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Alice: Season 04
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Alice [TV Series]
Debuting August 31, 1976 on CBS, the weekly, half-hour comedy series Alice was loosely based on director Martin Scorcese's 1974 theatrical feature Alice Doesn't Live Here Any More, which won an Academy Award for star Ellen Burstyn. In the film, the recently widowed Alice Hyatt (Burstyn) leaves her New Jersey home in the company of her son Tommy (Alfred Lutter III) and heads to California, hoping to achieve success as a singer. Along the way, she takes a job as a waitress at a greasy spoon diner in Tucson, Arizona. Vic Tayback appears as Alice's crusty but lovable boss Mel, while her fellow waitresses include the worldly Flo, played by Diane Ladd, and the slightly ditzy Vera, played by Valerie Curtin. The film version of Alice Doesn't Live Here Any More was a fairly realistic romantic drama with comic undertones. The TV series Alice--set in Phoenix rather than Tucson--was a sitcom through and through, with farcical situations, hilariously exaggerated supporting characters, and an omnipresent and very loud laughtrack. It was also one of the most popular series of its time, remaining on CBS for nine full seasons and ranking between fourth and eighth place in the ratings for four of those seasons. And just as the movie earned an Oscar for Ellen Burstyn, so too did Alice yield several Emmy nominations and Golden Globe awards. Linda Lavin took over from Burstyn in the role of Alice Hyatt, with Philip McKeon as son Tommy, Polly Holliday as the wisecracking Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry ("Kiss mah grits!") and Beth Howland as the scatterbrained Vera Gorman. Of the film's cast, only Vic Tayback was carried over into the series as the irascible Mel, though Diane Ladd, the original Flo, joined the cast as new waitress Belle Dupree when Polly Holiday left in 1980 to star in her own spinoff series Flo. Ladd herself would be replaced the following year with Celia Weston as Jolene Hunnicutt. Other cast members included Marvin Kaplan as Henry the mailman, one of the steadiest customers of Mel's Diner; Dave Madden as another of the diner's habitu�s, Earl Hicks;Martha Raye as Mel's domineering mother, Carrie Sharples; Charles Levin as Eliot Novak, the police officer whom Vera married in Season Eight; and Michael Durrell as Nicholas Stone, who became Alice's steady beau in the ninth and final season. Such was the popularity of Alice that, even while it was still being seen in Prime Time, CBS reran the series as part of its daytime schedule from 1980 to 1982, and a year later released the first several seasons for off-network syndication. After 202 episodes, Alice ended its network run on July 2, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Includes Seasons:
Alice: Season 01
The long-running CBS sitcom Alice launches its first season with the pilot episode, in which Alice Hyatt (Linda Lavin), recently widowed when her trucker husband was killed in an accident, packs herself and her son Tommy (Philip McKeon) and heads westward, hoping to find success as a professional singer in California. But when her car breaks down outside of Phoenix, Arizona, the stone-broke Alice takes a job as a waitress at the roadside diner run by the short-tempered but basically likable Mel Sharples (Vic Tayback). She also befriends her fellow waitress, the brassy, outspoken Flo (Polly Holliday) and the shy, scatterbrained Vera (Beth Howland). (Trivia note: In the pilot, Alice's place of business was called "Mel and Ruby's Diner", in honor of Mel's late wife. In later episodes it is simply "Mel's Diner", and the boss' previous marital status is seldom if ever mentioned again!) Among those regular customers who show up to savor Mel's delicious home-made chili and to trade quips with the help is Pat Cranshaw as Andy. This season's guest stars include Victor Buono as a celebrated food critic who has the bad taste to drop dead after eating at Mel's Diner; Eileen Heckart as Alice's insufferable mother-in-law Rose; Tom Poston as an amorous mortician who proposes to Vera, even though he's already married; Bernie Kopell as an inept holdup man; and Kay Ballard as a self-proclaimed gypsy who places a curse on the diner and its staff. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Alice: Season 02
Although widow and single mom Alice Hyatt (Linda Lavin) still hopes to one day pursue a singing career, financial realities force her to retain her job as waitress at Mel's Diner in Phoenix, Arizona in Season Two of Alice. Likewise still on the premises are Alice's explosive boss Mel (Vic Tayback), her fellow waitresses Flo (Polly Holliday) and Vera (Beth Howland), and her now 13-year-old son Tommy (Philip McKeon). This season, Mel's superb home-made chili draws even more steady customers to the diner, among them Henry (Marvin Kaplan), Jason (Patrick J. Cronin) and Cecil (Bob McClurg) Season Two guest stars include George Burns as "Himself", whom impressionable Vera mistakes for the Almighty after watching Burns in the movie Oh, God!; singer Jerry Reed, likewise playing himself, who may have to provide free concert tickets to his former babysitter Flo; Desi Arnaz and Janis Paige as an amorous photographer and his long-suffering spouse; Victor Jory as an ancient Indian who claims that Mel's Diner has been built on a sacred burial ground; Morey Amsterdam as a nightclub manager who hires Alice for a singing gig; versatile comic actor Bob Dishy as a food-additive protestor who vows to kill himself in the middle of Mel's dining room; character player Burton Gilliam (Blazing Saddles) as Flo's bronc-bustin' brother Jimmy Joe; and Richard Libertini (the "talk to the hand" dictator from the movie The In-Laws) as a wealthy Arab who wants to add Flo to his harem! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Alice: Season 03
Season Three of Alice introduces Victoria Carroll as Marie, the on-and-off girlfriend of Phoenix diner proprietor Mel Sharples (Vic Tayback). Also, Mel's Diner welcomes several new steady customers, among them Earl (Dave Madden), Chuck (Duane R. Campbell) and Brian (Alan Haufrect), who spend as much time cracking wise with waitresses Alice (Linda Lavin), Flo (Polly Holliday) and Vera (Beth Howland) as they do downing Mel's famous chili. Foremost among the season's guest stars is the inimitable Martha Raye, making her first appearance as Mel's overbearing mother Carrie Sharples, who bids fair to be even more contentious than her son (if such a thing is possible). Also seen during Season Three are Forrest Tucker as Flo's ne'er-do-well father Edsel Jarvis Cadbury; actor and future talkshow host Gary Collins as the principal of the school attended by Alice's son Tommy (Philip McKeon); and Steve Franken, best known as "Chatsworth Osborne Jr." on the classic sitcom Dobie Gillis, as a squirrelly holdup man. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Alice: Season 04
Halfway through Season Four of Alice, series regular Polly Holliday, in the role of brassy waitress Flo "Kiss Mah Grits" Castleberry, accepts an offer she can't refuse from a Houston businessman and leaves Mel's Diner in Phoenix to open up her own restaurant--thereby neatly segueing into her own spinoff sitcom Flo, which made its CBS debut on March 24, 1980. Holliday's replacement on Alice is Mississippi native Belle Dupree, who makes her first appearance in the episode "For Whom the Belle Tolls", and who like series protagonist Alice Hyatt (Linda Lavin) bides her time as a waitress at Mel's until she can pursue her dream of becoming a popular singer. Ironically, Belle is portrayed by Diane Ladd, who originated the role of Flo in the series' theatrical-movie prototype, Alice Doesn't Live Here Any More (1974). The rest of the regular cast--the aforementioned Linda Lavin, Vic Tayback as Mel, Beth Howland as Vera, Philip McKeon as Alice's son Tommy--remains intact. Also new to the show are several more steady customer at Mel's Diner: Ted Gehring as Charlie, Michael Alldredge as Ralph, and Raleigh Bond as Raleigh. The first of the season's many guest stars is Telly Savalas, who appears as "himself" in the opening episode, driving Vera (Beth Howland) crazy later on when she can't convince anyone that she has waited on "Kojak." Also appearing as themselves are Dinah Shore, who invites Mel to prepare his famous chili on her TV talk show, and Art Carney, who not only tries to market Mel's recipe as "Chili Con Carney", but also reveals himself to be Vera's sixth cousin on her father's side. And back for another visit is Martha Raye as Mel's domineering mother Carrie Sharples, who once again effectively punctures her son's ego when her cooking draws in more customers than his! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Includes Episodes:
Alice: Alice Gets a Pass
After a special airing of its pilot episode, Alice officially launches its first season with widow Alice Hyatt (Linda Lavin) firmly ensconced as a waitress in a Phoenix, Arizona greasy spoon known as Mel's Diner. On this occasion, Alice finds herself attracted to Jack (Denny Miller), an old friend of her boss Mel (Vic Tayback). Jack is a former football pro turned TV personality--and if Alice can overcome memories of her late husband, Jack may also end up as Hubby Number Two. With this episode, Philip McKeon takes over from Alfred Lutter in the role of Alice's son Tommy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Alice: The Odd Couple
The title of this episode should give us an idea of what we're in for when Flo's trailer is stolen, leaving her homeless. The soul of generosity and hospitality, Alice (Linda Lavin) invites Flo (Polly Holliday) to stay at her place for a while. Big mistake! Not only is Flo a female "Oscar Madison", but Alice must also deal with her house guest's boorish boyfriend (Kenneth Mars), who acts like he has also moved in! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Alice: Close Encounters of the Worst Kind
After an argument at the diner, Alice (Linda Lavin) suggests a psychological experiment that will allow the employees to air their petty differences. The plan involves "role reversal", with Alice pretending to be Flo (Polly Holliday), Mel (Vic Tayback) pretending to be Vera (Beth Howland) and so on. As a result, what began as a minor skirmish ends up as full-scale warfare! (Note: although the original TV Guide synopsis lists Avery Schreiber in the role of Dr. Turner, Schreiber does not appear). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Alice: Block Those Kicks
In this classic episode, Alice (Linda Lavin) is willing to make a profound sacrifice to cure Mel (Vic Tayback) of his gambling habit. A deal is struck: if Mel will give up his favorite vice, all the other diner workers will do likewise for 48 hours. This proves difficult when Alice's yen for chocolate, Flo's (Polly Holliday) desire for coffee and Vera's (Beth Howland) craving for tobacco get the better of them, culminating in a wild game of "gotcha" in Alice's apartment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Alice: Cabin Fever
It probably seemed like a good idea at the time when Mel (Vic Tayback), Marie (Victoria Carroll), Alice (Linda Lavin), Flo (Polly Holliday) and Vera (Beth Howland) decided to go off together on a weekend fishing trip. Unfortunately, circumstances dictate that the five would-be anglers must spend all their time packed like sardines in the same tiny cabin. Ultimately, even the cabin isn't big enough for everyone, resulting in a mass migration to the bathtub! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Alice: Flo's Farewell
Polly Holliday makes her final regular Alice appearance in this episode, designed as a lead-in for the actress' new spinoff series Flo (which debuted exactly one month later, on March 24, 1980). When a wealthy Houston restauranteur offers Flo a terrific new job, the "Kiss Mah Grits" girl bids farewell to the gang at Mel's diner--and receives a gala party in honor. The fact that Flo would end up laboring away at her own truck stop in the flyspeck community of Cowtown, Texas was of course not revealed to her (or the viewer) until the situation's full comic value could be realized. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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