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Skydiving

Jump is the ninth episode of ALF's first season. It originally aired on Nov. 24, 1986.

Plot Summary[]

Prologue[]

On his 45th birthday, Willie is given a cake with trick candles for the 5th year in a row, to which ALF throws water on to put out.

Act One[]

Willie gives a short speech about his special day, then Lynn and Brian go get the presents for Willie. He gets the latest edition of the Cambridge Atlas of Astronomy, to which ALF attempts to correct the exclusion of Dave, the tenth planet, which Willie accuses ALF of making up. ALF gives a gift of papers he found in the basement. Including pictures of Kate's old boyfriends, Nolan Westwood, "Animal" Hönerheim, and NFL star Joe Namath. Another item is a menu of a long defunct restaurant Willie and Kate used to dine at where they wrote their bucket list. Things on the list included running with the bulls in Spain, building a better mousetrap, and for Willie to complete a skydive, since he chickened out the last minute during his first try. That night Willie is in the garage working on his mousetrap, and ALF walks in to chat while waiting for his newspaper to be delivered. ALF chides Willie for not completing his skydive


Later in bed, Willie talks to Kate about some of her former boyfriends and asks what happened to them. She says that Nolan Westwood moved to New Guinea and a tribe their made him their king and that's he's on their postage stamps While falling asleep Willie tells Kate he plans to do a skydive the next day. That night, he has a dream that night where he's at a gradation ceremony, and that the dream is to tell him how he's inadequate compared to others.


Kate's prior boyfriends show up to receive their diplomas. Nolan announces that back home he's being bumped up from king to god by the tribe that adopted him, Animal comes to say he's having 500 people over for dinner. Joe Namath comes in Willie asks to sign an autograph for Brian, ALF comes in having won the "Man of the Century" award. ALF hands Willie a parachute and they all chant "jump jump" to Willie.

Act Two[]

The next day he starts practicing for the skydive by jumping off a step stool and rolling onto a mattress. Brian also tries, and then Willie tells ALF about his dream. Willie resumes is practice and then Kate comes in with some flowers ALF sent her, thinking they're from Willi, and learns that Willie was serious about skydiving and that the family will be watching. On board the plane, the instructor informs Willie that he forgot to sign on the life insurance claim. Once they are over the drop zone, the others jump, Willie has second thoughts again, and tries to tell the instructor, but since he can't be heard over the plane's loud engine, he decides to go ahead and jump.

Epilogue[]

ALF is at home working on building a cat trap in the garage and the family walks in to announce that Willie completed the jump successfully. Lynn says she will jump as soon as her boyfriend, Lash gets his pilot's license, to which Willie quips that they'll all jump if that ever happens.

Trivia[]

During the first run of the episode on NBC, the scene of Willie's dream sequence is shortened to make room for a scene after the episode ends where ALF is in the kitchen pass-through next to a basket of fruit announces that the show has been renewed for a full season, and thanks Brandon Tartikoff for doing so. He then jokes about sending out fruit baskets to each of the fifty states to be divided evenly among the residents who watched the show.

Guest Cast[]

Joe Namath as himself

Thomas Callaway as Lyle "Animal" Hönerheim

Michael Lemon as Nolan

Ivan Bonar as Dean Houseman

Clyde Kusatsu as skydiver

Susan Lavine as skydiver

Brad Thornton as skydiver Collins

Tim Rossovich as skydiving instructor

Title Reference[]

"Jump" is a song by Van Halen.

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