No offense to any fans of the character or the actress who played her, I just think that perhaps she wasn't necessary. I think maybe it was better to cast the Jolene character from the get go. It didn't really make sense that she came in and seemingly replaced just as fast. Anybody agree? Disagree? Opinions...

I don't remember the character because I haven't seen those episodes of Alice in years, probably since they aired, which was almost 30 years ago.

They had to replace Flo pretty quickly and figured Diane Ladd would be good because she'd played Flo in the movie version a few years before.

But from what I understand, Diane Ladd clashed with Linda Lavin and she was written out after one year. And they didn't think of the Jolene character until the time when they realized they'd need to come up with another waitress character, so that's probably why they didn't go with Jolene from the start.

They didn't have the character of Jolene created yet, and didn't know the "Belle" character wasn't going to work out. The part of Belle was created for Diane Ladd, who played Flo in the movie, Alice Doesn't Live Here, Anymore. She joined Vic Tayback to be the only two actors from the movie to be cast on Alice. I believe she was also in the running to play "Flo" in the series, before Polly Holiday came along.

It has been said that Ladd clashed with Linda Lavin on the set, as did Holiday. I think that's the reason she left, not because she wasn't popular.
Personally, I liked Belle better than Jolene.

I think the producers wanted to replace Flo with a similar character. One, who like Flo, was older than the other waitresses and had more life experience. So they brought in Diane Ladd as Belle. They would have been better off replacing Flo with a character who was dissimilar instead. Which is what they did when they created the character of Jolene.

I liked Belle. I preferred her to Jolene.

It's funny b/c I used to think Jolene replaced Flo and Belle was the LAST waitress.

But I liked Belle OK but I liked Jolene a little better b/c she did her own thing and was pretty funny, she didn't try to immitate Polly like Dianne seemed to.

But if you notice this happens quite a bit, like on 3's Company, Cindy replaced Chrissy and Cindy really acted a lot like Chrissy and did not stay too long, then she's replaced by Terri who acts nothing like Chrissy really.

No sitcom character should ever be replaced so yes it was a mistake.

Just like..........

Beau Replacing Vinny on Welcome Back Kotter

Jefferson replacing Steve on Married with Children

No sitcom character should ever be replaced so yes it was a mistake.

Just like..........

Beau Replacing Vinny on Welcome Back Kotter

Jefferson replacing Steve on Married with Children


I actually liked Jefferson a little better than Steve, he was hotter and was pretty funny as well.

I actually liked Jefferson a little better than Steve, he was hotter and was pretty funny as well.


Jefferson's purpose was to make AL funnier not to be FUNNIER

Jefferson's purpose was to make AL funnier not to be FUNNIER

If that was supposed to be case. then he both succeeded and failed at that job.Jefferson WAS funnier than Steve...and often funnier than Al.

It's funny b/c I used to think Jolene replaced Flo and Belle was the LAST waitress.

But I liked Belle OK but I liked Jolene a little better b/c she did her own thing and was pretty funny, she didn't try to immitate Polly like Dianne seemed to.

But if you notice this happens quite a bit, like on 3's Company, Cindy replaced Chrissy and Cindy really acted a lot like Chrissy and did not stay too long, then she's replaced by Terri who acts nothing like Chrissy really.

Good point. Another example of this is Beau replacing Vinnie on Welcome Back, Kotter.

If that was supposed to be case. then he both succeeded and failed at that job.Jefferson WAS funnier than Steve...and often funnier than Al.


You were just attracted to Jefferson

It's funny b/c I used to think Jolene replaced Flo and Belle was the LAST waitress.

But I liked Belle OK but I liked Jolene a little better b/c she did her own thing and was pretty funny, she didn't try to immitate Polly like Dianne seemed to.

But if you notice this happens quite a bit, like on 3's Company, Cindy replaced Chrissy and Cindy really acted a lot like Chrissy and did not stay too long, then she's replaced by Terri who acts nothing like Chrissy really.
Yeah, rather ironic, the succession of Chrissy-Cindy-Terri on Three's Company is so similar to that of Flo-Belle-Jolene on Alice. Chrissy being replaced by Cindy, for just a season, followed by Terri, finishing off the series; and Flo being replaced by Belle, just for a season, then Jolene staying on til the end of Alice.

You were just attracted to Jefferson

Hell I was!!! Who wouldn't be!?

But I loved Jefferson's mannerisms, just that sly, crafty grin he got on his face.

I remember watching Diane Ladd's interview for the "Sitcome stars: Where are they now?" special in 1995. Diane said that she came on set as Polly was leaving. She hugged Polly and said goodbye. In turn, Polly said very distinctively "good luck". Polly left. Diane immediately said "Oh my god! What now?!" So, she knew from the get go that there would be problems.

Diane Ladd pretty much confirms everything you said in this interview. Go on this webpage and scroll down to interview #92.

http://onscreenandbeyond.com/OSBseason3Reruns.htm