This morning I went through my DVD archives and watched the reunion movie and thought to myself "why was this not in the DVD set". I am not upset about it since I have the reunion movie but it was definitely a missed opportunity for those who either have not seen it or don't have it in their collections.

The movie does not really have much of an impact to the series as a whole but is still a nod to the show.

I'm glad they included the PaleyFest reunion though which I guess sort of makes up for the reunion movie.

I wish the full version of the PaleyFest was available on DVD. It seems they cut Felice from the footage. I would buy that version in a heartbeat.

I wish the full version of the PaleyFest was available on DVD. It seems they cut Felice from the footage. I would buy that version in a heartbeat.

What? "Felice"?

[Lost Girl ears perk up]

:lookaroun

What? "Felice"?

[Lost Girl ears perk up]

:lookaroun

:lol:

Yes. Some online descriptions of the PaleyFest event state that Felice spoke at the event. I have never seen this footage, but I'd LOVE to see it. I only saw the footage of the Core Four and Charlotte.

:lol:

Yes. Some online descriptions of the PaleyFest event state that Felice spoke at the event. I have never seen this footage, but I'd LOVE to see it. I only saw the footage of the Core Four and Charlotte.

Perhaps it's a rumor? I've been STUNNED to learn that apparently Linda Lavin's monster ego was nothing but made-up lies and that it was never her idea for Polly Holliday to leave as Flo on "Alice"! For FORTY YEARS fans have been believing otherwise!

Perhaps it's a rumor? I've been STUNNED to learn that apparently Linda Lavin's monster ego was nothing but made-up lies and that it was never her idea for Polly Holliday to leave as Flo on "Alice"! For FORTY YEARS fans have been believing otherwise!

I have always believed the Lavin rumors, but I'm open to correction.

Here (https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=the+beatlesp%3D9item%3Dt89%3A0212&p=311&item=116147) is the description of the full PaleyFest DVD, long version, including mention of Felice and Molly, and their "lack of bitterness" in being 'let go'. That version of the video runs almost five hours long.

Perhaps it's a rumor? I've been STUNNED to learn that apparently Linda Lavin's monster ego was nothing but made-up lies and that it was never her idea for Polly Holliday to leave as Flo on "Alice"! For FORTY YEARS fans have been believing otherwise!

So she might not be as bad as you thought?

I have always believed the Lavin rumors, but I'm open to correction.

Here (https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=the+beatlesp%3D9item%3Dt89%3A0212&p=311&item=116147) is the description of the full PaleyFest DVD, long version, including mention of Felice and Molly, and their "lack of bitterness" in being 'let go'. That version of the video runs almost five hours long.

Molly's lack of bitterness for being let go? Who are they trying to fool?

Molly's lack of bitterness for being let go? Who are they trying to fool?

:lol:

I actually saw part of that segment, because a fan had recorded it on his/her cell phone, and posted it on YouTube.

In the Q&A session, a fan asked the Core Four (I believe Kim was only there via video stream, so she wasn't present for the Q&A) if it was "awkward" for them to work with the Lost Girls after the Cast Purge.

Lisa said no; that she had previously worked with Julie Piekarski on the NMMC. Nancy also said no, but then said "but maybe we're not the ones to be asked."

We all know Molly was bitter, but I don't think they were actually specifically talking about Molly.

So she might not be as bad as you thought?

I have always believed the Lavin rumors, but I'm open to correction.

I used to too, but IF the below is true, then she has been wronged.

IF...

"I have spent a lifetime knowing a lot of the cast and researching the history of ALICE. Warner Brothers thought spinning off Flo was a sure fire hit. It wasn’t anyone’s idea outside of the network and WB. It took a lot of convincingly to get Polly to say yes. I kind of think CBS was largely to blame for Flo’s demise from moving the show three times before it withered away. The spinoff was not anything Linda or even Polly came up with. As an ALICE historian, I have a lot of interesting literature I’ve saved over the years. Linda was and is a generous and caring actor. Polly likewise was exceptionally gifted and in her element with Flo. It didn’t gel as well after she left. We thankfully have nine years of ALICE and four seasons with Flo.

CBS did everything but get on their hands and knees to beg Polly to return. But she wouldn’t. She had said in interviews as she was leaving that she couldn’t come back if the spinoff failed. Polly kind of laid the groundwork to make it difficult for herself later. I have news clips that were printed during the attempted negotiations. I loved Jolene but I always thought it would be fun to have Flo also back. The producers told Polly they would write in the script a Diner expansion to allow for four waitresses. Sad it could never happen.

And for all these years the rumors were Linda was the cause of Polly's departure and the reason she never returned. But in fairness to Polly she told "The Insider" in 2006 there was never any discord on the set of Alice. Also Phil himself told several people I know on Facebook that they all got along and if there was any "feuds" he certainly was never a witness to it."

I used to too, but IF the below is true, then she has been wronged.

IF...

"I have spent a lifetime knowing a lot of the cast and researching the history of ALICE. Warner Brothers thought spinning off Flo was a sure fire hit. It wasn’t anyone’s idea outside of the network and WB. It took a lot of convincingly to get Polly to say yes. I kind of think CBS was largely to blame for Flo’s demise from moving the show three times before it withered away. The spinoff was not anything Linda or even Polly came up with. As an ALICE historian, I have a lot of interesting literature I’ve saved over the years. Linda was and is a generous and caring actor. Polly likewise was exceptionally gifted and in her element with Flo. It didn’t gel as well after she left. We thankfully have nine years of ALICE and four seasons with Flo.


There were only two seasons of Flo, including an extremely short first "season". How can someone claim to be an expert on Alice, knowing all this behind-the-scenes stuff, and not even know how long Flo ran? :lol:

There were only two seasons of Flo, including an extremely short first "season". How can someone claim to be an expert on Alice, knowing all this behind-the-scenes stuff, and not even know how long Flo ran? :lol:

Oh, no, you're just misreading it. :) What they were meaning is that we have 9 seasons of Alice, and 4 of those seasons with the character Flo.

Oh, no, you're just misreading it. :) What they were meaning is that we have 9 seasons of Alice, and 4 of those seasons with the character Flo.

Oh, THAT makes more sense! Who is the source?

Oh, THAT makes more sense! Who is the source?

Nice try, "Mr. Parker"! You're not gonna get me to reveal my trusted source for my article in "The Eastlander"!

;)

:p

:lol:

Nice try, "Mr. Parker"! You're not gonna get me to reveal my trusted source for my article in "The Eastlander"!

;)

:p

:lol:


Well we have one source, Diane Ladd, who complained about Linda's behavior on Alice. If I remember correctly, Diane said Linda was jealous of her. Plus I remember Linda saying in an interview "we had two actresses play waitresses and leave and then the talented Celia Weston came on" or something like that. She didn't mention Diane or Polly by name. She didn't give them compliments. She only complimented Celia's work on the show. Their words kind of hint there was bad blood there on the show and it centered around Linda. I like Alice but those later years after Flo left are no where near as good. There were also episode remakes that made the show a chore to watch. How many times can Mel lose the diner? How many times are the waitresses going to quit? They should have called it quits after Diane left.

Well we have one source, Diane Ladd, who complained about Linda's behavior on Alice. If I remember correctly, Diane said Linda was jealous of her. Plus I remember Linda saying in an interview "we had two actresses play waitresses and leave and then the talented Celia Weston came on" or something like that. She didn't mention Diane or Polly by name. She didn't give them compliments. She only complimented Celia's work on the show. Their words kind of hint there was bad blood there on the show and it centered around Linda. I like Alice but those later years after Flo left are no where near as good. There were also episode remakes that made the show a chore to watch. How many times can Mel lose the diner? How many times are the waitresses going to quit? They should have called it quits after Diane left.

Like Christopher, I am very skeptical about Linda Lavin being innocent of all these rumors, in part because of what I myself witnessed at the time (Linda scowling or even looking angry when "Flo" said her catchphrase), and because of the strained or oddly-worded interviews from that era. At the time, it was widely reported that Linda and Polly had had a spat, and they could easily have addressed those rumors with a show of affection, but they did not.

I also think it would have been nice to have the reunion movie on the series DVD set. I know it aired on ABC, rather than NBC- also, maybe the owners/those holding the rights were different than the series?

As for Lavin/Holliday- I had posted in an Alice thread an interview Polly did with People in 1980 when Flo was premiering. That's the only items online I could find with one of them addressing the rumors.

I also think it would have been nice to have the reunion movie on the series DVD set. I know it aired on ABC, rather than NBC- also, maybe the owners/those holding the rights were different than the series?

I suspect that is the case as well.


As for Lavin/Holliday- I had posted in an Alice thread an interview Polly did with People in 1980 when Flo was premiering. That's the only items online I could find with one of them addressing the rumors.

At the time it happened, there were many mainstream columnists covering the story. I'm sure there have got to be other articles/comments about it.

Like Christopher, I am very skeptical about Linda Lavin being innocent of all these rumors, in part because of what I myself witnessed at the time (Linda scowling or even looking angry when "Flo" said her catchphrase)

Do you happen to have a link of Alice scowling or looking angry after Flo said her catchphrase? I'd like to see it if you do. I remember someone pointing out a specific episode once, but I didn't see anything like that from Alice when I finally saw the episode, but it was a Logo airing, so it was likely just cut out.

Do you happen to have a link of Alice scowling or looking angry after Flo said her catchphrase? I'd like to see it if you do. I remember someone pointing out a specific episode once, but I didn't see anything like that from Alice when I finally saw the episode, but it was a Logo airing, so it was likely just cut out.

I have no links, but if you watch the DVDs through seasons 3 and 4, you will very likely spot it. (It was pointed out to me at the time). Sorry to be so vague, but it's been a lot of years since I've seen the show. It's possible that other people here have seen it.

This kind of thing happens often when someone who is not the star of the show becomes a star and the lead actor/actress becomes resentful. Especially when the show is named after your character.

I have no links, but if you watch the DVDs through seasons 3 and 4, you will very likely spot it.

It's not worth all of that.

Sorry to be so vague, but it's been a lot of years since I've seen the show.

It's okay.

Nice try, "Mr. Parker"! You're not gonna get me to reveal my trusted source for my article in "The Eastlander"!

;)

:p

:lol:

But really, the source was a contributor to the new book that recently came out all about "Alice".

in part because of what I myself witnessed at the time (Linda scowling or even looking angry when "Flo" said her catchphrase)

I have the first 4 seasons, but I don't "see" that. It seems to be maybe one of those things where you can see it if you're looking for it and you want to see it, and you don't see if it you're not (as far as "Linda", I mean. Perhaps Alice's reaction was scripted or directed, but I still never got that feeling the actress or the character was bitter over the line).

I'm still not 100% convinced myself over Lavin's innocence (lol), but it is fascinating to entertain the notion that maybe things weren't how they seemed.

Here's his response after I relayed to him not everyone's convinced:

"I don’t think it’s realistic to say that there is absolutely no tension. But a five minute disagreement can turn into a multi-year feud by the time the gossip folks are done with it. Reasonable people can disagree. Polly and Linda are both professionals to the 10th degree. I have a story that tells about the two of them going to see Vic Tayback in the hospital in 1983."

And this from a guy who's very big into the show:

"Well I am thinking maybe Diane had issues. I was told Diane went on set very demanding and bitchy...then when she got her Emmy she was a total nightmare. Then Warner Bros. was upset, furious with her when she quit mid-season with no notice. But Linda and Polly may have just had personality issues. But Polly to this day never bad mouthed Linda. Then after 7 seasons the show got really stale and boring. The producers went to Polly in 1983 asking her to return as Flo and they were going to have 4 waitresses like on It's A Living. Polly declined because she was beginning filming Gremlins."

The producers went to Polly in 1983 asking her to return as Flo and they were going to have 4 waitresses like on It's A Living. Polly declined because she was beginning filming Gremlins."

Thanks for the commentary and the differing perspectives, but I just don't buy it. It didn't take two years to film Gremlins, so Polly could have returned at any time. The fact that she did not speaks volumes.

Thanks for the commentary and the differing perspectives, but I just don't buy it. It didn't take two years to film Gremlins, so Polly could have returned at any time. The fact that she did not speaks volumes.

Well, that contributor to the "Alice" book did say in that first message about this I posted that "CBS did everything but get on their hands and knees to beg Polly to return. But she wouldn’t. She had said in interviews as she was leaving that she couldn’t come back if the spinoff failed. Polly kind of laid the groundwork to make it difficult for herself later."

Now, regarding that "she said she couldn't back if the spinoff failed", I wonder if he means Polly's attitude there was the same as Vicki Lawrence's in the late '70s? When "The Carol Burnett Show" producer (and Burnett husband at the time) Joe Hamilton wanted to spin off "The Family" (Mama and clan) into a spin-off, young, inexperienced Vicki was very concerned, and said, "What if it doesn't work??" And Joe said, "Then we'll bring you back here." And she said, unbelievably, "With my tail between my legs??? No, no, no, no, no, no!"

Then a few years later when Charlotte is offered her own spin-off, she sees it as a grateful blessing. Funny how experienced show business performers have different perspectives than newbies who never ventured to go into show biz in the first place. #foodforthought