http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QuUfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QtkEAAAAIBAJ&dq=alice%20hyatt&pg=1233%2C5763323

According to the article above, 'Alice' producers didn't want Alice to sing because they felt it was not interesting enough for a sitcom. That was according to Lavin in 1977. Of course, she does eventually sing, but what do you think? Did you like the singing episodes?

I say if the star of your show is a talented singer (as Linda Lavin is!) make it a part of her character. Take advantage of it. I'm glad the producers of Alice finally figured that out. And yes I did enjoy the episodes when Linda Lavin sang on the show.

I could have lived without the singing. I watch a sitcom to laugh, not to hear someone belting out showtunes.

Well, the character of Alice in the movie Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore was an aspiring singer, so that stayed true throughout the TV show. That said, the singing could be a bit much sometimes.

Linda Lavin did sing the theme song "There's a New Girl in Town" before each episode.

I enjoy Linda Lavins voice and the occasions that she did sing. It seems that the producers felt that people would not enjoy singing within each or most episodes. It's supposed to be a sitcom and they thought that people would not want to sit through a song each week or on a frequent basis.

It didnt bother me that was the premise so I had no problem with the singing.

I never understood the appeal of Linda Lavin's voice. I found her to be shrill with a limited vocal range.

I think Vic Tayback should have sang more.

I think Vic Tayback should have sang more.

I agree I think Mel, Henry, Chuck and Earl made a helluva quartet.

I never understood the appeal of Linda Lavin's voice. I found her to be shrill with a limited vocal range.
I have to disagree here. Linda was very powerful in her singing especially in her showtunes. The worst of her singing was her and Martha Raye on the show doing Do You Think I Am Sexy. That did a disservice to her. My favorite one she did was when she did It's Wonderful It's Marvelous. I hollared sing Linda when she did that song.

Personally, I hate all singing in TV shows, like this... The worst example would be season 5 of Sanford & Son... :crazy:

I enjoy Linda Lavins voice and the occasions that she did sing. It seems that the producers felt that people would not enjoy singing within each or most episodes. It's supposed to be a sitcom and they thought that people would not want to sit through a song each week or on a frequent basis.

Indeed, you're right. The producers probably felt that the only way that singing on a sitcom would work was if the premise was actually based around singing, i.e., The Monkees and The Partridge Family.

Personally, I hate all singing in TV shows, like this... The worst example would be season 5 of Sanford & Son... :crazy:

I dunno if that's the worst...the last season of Petticoat Junction was pretty bad with the singing too.

Personally, I hate all singing in TV shows, like this... The worst example would be season 5 of Sanford & Son... :crazy:

Do you mean in "Ebenezer Sanford" when Fred sings "A Christmas Song"? Why didn't you like it? There were a few times throughout the series when Fred and his cronies would do a number, singing, dancing. Good, fun and entertaining. Redd Foxx got a lot of his old friends from his nightclub days roles on Sanford & Son.

Apparently, Linda Lavin was originally approached by CBS to find a series for her and she wanted to do a variety series like Carol Burnett where she could sing, dance and do comedy. But CBS knew that was a dying genre so they said if she'd agree to do Alice they'd let her sing the theme and work some music into it.

Much like the producers of Designing Women cut a deal with the conservative Dixie Carter, who was not thrilled with having to do more and more liberal tirades. They said, if Carter would continue to do the liberal stuff, they'd work in a few chances for her to sing on the show, which is what she liked.

Apparently, Linda Lavin was originally approached by CBS to find a series for her and she wanted to do a variety series like Carol Burnett where she could sing, dance and do comedy. But CBS knew that was a dying genre so they said if she'd agree to do Alice they'd let her sing the theme and work some music into it.

Much like the producers of Designing Women cut a deal with the conservative Dixie Carter, who was not thrilled with having to do more and more liberal tirades. They said, if Carter would continue to do the liberal stuff, they'd work in a few chances for her to sing on the show, which is what she liked.

The only reason the networks appease these stars egos is this: $$$.

They are heading up shows that deliver ratings and $$$ from advertisers, so it's probably a small price to pay for the networks.

On the other hand, viewers have to suffer through stars belting out songs in an ear before we could skip through them.

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:lol:

Apparently, Linda Lavin was originally approached by CBS to find a series for her and she wanted to do a variety series like Carol Burnett where she could sing, dance and do comedy.

I wonder why, because it was obvious that she couldn’t sing or do comedy.

I wonder why, because it was obvious that she couldn’t sing or do comedy.

They probably did it to appease her ego -- easier to just let her sing every now and then to keep her quiet.

They probably did it to appease her ego -- easier to just let her sing every now and then to keep her quiet.

Even when they eventually moved away from Alice-centric episodes being about her looking for a big break in showbiz, there were still too many contrived opportunities for her to sing. Meanwhile, Linda Lavin obviously never believed anyone who told her that she could not sing (and had them fired from the show, if they were involved).

Even when they eventually moved away from Alice-centric episodes being about her looking for a big break in showbiz, there were still too many contrived opportunities for her to sing. Meanwhile, Linda Lavin obviously never believed anyone who told her that she could not sing (and had them fired from the show, if they were involved).


She was probably a holdover from that era when performers did a little bit of everything and she probably loved to sing.

That whole variety show thing carried over even into shows from the 80s.

Different times.

Is it true that around the time that Diane Ladd left and Celia Weston came along, Linda Lavin realized that the network executives were kissing her butt so she wouldn't leave, so so they caved in to her weird demands? This included re-recording even jazzier versions of the show's theme song every season (which was much lampooned) and repeatedly playing that weird male gangster character in drag.

i didn't think she was that talented. her voice was nice but she certainly was not a dynamic performer - she's no cher or reba.

I never understood the appeal of Linda Lavin's voice. I found her to be shrill with a limited vocal range.

I agree, but others may like that type of voice. She was your standard "Broadway belter" type of singer. Range was limited, but she definitely could sing. I think her singing was featured too much... it felt forced most of the time. The little ditties she sang with Flo and Vera were good, especially when they sang together at Mel's surprise B-day party.