing it out in this inimitable Ted Knight way. So awesome.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:09 (twenty years ago)

i think i mentioned this before, but max wright hated the indignity of acting opposite a puppet and the long, complicated ALF shoots so much that when the final episode wrapped he went straight to his car, drove off, and never spoke to anyone on the show ever again.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:09 (twenty years ago)

He was so great on Norm as Denby.
I saw him in something on PBS once. It was a stage performance of something, with lots of Chicago actors, maybe It's A Wonderful Life?
I'm sure sure sure he's done Willy Loman. If not, WTF?

― Huk-L, Friday, 17 June 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

i remember Alf's dad was in this made-for-tv movie about like alien children being canned for mass distribution

― Homosexual II (Homosexual II), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:17 (twenty years ago)

omg the ALF quotes on imdb:

[ALF is determined to prove the man next door is Elvis Presley]
ALF: I can be logical if I have to. The man's name is Aaron King. Elvis' middle name was Aaron and he was king of Rock 'n' Roll.
Willie: I'm not convinced.
ALF: OK. How about this. Hank Aaron is baseball's home run king and Elvis loved baseball.
Willie: ALF, you are grasping at straws.
ALF: OK. LISTEN TO THIS. AARON BURR WANTED TO BE KING OF AMERICA AND HE WAS FROM THE SOUTH, JUST LIKE ELVIS.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:17 (twenty years ago)

i could've sworn max wright played a banker in the man who wasn't there but i guess it was a look-alike.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:18 (twenty years ago)

okay nevermind the movie i referenced above was called "Konrad" and it wasn't about alien children, it was just about one kid being canned and shipped out to some weirdo

― Homosexual II (Homosexual II), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:19 (twenty years ago)

oh that's all right, then.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:21 (twenty years ago)

xpost: I vaugely remember seeing that. kinda inna "electric grandmother" stylee?

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:25 (twenty years ago)

Wasn't he the station's lawyer on WKRP as well?

― Sparkle Motion's Rising Force, Friday, 17 June 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

yeah, canned aliens are not okay, just one kid in a can is fine by me!!

― Homosexual II (Homosexual II), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:30 (twenty years ago)

Depends on how the kid's packed.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:32 (twenty years ago)

http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/47/47m.jpg

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:34 (twenty years ago)

Bullock was also one of the best stand-in hosts on E's Talk Soup. Nothing better than a well-placed Mommie Dearest quote.

― L'Histoire d'Eric H. (Eric H.), Friday, 17 June 2005 14:38 (twenty years ago)

"the indignity of acting opposite a puppet" is a truly evocative gripe

― jones (actual), Friday, 17 June 2005 15:29 (twenty years ago)

Jim J. Bullock is in the case of Hairspray on broadway right now.. he plays like 3 different people.

― Actor Sizemore fails drug test with fake penis (jingleberries), Friday, 17 June 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

It's JM. JM J. BULLOCK. Not Jim. JM.

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 17 June 2005 15:59 (twenty years ago)

# "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" (2004) TV Series (as Jim J. Bullock) .... Mr. Monroe
# Gaydar (2002) (as Jim J. Bullock) .... Maurice's Ex
# Circuit (2001/I) (as Jim J. Bullock) .... Mark
# 10 Attitudes (2001) (as Jim J. Bullock) .... Tex
# Kissing Jessica Stein (2001) (as Jim J. Bullock) .... Not-Yet-Out Gay Guy
# Get Your Stuff (2000) .... Tom

# Lost & Found (1999/I) .... Jewelry Store Clerk
# "Queer Duck" (1999) TV Series (voice) (as Jim J. Bullock) .... Adam Seymour "Queer Duck" Duckstein
# "The Jim J. and Tammy Faye Show" (1996) TV Series (as Jim J. Bullock)

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 17 June 2005 16:21 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, he dropped the silly "Jm" thing at some point.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 17 June 2005 17:40 (twenty years ago)

He's no Charles Nelson Reilly.

― Huk-L, Friday, 17 June 2005 17:42 (twenty years ago)

Konrad was on PBS. I've read the book!

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Saturday, 18 June 2005 00:52 (twenty years ago)

five years pass...

http://tv.gawker.com/5715680/lost-alf-footage-alf-says-the-n-word

is there anything associated with Alf that doesn't have a sordid, depressing story behind it?

― thermite art (latebloomer), Wednesday, 22 December 2010 04:37 (fifteen years ago)

# Kissing Jessica Stein (2001) (as Jim J. Bullock) .... Not-Yet-Out Gay Guy

Haha, OMG, I've actually seen this movie.

― one pretty obvious guy in the obvious (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 22 December 2010 04:51 (fifteen years ago)

I met a guy in a bar a few months back who had a fling with Jm. J.

(he was convincing, plus I'm not sure that's something someone would make up)

― kind of shrill and very self-righteous (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 22 December 2010 05:05 (fifteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gt4FCoK4iQ

― Є|Э (Edward III), Wednesday, 22 December 2010 05:07 (fifteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szHCmccg4xQ&NR=1

― Є|Э (Edward III), Wednesday, 22 December 2010 05:12 (fifteen years ago)

one year passes...

FEAR

http://gawker.com/5912810/alf-creator-paul-fusco-thinks-timing-is-right-for-an-alf-movie

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 21:40 (fourteen years ago)

Max Wright was great on Dabney Coleman's sitcom Buffalo Bill

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 21:44 (fourteen years ago)

1000 Movies/TV Shows that need completely unnecessary "dark and gritty" remakes

― bark ruffalo (latebloomer), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 21:46 (fourteen years ago)

I feel like "ALF creator Paul Fusco Thinks The Timing is Right For An ALF Movie" would've been an accurate headline in any one of the past 25 years.

― Quiet Desperation, LLC (Deric W. Haircare), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 23:43 (fourteen years ago)

http://www.confusereviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/alf_-_der_film.jpg

― wolf kabob (ENBB), Thursday, 24 May 2012 00:10 (fourteen years ago)

Lol

― bark ruffalo (latebloomer), Thursday, 24 May 2012 10:08 (fourteen years ago)

http://www.somethingawful.com/d/feature-articles/alf-tv-wikipedia.php

The ALF Expanded Universe encompasses all of the officially licensed, fictional background of the ALF universe, outside of the TV series and TV mini-series produced by NBC. The expanded universe includes books, comic books, video games, spin-off films like ALF: Dark Supremacy, related television series, toys, promotional websites, the ALF RPG source books and other media.
. . .
Melmac Nights (1994-1995) Showtime prequel series re-casts ALF as a hustler and pimp on his home planet of Melmac. Included the biolords, the first appearance of the drug RUFF and ALF's gun the Soulbreaker. Notable for the first time ALF is seen on screen killing a person (it is referenced in the original series, Episode 302 The Missing Boy).
. . .
Other
ALF, the character, has provided readings of several books for Audible.com including Jonathan Franzen's Freedom and Toni Morrison's A Mercy.
From 2004-2005 the character dated Jennifer Lopez for publicity purposes and the couple was known as JALF, Lopalf and Jennifalf.

― it was a dark and stormy genitals. (Phil D.), Thursday, 24 May 2012 13:18 (fourteen years ago)

http://i.imgur.com/e80kq.gif

― Hungry4Ass, Thursday, 24 May 2012 13:24 (fourteen years ago)

four years pass...

man i still wonder whatever happened to that little guy, i hoep he made it

― j., Saturday, 4 June 2016 20:31 (ten years ago)

In an interview on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Tina Fey said that her biggest frustration as producer of NBC's 75th anniversary special was dealing with ALF's "people." Fey said Fusco would only allow ALF to appear on the show if the puppeteers were hidden from everyone else. After ALF's cameo alongside former Family Ties star Michael Gross, ALF disappeared through a hole in the riser, was stuffed into a case, and immediately removed from the building.

― slam dunk, Sunday, 5 June 2016 19:21 (nine years ago)

lol amazing, still a completely frustrating experience to act opposite the puppet

― μpright mammal (mh), Sunday, 5 June 2016 20:23 (nine years ago)

What a jerk. ALF should stand for "Acts Like Fuckboy"

― Rob Boss (latebloomer), Sunday, 5 June 2016 23:49 (nine years ago)

http://cs425325.vk.me/v425325976/2ee4/uyULcijl2vA.jpg

― soref, Monday, 6 June 2016 00:45 (nine years ago)

http://k02.kn3.net/06BD288A2.jpg

― soref, Monday, 6 June 2016 00:46 (nine years ago)

captioned "El doble de max wright (Willy Tanner) vive en la argentina", but who knows, maybe it really is him

― soref, Monday, 6 June 2016 00:51 (nine years ago)

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/highealf3.jpg

Alf is technically a part of the Marvel Universe (via the "Evolutionary Wars" comic crossover in the '80s), so maybe they could bring him back in Guardians of the Galaxy 2 or something?

― Tuomas, Monday, 6 June 2016 07:02 (nine years ago)

six years pass...

In fact, people who worked with him have said that his mental health was severely compromised at the time of ALF's filming, and there's a famous story which has reached mythic status in some circles, in which one day, when Wright was particularly fucked up from injecting coke, after a scene during which ALF talked down to/tricked/otherwise demeaned or humiliated Wright's character on ALF, Wright physically attacked the ALF puppet, punching and hitting it with actual, non-affected malice, to the extent that the other people on set were fearful for Wright's mental health. After that, Wright was put on a several-months-long hiatus from filming, during which, supposedly, that gay sex tape was made.

― omar little, Wednesday, 26 April 2023 16:56 (three years ago)

Good grief! Thank heavens he never starred on Small Wonder.

― pplains, Wednesday, 26 April 2023 16:59 (three years ago)

https://media.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYjdlZGI4NTc5MDE5YzRhNTRmMGVhYTUwMzQ1MjJiMzM0ODMzOTVhYyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZzX2dpZklkJmN0PWc/d55cR9ysiHpoFPrFfG/giphy.gif

― INDEPENDENTS DAY BY STEVEN SPILBERG (President Keyes), Wednesday, 26 April 2023 17:04 (three years ago)

Vicki had a pre-existing restraining order against him, couldn't be on the show

― Cthulhu Diamond Phillips (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 26 April 2023 17:54 (three years ago)

How was Permanent Midnight not about Max Wright?

― niall horanburger (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 26 April 2023 17:54 (three years ago)

that's why Max's rage against Alf was so believable and grounded, he didn't actually realize he was acting

― Cthulhu Diamond Phillips (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 26 April 2023 17:56 (three years ago)

Having to do 100 shitty sitcom episodes on a tiny set with no audience would have been hard on anyone.

in All That Jazz his character is forced to watch not-Hoffman playing not-Lenny a million times and starts to go nuts. starts thinking it's actually getting better. sounds like a similar situation.

― formerly abanana (dat), Wednesday, 26 April 2023 21:14 (three years ago)

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