Linda Lavin as Detective Janice Wentworth or as Alice Hyatt.

I like her in the Wentworth role. Wish she could have become a regular.

She seemed to be sort of a straight man on Alice. On Barney Miller , I think we got to see more of her comedic talents.

I liked her in both roles.

I haven't seen Alice in a while, but that was her show, so I think she was given more room to shine there.

As Wentworth she was a supporting recurring character- these kind of appearance usually get good material to work with. But anything good in small amounts seems even better.

I don't know if BM would have worked with her as a regular cast member. It would have destroyed the "boys" camradere and bonding. (not to mention this was the 70s, and how many women's issues would have been brought up constantly?).

Lavin could have held her own and done well, no doubt. But I just don't know what it would have done to the overall chemistry and gelling of the cast.

I liked that Wentworth was a character who spoke first and thought second. She had a big mouth and a temper. In any case, Linda Lavin did a great job in the role. :D

Agreed. I just finished Season 1 and was pleasantly surprised to see her!

Linda Lavin as Detective Janice Wentworth or as Alice Hyatt.

.

I never watched a single episode of Alice until just in the past 6 months. Never knew that Linda Lavin was Alice.

In her role as Wentworth, I always found her to have a certain appeal, even though I would not typify her as "sexy" or beautiful

As Alice, that appeal is gone.....so it must have been something about the behavior of the character..the "free spirit" thing.that Wentworth had going on was lost somewhere in the more meaningful Alice?

I didn't know she was on Barney Miller. I'll have to watch that show more often. She was also in an episode of The Good Wife. Very uncomedic role. She played Cary's parole officer, but it was nice to see her in something else besides Alice. Almost didn't recognize her b/c she looked so different.

I didn't know she was on Barney Miller. I'll have to watch that show more often. She was also in an episode of The Good Wife. Very uncomedic role. She played Cary's parole officer, but it was nice to see her in something else besides Alice. Almost didn't recognize her b/c she looked so different.

She was good as Wentworth even though she wasn’t on the show that long. Mostly S2 I think.

She's had a good career. She played someone on Mom a few years back - someone's boyfriend's mother iirc.

I liked her as Wentworth too. Her & Wojo had some odd chemistry that was kind of funny.