I hear that flo was a popular character o Alice but can someone tell me why she did not return? She could have returned to Alice the same way Florence returned to the Jeffrsons-Her job caught on fire and burned down

There could be many reasons but I think there are two probable. Either Polly Holiday did not want to or the producers decided not to go that route again. I agree she should have come back!

I understand that her and Linda Lavin did not get along because they were saying that Flo was the star and actually Linda Lavin was the true star. Look at the 79-80 season and see the way Linda Lavin interacted with Polly in her last season on the show. Linda, from what was said. did not make Diane Ladd's life a piece of cake on the show.

Originally posted by mstewart
I understand that her and Linda Lavin did not get along because they were saying that Flo was the star and actually Linda Lavin was the true star. Look at the 79-80 season and see the way Linda Lavin interacted with Polly in her last season on the show. Linda, from what was said. did not make Diane Ladd's life a piece of cake on the show.

Well since i have no way of seeing Alice, I wanted to ask you how did Linda Lavin interact with Polly during the 79-80 season?

Originally posted by SOLOMON


Well since i have no way of seeing Alice, I wanted to ask you how did Linda Lavin interact with Polly during the 79-80 season?

Watch the 79-80 episodes and compare the way Linda interacted with Polly on camera was different than the first three years the show aired.

On the E network they did a thing on Alice and Diane Ladd have stated that her experience was not pleasant on the show.

Basically there were ego issues going on with Linda Lavin.

Originally posted by mstewart


Watch the 79-80 episodes and compare the way Linda interacted with Polly on camera was different than the first three years the show aired.

On the E network they did a thing on Alice and Diane Ladd have stated that her experience was not pleasant on the show.

Basically there were ego issues going on with Linda Lavin.

Can you give me some examples because i have no way of seeing Alice episodes

Originally posted by SOLOMON


Can you give me some examples because i have no way of seeing Alice episodes

bump

Linda Lavin did indeed have an ENORMOUS ego. On the "Alice" set, you had to defer to Lavin or you were out. As many stars are, Lavin wanted to hog the spot light and went the character of Flo was getting all the attention, Lavin was not at all pleased. The producers finally gave the character of Flo her own series. A doomed effort from the beginning just to get rid of a perfectly talented actress. Honestly, "Alice" was never the same again.

Originally posted by Brenton
Linda Lavin did indeed have an ENORMOUS ego. On the "Alice" set, you had to defer to Lavin or you were out. As many stars are, Lavin wanted to hog the spot light and went the character of Flo was getting all the attention, Lavin was not at all pleased. The producers finally gave the character of Flo her own series. A doomed effort from the beginning just to get rid of a perfectly talented actress. Honestly, "Alice" was never the same again.


So basically the women who played Flo was out of a job. I guess the deal was for her spinoff to be a success since there was so much tension between her and Linda Lavin.

Originally posted by SOLOMON



So basically the women who played Flo was out of a job. I guess the deal was for her spinoff to be a success since there was so much tension between her and Linda Lavin.


Hey Solomon,

It's been a long long time .... Are you being good? Do you miss Good times on TBS?





:happyface

Flo did seem to get more attention than ALICE did. I liked Flo better. Her personality was funny and cool at the same time. After she left, the show was never the same. As for Belle, I didn't like her at all, Jolene was okay. Jolene was better than Belle, but they could never replace FLO. At least that's my opinion.

So did I. She really should of returned to Alice after Flo was cancelled. But we cant change the past...:(

Originally posted by BundyBoy10
So did I. She really should of returned to Alice after Flo was cancelled. But we cant change the past...:(


I think The lady who played Flo could not return to Alice if her spinoff failed since there was so much tension between her and Linda Lavin. So i think the show FLO had to be a hit because she didn't get along with the lead character on Alice.

Originally posted by BundyBoy10
So did I. She really should of returned to Alice after Flo was cancelled. But we cant change the past...:(

Well I guess it was no way for Flo to return since she didn't get along with the star.-LOL

I agree with everyone so far about Flo. But it seems common for the characters to not return to the orignal show except for special occasions. I think the gang at Mel's Diner would have gladly welcomed her back with open arms.

It could quite possibly be that Ladd didn't want to do the show anymore. Sometimes that happens with some of the less successful spinoffs. Or it could have been an issue Lavin. Either way, it is too bad.

A Enormous ego is a awful thing to have when you have a t.v show with rich characters. It's like picking feathers off of a bird. Pick off to many feathers and the bird can't fly!

I liked Flo and thought her own show was but another bad idea! Belle came off like a Flo replacement. Jolene was good because she was different.

Apparently Linda had a very Big Ego! I watched the final episode of Alice and their was no knowlegement of Polly Holiday at all. She was cut out of the cuts that were shown from early shows on the final episode. It is sad someone denied some else's work

Alice, Kiss my Grits: Flo

Man, this sucks...I had no idea Linda had any kind of ego, or that there was tension between her and Polly! :(

I love Linda's episode of "The Muppet Show", and always enjoyed her on "Alice" (though Vera was my fav'rite)...does anyone know how Polly and Linda get along nowadays? If at all?

I sure hope they don't wind up like Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt or others...

I saw an interview with Polly when she was doing the Flo show and they asked her if the show failed would she go back to Alice. She said no. I think we know the reason.lol

I saw an interview with Polly when she was doing the Flo show and they asked her if the show failed would she go back to Alice. She said no. I think we know the reason.lol


Maybe Polly was already told by producers that if the show failed she couldn't come back-lol

Apparently Linda had a very Big Ego! I watched the final episode of Alice and their was no knowlegement of Polly Holiday at all. She was cut out of the cuts that were shown from early shows on the final episode. It is sad someone denied some else's work

Alice, Kiss my Grits: Flo

Egos can be tamed with enough $$. I'm surprised Flo didn't come back, even if she just dropped into the diner for a couple episodes during sweeps month. It would have been the ratings bonanza the last few seasons needed.

Egos can be tamed with enough $$. I'm surprised Flo didn't come back, even if she just dropped into the diner for a couple episodes during sweeps month. It would have been the ratings bonanza the last few seasons needed.


Flo was in plenty of the flashbacks in the final episode, however Belle was not.

I wish Flo had popped in unexpectedly in the final episode as they were all reminiscing, that would have been EPIC!

Now that I think about it, it would have been hard to come back after having your own show for almost 2 years. In marla gibbs case her show only lasted 30 days so it was a little easier for her to come back

It was no secret that Linda and Polly did not get along. Linda resented that Flo's catchphrase was making her the star of the show which was supposed to revolve around the Alice character. No way Polly was coming back. Polly did not even finish the season and was gone before season 4 ended.
Dianne also could not wait to jump ship. She also did not finish season 5 and it was announced towards the end she had already left.

It was no secret that Linda and Polly did not get along. Linda resented that Flo's catchphrase was making her the star of the show which was supposed to revolve around the Alice character. No way Polly was coming back. Polly did not even finish the season and was gone before season 4 ended.
Dianne also could not wait to jump ship. She also did not finish season 5 and it was announced towards the end she had already left.

Makes Lavin sound like a terror. But she continued to work continually right up to her recent death. So either the stories are overblown or she mellowed as the years went by.

Makes Lavin sound like a terror. But she continued to work continually right up to her recent death. So either the stories are overblown or she mellowed as the years went by.

Until someone can post a video or article about her not liking Polly its false information. I havent come across no information about it

Until someone can post a video or article about her not liking Polly its false information. I havent come across no information about it
OMG I was 10 when Flo left and I knew then. Its the same reason Diane left in a rush. Just because people are not back stabbers and needed to run to the trashy media to complain does not mean its not true. Having said that the circumstantial evidence says so. Flo was not even mentioned in the final. Its exactly the reason why there never was an Alice reunion. You just take that at face value with no explanation?
Linda was given this show. She never had to audition. Imagine that? The show was created and someone at the network saw her on Broadway and offered her the job. She was the star of the show.
There is enough written about the tension on the set. I am not talking about the glossy puffy stuff. Linda and Polly were not getting along when Polly's character started to outshine Linda. You do realize that these tensions exist on most sitcoms. Why do you think Diane left almost immediately after joining?
Bea Arthur could not stand Betty White and left the Golden Girls after her contract was up. There were not articles written about it.

This is cut and paste from Polly's biography on IMDb

Holliday's success as the brassy, cynical, gregarious Flo on Alice (1976) (for which role she wore a red wig) reportedly did not endear her to the titular star of the show, Linda Lavin. The friction between the two actresses was such that Holliday left for her own short-lived spin-off series, Flo (1980). Alice (1976) remained on the air for several more seasons but Holliday never returned, even to make a guest appearance. Holliday's successor, actress Diane Ladd (who had played "Flo" in the film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), on which the television series was based but adopted the role of "Belle Dupree" for the series), also did not get along with Lavin, and left. Ladd was succeeded by Celia Weston, who remained until the series ended. Both Holliday and Ladd were both unsuccessfully nominated for the highest awards in their respective media for playing "Flo": Ladd for the Oscar and Holliday for an Emmy.

It was no secret that Linda and Polly did not get along. Linda resented that Flo's catchphrase was making her the star of the show which was supposed to revolve around the Alice character. No way Polly was coming back. Polly did not even finish the season and was gone before season 4 ended.
Dianne also could not wait to jump ship. She also did not finish season 5 and it was announced towards the end she had already left.


I kinda wish Belle had had a better send off or a farewell instead of just a phone call lol. That whole episode was more of a Jolene episode than a Belle episode, I'm kinda surprised Belle was in the opening credits lol

Now that I think about it, it would have been hard to come back after having your own show for almost 2 years. In marla gibbs case her show only lasted 30 days so it was a little easier for her to come back

That is why I suggested a limited engagement. You are right, it would have been hard to see her return as a regular. Instead of coming back as a waitress she would have had to buy the Diner from Mel.

OMG I was 10 when Flo left and I knew then. Its the same reason Diane left in a rush. Just because people are not back stabbers and needed to run to the trashy media to complain does not mean its not true. Having said that the circumstantial evidence says so. Flo was not even mentioned in the final. Its exactly the reason why there never was an Alice reunion. You just take that at face value with no explanation?
Linda was given this show. She never had to audition. Imagine that? The show was created and someone at the network saw her on Broadway and offered her the job. She was the star of the show.
There is enough written about the tension on the set. I am not talking about the glossy puffy stuff. Linda and Polly were not getting along when Polly's character started to outshine Linda. You do realize that these tensions exist on most sitcoms. Why do you think Diane left almost immediately after joining?
Bea Arthur could not stand Betty White and left the Golden Girls after her contract was up. There were not articles written about it.

This is cut and paste from Polly's biography on IMDb

Holliday's success as the brassy, cynical, gregarious Flo on Alice (1976) (for which role she wore a red wig) reportedly did not endear her to the titular star of the show, Linda Lavin. The friction between the two actresses was such that Holliday left for her own short-lived spin-off series, Flo (1980). Alice (1976) remained on the air for several more seasons but Holliday never returned, even to make a guest appearance. Holliday's successor, actress Diane Ladd (who had played "Flo" in the film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), on which the television series was based but adopted the role of "Belle Dupree" for the series), also did not get along with Lavin, and left. Ladd was succeeded by Celia Weston, who remained until the series ended. Both Holliday and Ladd were both unsuccessfully nominated for the highest awards in their respective media for playing "Flo": Ladd for the Oscar and Holliday for an Emmy.

I have Alice book and subscribed to newspapers.com and there is no mention of no friction between them. That is false information on imdb

That is why I suggested a limited engagement. You are right, it would have been hard to see her return as a regular. Instead of coming back as a waitress she would have had to buy the Diner from Mel.

And same for ropers, how was they going to come back when someone was already living in their old apt:lol:

I have Alice book and subscribed to newspapers.com and there is no mention of no friction between them. That is false information on imdb
I know you will never believe. Its silly because you call online biographies false but believe a powder puff fluff book that purposely avoided the drama on the set. That is your choice. Are you not the same person that claims Good Times was not a spin off from Maude. Even though the creator of the show and the cast of the show publicly stated it was. You can choose what to believe but you cannot create your own facts because of what you choose to purposely believe. If its not in the newspaper its not true :lol:
These things are not even debatable but ok :) Yes its true. Flo and Belle just magically disappeared from the diner to be never mentioned again. Makes perfect sense to me ;)
Pardon me for not believing you when you say you wont believe the tension on the set because the actors did not go public and talk to the media. I say that because the cast of Good Times including Bea Arthur have all done interviews stating Good Times was a spin off from Maude. You don't believe them so why would you believe Polly if she ran to the press to complain about the tensions on Alice?

I know you will never believe. Its silly because you call online biographies false but believe a powder puff fluff book that purposely avoided the drama on the set. That is your choice. Are you not the same person that claims Good Times was not a spin off from Maude. Even though the creator of the show and the cast of the show publicly stated it was. You can choose what to believe but you cannot create your own facts because of what you choose to purposely believe. If its not in the newspaper its not true :lol:
These things are not even debatable but ok :) Yes its true. Flo and Belle just magically disappeared from the diner to be never mentioned again. Makes perfect sense to me ;)
Pardon me for not believing you when you say you wont believe the tension on the set because the actors did not go public and talk to the media. I say that because the cast of Good Times including Bea Arthur have all done interviews stating Good Times was a spin off from Maude. You don't believe them so why would you believe Polly if she ran to the press to complain about the tensions on Alice?

I will continue to look but I have not come across any issues between them

I know for many people, Flo was the ONLY reason they watched, and she left they were done with the show, I imagine that would be annoying for Linda Lavin.