Seriously. The casting for this show was so good which is why it worked so well. Each actor took their character to a level that I don't think anyone else could have. I remember hearing Polly say once that she was shunned in Hollywood because of her heavy southern Alabama accent. The Flo character let her embrace it and she was incredible. It also would be tough to play the air head but Vera made the role authentic and sincere. Of course NO ONE could have done a better Mel than Vic.
The great sitcoms like Alice, Golden Girls, Rosanne, All In The Family, Seinfeld, etc all have incredible cast members. Alice would have been an ok show with another cast but with this cast made it a terrific show.

The main players, particularly through Polly Holliday's exit, all worked well together.

Alice was and is underrated. Sure, sometimes the material may not have been the best, but these actors took that material and ran with it. I know some find Alice not to be the most compelling of characters- and she may have been overshadowed at times - though she too has made me chuckle/laugh out loud as I watch the show again regularly for the first time in eons.

Especially Beth Howland since she was convincing as someone who was mentally disturbed:lol: