MovieChat Forums > Alice (1976) Discussion > Just a random question, doesn't really m...

Just a random question, doesn't really matter but I'm curious


Like I've posted before, I've ALWAYS wanted to see Flo and Jolene together and see them interact with eachother, unfortunatly that NEVER happened.

But do you think the 2 actresses Polly Holliday and Celia Westin ever met eachother in real life?

Most people see things that are and ask "why?", I dream things that never were and ask, "why not?"

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I would imagine that Polly kept in touch with cast and crew, so perhaps they all met at a BBQ at a cameraman's house. It is possible.

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I've always been interested in that.

I'm PRETTY sure Diane Ladd and Polly Holliday met since Diane talks about Polly wishing her "Good luck" before she left.

And I'm pretty sure Diane and Celia met, I don't know for certain but they were in the same episode, so likely they met.

I just dunno if Polly or Diane would keep in touch with all the conflict I head was going on between them And Linda Lavin.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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I read somewhere there was conflict, but I never fully knew what it was. Do you know?

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From what I hear Linda did not get along with Polly and Diane b/c she thought they were stealing her spotlight kinda.

So they got the Jolene character, someone sorta similar to Flo and Belle but who would be quieter and silently fill the 3rd space.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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Oh my God, Linda Lavin is so likeable. I can not imagine she would think that. I loved both the Flo and Belle characters so much, but Linda was the star. Thank you.

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I hear Linda was not so easy to work with, she wanted to be the star, and yeah it was her show, but I heard she was really jelouse if anyone overstepped her.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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Wow, this amazes me. She just does not seem the type.

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But who knows, they may have patched things up.

I also heard that when Belle's character left, that Polly was approached about coming back to Alice and for a while she was considering it, but then decided NOT to, reason being in her words, she thought it would be a step backward in her career, nothing was said about her having conflict with Linda, so they brought Jolene in.

I think it could have been funny having both Flo and Jolene on the show like maybe Jolene could have been Flo's hairdresser :)

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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That was a big mistake on Polly's part. Her show, Flo, bombed. Yes, Jolene would have been hilarious with Flo. She could have been her hair dresser, a relative, or something. Why did Diane Ladd leave the show? I heard that Diane Ladd's scenes were not shown in a flashback. That must have been Linda Lavin's doing.

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Yeah I heard Diane left b/c of the conflict between her and Linda. And no there were no Belle scenes in the flashback episode, I could speculate that's the reason b/c of the conflict.

It's funny when I was little ~yeah I loved the show when I was little~ I swore I remember Belle being the last waitress, I thought Jolene replaced Flo, the Belle replaced Jolene.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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I must be getting old. I must be older than you. I remember the order of the actresses with no problem. Jolene was cute, but I did not like her anyway near as much as the other two. What was your favorite Alice episode? I have so many.

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I am 34, but I dunno why I as so mixed up on the order of the waitresses, when I saw Belle's first episode after Flo left I was like WAIT A MINUT!!! This should be Jolene, it's not time for Belle yet!! lol And I was wrong about how Belle looked and acted, I thought she was much similar to Jolene, until I got reaquanted with the show.


From my child hood I remember the Jolene's first episode where Jolene's trucking partner locked them in the bathroom, then later Belle called on the phone and told them she wasn't coming back. I had that one totally wrong, b/c I remembered that one as being Jolene's last episode and Belle called them on the phone to tell them she was coming back to town and shortly thereafter replaced Jolene. And it seemed like I remember Belle calling from a truck stop rather than from a "house" I guess it was. So I dunno why I remembered that once so differently that it actually was.


Also I think I like Jolene a little better than Belle, but after getting familiar with the show again, it seems Belle imitates Flo a LOT, and Jolene did her own thing. Some of Jolene's lines delivered with her accent really cracked me up. I know Diane played Flo in the original movie, but still I bet not may ppl are familiar with that movie.


My fave episodes would be.... The one where they get locked in the store room all weekend, The one where they take the semi truck up the mountain for Xmas, The one there there's money hidden in the diner,... those are ones that come to mind.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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OK, You are so much like me: I absolutely LOVED that XMAS episode where they take the semi to Alice's relative's house, but never make it. I remember the night that one aired. I was in the living room with my aunt. She was in the chair, I was on the sofa. I remember it like last night. Everybody else had gone to bed early. I love the one where they were locked in the storeroom (Flo got the M&M). My top favorite was the one where Alice keeps getting the crank calls, gets scared, and Flo brings her the gun. I liked the way she and Flo were friends, playing games, doing the slumber party thing. It reminded me of the Flo in the movie. I love that movie, I have that movie, it is in my top 10 favorite movies of all time. Diane Ladd was awesome. She really was a likeable character as Flo.

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Yes!

And one thing I like about Jolene is one of the few who was nice to Vera. I always thought Flo and Belle were pretty mean to her a lot of time.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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Henry was nice to Vera. Tommy had a crush on her. Vera made the world's record as the tap dancer. She was doing pretty well.

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I was just talking mainly about the 3rd waitresses. It seems Flo and Belle would exclude Vera a lot when they would want to be around Alice, this especially happened in the early episodes, it seemed like you always saw Alice and Flo together and they would both act kind indifferent to Vera. I mean I know Vera can get on one's nerves, but still.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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You know, it is so funny. I have been doing some thinking after what you told me about Linda Lavin. I am willing to bet that the Vera character was dumbed down, and written in that way because Linda wanted to be the star. Yes, the character was a "dingy broad," but only a handful of storylines revolved around her. Yes, she did seem excluded by Alice and Flo. Alice was so level headed, and Flo was wild and crazy. Belle was nice and fun. I loved the one where Alice was the manager and locked Belle out of her apartment. Poor Belle trying to get home with her ice cream. I felt like saying, "Alice, wait 10 minutes. Give her a chance to get some of her things first! Yikes!"

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It seems like vera got smarter as the show went on.

In the early episodes, I honestly don't see how Vera functioned in the real world lol she thought TV shows were real, thought that George Burns was was really God, was suicidal. I don't see how she got by on her own, much less held a job down.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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Vera was very strange. Do you remember the episode where she decided to be the best waitress in the whole world, and she was able to memorize the entire table's order. She also was able to balance all the plates on her arm, and said, "I am a waitress." But yes, she was running around acting borderline slow. Alice and Flo were my favorites. Flo made being single fun. Alice always seemed to struggle because of Tommy.

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I always wanted to think Vera was probably book smart and the mousy nerd type just lacked common sense.

In the movie Flo had a daughter, I wonder if that would have been good for the show to? That would have given Tommy an accomplice lol

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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That is correct, the daughter needed braces, or else she was going to wind up with buck teeth. Vera had her Daddy Duke. No, I think Flow was better off single. She could work New Year's Eve, she could go to the Shea Chug a Lug, she had all those wild dates. It was 3 single women. That made it fun. The could get into more trouble that way. Tommy went off to college. To be honest, I stopped watching the show in those years. I do remember an episode where Tommy starts to develop a drinking problem. Alice agrees to go to AA with him. I vaguely remember Vera got married. She married a cop, I think. That is all a blur. I remember the earlier episodes so much better.

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I think when Vera got married is when it started going down hill, when like EVERY other episode took place away from the diner.



Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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Yes, by then I was finished with the show. Tommy was gone, Vera was married, it seemed to lose something. It is so funny that you and I have the same favorite episodes. I like all the claustrophobic ones: all of them in a semi, all of them locked in the storeroom, Alice and Flo all cozy in her apartment waiting for the obscene caller, with the door locked. I liked Mel's girlfriend, Marie when they all got stuck in the diner for New Year's. I liked the one where They found the $40,000 in the bag, in the diner. I liked the one where Tommy snuck out to go hunting. Oh, and I liked the one where they were trapped in the diner with the watch dogs.

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Yes that is cool!!

I think too when I was little watching the show...IF I'm remembering right, TBS showed the episodes out of order, b/c I remember it seemed like Jolene was on the show WAY more than Flo was, I remember it was a treat to get to see a Flo episode. It seemed like Flo would be in like 2 episodes then it was Jolene for like about 30 lol Then it seemed like they threw a few Belle episodes in, and that's why I thought Belle was last.

Did you catch all the goofs of the show like I did? lol Like when they were looking for the hidden money in the diner? The diner had been destroyed and rebuilt at least 3 times before that episode, surely they would have found it.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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Yes, I think Flo crashed a truck through it, and was there not an episode where a tree fell through it? Yes, Flo was the first waitress, but she was so popular, they tried to spin her off. Have you bought any of the seasons on DVD? What was your favorite part in the movie? I think the whole movie was awesome. However, I think the best part was when he broke into Alice's motel room, beat Rita, then threatened the break Alice's jaw. Then he tells her he will pick her up at Jacob's. The look on Ellen Burstyn's face was enough to win her the Oscar right there.

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I liked the movie ok, but it wasn't anything like the TV show. Though I think Ellen is a better singer than Linda lol

No I haven't bought any Flo DVDs yet, I've only seen a couple of episodes, I saw the one where Mel visits her. And the one where Robert Englund gueststars, he eventually became the legendary Freddy Krueger.

I'm waiting for season 5 Alice right now.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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So you have DVDs of Alice? Oh wow, you ARE a fan. I will have to buy them too, so we can have discussions about our favorites. I had a feeling you were like me in the fact that you are familiar with horror films; i.e. Robert Englund. We both like the ones that get our adrenaline up: the trapped semi in the snow, the locked in storeroom, etc.
I am one of those strange types that likes Linda lavin's booming voice. Do you remember a video on youtube where they talked about a Linda Lavin alarm clock? I would love a clock like that!

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No I've never heard of the alarm clock lol

ANd Yeah I am a Nightmare on Elm Street fan, I'd like to see the Alice episode where Englund guest stars but I've never been able to find it.

ANd yes I have seasons 1-4 DVDs of Alice, It's time for season 5 I dunno whats taking so long. Though I do have nearly all the episodes that I recorded when I was younger off TV. But the viewing quality is not very good.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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Yes, it was a joke. They imitated the way Linda Lavin sang, all loud and booming, and they stated they needed a Linda Lavin alarm clock.
I have been thinking of getting the series. If you have those seasons, I will have to start with at least season one.
I could tell you were into horror. So am I. That is why that creepy crank calling one is my favorite. There was also one where Alice was cursed by the color brown. Do you remember hat one? I thought the way she turned her date into a disaster was hilarious. He could not get out of there fast enough.

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Yes I remember it, I thought it was funny how Flo's reaction to it changed. Flo was like totally supersticious in that episode and really believed what the psychic said, BUT in a later episode Vera was into some sort so supersticions and Flo said it was all HOGWASH!

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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Ok, it is a deal. I will buy the first season, and you and I can start watching it together, then we can have discussions. I will let you know when I get it.

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Ok great!! :) I've been buying them as they've been released, but there is a hold up now for some reason I hope they are planning on releasing the whole series and not just the Flo episodes.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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Oh, thanks for the head's up. I will look into getting my first season this week. I can not wait.

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YAY!!

Here's another idea I had since we were talking about Flo possibly coming back after her show had ended, and possibly having Jolene on the show still as her hairdresser, what do you think it would have been like to have both Flo and Jolene as waitresses and have 4 waitresses at the diner?

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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No, I can not picture 4 waitresses in the diner. I think she would have been cute as the hairdresser at the shop next door, or across the alley. She could come in for the occasional cup of coffee or pie. She could plot or scheme a double date with Flo, something goes wrong, and they end up stranded at the diner.
It is funny, I never liked any of the supporting cast. I never liked Carrie, Mel's mother, I never liked Henry, I did like Flo's boyfriends, though. They were rowdy and fun. Oh, and I did like Eileen Heckart as Alice's mother-in-law, but she never came back.
I really do need to get the 1st season. I promise, I will look into it tomorrow. I promise. :)

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I never like Mel's mother either, she was just unpleasant, Mel was at least funny with a good heart, but she seemed truly unlikeable to me.

I was just thinking about having 4 waitresses might give it more of a real life touch, b/c usually diners have more than just 3 waitress who do not all work at the same time. I was wondering if Flo and Jolene were both waitresses how it would be if they maybe alternated with each other.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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Yes, Carrie was very unpleasant; loud, obnoxious, etc. You and I liked all the episodes in the diner, but I loved Alice's apartment as well. Did you like the one where Alice locked Belle out of her apartment when she could not pay the rent? Oh, and I also liked the one where the guy robbed the place, and Flo was trying to deliver the baby in the restroom. Remember that one?

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I don't specifically remember the one where Alice locked Belle out.

I am missing some Belle episodes, including one where Mel accidently kills a parrot.

I HOPE they release season 5 soon.

Create a society in which you would like to live, not knowing what you're going to come into it as.

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Oh, I think I remember the parrot one. I think it was Vera's bird, "Birdie." That was a funny one. Belle was hilarious talking about when her goldfish died.

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Hi, I am very bad at this. I am a terrible friend, well, not terrible, just late. I FINALLY ordered the first season of Alice. I will have it in a few days. We can finally have those discussions we promised each other. Robert [email protected], get in touch with me. :)

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Ok that's good, its me, I lost my other account.

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I have it. The first season came in the mail yesterday. I love them all. I can do without the one where Vera is depressed, so Alice and Flo set her up on a blind date with Travis.

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I am glad you had me buy this. I have the next three days off. I am watching the first season like crazy. I order season number 2 tomorrow. A Call To Arms is the best. Actually, it ties with Who Killed Bugs Bunny.

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I just bought season 2. So far A Call To Arms, A Piece Of The Rock, and Who Killed Bugs Bunny are my favorites.

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I have you beat. I just ordered Season 4. When are you going to catch up with me so we can have discussions?

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I have through season 4 but to my knowledge that is all that has been released.

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I am watching Cabin Fever right now. I love the scary claustrophobic ones: A Semi Merry Christmas, Don't Lock Now, Cabin Fever, A Call To Arms. I will double check and see if they have Season 5.

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You are correct; only 4 seasons, what a bummer. :(

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Thankfully I have the rest that I recorded years ago.

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You are lucky. :)

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