Does anybody know when it started, like either which season(s), year(s), episode(s), etc.?

I believe the third season when the feud between Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday started to blow open. The show took off and that was their best season. In fourth season it was full tilt. People were watching the show for Flo not Alice. In the fourth season you can the tension between those two by the way they interacted with each other on camera. There weren't too many scenes they had together as they did in the early seasons because of the tension. Look at some of the episodes fo that season and you would see Linda rolling her eyes at Polly when she gets a laugh.

Even before I knew about the feud, I did start picking up on a little tension in season 4 (1979-80), Flo's last season. I particularly remember a very good episode where Mel installed a time clock and the waitresses were picketing the Diner. Whenever Flo would get a big laugh, Alice would look away, roll her eyes and sigh, appearing irritated. It was really a shame, too, because I actually think they did some of their best scenes together. They played off of each other's characters really well IMO.

Even before I knew about the feud, I did start picking up on a little tension in season 4 (1979-80), Flo's last season. I particularly remember a very good episode where Mel installed a time clock and the waitresses were picketing the Diner. Whenever Flo would get a big laugh, Alice would look away, roll her eyes and sigh, appearing irritated. It was really a shame, too, because I actually think they did some of their best scenes together. They played off of each other's characters really well IMO.
That season was when their feud went full tilt. You did not see them in many scenes together compared to earlier seasons. The same tension got passed to Diane Ladd who did a great job filling the shoes. I understood when Ruth Buzzi guest starred on the show Linda Lavin was threatened by her and letting her know that she is the star. What a shame. Linda would not have lasted on any of Norman Lear nor MTM shows because they were both ensemble cast where not one particular star shined.

It's amazing that the show stayed on for 9 seasons. It sounds like Linda had an attitude problem. It was the supporting characters that made this show in the first place. IMO.:D

That season was when their feud went full tilt. You did not see them in many scenes together compared to earlier seasons. The same tension got passed to Diane Ladd who did a great job filling the shoes. I understood when Ruth Buzzi guest starred on the show Linda Lavin was threatened by her and letting her know that she is the star. What a shame. Linda would not have lasted on any of Norman Lear nor MTM shows because they were both ensemble cast where not one particular star shined.

If Linda Lavin was given the boot, I think the show would have carried on fine without her. Mel's character was strong enough to carry the program and it could have been retitled Mel's Diner. Think about the show Valerie. When the lead role was given the axe, it carried on fine without her and in my opinion was better.

The more I read about Linda Lavin the more I dislike her. Alice could had gone down as a classic but Linda ruined it by not getting along with anyone who could outshine her.

While I'm not disputing anything that's been said about Linda Lavin's time on Alice, I do want to add that I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Lavin in person on the streets of NY a few years back and she was very friendly and one of the nicest celebrities I've ever met. That's not to say that she was friendly to work with on set because I don't know lol

If Linda Lavin was given the boot, I think the show would have carried on fine without her. Mel's character was strong enough to carry the program and it could have been retitled Mel's Diner. Think about the show Valerie. When the lead role was given the axe, it carried on fine without her and in my opinion was better.

Better? Give me a break. As a result of how the producers treated Ms. Harper, the show is rarely seen in syndication and probably will never see the light of day on DVD. In fact, I have only one good piece of advice for Warner Bros. regarding The Hogan Family: burn the negatives and collect the insurance.

I think perhaps next to Bonnie Franklin (ONE DAY AT A TIME), Linda Lavin was perhaps the most "miscast" actress to star in a sitcom. She just was not a funny person. Franklin the same...very annoying. Polly Holliday was the star of "Alice" and it never recouped itself after Holliday left.

Even though Polly nor Linda has ever publically spoken about their "fued" (in all likelihood, it was a one way fued on Lavin's part) Diane Ladd had no problem speaking about it on the E! True Hollywood Story as well as in print interviews.

It pretty much goes that Linda Lavin became jealous that the character of Flo had become so popular and that the tension on the set could be downright palpable at times. Lavin made it known to producers that she could no longer tolerate working with Polly Holliday.

The producers came up with the idea of a spin-off for Flo to appease both actresses. It seemed to be a good fix to a nasty situation, plus the producers were making money off of two sitcoms, not just one.

The first season of FLO (a mid-season replacement consisting of only 6 episodes) did well in the ratings. However, CBS seemed to lose interest in the show after that. During it's second season the network moved it around on the schedule and audiences quickly lost track of tho show, since from week to week, they never knew when it would air. By the end of the 1980-81 season, FLO's ratings had fallen and CBS announced it's cancellation.

Does anyone have Alice The E! True Hollywood Story recorded? Please contact me via private message! Thanks.

Does anyone have Alice The E! True Hollywood Story recorded? Please contact me via private message! Thanks.


I never heard of a ETHS of Alice being done

I never heard of a ETHS of Alice being done


Maybe it originally ran under TV Tales. TV tales was canceled by E and some of the eps were converted to THS.

Maybe it originally ran under TV Tales. TV tales was canceled by E and some of the eps were converted to THS.


TV Tales was so much better than THS. I have TV Tales for

Jeffersons
Welcome Back Kotter

I'm sad to hear there was tension behind the scenes. :( I've been wondering why Flo seemed to get surly as the seasons went on. I guess the bad feelings on set is part of the explanation.

Surprised I haven't heard about this till now :confused:

'Alice' has always been a favorite show. There are so many good episodes that it surprises me to hear about all the turmoil between the actors and the producers/writers. A troubled show is often not good quality.

Even before I knew about the feud, I did start picking up on a little tension in season 4 (1979-80), Flo's last season. I particularly remember a very good episode where Mel installed a time clock and the waitresses were picketing the Diner. Whenever Flo would get a big laugh, Alice would look away, roll her eyes and sigh, appearing irritated. It was really a shame, too, because I actually think they did some of their best scenes together. They played off of each other's characters really well IMO.
I herd Linda(Alice) was hard to work with but I don't know how true that was.

Diane Ladd, who played Belle (who replaced Flo) didn't get along with Linda either. Belle only lasted one season.

Linda Lavin was supposed to be the star of the show, but her character had no personality. As the series progressed, Polly Holliday's Flo character became the focus, she had the personality and got most of the funny lines. Linda didn't like that and the problems started.

Well, I always enjoyed Linda Lavin's portrayal. She gave the character a lot of subtle nuance, and Flo being larger than life never took anything away from Alice, IMHO.

I believe the third season when the feud between Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday started to blow open. The show took off and that was their best season. In fourth season it was full tilt. People were watching the show for Flo not Alice. In the fourth season you can the tension between those two by the way they interacted with each other on camera. There weren't too many scenes they had together as they did in the early seasons because of the tension. Look at some of the episodes fo that season and you would see Linda rolling her eyes at Polly when she gets a laugh.

I never knew about the feud, but I was always a "casual" viewer, not a fan watching every detail... but I knew that the characters had always been a little incompatible from way back in the movie version, I seem to recall.

So I probably just attributed it to good acting!

I think perhaps next to Bonnie Franklin (ONE DAY AT A TIME), Linda Lavin was perhaps the most "miscast" actress to star in a sitcom. She just was not a funny person. Franklin the same...very annoying. Polly Holliday was the star of "Alice" and it never recouped itself after Holliday left.

I loved Bonnie Franklin in ODAT. She was perfect for the part IMHO. Linda Lavin was perfect for Alice. Every show needs a "voice of reason" and Bonnie & Linda were just that.
Plus each threw out a few funny lines once in awhile.

Where is everyone gleaning this "feud" information from? Is there a credible source that describes it? I never saw Diane Ladd speak about it and cannot find the source for that interview. If Linda nor Polly never discussed it, then who did?

Polly's role on Flo was an opportunity. A spin-off. I never heard it had anything to do with Linda hating her. It was a trial show: a great idea, very badly handled between goofy airdates and times and writing problems. The prodicers gave up on (in season 2) a show that did well in season 1.

And, BTW, Linda rolled her eyes constantly at Beth Howland. At every comedic/silly/immature line she uttered. Did she hate/was jealous of her too? This show was a comedy and the rolling eyes on this or any show, are usually to say, "Oh my God!".

I m just wondering how one differentiates (while watching a sitcom), between acting onset and off set feelings. Linda is a great stage actress and she can tell a story all by facial expression. So, I am a bit leery of the rolling eye-hated theory.
Unless there is a reliable source, I believe what has been stated above is merely an opinion, and not a known fact.
Please cite sources for all this information.
I would gladly agree with unprofessional behavior if there was proof of it.

Where is everyone gleaning this "feud" information from? Is there a credible source that describes it? I never saw Diane Ladd speak about it and cannot find the source for that interview. If Linda nor Polly never discussed it, then who did?

Polly's role on Flo was an opportunity. A spin-off. I never heard it had anything to do with Linda hating her. It was a trial show: a great idea, very badly handled between goofy airdates and times and writing problems. The prodicers gave up on (in season 2) a show that did well in season 1.

And, BTW, Linda rolled her eyes constantly at Beth Howland. At every comedic/silly/immature line she uttered. Did she hate/was jealous of her too? This show was a comedy and the rolling eyes on this or any show, are usually to say, "Oh my God!".


Unless there is a reliable source, I believe what has been stated above is merely an opinion, and not a known fact.
Please cite sources for all this information.
I would gladly agree with unprofessional behavior if there was proof of it.


That is a fair outlook and opinion. However, there is proof in the 1995 "E" special "Sitcom Stars: Where are they now?" hosted by One Day At A Time's Mackenzie Phillips. I can't remember all of what Polly says but I know it is stated that "Diane's work experience on the show was not a pleasant one". Then the interview begins with Diane saying that she was on set and she hugged Polly and told her good bye then Polly tells Diane with a certain look on her face "Good Luck!" Diane then said in her mind "Oh my God! What now?!!!" She admitted not having the greatest work experience on that show.

There is also an internet radio interview that has Diane Ladd confirming that Polly leaving to do a spinoff on her own was a lie but it was because of her problems on set with Linda. I heard this with my own ears, too. I have the VHS tape of "Sitcom Stars: Where are they now" but its in storage and the radio interview is floating somewhere on the internet but it is out there and the claims are true based on these two pieces of evidence.

When your a lead star of a sitcom and the supporting character seems to be the most popular, i can understand why Linda was jealous.

It seems to happen

But then you can't blame the actor as it isn't in their control on who is popular and who is not. But if Flo was so popular, why did her spin-off not last long?

Hang Time was like this show.

Daniella Deutscher (who plays Julie Connor, the main one) is like Linda Lavin.

Megan Parlen (who plays Mary Beth Pepperton, the supporting one) is like Beth Howland.

Hillary Tuck (who plays Samantha) is like Polly Holiday.

Paige Peterson (who plays Amy) is like Diane Ladd.

Amber Baretto (who plays Kristy) is like Celia Weston.

Hillary tuck left because of her talent growing too mature.

Paige Peterson left because she acts too erratically.

It's SO funny that Polly Holiday made Flo such a huge success on the show, considering it was Diane Ladd who originally played Flo in the original film version 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'. Once Polly left, Dianne stepped in and took back her original character, but the show went down because everyone wanted Polly back as Flo, Not Dianne...the ORIGINAL Flo.

That is a fair outlook and opinion. However, there is proof in the 1995 "E" special "Sitcom Stars: Where are they now?" hosted by One Day At A Time's Mackenzie Phillips. I can't remember all of what Polly says but I know it is stated that "Diane's work experience on the show was not a pleasant one". Then the interview begins with Diane saying that she was on set and she hugged Polly and told her good bye then Polly tells Diane with a certain look on her face "Good Luck!" Diane then said in her mind "Oh my God! What now?!!!" She admitted not having the greatest work experience on that show.

There is also an internet radio interview that has Diane Ladd confirming that Polly leaving to do a spinoff on her own was a lie but it was because of her problems on set with Linda. I heard this with my own ears, too. I have the VHS tape of "Sitcom Stars: Where are they now" but its in storage and the radio interview is floating somewhere on the internet but it is out there and the claims are true based on these two pieces of evidence.

I also heard that Valerie Harper wasn't fond of Linda Lavin stealing scenes from her when she guested on Rhoda.

I attended a writers symposium at the Writers Guild in LA back around 2000/2001. There were different writers who spoke to us, famous writers, and we had a question and answer session with Madelyn Pugh Davis & Bob Carroll Jr. They were not only the original writers on I Love Lucy, but they produced Alice as well (I don't remember if they wrote for Alice or not, I just remember they were producers.)

One of the writers in the room asked them what the set of "Alice" was like, because he had heard Linda Lavin was a "bitch". Pugh and Carroll Jr. adamantly denied that "rumor" about Linda Lavin. Instead, they blamed everyone else. I remember they said Polly Holiday was "difficult", and years later, she apologized for it. They felt Diane Ladd was "out of place" in the series. While she was nominated for an Oscar in the movie version, they felt she was not right for the series and they did not expect there would be any chemistry between Lavin and Ladd and they ended by saying "and we were right". Also, they said Vic Tayback could be a pain and had trouble memorizing his lines.

But in their eyes, Linda Lavin was a saint. And I guess you'd have to say they would know because they were certainly there.

It's SO funny that Polly Holiday made Flo such a huge success on the show, considering it was Diane Ladd who originally played Flo in the original film version 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'. Once Polly left, Dianne stepped in and took back her original character, but the show went down because everyone wanted Polly back as Flo, Not Dianne...the ORIGINAL Flo.
The show ran another five seasons after Polly left. That logic is like saying Cheers went down because people wanted Shelley Long back. Its ratings eventually went down due to age, but nothing at all to do with Flo leaving as it was still a top 10 hit another two seasons afterwards.

I also heard that Valerie Harper wasn't fond of Linda Lavin stealing scenes from her when she guested on Rhoda.

I had heard the same thing. CBS wanted Lavin to be a regular co-star on the show, after her debut in the early episode 'Rhoda's Shower' (in which she played a wealthy, snooty chum from her high school days). Lavin stole the episode - she was hilarious, and viewers loved her (which led the network to consider writing her in as a regular). However, her popularity didn't go over well with Harper, who nixed the idea (allegedly). CBS didn't give up....

The following year, Lavin was starring in her own CBS sitcom - Alice.

That maybe so, but IMO she was rarely funny on Alice. Polly Holliday was the true MVP of that show. I feel the same way about Bonnie Franklin from One Day at a Time. Was watching a 3rd season episode recently and speaking of MVP's I think on that show it was Valerie Bertinelli. A crackerjack little comedienne she was by this season. I was quite impressed with her.

Diane Ladd, who played Belle (who replaced Flo) didn't get along with Linda either. Belle only lasted one season.

She was on half of the 4th season which was the biggest rated season for Alice and then for most of season 5. They just aired the episode where she is barely seen and leaves via a phone call. Most of the show is dedicated to Jolene.

She was on half of the 4th season which was the biggest rated season for Alice and then for most of season 5. They just aired the episode where she is barely seen and leaves via a phone call. Most of the show is dedicated to Jolene.

No, Diane Ladd was only on for one fourth of season 4, the last quarter. Polly Holiday was in the majority of episodes, a full 18 out of 24, while Ladd was only in the last 6.

Season 4 stats here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Alice_episodes#Season_4_.281979.E2.80.9380.29)