"Alice" (1976) TV series 1976-1985

Creator:

Robert Getchell
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Release Date:

31 August 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A greasy-spoon diner in Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this long-running series. The title character...

Plot Keywords:

Diner | Aspiring Singer | Spunky | Phoenix Arizona | Waitress

Awards:

Won 8 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 22 nominations

Cast

Linda Lavin	...	Alice Hyatt (202 episodes, 1976-1985)
Beth Howland	...	Vera Louise Gorman (202 episodes, 1976-1985)
Vic Tayback	...	Mel Sharples (200 episodes, 1976-1985)
Philip McKeon	...	Tommy Hyatt (107 episodes, 1976-1985)
Polly Holliday	...	Florence Jean 'Flo' Castleberry (90 episodes, 1976-1980)
Celia Weston	...	Jolene Hunnicutt (90 episodes, 1981-1985)
Marvin Kaplan	...	Henry (82 episodes, 1977-1985)

Series Directed by
Marc Daniels		(86 episodes, 1977-1985)
William Asher		(27 episodes, 1977-1979)
John Pasquin		(12 episodes, 1982-1984)
Linda Lavin		(10 episodes, 1980-1984)
Don Corvan		(10 episodes, 1983-1985)
Lee Lochhead		(9 episodes, 1979-1981)
Kim Friedman		(7 episodes, 1977-1978)
Norman Abbott		(6 episodes, 1976-1980)
Mel Ferber		(6 episodes, 1982-1983)
Alan Rafkin		(5 episodes, 1977)
William P. D'Angelo		(4 episodes, 1976-1977)
Christine Ballard		(4 episodes, 1980-1982)
Nancy Walker		(3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Bruce Bilson		(2 episodes, 1976)
Jim Drake		(2 episodes, 1976)
Bill Persky		(2 episodes, 1976)
James Sheldon		(2 episodes, 1976)
Noam Pitlik		(2 episodes, 1978)
Nick Havinga		(2 episodes, 1981)
Oz Scott		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Writing credits
Bob Fisher		(40 episodes, 1977-1981)
Arthur Marx		(40 episodes, 1977-1981)
Mark Egan		(26 episodes, 1979-1985)
Mark Solomon		(26 episodes, 1979-1985)
Tom Whedon		(24 episodes, 1977-1981)
Linda Morris		(21 episodes, 1980-1985)
Vic Rauseo		(21 episodes, 1980-1985)
Gail Honigberg		(11 episodes, 1981-1984)
Bob Bendetson		(11 episodes, 1983-1985)
Howard Bendetson		(11 episodes, 1983-1985)
Charles Isaacs		(9 episodes, 1978-1981)
David Silverman		(9 episodes, 1983-1985)
Stephen Sustarsic		(9 episodes, 1983-1985)
Robert Getchell		(7 episodes, 1976-1980)
Arnold Kane		(6 episodes, 1976-1977)
R.S. Allen		(5 episodes, 1976-1977)
Chet Dowling		(5 episodes, 1982)
Sandy Krinski		(5 episodes, 1982)
Harvey Bullock		(4 episodes, 1976-1977)
Art Baer		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Ben Joelson		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Martin Donovan		(3 episodes, 1976)
Chris Hayward		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Roy Kammerman		(3 episodes, 1977)
Cindy Begel		(3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Lesa Kite		(3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Lloyd Garver		(2 episodes, 1976)
Bruce Johnson		(2 episodes, 1976)
Bob Carroll Jr.		(2 episodes, 1977-1985)
Madelyn Davis		(2 episodes, 1977-1985)
Michael Loman		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
Warren S. Murray		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
Dawn Aldredge		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Marion C. Freeman		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
George Arthur Bloom		(2 episodes, 1980-1981)
Bob Brunner		(2 episodes, 1981)
Ken Hecht		(2 episodes, 1981)
Michael Cassutt		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Barry Gold		(2 episodes, 1983)
Lisa A. Bannick		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jack Carrerow		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Sid Dorfman		(2 episodes, 1984)
Harvey Weitzman		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Produced by
Bob Carroll Jr.	....	producer (92 episodes, 1977-1981)
Madelyn Davis	....	producer (92 episodes, 1977-1981)
Mark Egan	....	producer (62 episodes, 1982-1985)
Mark Solomon	....	producer (62 episodes, 1982-1985)
Jerry Madden	....	co-producer (28 episodes, 1978-1982)
Linda Morris	....	producer (24 episodes, 1981-1982)
Vic Rauseo	....	producer (24 episodes, 1981-1982)
R.S. Allen	....	executive producer (23 episodes, 1976-1977)
William P. D'Angelo	....	executive producer (23 episodes, 1976-1977)
Harvey Bullock	....	executive producer (22 episodes, 1976-1977)
Thomas Kuhn	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
V. Dale Palmer		(4 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Film Editing by
Andy Zall		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Jerry Davis		(2 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Casting by
Vivian McRae		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Art Direction by
Thomas Azzari		(4 episodes, 1978-1980)
Lynn Griffin		(3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Scott Ritenour		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Set Decoration by
Sidney Clifford		(4 episodes, 1976-1979)

Series Costume Design by
Patricia Landis		(3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Jac McAnelly		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Makeup Department
Sylvia Surdu	....	hair stylist / key hair stylist (3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Dulcie Smith	....	makeup department head (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Jerry Madden	....	production consultant (1 episode, 1977)

Series Art Department
Louis Zamora	....	labor foreman (14 episodes, 1977-1985)

Series Sound Department
Bill MacMeekin	....	sound (3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Gordon Klimuck	....	sound (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Jerry Clemans	....	post-production sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Don Helvey	....	production sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Ken Speed	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Don McCuaig	....	camera operator (18 episodes, 1976-1977)
Jay Nefcy	....	camera operator (7 episodes, 1976)
Tom Tcimpidis	....	video controller (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
David Shire	....	composer: theme music (6 episodes, 1976-1980)

Series Transportation Department
Gina August	....	driver (22 episodes, 1979)

Series Other crew
Susie Gunter	....	script supervisor (106 episodes, 1980-1985)
Don Corvan	....	stage manager (4 episodes, 1978-1980)
Bob Fisher	....	executive script consultant / executive story consultant (4 episodes, 1978-1980)
Arthur Marx	....	executive script consultant / executive story consultant (4 episodes, 1978-1980)
Tom Whedon	....	executive story editor (4 episodes, 1978-1980)
Christine Ballard	....	associate director / script supervisor (3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Charles Isaacs	....	executive story supervisor (3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Arnold Kane	....	executive story editor (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Paul Rose	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Randy Winburn	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Lee Lochhead	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1978)
Gary Markowitz	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Mark Miller	....	technical director (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1976-1985)
• Warner Bros. Television (1976-1985)

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1976-1985) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Bros. Television (1982-)

Other Companies

• Burbank Studios, The  sound recording
• CBS Television City  recorded at

Runtime:

30 min (202 episodes) | West Germany:30 min (113 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Trivia:

Tommy was originally played by Alfred Lutter III (who played the role in the film). He was replaced later by Philip McKeon, older brother of actress Nancy McKeon.

Quotes:

Vera Louise Gorman: [Repeated Line]
[about five seconds after realizing she's in a situation involving her and a motorized vehicle]
Vera Louise Gorman: Wait a minute. I don't know how to drive.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: The Front (#4.19)" (1993)

You can kiss my grits!

I have avoided seeing Ellen Burstyn who won an Academy Award in the movie version because I grew up watching Alice on television whether in reruns or on network television. It was a lively show and it had a terrific cast. Linda Lavin will always be Alice to me regardless of her wonderful acting career. Linda Lavin has stretched as a character actress whether in small, supporting, featured, or leading roles. Linda Lavin is a comic gem. Doug McKeon who plays her son, Tommy, is the brother to Nancy McKeon better known for her role as Jo on "The Facts of Life." Whatever happened to Doug anyway? Well, Vic Tayback is brilliant as Mel Sharples and the casting of American legendary entertainer, Martha Raye, as his mother is something I have never forgotten. The show re-introduced Martha Raye as a sharp-tongued wise mother to Mel. The show I remember aired on CBS Sunday nights with the likes of "The Jeffersons," and "All in the Family." After 9 years on the air, it came to an end. I loved Polly Holliday as Flo with one of the most memorable catchphrases "You can kiss my grits." I never had a grit. The show was memorable also for lovable Vera, likable Jolene, and Diane Ladd's role. Although it worked best with Vera, Flo and Alice, Flo's show never took off and she should have returned to the show. Since I haven't seen an episode in about a year, I am vague because I have missed the show not being on the air anymore whether on TV Land or anywhere else. It made you want to move to Phoenix which is probably one of the reasons that Phoenix is over a million in population. You have to thank the show for bringing Martha Raye, we all knew her as Mel's mom but in reality, Martha's life was truly extraordinary. I learned that she went to entertain the American troops wherever and whenever they were at war. We can't thank Martha enough even now. She was given America's highest honors for her services as a civilian during wartime. But the show also provided lots of laughs and entertainment during it's long run, we don't see shows like Alice anymore and we probably never will.