ALF stands for "alien life form," and it becomes the adopted moniker of Gordon Shumway, the last known survivor of the planet Melmac; Gordon crashes his spacecraft into the garage of the Tanner family's suburban home, and is subsequently adopted by them. They must keep him out of the hands of the authorities, however, which means no one can ever know about the alien who lives with the Tanners, giving rise to many hilarious adventures. In the first season, ALF's exploits include finding employment as a phone salesman for a cosmetics company, goes on a date with a blind woman, buys the family a ferrarri after selling his spaceship for parts, and develops amnesia after a blow to the head.