Were they aliens or just crazy?

When the Big Giant Head arrives, we see evidence of transporters.

I get your general point, which boils down to observing that there is virtually no objective, clear evidence that the Solomons are actual extraterrestrials.

That's not quite true, although it's certainly the case that the creators obviously made an "editorial" decision to draw that line. They wanted to leave things just a bit ambiguous, or at least implied rather than expressed.

However, they did explicitly provide narration that sets up the premise that they're supposed to be actual alien life forms-- and it's not presented as a question, or with a wink/shrug.

As your description suggests, the producers/writers made a point of telling the audience about the Solomons' alien nature, but not showing it directly, especially early on.

I think this is defensible, on the grounds that they didn't need to complicate matters, not to mention bloat their special-effects budget, with glimpses of their alien nature, e.g. showing them in their original "purple tube" bodies.

Instead, they simply told the audience what the deal was, and let the characters display their alien nature in their bizarre social interactions.

So I don't see much basis for concluding that the "alien" aspect was a huge inside joke, if I'm understanding your point.

If you were right, it would mean that the show creators went to a lot of trouble to make a series about a crazy Earthling family who share the delusion that they're visiting alien beings, then wrap it in a "cover story" that they really are aliens.

Huh? Why? Since you're the only person who wonders about this twenty years on, the only point of this elaborate put-on would've been to give those "in the know" the cheap thrill of playing the masses for suckers.

Surely you don't think that network executives would appreciate, much less greenlight, this elaborate prank. What would be the point?

In any event, as the other respondent said in much fewer words, as the series progressed they did give actual glimpses of alien life-- from that mysterious glow in the closet (yeah, I know, it could just be a night light) to a series of alien visitor guest stars (including Dennis Rodman).

Maybe you'd do better to propose that ALF was really a show about a deranged family who hallucinated that an alien life form lived with them.

Though your theory is interesting, it doesn't hold up if you've seen every episode.

On several occasions we meet other characters who are also aliens, and in some cases witness alien technology at work.

Examples;

In one episode, Harry, Sally and Tommy meet Dennis Rodman whilst out shopping. He recognises them as friends, and they have a conversation in which the audience discover that Dennis Rodman is also an alien posing as human. He also outs some other celebrities as secret aliens.

In several episodes, The Big Giant Head appears and in one he falls in love with Vicki Dubcek. He takes her away with him to their own planet, and in a later episode they return. Vicki now has knowledge of alien civilisations, and in one episode uses a ray gun she acquired in her space travels. We also see her giving birth to The Big Giant Head's baby, an alien.

In one episode, the characters go to a parallel Earth, through a portal in their living room cupboard.

In one episode, a group of Venusians appear and try to take over the planet. They take the form of beautiful women, distracting the male population of Earth and leaving it to Sally to save the day.

In the last few episodes, John Cleese guest stars as Dr. Liam Neesam. He too is an alien. After trying to take over the planet, Dick fools him into handing over an alien weapon and uses it on Neesam, to turn him into a Chimpanzee.

In the final episode, the aliens leave for their own planet and the audience witnesses them vanish as they are transported back to their mother ship.

There are probably other examples that I am forgetting, but let's just say there are many episodes that suggest they are aliens and it's not some family delusion.

that would be rather macabre. And having four people all sharing exactly the same delusion is a bit far fetched. besides, there are the episodes where the Big Giant Head visits , and he takes Vicky Dubchek back to his planet with him. So that is definite proof of actual alienness. And there are a few other episodes where other alien visitors turn up. Like the venusian women in season 3.

It would be funny as hell if they turned out not to be aliens
Pitch this idea to NBC it sounds original

It was a goofball tv sitcom. Not some Nolan artsy fare. Of course they were aliens. It was the premise of the entire show. If you saw even most of the series you would know that. Not every show has to be some far fetched brain scratcher. Espcially a comedy. You may as well say the cast of FRIENDS were aliens.

Is there a place other than the IMDb boards where you get an arrogant dude who hasn't even seen the entire series come in all high and mighty, claiming to have "cracked the code" because his special snowflake intellect is superior to all the fans' who've seen this show many times over? 

I mean, that's IMDb boards in a nutshell right there. Still, I'll miss them and I've come here to say my goodbye. This was one of my favourite shows ever and it has aged wonderfully over the years. 


*dropping mics in Valhalla 24/7*