Series synopsis
Alice is an American comedy drama television series that premiered on CBS on August 31, 1976. It ended on March 19, 1985. It was created by Robert Getchell. It stars Linda Lavin, Philip McKeon, Vic Tayback and Beth Howland.
Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to March 19, 1985 on CBS. The series is based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start her life over again, and finds a job working at a roadside diner on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. Most of the episodes revolve around events at Mel's Diner.
Premise
Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to March 19, 1985 on CBS. The series is based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start her life over again, and finds a job working at a roadside diner on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. Most of the episodes revolve around events at Mel's Diner.
Premise: Kiss my grits!
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Linda Lavin as Alice Hyatt
- Philip McKeon as Tommy Hyatt
- Vic Tayback as Mel Sharples
- Beth Howland as Vera Louise Gorman-Novak
- Celia Weston as Jolene Hunnicutt
- Polly Holliday as Florence Jean Castleberry
- Diane Ladd as Belle Dupree
- Charles Levin as Elliot Novak
Supporting cast
- Larry Hovis
- Michael Tucci
- Eileen Heckart
- Ronnie Schell
- Joel Grey
- David Rounds
- Nancy McKeon
- Lucille Benson
- John Fiedler
- Terry Wills
- Warren Berlinger
- Nedra Volz
Guest cast
Episodes
This series spans 9 seasons with 202 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 24 | August 31, 1976 | March 26, 1977 |
| Season 2 | 24 | October 2, 1977 | April 9, 1978 |
| Season 3 | 24 | September 24, 1978 | April 1, 1979 |
| Season 4 | 24 | September 23, 1979 | April 6, 1980 |
| Season 5 | 20 | November 2, 1980 | May 3, 1981 |
| Season 6 | 24 | October 4, 1981 | May 16, 1982 |
| Season 7 | 23 | October 6, 1982 | September 18, 1983 |
| Season 8 | 23 | October 2, 1983 | May 20, 1984 |
| Season 9 | 16 | October 14, 1984 | March 19, 1985 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pilot Alice gets her hopes up to be a big star when a talent agent comes to town. |
August 31, 1976 |
| 2 |
Alice Gets a Pass Alice falls for an ex-football player, who is now an actor. |
September 29, 1976 |
| 3 |
A Piece of the Rock Alice meets her late husband's beneficiary. |
October 6, 1976 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Second Time 'Round A suspected flasher and Flo's third ex-husband (Rod McCary) stir things up at Mel's Diner. |
October 2, 1977 |
| 2 |
The Indian Taker A Native American who claims Mel's diner is built on sacred ground refuses to leave. |
October 9, 1977 |
| 3 |
86 the Waitresses Mel incites his waitresses to quit by giving a new waiter better wages than theirs. |
October 23, 1977 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Take Him, He's Yours Alice takes Mel up on his boast that he can raise her son better than she. |
September 24, 1978 |
| 2 |
Car Wars Mel sells the girls a car that won't start. |
October 1, 1978 |
| 3 |
Citizen Mel Mel identifies a holdup man who has a record for assaulting a previous witness. |
October 8, 1978 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Has Anyone Here Seen Telly? Telly Savalas gives star-struck Vera a thrill when he stops by the diner while she's working there alone. When no one believes her story, she quits in a huff. |
September 23, 1979 |
| 2 |
Mona Lisa Alice Alice's sour reaction to Tommy's matchmaking efforts threatens Mel's new promotional gimmick which is free meals to customers if his waitresses don't smile. |
September 30, 1979 |
| 3 |
Mel Loves Marie Mel gives a big engagement ring to his girlfriend Marie, but the sparkle quickly fades when he insists that she sign a premarital agreement. |
October 7, 1979 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Mel and the Green Machine An automated bank teller accidentally spews out $24,675 to an astonished but delighted Mel. |
November 2, 1980 |
| 2 |
Dog Day Evening After his safe is stolen, Mel rents the services of two very efficient guard dogs. |
November 9, 1980 |
| 3 |
Vegas (1) Robert Goulet makes an appearance when Vera wins a free trip to Las Vegas and Alice, Mel and Belle tag along to try their luck. |
November 16, 1980 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Bet a Million, Mel Mel borrows $10,000 against the diner to bet on a 90-to-1 nag. |
October 4, 1981 |
| 2 |
Guinness on Tap Determined to leave her mark on the world, Vera sets out to break the tap dancing endurance record. |
October 11, 1981 |
| 3 |
Comrade Mel A towel boy from the Russian ballet takes refuge in Mel's storeroom. |
October 18, 1981 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sorry, Wrong Lips Debbie Reynolds plays an actress whose torrid memoirs convince Mel he's the one she remembers as the greatest kisser in her life. |
October 6, 1982 |
| 2 |
Do You Take . . . ? Mel tries to outdo an old buddy who shows up boasting a track record of fast living and sporting a blonde on his arm as proof. |
October 13, 1982 |
| 3 |
The Secret of Mel's Diner There's gold in them there walls, or so Mel reckons after learning that the eccentric who built his diner left $20,000 stashed in another building. |
October 20, 1982 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Mel is Hogg-Tied Boss Hogg and Deputy Enos of ""The Dukes of Hazzard"" pay a surprise visit. Up to his usual low tricks, Boss makes an offer to lease the diner that Mel can't refuse but should. |
October 2, 1983 |
| 2 |
Vera's Secret Lover A secret lover is sending Vera everything from poems to balloons. |
October 9, 1983 |
| 3 |
Jolene Gets Her Wings Everyone's up in the air over Jolene's maiden flight as a part-time stewardess. |
October 16, 1983 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Romancing Mister Stone Jolene and Vera play Cupid for a dateless Alice by putting an ad in a magazine's personals column. |
October 14, 1984 |
| 2 |
Space Sharples Mel gets a little spaced out after he thwarts a bank robbery while he's dressed up as Captain Galaxy for Halloween. |
October 28, 1984 |
| 3 |
Big, Bad Mel Mel gets an F for buying a day school to raze for a parking lot. |
November 4, 1984 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | CBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | August 31, 1976 |
| Last aired | March 19, 1985 |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Tuesday at 21:30:00 |