Series Description

The Alice TV show was a 30 minute comedy series on CBS about a woman who works as a waitress at a diner in Phoenix, Arizona. Her interactions with her son, fellow ditsy waitresses, and goofy boss provided the opportunity for many funny moments.

Alice Cast

Linda Lavin .... Alicia "Alice" Hyatt
Philip McKeon .... Thomas "Tommy" Hyatt
Vic Tayback .... Melvin "Mel" Emery Sharples
Vera Louise Gorman Novak .... Beth Howland
Polly Holliday .... Florence "Flo" Jean Castleberry
Celia Weston .... Jolene Hunnicutt
Diane Ladd .... Belle Amanda Dupree

Alice Trivia:

During the opening credits on Alice episodes, you see a station wagon. That shot is "borrowed" footage from the 1974 movie, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore". The Alice TV show was based upon that film.

Actress Diane Ladd played the part of Flo in the movie. Then, in the middle of the fourth season, she joined the cast of Alice as the character "Belle Dupree". That character replaced Flo when Polly Holliday left Alice to "spin-off" her own series, the "Flo TV Show".

In the movie, the diner was named, "Mel and Ruby's Diner". That name was also used in the first episode of the TV show. In the movie, the diner was located in Tucson, Arizona. On the TV show, it was in Phoenix.

Mel's Diner was actually based upon a real-life diner! It was even named Mel's Diner (but later changed to Pat's Family Restaurant)! It is located at 1747 NW Grand Ave.; Phoenix, Arizona.

One expression used on the Alice TV show became commonly used by the public. When Flo became upset with someone, she'd tell them to, "Kiss my grits"! When Mel got upset with Vera, he'd call her "Dinghy". When he got upset with Jolene, he'd call her "Blondie".

Alice was originally planning to go to Hollywood, California with her son to pursue a singing career after her husband's death. On the way, their car broke down in Phoenix and they were broke. That's how Alice found herself working as a waitress at Mel's Diner!

Linda Lavin, Polly Holliday, and Vic Tayback all got Emmy nominations but no wins for their performances on the Alice TV show due to stiff competition from Cast on "All in the Family", "Rhoda", "Soap", and "Taxi".

WARNING - SPOILER!!!! - On the very last episode of the Alice TV show, Alice's dream of becoming a singer finally comes true! Also on that episode, Jolene opened a beauty salon and Vera was pregnant!

Alice Theme Song

Title: "There's a New Girl in Town"

Written By: "Alan and Marilyn Bergman & David Shire"

Performed By: "Linda Lavin"

I used to be sad, I used to be shy
Funniest thing, the saddest part is I never knew why...
Kickin' myself for nothin' was my favorite sport.
I had to take off, start enjoyin' 'cause life's too short.

There's a new girl in town, 'cause I'm feelin good.
Get a smile, get a song, for the neighborhood.
Things are great when you stand on your own two feet,
and this girl's here to say with some luck and love,
life's gonna be so sweeeeeeeeeet!