MovieChat Forums > Alice (1976) Discussion > Grew stale like most sitcoms

Grew stale like most sitcoms


Alice wasn't the best show in the 70s. That is for certain. Linda Lavin was such a dull actress with a bad singing voice, she required the supporting actors to keep the show alive. Even her son Tommy was as dull as her. Nevertheless, the show turned out well for a couple of seasons. But like most sitcoms, the success rolls in the dough, and the actors get some success. Usually after a couple seasons, it shows. The actors begin looking like they came out of a salon, and usually more tanned. The job is no longer work, but a mere formality. Like many other sitcoms, Alice became more of an amusement park. Jokes were as stale as Mel's food and most of the side characters weren't funny. I clearly cannot see how they could have wasted so many years on this show. Just think of the great sitcom that never happened because "Alice" was in the way.

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I think it was good up until about when Eliot came onto the show *Vera's husband"


I thought it was good up until about season 7, then I think seasons 8 and 9 kinda got bad.

I even like Jolene, though most ppl didn't, I thought she was pretty funny.

I just didn't like those later episode when the majority of the episodes took place AWAY from the diner.


Just because we lose today's battle doesn't mean we've lost tommorow's war.

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I agree that when they started getting away from the diner, the show's focus was changing-- but some of the writing on those later episodes is still quite good. I got the feeling they were setting Vera and Elliot up for a spinoff, but that never came to pass.

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I actually didn't mind some of the later seasons,which is unusual for most sitcoms that are on the air for as long as Alice was or longer.

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all shows get stale after awhile,look at mash briliant its first few seasons then every season after it got worst and worst, the simpsons is another example.

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The only thing tha gets more stale than an old sitcom is people complaining about them. 

Shows that ended 5,10,20,30 or more years ago and people are still complaining?




Go for it or just be a gopher!
(MR.) happipuppi13 🐕 *arf,man!*

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The first season was actually the best one. Seemed more realistic, especially than the later ones.

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happipuppi13, I just read your comment (sorry for the late reply). However, if your comment was posted on Facebook, it would've received a "Like" from me! I love it! And I agree! 

Oh, and if you think the "complainers" are bad here...you should check out the "Little House on the Prairie" board! OMG...

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I watched reruns as a kid, but I can't recall any specific episodes. Very different than other shows i watched from that era.

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