She was really good on the show.

She was offered her own spin-off because she wasn't getting along very well with Linda Lavin. Linda was jealous of all the attention that the Flo character was getting.

http://i.imgur.com/So9Pdb1.jpg (http://lunapic.com)

Didn't know that

I wonder if the producers ever considered telling Linda Lavin that if she's unhappy about working with any of the cast members, she's free to leave and they'll just re-cast or kill off her character and simply call the show Mel's Diner.

I wonder if the producers ever considered telling Linda Lavin that if she's unhappy about working with any of the cast members, she's free to leave and they'll just re-cast or kill off her character and simply call the show Mel's Diner.

You would have think they would have told her that since FLO was the highlight of the show

I wonder if the producers ever considered telling Linda Lavin that if she's unhappy about working with any of the cast members, she's free to leave and they'll just re-cast or kill off her character and simply call the show Mel's Diner.

Linda's ego got the best of her, that's all.

I don't know if any of this is true but it is amazing how often these actors aren't satisfied with what they struggled their whole lives to have.

simply call the show Mel's Diner.

I've always thought that would have made a much better title for the show, and given the show a much more ensemble fee.

I don't know if any of this is true but it is amazing how often these actors aren't satisfied with what they struggled their whole lives to have.

Yes.
Strange, but it happens. For example, if you look at the "Screen Tests" of "The Monkees" you will hear Mike Nesmith say that he "needs" to be chosen for the TV sitcom and is hoping for it, which we all know, turned out to be in his favor. I think there is NO other screen test footage available for any other TV show ever in the history of TV, at least for the ones that became a hit, but you can see that all the young guys who eventually became The Monkees wanted the part they auditioned for. However after the show became popular there were disagreements between the cast members and the producers of the show (etc). Then years later, after the teenagers who grew up watching The Monkees were adults Mike Nesmith was the main member of The Monkees who refused to go on "reunion tours" or get together, and he wanted to forget The Monkees and concentrate on other projects and he even considered "The Monkees" to be a horrible part of his show-business life at least in a certain major way. Heck it was the main thing from which he became well known.

David Cassidy was another case, though I recently heard that it was not his idea to audition for the role of Keith Partridge, it was his agent who signed him up for the audition without David's knowledge and then when the character became popular and thus a money-maker for David Cassidy's agents, those agents and other such people just made sure that David Cassidy was presented as a "Partridge" who sings bubble gum songs. However it is a similar case, David Cassidy felt typecast and that the role of Keith Partridge was taking his career in a different direction than what he really wanted so he came to be dissatisfied with what it seemed that he worked hard to obtain.

I think that some of the cast of Gilligan's Island felt the same way, at least the actress who played "Ginger" did. I think there was a "reunion" TV show with all the original cast members of Gilligan's Island except the one who played "Ginger" who was played by a different actress.
The same happened when there was that strange "spinoff" of The Brady Bunch in which all the members of The Brady Bunch were brought together to host a variety show as the characters they portrayed in the sitcom and the only member of the cast who did not want to participate was Eve Plumb , so her part was played by a different actress.

In a way I understand it. Sure once you get a foothold in show business, you rather be taken seriously in your craft, but on the other hand, sometimes it does seem that some actors and performers just take it for granted that they managed to land a role in a show .

Que Sera, Sera

She left because she was tired of being harrassed by people in the public who thought she must be like Flo. She reported having her butt pinched and grabbed, people asking her to say "Kiss My Grits" and referring to her as "Flo" (and not by her real name). There were issues between Lavin/Holliday but that's not the real reason she left. She wanted to be back on broadway where she could return to a regular life and she also wanted to try her hand at more movies. I met her, she's an incredibly sweet lady but very private. The attention was too much for her. However, the producers didn't think Alice would survive without her so they talked her into doing Flo with a hefty price hike and promised to put her in movies (they only put her in a brief few scenes in Gremlins 5 years after Flo was off the airwaves). She moved to CBS for a short time to star in the TV series based on the movie Private Benjamin. She was only on for a short while while the main star Eileen Brennan was recovering from a terrible car accident. She was then given a role on the TV series "Stir Crazy" (again another series based on the movie) but after the pilot episode they were not pleased with the casting and replaced her. Not surprisingly the show only made it to the 9th episode. Polly finally got another series (again based on the movie) called "The Client" but it barely lasted one season. She stared in some TV movies (nothing really memorable). Made a few short appearances in studio movies and returned to her love of the theater. She retired officially in 2011.

She was offered her own spin-off because she wasn't getting along very well with Linda Lavin. Linda was jealous of all the attention that the Flo character was getting.

To put it in another way, Holliday and Lavin didn't get along, mostly due to Lavin's big ego. Holliday stole every scene and was taking over the show. So CBS offered her a chance to do her own show and she grabbed it.

She was offered her own spin-off because she wasn't getting along very well with Linda Lavin. Linda was jealous of all the attention that the Flo character was getting.

Linda seemed to be jelous of everybody. I thought the show would fail after there was no more kiss my grits and when donkeys fly.

Yes.
Strange, but it happens. For example, if you look at the "Screen Tests" of "The Monkees" you will hear Mike Nesmith say that he "needs" to be chosen for the TV sitcom and is hoping for it, which we all know, turned out to be in his favor. I think there is NO other screen test footage available for any other TV show ever in the history of TV, at least for the ones that became a hit, but you can see that all the young guys who eventually became The Monkees wanted the part they auditioned for. However after the show became popular there were disagreements between the cast members and the producers of the show (etc). Then years later, after the teenagers who grew up watching The Monkees were adults Mike Nesmith was the main member of The Monkees who refused to go on "reunion tours" or get together, and he wanted to forget The Monkees and concentrate on other projects and he even considered "The Monkees" to be a horrible part of his show-business life at least in a certain major way. Heck it was the main thing from which he became well known.

The thing with both Mike and Peter is that they were very much the starving musician type who thought this would give them a good outlet for their music, and give them some recognition. They didn't know what awaited them with the whole Don Kirschner thing, and they didn't realize they'd be regarded as a joke by the serious music community. It didn't matter so much to Davy (who was under contract with Columbia already) and Micky, who were both child stars. Mike was in an even more dire situation because he had a son and wife to support.

After the show, Mike became very wealthy through his mother (who invented Liquid Paper, and passed away with him as her sole heir), and had the stability to do what he wanted to do, and was smart in the direction he went (video production was the wave of the future, and he was at the forefront). He didn't NEED to do any Monkees stuff, wheras the others either wanted to do it, or needed to do it for money, or to fund pet projects.

I guess we'll never really know of the show was offered to Polly, or "forced" upon her.

In any event, is this the only time either Polly or Linda has addressed the rumors? This is from a 1980 People article when Flo premiered:

https://people.com/archive/kiss-what-polly-hollidays-true-grits-are-positively-decorous-compared-to-flo-vol-13-no-14/

The fact that Flo turned out to be such a sleeper caused one of the few ruffles in Holliday’s placid career. Flo’s emergence as the prima at Mel’s Diner purportedly upset Linda Lavin, Alice’s nominal star. Polly admits there were some “work tensions” on the set but nothing deeper. “People assumed that because Flo was very big that Linda must have her nose out of joint,” says Polly. “Well, Linda’s a bigger person than that.”

Someone asked Linda about Polly on her instagram and Linda said they haven't seen each other in about 30 years. That's all she said. I don't think Linda has ever commented on any issues there were. She has never denied or confirmed. Obviously not buddies if they haven't talked in that long. It's too bad. If Suzanne Somers could make up with John Ritter and Joyce Dewitt then these too could you would think.

Someone asked Linda about Polly on her instagram and Linda said they haven't seen each other in about 30 years. That's all she said. I don't think Linda has ever commented on any issues there were. She has never denied or confirmed. Obviously not buddies if they haven't talked in that long. It's too bad. If Suzanne Somers could make up with John Ritter and Joyce Dewitt then these too could you would think.

Allegedly, Linda Lavin was very prideful to let a secondary character/actor like Polly Holliday or Diane Ladd be the breakout star. Linda was evidently entirely concerned with people watching her show because of her. She wanted to be the center of the attention to put it in another way. Contrast that to Mary Tyler Moore realizing that the popularity of Valerie Harper brought more viewers to The Mary Tyler Moore Show or Ron Howard being happy to let Henry Winkler shine as Fonzie and it was to the good of Happy Days.

Of course, the real key to the puzzle is the fact that Polly Holiday stayed on for 3 seasons while her first replacement Diane Ladd only stayed on for a single season. So could it have been something Miss Lavin's part that may have possibly been contributing factors to them not staying to the series' end?

P.S. Yes, I know Flo's final replacement (Celia Weston) DID stay to the very end but Miss Weston was comparatively unknown compared to the first two performers (and also never came close to being a 'breakout star' on this series) so it could be that she was willing to endure whatever flak she may have gotten from Miss Lavin since she wanted to keep that steady paycheck (and/or the producers may have told Miss Lavin that they weren't going to put up having to cast the 'wisecracking pal' role a FOURTH time so she needed to back off).

Of course, the real key to the puzzle is the fact that Polly Holiday stayed on for 3 seasons while her first replacement Diane Ladd only stayed on for a single season. So could it have been something Miss Lavin's part that may have possibly been contributing factors to them not staying to the series' end?

P.S. Yes, I know Flo's final replacement (Celia Weston) DID stay to the very end but Miss Weston was comparatively unknown compared to the first two performers (and also never came close to being a 'breakout star' on this series) so it could be that she was willing to endure whatever flak she may have gotten from Miss Lavin since she wanted to keep that steady paycheck (and/or the producers may have told Miss Lavin that they weren't going to put up having to cast the 'wisecracking pal' role a FOURTH time so she needed to back off).


Makes sense, she knew she was a replacement and was not going to be the star.

I don't think any of the co stars ever spoke of the friction. Diane Ladd is the only person that has been outspoken about Linda. Lol back then there were a few shows that had breakout stars. Henry Winkler, Jimmie Walker, John Travolta and of course Polly. It looks like Linda felt Flo was taking the spotlight when the show was called ALICE and was supposed to be a vehicle for her. Instead people were waiting for Flo to shout Kiss my Grits!!!! That likely annoyed Linda.

It's too bad Linda could not accept this like Ron Howard did. Ron admitted his feelings were hurt at first when the Fonz started getting popular but he sucked it up and did what was best for the show.

The fact that Linda has never addressed it leads everyone to believe it to be true. Interviewers over the years have never even asked her to clear up any rumors. lol

All of this frustrates me because I am a huge fan of the show. Flo was a huge character that made the show even more popular. Once she left it was never quite the same. Its sad when attitudes ruin things. Linda was still the star of the show. HELLO. The show is called Alice. Each character on the show was perfectly cast, that is an asset and a plus. Because Polly took Flo to places no one could have, it should not have been held against her or the show. People are idiots at CBS allowing or forcing Polly off the show.
Its sort of like what Jimmy Walker said about Good Times. Why are people trying to kill the goose who laid the golden egg. They had a huge hit show and why would anyone want to mess with the formula.

All of this frustrates me because I am a huge fan of the show. Flo was a huge character that made the show even more popular. Once she left it was never quite the same. Its sad when attitudes ruin things. Linda was still the star of the show. HELLO. The show is called Alice. Each character on the show was perfectly cast, that is an asset and a plus. Because Polly took Flo to places no one could have, it should not have been held against her or the show. People are idiots at CBS allowing or forcing Polly off the show.
Its sort of like what Jimmy Walker said about Good Times. Why are people trying to kill the goose who laid the golden egg. They had a huge hit show and why would anyone want to mess with the formula.

I found out she wasnt forced off the show, She was approached about having her own show during season 1 of Alice. Up until now I always thought she was forced off the show since she never returned. Now I have to find out why she never returned back to the show

Just scanned through the Flo chapter and it only mentions that the show was cancelled due to poor ratings and that Polly was nominated for an Emmy Award but nothing about

What the exact ratings were and why she didnt return back to Alice


Book was a waste of money

There is a interview online with Polly after she left and was starting the Flo Series and when asked she said there were set tensions but nothing serious. And then they asked if she would ever retrurn to Alice if her own show didn't work out and she said No.

I had posted on the prior page (last post of the page), the link to Polly's comments about set tensions. She was also complimentary of Linda.

I watched Linda's 2020 interview with AfterBuzzTV- she was talking about how Alice came to be, and she actually said Polly's name (along with Beth and Vic). :p Though Linda's done that prior- even in her 2003 Intimate Portrait/Biography special, she mentioned Polly, as well as Diane Ladd.

I think they wrote themselves into a corner that made it unlikely that Flo could come back permanently. She left to have a better life. How could they have her going back to Phoenix to be a waitress again. It wouldn't make any sense.

I think they wrote themselves into a corner that made it unlikely that Flo could come back permanently. She left to have a better life. How could they have her going back to Phoenix to be a waitress again. It wouldn't make any sense.

Yeah fly all the way back from Texas to be a waitress again wouldnt have made sense

Yeah fly all the way back from Texas to be a waitress again wouldnt have made sense

Well, after Marla Gibbs attempted spin-off 'Checking In' checked out after something like two episodes, Florence came BACK to 'The Jeffersons' (with the storyline that the high rise hotel she'd become the head maid at had 'burst into flames' along with her new job) as their housekeeper and stayed on the show until it went off the air. Hence, I think if Miss Holiday and the producers all wanted Flo back, they COULD have contrived something but Miss Holiday had simply had decided that, whether 'Flo' worked out as a spinoff or not, she was NOT going to return no matter what!

Per a TV Guide article posted in the Flo forum, Polly was given a series option at/near the end of the first season. And then talks of a spinoff started to take shape at the end of the second season. So, it's possible those rumors of Linda "forcing" Polly off the show may not be so.

Maybe Linda was upset that Polly was leaving? I had posted the section from People magazine, when Flo premiered- see earlier on this page. What she said didn't indicate that Linda was particularly perturbed over the popularity of the Flo character.

Now, we know Diane Ladd had difficulties with Linda, per her post-Alice comments.

The fact that Linda has never addressed it leads everyone to believe it to be true. Interviewers over the years have never even asked her to clear up any rumors. lol

Great point.

She left the show because the spinoff was planned when the show first started

I wonder if the producers ever considered telling Linda Lavin that if she's unhappy about working with any of the cast members, she's free to leave and they'll just re-cast or kill off her character and simply call the show Mel's Diner.

It's funny because it seems nearly everyone calls this show "Mel's Diner"

Even with what we know about Polly having a series option as early as season 1, and talks of the Flo spin-off happening as early as the end of season 2, some still think Linda forced Polly off the show. Certainly doesn't look/sound that way. Plus, we also know that Polly had issues with a couple of Flo co-stars (from that book I posted about in the Flo forum).

I admire, and am fans of, both Linda and Polly. They worked well together, all the way through Flo's exit.

Wouldn't it be funny if it turned out that Polly was the difficult one after all these years. Lol I am not saying that's true though.

Could be. There's more evidence that Linda and Diane Ladd had an issue more so than Linda and Polly- all we've heard of the latter are rumors, nothing substantiated, other than Polly acknowledging, when Flo was premiering, there were tensions on the Alice set, though she spoke positively of Linda (whether it was not to ruffle feathers or not, that's what we got).