where the hell is BELLE?:lol:

Its episode 18 of season 5 now and Jolene was introduced in The Great escape, ep 17

I just saw this episode and Belle called in by phone from Nashville to tell Mel she had accepted a singing job there. Diane Ladd was not on the show very long at all. As unconfident in herself as Linda Lavin was, I’m surprised she approved the hiring of an established movie star such as Diane Ladd To replace the wonderful Flo. Apparently lavin soon realized that she was being upstaged by Ladd just as she had been by Polly Holliday. So that meant Ladd had to go and a no-name actress was hired so as not to be a “threat” to lavin! Polly Holliday was my hands-down favorite. She made the show. She never should have been fired.

I just saw this episode and Belle called in by phone from Nashville to tell Mel she had accepted a singing job there. Diane Ladd was not on the show very long at all. As unconfident in herself as Linda Lavin was, I’m surprised she approved the hiring of an established movie star such as Diane Ladd To replace the wonderful Flo. Apparently lavin soon realized that she was being upstaged by Ladd just as she had been by Polly Holliday. So that meant Ladd had to go and a no-name actress was hired so as not to be a “threat” to lavin! Polly Holliday was my hands-down favorite. She made the show. She never should have been fired.

I found out the phone call was in the beginning of the episode and missed it. I think I was in the kitchen getting my dinner and the show already started. All I saw was the arrival of Jolene

I found out the phone call was in the beginning of the episode and missed it. I think I was in the kitchen getting my dinner and the show already started. All I saw was the arrival of Jolene

The phone call scene is towards the end of the episode. It's when Jolene needs a job that Belle conveniently calls to tell Mel she quits.

The phone call scene is towards the end of the episode. It's when Jolene needs a job that Belle conveniently calls to tell Mel she quits.

I have no clue what the hell I was doing that phone scene came on

I just saw this episode and Belle called in by phone from Nashville to tell Mel she had accepted a singing job there. Diane Ladd was not on the show very long at all. As unconfident in herself as Linda Lavin was, I’m surprised she approved the hiring of an established movie star such as Diane Ladd To replace the wonderful Flo. Apparently lavin soon realized that she was being upstaged by Ladd just as she had been by Polly Holliday. So that meant Ladd had to go and a no-name actress was hired so as not to be a “threat” to lavin! Polly Holliday was my hands-down favorite. She made the show. She never should have been fired.

Was Ladd actually fired?

As I understood it, she signed on to do one year, fulfilled her contract, and left.

I don't know for certain if that's the case, but I don't think she cared much for Linda Lavin either and was probably not heartbroken at having to leave.

Was Ladd actually fired?

As I understood it, she signed on to do one year, fulfilled her contract, and left.

I don't know for certain if that's the case, but I don't think she cared much for Linda Lavin either and was probably not heartbroken at having to leave.

she needed to go, too much like the person that she was replacing. Jolene dont make me think of Flo

she needed to go, too much like the person that she was replacing. Jolene dont make me think of Flo

So you think Polly Holiday (Flo) needed to go?

She was the best character on that show, IMO.

So you think Polly Holiday (Flo) needed to go?

She was the best character on that show, IMO.

No Belle, she was acting too much like her

I don’t think Ladd was fired. My guess is she asked to be released and it was granted.

No Belle, she was acting too much like her

Well, in all fairness, she was the original Flo from the movie.

Perhaps they wanted her to be a stand-in for Flo and told her to act that way.

I don’t think Ladd was fired. My guess is she asked to be released and it was granted.

You're probably right. One year was enough for Ladd. It's too bad Linda Lavin was so insecure.

Well, in all fairness, she was the original Flo from the movie.

Perhaps they wanted her to be a stand-in for Flo and told her to act that way.

Ok that makes sense because I never been a fan of replaces when it comes to anything lol News anchors, sports anchors, tv characters

she needed to go, too much like the person that she was replacing.

Belle was also like Alice too. She wanted to be a singer. In the Jerry Reed episode remake with Belle in it, she acted like Alice did in the first Jerry Reed episode trying to get him to hear her sing. There wasn't any originality to Belle at all. I don't think that's why Diane left though. Linda is a difficult person to work with and Diane even commented she was glad to be off that show. You know there's drama behind the scenes when an actor / actress willingly leaves an award winning role. I hope she rubbed it in Linda's face it only took her half a year to win an award for her acting while it took Linda 3 years to get an award for hers :lol:

Belle was also like Alice too. She wanted to be a singer. In the Jerry Reed episode remake with Belle in it, she acted like Alice did in the first Jerry Reed episode trying to get him to hear her sing. There wasn't any originality to Belle at all. I don't think that's why Diane left though. Linda is a difficult person to work with and Diane even commented she was glad to be off that show. You know there's drama behind the scenes when an actor / actress willingly leaves an award winning role. I hope she rubbed it in Linda's face it only took her half a year to win an award for her acting while it took Linda 3 years to get an award for hers :lol:

I figured something was up since she was only there one season

I figured something was up since she was only there one season

There's a good interview from Linda that really tells how she felt about Polly and Diane. She refers to Polly and Diana as "two actresses" before saying how they got this wonderful actress Celia to play Jolene. She doesn't list Diane or Polly by name. She doesn't praise their work. She instead speaks highly of Celia. I get why she wasn't threaten by Celia and liked her the best. Celia was a mediocre actress just like Linda and wasn't that attractive just like Linda. I also don't think Celia was ever nominated for her role which is what Linda wanted. That's why I hope Diane gloated about winning an award because Linda was a jealous person who ruined Alice.

There's a good interview from Linda that really tells how she felt about Polly and Diane. She refers to Polly and Diana as "two actresses" before saying how they got this wonderful actress Celia to play Jolene. She doesn't list Diane or Polly by name. She doesn't praise their work. She instead speaks highly of Celia. I get why she wasn't threaten by Celia and liked her the best. Celia was a mediocre actress just like Linda and wasn't that attractive just like Linda. I also don't think Celia was ever nominated for her role which is what Linda wanted. That's why I hope Diane gloated about winning an award because Linda was a jealous person who ruined Alice.

Celia definitely she looked like she was definitely told to not outshine anyone just be a support character

I figured something was up since she was only there one season

You'll notice that you never heard much at all about Celia Weston's time on the show. My guess is that she was more docile or someone warned her about acting up or acting out. She must've done something right, because she stayed with the show until the end.

You'll notice that you never heard much at all about Celia Weston's time on the show. My guess is that she was more docile or someone warned her about acting up or acting out. She must've done something right, because she stayed with the show until the end.

She was probably glad to have a steady job lol

She was probably glad to have a steady job lol

No doubt.