Alice (American TV series)

[[Diane Ladd]], who received an [[Academy Award]] nomination for her portrayal of Flo in the film version, joined the cast in 1980 as Isabelle "Belle" Dupree, a hard-edged but kind-hearted woman. She had been a waitress of Mel's in the past, during which the two had a romantic relationship. Despite Ladd's [[Golden Globe]]-[[List of Golden Globe Awards: Mini-series, Best Supporting Actress|winning]] performance as Belle,{{cite web | url=https://goldenglobes.com/awards-database/ | title=Awards Database }} the character was not retained for the duration of the series and was replaced early in 1981, the character making one last appearance in which she telephones the diner to inform everyone that she had taken a job as a backup singer in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. Ladd left the $400,000 yearly job, saying it was an amicable and mutual decision, because her character hadn't developed the way she had hoped it would.{{cite news |last1=Deeb |first1=Gary |author1-link=Gary Deeb |title=Gary Deeb |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CjlgAAAAIBAJ&q=gary%20deeb%20diane%20ladd%20alice&pg=PA71 |access-date=29 November 2025 |work=[[Star-Phoenix]] |location=[[Saskatoon, Saskatchewan]] |agency=[[Field Newspaper Syndicate]] |date=Feb 18, 1981 |page=71}}

[[Diane Ladd]], who received an [[Academy Award]] nomination for her portrayal of Flo in the film version, joined the cast in 1980 as Isabelle "Belle" Dupree, a hard-edged but kind-hearted woman. She had been a waitress of Mel's in the past, during which the two had a romantic relationship. Despite Ladd's [[Golden Globe]]-[[List of Golden Globe Awards: Mini-series, Best Supporting Actress|winning]] performance as Belle,{{cite web | url=https://goldenglobes.com/awards-database/ | title=Awards Database }} the character was not retained for the duration of the series and was replaced early in 1981, the character making one last appearance in which she telephones the diner to inform everyone that she had taken a job as a backup singer in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. Ladd left the $400,000 yearly job, saying it was an amicable and mutual decision, because her character hadn't developed the way she had hoped it would.{{cite news |last1=Deeb |first1=Gary |author1-link=Gary Deeb |title=Gary Deeb |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CjlgAAAAIBAJ&q=gary%20deeb%20diane%20ladd%20alice&pg=PA71 |access-date=29 November 2025 |work=[[Star-Phoenix]] |location=[[Saskatoon, Saskatchewan]] |agency=[[Field Newspaper Syndicate]] |date=Feb 18, 1981 |page=71}}

[[File:Linda Lavin Celia Weston Beth Howland ALICE.jpg|left|thumb|Season 8: [[Linda Lavin]] (Alice), [[Celia Weston]] (Jolene), and [[Beth Howland]] (Vera)]]

[[File:Linda Lavin Celia Weston Beth Howland ALICE.jpg|left|thumb|Season 8: [[Linda Lavin]] (Alice), [[Celia Weston]] (Jolene), and [[Beth Howland]] (Vera)]]

Theatre actress [[Celia Weston]] then joined the cast as the good-natured, boisterous truck driver Jolene Hunnicutt, who came from Myrtle Point, South Carolina. Jolene arrives as she and her male driving partner are in the midst of an argument over his unwelcome advances, during which she throws and breaks many of Mel's dishes. Mel agrees to hire her "temporarily" to work off the cost of the dishes, but she stays until the end of the series. Jolene frequently mentions her grandmother, "Granny Gums", who had only three or four teeth. Jolene also mentions her distant relative [[Boss Hogg|Jefferson Davis "Boss" Hogg]], a character from the concurrent CBS series and fellow [[Warner Bros.|Warner Brothers]] production ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]].'' In one episode [[Sorrell Booke]] guest stars as Hogg, along with fellow ''Dukes'' character [[Enos Strate|Enos]] ([[Sonny Shroyer]]).

Theatre actress [[Celia Weston]] then joined the cast as the good-natured, boisterous truck driver Jolene Hunnicutt, who came from Myrtle Point, South Carolina. Jolene arrives as she and her male driving partner are in the midst of an argument over his unwelcome advances, during which she throws and breaks many of Mel's dishes. Mel agrees to hire her "temporarily" to work off the cost of the dishes, but she stays until the end of the series. Jolene frequently mentions her grandmother, "Granny Gums", who had only three or four teeth. Jolene also mentions her distant relative [[Boss Hogg|Jefferson Davis "Boss" Hogg]], a character from the concurrent CBS series and fellow [[Warner Bros.|Warner Brothers]] production ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]].'' In one episode [[Sorrell Booke]] guest stars as Hogg, along with fellow ''Dukes'' character [[Enos Strate|Enos]] ([[Sonny Shroyer]]).

Although he had a fairly loyal clientele, Mel's food and cooking were constantly criticized by his waitresses and customers alike —especially Henry, who always blamed it for his indigestion. However, Mel's [[chili con carne]] was popular and became a [[plot point]] of several episodes. During the first season, a newspaper food critic (played by [[Victor Buono]]) dropped dead while eating Mel's chili, but it turned out that tainted Peking Duck from a Chinese restaurant was to blame. [[Art Carney]] guest-starred in one episode as the spokesman for retail distribution of Mel's Chili ("Chili con Carney") who backed out when he discovered Vera was a distant relative with part ownership in the venture. The popularity of Mel's Chili also led to an appearance on [[Dinah Shore]]'s talk show, which led to some bickering among the waitresses because Mel could take only one person along, but everyone ended up going. Mel refused to reveal his "[[secret ingredient]]" to Dinah and her TV audience during the cooking demonstration.

Although he had a fairly loyal clientele, Mel's food and cooking were constantly criticized by his waitresses and customers alike —especially Henry, who always blamed it for his indigestion. However, Mel's [[chili con carne]] was popular and became a [[plot point]] of several episodes. During the first season, a newspaper food critic (played by [[Victor Buono]]) dropped dead while eating Mel's chili, but it turned out that tainted Peking Duck from a Chinese restaurant was to blame. [[Art Carney]] guest-starred in one episode as the spokesman for retail distribution of Mel's Chili ("Chili con Carney") who backed out when he discovered Vera was a distant relative with part ownership in the venture. The popularity of Mel's Chili also led to an appearance on [[Dinah Shore]]'s talk show, which led to some bickering among the waitresses because Mel could take only one person along, but everyone ended up going. Mel refused to reveal his "[[secret ingredient]]" to Dinah and her TV audience during the cooking demonstration.

== Cast ==

== Cast of characters ==

===Main characters===

Opening title cast members:

Opening title cast members:

* [[Linda Lavin]] as Alice Hyatt

* [[Linda Lavin]] as Alice Hyatt, an aspiring singer who becomes a waitress at Mel's diner.

* [[Vic Tayback]] as Mel Sharples (Tayback reprised his role from the film)

* [[Vic Tayback]] as Mel Sharples, the stingy and grouchy owner of Mel's Diner. He would often bark orders at the waitresses and come up with money-making schemes. Though Mel is often a terrible cook with his cooking criticized by the other characters as mentioned above. Tayback reprised his role from the film.

* [[Philip McKeon]] as Tommy Hyatt ([[Alfred Lutter]] had reprised his role from the film but was replaced by McKeon after the pilot episode)

* [[Philip McKeon]] as Tommy Hyatt, the son of Alice. [[Alfred Lutter]] had reprised his role from the film, but was replaced by McKeon after the pilot episode

* [[Polly Holliday]] as Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry (Seasons 1–4: 1976–1980)

* [[Polly Holliday]] as Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry, the boy-hungry waitress at Mel's diner (Seasons 1–4: 1976–1980)

* [[Beth Howland]] as Vera Louise Gorman Novak

* [[Beth Howland]] as Vera Louise Gorman Novak, the scatterbrained waitress at Mel's diner

* [[Diane Ladd]] as Isabelle "Belle" Dupree (Seasons 4–5: 1980–1981) (Ladd played the role of Flo in the film)

* [[Diane Ladd]] as Isabelle "Belle" Dupree, an original waitress at Mel's diner who briefly returns to work there (Seasons 4–5: 1980–1981). Ladd played the role of Flo in the film.

* [[Celia Weston]] as Jolene Hunnicutt (Seasons 5–9: 1981–1985)

* [[Celia Weston]] as Jolene Hunnicutt, a former [[truck driver]] who becomes a waitress at Mel's diner (Seasons 5–9: 1981–1985)

* [[Charles Levin (actor)|Charles Levin]] as Elliot Novak (Season 8 recurring, Season 9 regular: 1983–85)

* [[Charles Levin (actor)|Charles Levin]] as Elliot Novak, a [[police officer]] who Vera gets engaged to (Season 8 recurring, Season 9 regular: 1983–85)

===Recurring characters===

Other recurring cast members:

Other recurring cast members are listed in order of appearance:

* [[Marvin Kaplan]] as Henry Beesmeyer (diner regular who worked for the phone company) (1977–1985)

* [[Dave Madden]] as Earl Hicks, a basketball coach, date to Flo and a diner customer (1978–1985)

* [[Marvin Kaplan]] as Henry Beesmeyer, a diner regular who worked for the phone company (1977–1985)

* [[Victoria Carroll]] as Marie Massey (Mel's girlfriend) (1978–1984)

* [[Dave Madden]] as Earl Hicks, a basketball coach to Tommy, date to Flo, and a diner customer (1978–1985)

* [[Martha Raye]] as Carrie Sharples (Mel's mother) (1978–1984)

* [[Doris Roberts]] as Mona Spivak (Alice's mother) (1981–1982)

* [[Victoria Carroll]] as Marie Massey, Mel's girlfriend (1978–1984)

* [[Martha Raye]] as Carrie Sharples, Mel's free-spirited mother (1978–1984)

* [[Doris Roberts]] as Mona Spivak, Alice's mother and Tommy's grandmother (1981–1982)

* [[Robert Picardo]] as Officer Maxwell, a police officer and Elliott's partner (1982–1984)

* [[Robert Picardo]] as Officer Maxwell, a police officer and Elliott's partner (1982–1984)

* [[Patrick Cranshaw|Pat Cranshaw]] as Andy (diner regular) (1976–1978)

* [[Patrick Cranshaw|Pat Cranshaw]] as Andy, a diner regular (1976–1978)

* [[Tony Longo]] as Artie (diner regular) (1981–1984)

* [[Tony Longo]] as Artie, a night [[security guard]] and diner regular (1981–1984)

* [[Patrick Cronin (actor)|Patrick J. Cronin]] as Jason (diner regular) (1976–1980)

* [[Patrick Cronin (actor)|Patrick J. Cronin]] as Jason, a diner regular (1976–1980)

* Duane R. Campbell as Chuck (diner regular) (1978–1985)

* Duane R. Campbell as Chuck, a diner regular (1978–1985)

* [[Ted Gehring]] as Charlie (diner regular) (1979–1982)

* [[Ted Gehring]] as Charlie, a diner regular (1979–1982)

* [[Alan Haufrect]] as Brian (diner regular) (1978–1980)

* [[Alan Haufrect]] as Brian, a diner regular (1978–1980)

===Notable guest stars===

Notable guest stars include:

* [[Eve Arden]]

Notable guest stars include: [[Eve Arden]], [[Desi Arnaz]], [[Brice Beckham]], [[Fred Berry]], [[Sorrell Booke]] (as Boss Hogg), [[George Burns]] (as himself), [[Ruth Buzzi]] (as Chloe Beesmeyer, Henry's wife), [[Art Carney]] (as himself), [[Corey Feldman]], [[Robert Goulet]], [[Joel Grey]] (as himself), [[Florence Halop]], [[Eileen Heckart]] (as Rose Hyatt, Alice's interfering mother in-law), [[Florence Henderson]], [[Jay Leno]], [[Bill Maher]], [[Rue McClanahan]], [[George Wendt]], [[Nancy McKeon]] (Philip's sister, appearing twice, in different roles), [[Frank Nelson (actor)|Frank Nelson]], [[Donald O'Connor]] (as himself), [[Janis Paige]], [[Kelly Parsons]], [[Jerry Reed]] (as himself), [[Debbie Reynolds]], [[Kim Richards]], [[Michael Rupert]], [[Telly Savalas]] (as himself), [[Dinah Shore]] (as herself), [[Sonny Shroyer]] (as Enos Strate), [[Jerry Stiller]], and [[Jim Varney]].{{cn|date=September 2025}}

* [[Desi Arnaz]]

* [[Brice Beckham]]

* [[Fred Berry]]

* [[Sorrell Booke]] as [[Boss Hogg]] from ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]]'', he is depicted as a distant relative of Jolene.

* [[George Burns]] as himself

* [[Ruth Buzzi]] as Chloe Beesmeyer, Henry's wife who is often talked about in the series

* [[Art Carney]] as himself

* [[Corey Feldman]]

* [[Robert Goulet]] as himself

* [[Joel Grey]] as himself

* [[Florence Halop]]

* [[Eileen Heckart]] as Rose Hyatt, Alice's interfering mother in-law)

* [[Florence Henderson]]

* [[Jay Leno]]

* [[Bill Maher]]

* [[Rue McClanahan]]

* [[Nancy McKeon]], who is Philip's sister, appeared twice in different roles. She appeared as a girl orphan in "Who Ordered the Hot Turkey?" and as Kimberly in "Alice's Halloween Surprise" who is the daughter of Alice's boyfriend Mitch.

* [[Frank Nelson (actor)|Frank Nelson]]

* [[Donald O'Connor]] as himself

* [[Janis Paige]]

* [[Kelly Parsons]]

* [[Jerry Reed]] as himself

* [[Debbie Reynolds]]

* [[Kim Richards]]

* [[Michael Rupert]]

* [[Telly Savalas]] as himself

* [[Dinah Shore]] as herself

* [[Sonny Shroyer]] as [[Enos Strate]] from ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]]''

* [[Jerry Stiller]]

* [[Jim Varney]]

* [[George Wendt]]

== Production information ==

== Production information ==