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Alice on DVD:
"...And if things work out she's going to stay awhile." And they sure did, resulting in "new girl" Alice sticking around for a triumphant nine-season (1976-1985 on CBS) run that saw this new style sitcom become the standard bearer for the next generation of TV comedy. Alice is the story of Alice Hyatt (Linda Lavin), a recently widowed single mom who finds herself working as a waitress at an Arizona diner while caring for her pre-teen son, Tommy (Philip McKeon). The inimitable Vic Tayback plays Mel, the gruff owner of the diner, while Beth Howland and Polly Holliday play her co-workers, neurotic Vera and no-nonsense Flo. This 3-disc, 24-episode collection collects the entire first season of the Bicentennial-era break-out hit, including the rarely seen pilot episode featuring Alfred Lutter from Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, the film inspiration for Alice. Guest stars include Batman's Adam West, Victor Buono, and Dark Shadow's Lara Parker.
Purchase Alice - The Complete First Season on DVD from WBShop.com or Amazon.com
Read our review of Alice - The Complete First Season on DVD
On her way out to Hollywood to become a singer, Alice's car breaks down in Phoenix. With no
money and a son to care for, Alice takes a waitressing job at Mel's Diner. Here she
works with the ornery owner and chef, Mel, the man-hungry whipper-snapper, Flo, and the
ditzy Vera. Together they encounter the lovable regulars and other interesting characters
passing through. Based on the Oscar-winning movie "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," this
classic television series lasted nine seasons and touched the hearts of all with its witty
humor and warm characters.
Episodes included:
Purchase Alice - Television Favorites on DVD
Read our review of Alice - Television Favorites on DVD
As the second season of the break-out hit Alice graced the nation's airwaves, Mel's Diner soon became the nation's dining destination of choice. Thanks to its hearty combination of down-home eccentrics, sweet sentiment, blue-collar ethos, and the spice of edgy topicality, Alice proved a dish the nation could not resist.
With the central flavorings of Alice (Linda Lavin), Flo (Polly Holliday), and Vera (Beth Howland) rooting the comedy, and Mel (Vic Tayback) and Tommy (Philip McKeon) on hand to balance the distaff waitstaff with curmudgeonly charm and youthful enthusiasm, Alice was cooking with gas and ready to serve up some sitcom gold.
George Burns, Jerry Reed, Desi Arnaz are among those who get served in season 2, as the staff faces working holidays, dispossessed natives, divine stars, and the specter of Mel's fiftieth in this 3-Disc, 24-Episode collection.
Purchase Alice - The Complete Second Season on DVD from WBShop.com or Amazon.com
Read our review of Alice - The Complete Second Season on DVD
The third season saw Alice get its sitcom service down to a science, delivering regular orders of laughter and workplace wisdom weekly while enjoying a regular slot in the top twenty. Series regulars Vic Tayback (Mel), Vera (Beth Howland), Polly Holliday (Flo), and Philip McKeon (Tommy) fit their roles perfectly, while Linda Lavin (Alice) set the comedy temp, whether it be a slow-burn simmer, smoking hot slapstick, or on-the-boil gut-busters.
Situations found in this 3-Disc, 24-Episode collection include used "Car Wars" between the girls and Mel, Vera coming down with "A Slight Case of ESP" and "Flo Finds Her Father" (played by F Troop great Forrest Tucker!). Meanwhile Tommy falls in love, Alice falls for a (younger!) theatre director and - most horrifying of all - Mel sells the diner! And keep your eyes peeled for Philip McKeon's sister Nancy (Facts of Life) playing a young orphan alongside Corey Feldman (Stand by Me).
Purchase Alice - The Complete Third on DVD from WBShop.com or Amazon.com
Read our review of Alice - The Complete Third Season on DVD
Buy Alice Memorabilia and Photos:
Message Board:
Have a question about Alice, comment, trivia question, update on the
cast members, etc.? Then post your message on the:
Photo Gallery:
Broadcast History:
First Telecast: August 31, 1976
Aug 1976, CBS Mon 9:30-10:00
Total number of episodes: 202
Cast:
Linda Lavin
Last Telecast: July 2, 1985
Sep 1976-Oct 1976, CBS Wed 9:30-10:00
Nov 1976-Sep 1977, CBS Sat 9:30-10:00
Oct 1977-Oct 1978, CBS Sun 9:30-10:00
Oct 1978-Feb 1979, CBS Sun 8:30-9:00
Mar 1979-Sep 1982, CBS Sun 9:00-9:30
Oct 1982-Nov 1982, CBS Wed 9:00-9:30
Mar 1983-Apr 1983, CBS Mon 9:00-9:30
Apr 1983-May 1983, CBS Sun 9:30-10:00
Jun 1983-Jan 1984, CBS Sun 8:00-8:30
Jan 1984-Dec 1984, CBS Sun 9:30-10:00
Jan 1985-Mar 1985, CBS Tue 8:30-9:00
Jun 1985-Jul 1985, CBS Tue 8:30-9:00
Philip McKeon as Tommy Hyatt
Vic Tayback as Mel Sharples
Polly Holliday as Florence Jean Castleberry ("Flo") (1976-1980)
Beth Howland as Vera Louise Gorman
Diane Ladd as Belle Dupree (1980-1981)
Celia Weston as Jolene Hunnicutt (1981-1985)
Martha Raye as Carrie Sharples (1982-1984)
Charles Levin as Eliot Novak (1983-1985)
Michael Durrell as Nicholas Stone (1984-1985)
Marvin Kaplan as Henry (1977-1985)
Pat Cranshaw as Andy (1976-1978)
Patrick J. Cronin as Jason (1978-1979)
Bob McClurg as Cecil (1978-1979)
Dave Madden as Earl Hicks (1978-1985)
Duane R. Campbell as Chuck (1978-1985)
Victoria Carroll as Marie (1978-1980)
Michael Ballard as Mike (1979-1980)
Alan Haufrect as Brian (1979-1980)
Ted Gehring as Charlie (1979-1981)
Michael Alldredge as Ralph (1979-1981)
Raleigh Bond as Raleigh (1979-1981)
Phillip R. Allen as Mitch Aames (1981-1982)
Jerry Potter as Jerry (1981-1982)
Tony Longo as Artie (1982-1985)
Jonathan Prince as Danny (1984-1985)
Doug Robinson as Doug (1984-1985)
Theme Songs:
"There's a New Girl in Town," by Alan and Marilyn Bergman and David Shire, sung over
the opening credits by Linda Lavin
Download the Alice opening theme song (1st version - 1976-1977 version)
Theme Song Lyrics:
Season 1 & 2
Early to rise, early to bed.
Season 3 & 5
Used to be sad, used to be shy
Season 4
I used to be sad, I used to be shy
Season 6-9
I used to be sad, I used to be shy
Television's Greatest Hits, Vol. 6 CD
Includes the Alice theme song - 65 total tv themes
For more information and to purchase from Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000GP0/ref=nosim/happydaysonline
Video Clips:
Download a MPG video file of the Alice opening credits (1976-1977 version)
Series Summary:
Download the Alice closing theme song - 1976
Download the Alice opening theme song (2nd version - 1978-1979 version)
Download the Alice closing theme song - 1978
Download the Alice opening theme song (3rd version - 1980's)
Download the Alice 1982 opening transition
Download the Alice closing theme song - 1982
Download MP3 file of the Alice opening theme song
In and between I cooked and cleaned and went out of my head.
Going through life with blinders on, it's tough to see.
I had to get up, get out from under and look for me.
*There's a new girl in town and she's looking good.
*There's a fresh freckled face, in the neighborhoood.
There's a new girl in town, with a brand new style.
She was just passing through,
but if things work out she's gonna stay awhile....ba ba bum bum bummmm
(the two short versions omitted the lines marked with a *)
Funniest thing, the saddest part is I never knew why...
Kickin' myself for nothin' was my favorite sport
I had to get out and 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
there's a new girl in town on her own two feet
and this girl's here to say
with some luck and love life's gonna be
so sweeeeeeeeeet!
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!
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!
Download a MPG video file of the Alice opening credits (1978-1979 version)
Download a MPG video file of the Alice opening credits (1984-1985 season)
Download a MPG video file of the closing credits from a 1984 episode
The series was based on the movie Alice doesn't Live Here Anymore, the title role of which was played by Ellen Burstyn, who received an Academy Award for her performance. The only member of the cast to make the transition to the TV series in 1976 was Vic Tayback, re-creating his role as the crusty owner of Mel's Diner. He was joined in the spring of 1980 by Diane Ladd, who had played Flo in the movie but turned up as Belle in the TV series. Belle was hired by Mel as a waitress when Flo moved to Houston to run her own restaurant (see the spinoff series Flo). She was from Mississippi, wrote country-and-western songs, and lived in the Phoenix Palms Apartments, where Alice and Tommy also resided. Belle admirably filled the void left by Flo--the accent may have been different, but her earthy outlook on life and aggressive personality endeared her to Mel's regulars. She left after one year and was replaced by Jolene. Carrie, Mel's pushy, loudmouthed mother, moved to Phoenix after her divorce, took up residence with her son, and practically took over the diner. Next to her, Mel was a real softie. In the fall of 1983, after a whirlwind courtship, shy Vera married policeman Elliot Novak and the following fall found Alice with a new boyfriend, Nicholas Stone.
In the last original episode of the series (March 19, 1985) Mel sold the diner and, despite his reputation for cheapness over the years, gave each of his waitresses a $5,000 farewell bonuses. All worked out for the best, however, since Jolene was planning to quit to open a beauty shop, Vera had become pregnant and was looking forward to becoming a fulltime mother, and Alice, after all the years at the diner, was moving to Nashville as lead singer with a band.
CBS aired reruns of Alice on weekday mornings from June 1980 to September 1982.
Series summary from The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows: 1946-Present
Did You Know?
The shot of the station wagon during the show's opening credits is from Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974).
The actual restaurant that this show is based on is located in Phoenix, Arizina, at 1747 NW Grand Ave. It is currently called Pat's Family Restaurant. It was called Mel's Diner.
The series was based on the movie Alice doesn't Live Here Anymore, the title role of which
was played by Ellen Burstyn, who received an Academy Award for her performance.
Did You Know? Facts from The Internet Movie Database
The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows: 1946-Present by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh
“This is the Guinness Book of World Records . . . The Encyclopedia Britannica of television!” –TV Guide
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For more information and to purchase, click below:
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Where does Alice air?:
Alice aired on TNN a few years ago, but it is currently
not airing anywhere.
Message Board:
Have a question about Alice, comment, trivia question, update on the
cast members, etc.? Then post your message on the:
Links:
Marco's Alice Site (in Italian)
Alice episode guide (epguides.com)
Alice page (Tim's TV Showcase)
Internet Movie Database entry for Alice
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