Belle was only there 1 season unfortunately so what reason did they give for her sudden disappearance??

She phoned the diner to say she took a job as a backup singer in Nashville. She didn't last the whole season; apparently, she and Linda (and maybe others) didn't get along well.

She phoned the diner to say she took a job as a backup singer in Nashville. She didn't last the whole season; apparently, she and Linda (and maybe others) didn't get along well.

She didn't even last the entire season?? What a joke! Linda Lavin seems have an awful personality that's the total OPPOSITE of the character she played on Alice!

You're supposed to want the BEST people for the job!

Belle lasted a season's worth of episodes (22) except they were spread out. She joined in Spring 1980 and left in Spring 1981 so appeared in both Seasons 4 and 5.

It would be interesting to read more about behind the scenes of this show. but I do not think we will ever hear much about it. There were at least a handful of performers and personnel that did not want to discuss much in detail, other than some general comments about some problems on the set.

It would be interesting to read more about behind the scenes of this show. but I do not think we will ever hear much about it. There were at least a handful of performers and personnel that did not want to discuss much in detail, other than some general comments about some problems on the set.

Yeah, that would be interesting. If Lavin was so awful you would think at least Beth Howland (Vera) would have said something when she was alive.

But it certainly seems like Lavin was awful to many cast members on Alice. It looks like Vera just didn't want to say anything for whatever reason.

Belle lasted a season's worth of episodes (22) except they were spread out. She joined in Spring 1980 and left in Spring 1981 so appeared in both Seasons 4 and 5.

Belle's last episode was "Macho Macho Mel" in season 5. Ridiculous that they have NO explanation for her SUDDEN disappearance!

Belle's last episode was "Macho Macho Mel" in season 5. Ridiculous that they have NO explanation for her SUDDEN disappearance!

Belle's last episode was "The Great Escape" in season 5 where they stated the reason why she wasn't coming back. She had the Suzanne Somers treatment where her character was on the phone telling Mel she's staying where she's at for her singing career. There was no sudden disappearance if you watch the episode "The Great Escape".

It just wasn't realistic though, to me it seemed more like a Jolene episode than a Belle episode, I always found it funny Belle got billing in that episode, it seems they would have just made that one Jolene's first episode, and put Jolene in the opening, instead of Belle with her just appearing what, 10 seconds at most lol

Also did Belle just LEAVE her whole apartment? Furnishings and all? It was just a strange transition.

It just wasn't realistic though, to me it seemed more like a Jolene episode than a Belle episode, I always found it funny Belle got billing in that episode, it seems they would have just made that one Jolene's first episode, and put Jolene in the opening, instead of Belle with her just appearing what, 10 seconds at most lol

Also did Belle just LEAVE her whole apartment? Furnishings and all? It was just a strange transition.

Yeah, that's stupid. IRL she would've come back for a moving out episode or something. But she never should be left AT ALL because she was the best blonde waitress along with Flo! But a lot hotter than Flo!

Belle's last episode was "The Great Escape" in season 5 where they stated the reason why she wasn't coming back. She had the Suzanne Somers treatment where her character was on the phone telling Mel she's staying where she's at for her singing career. There was no sudden disappearance if you watch the episode "The Great Escape".

Singing career?? I don't recall a single episode where Belle was singing. There were several where Alice was singing & she made it clear since the first episode that she wanted to be a singer. I never heard Belle say that.

I always assumed MAYBE Belle came back at some point, off screen, to clear out her apartment, where she maybe said her final good-byes and perhaps met Jolene, and maybe they threw her a party like they did for Flo. I just always assumed that.

But her just abruptly leaving like that, I guess, just accentuates the "free-spiritness" associated with her character.

And yes, Belle was interested in a singing career, but just a different style from Alice, Belle always aspired to be a country-Western singer, she had written lyrics for a couple of songs.

Singing career?? I don't recall a single episode where Belle was singing. There were several where Alice was singing & she made it clear since the first episode that she wanted to be a singer. I never heard Belle say that.


Have you seen any Belle episodes? Her first entrance in the show was about her performing at a night club singing the "Uncle Bob" song. Personally I think Diane was more believable in the role as a singer than Linda. Linda's voice was like nails on a chalkboard a lot of times. Too high pitch for my tastes.

Have you seen any Belle episodes? Her first entrance in the show was about her performing at a night club singing the "Uncle Bob" song. Personally I think Diane was more believable in the role as a singer than Linda. Linda's voice was like nails on a chalkboard a lot of times. Too high pitch for my tastes.


It's possible that someone could have missed the Belle episodes, she is on for such a short time. I used to watch this show all the time as a kid, and I just remember it always flip-flopping back and forth between Flo and Jolene! Then one day I started watching and Belle was on and I just assumed she was the LAST waitress after Jolene, I didn't realize she came before Jolene until recently lol