Damm even in the DVD world the FLO character is still out shinning Alice lol [Archive] - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ahafan02

02-17-2016, 01:36 PM

I thought about this too, how ironic is it that Linda Lavin reportedly got Polly booted off of her show to get the spotlight back on herself, but now 40 years later Flo is the character complete on DVD---not Alice. Makes you wonder if it's karma...

This is actually not true. Linda Lavin didn't have much say in anything (she tried tho...until the final few seasons where she was given much more of a voice in the show's content). Polly (who I have had the pleasure of meeting a few times, a very lovely but private lady) had gotten to a point where she was growing tired of being called Flo outside the show and constantly being asked to say "kiss my grits". She wanted out, she wanted to return to Broadway and possibly making movies. Warner offered her an absurd amount of money to make her own show "Flo" (and a promise to put her in a few movies) as they thought "Alice" would sink without her. IMO the show Flo had terrible writers and the show is rather dull (certainly not Polly's fault) and was canceled after the second season. When Linda was given the role of Alice she was told the show would be about her struggling with being a single working mom. Flo's character was meant to mimic the original character in the movie. After the pilot episode the producers knew that just HAD to give Flo more involvement in the show this deeply irritated Linda and the war between them two was started. Linda would complain about how much time Flo had in each episode and why she had the "funny" lines. Polly was very professional and did not let Linda bully her. Linda very rarely attack Polly (she knew Polly would let her have it). Instead she had many meetings privately with writers and the producers. To find a middle ground there are some episodes where Flo is barely there or has very little lines. The more popular Flo became the more producers were convinced they just had to make her a leading star along with Linda. Linda would constantly complain. Linda got along well with Polly's replacement, Diane Ladd. Sadly Diane was an alcoholic at that time and would often show up late and sometimes intoxicated forcing the producers to fire her (and yes she did get fired). Jolene's character was toned down to allow Linda's story to be up front. Beth Howland said she never had a problem with Linda but has never elaborated on the Linda/Polly situation. I hope this clears some of the rumors. My father was a seasoned Cinematographer contracted exclusively by Warner. He did movies and many TV shows including many Alice episodes. I got to go on the set a few times (a few with Diane Ladd and many with Jolene). Linda ignored me (I think she hated having "unnecessary" people on set). Diane was aloof and Mel/Vera treated me very well. I still have autographs from Vic and Beth. Vic gave me an old pocketknife he said he got on his 16 birthday, I wish I still had it. Philip (don't call him Phil) was fairly nice to me as well but he was 9 years older then me and I was just a "little kid" to him. He also gave me an autograph from him that said "keep growing up kid" LOL (I lost that autography which I had in a picture frame with the others, I still believe one of my ex's took it). I never asked Linda as my dad forbid me to ask and threatened to never let me come back and Diane was always in a bitchy mood, she scared me LOL. BTW when my dad would let everyone know he was bringing me the next day beth would bring me the most delicious butterscotch cookies I have ever ate.