I finally got to see the spinoff Flo and after about 5 minutes, i was no longer interested. Maybe it was because I had just watched a episode of Alice before I watched Flo. Actually I don'tthink it would have made a difference becuse the show was just thrown togeher. This show was worst than Taxi-LOL. And that's pretty bad.

LOL. I never actually heard of Flo until Jim Carrey mentioned her in Dumb and Dumber. That's pretty sad. Of course, I probably couldn't appreciate this show if I ever did see it, since I haven't seen much of Alice. Even then, I'm not so sure it's possible to appreciate.

Originally posted by Cashodeen
LOL. I never actually heard of Flo until Jim Carrey mentioned her in Dumb and Dumber. That's pretty sad. Of course, I probably couldn't appreciate this show if I ever did see it, since I haven't seen much of Alice. Even then, I'm not so sure it's possible to appreciate.

Yeah i never seen much of Alice either because I was only like 7 years old when it was on CBS. Plus Alice was never in syndication here in philadelphia which is why my memories of the show are very foggy. I would like to see Alice come to TV LAND so i can watch and judge the show as as a adult.

I saw Flo once ( on TV LAND) and it was pretty bad. :( :eek:

Originally posted by BundyBoy10
I saw Flo once ( on TV LAND) and it was pretty bad. :( :eek:

We might be talking the same episode off TV LAND because the episode i purchased was off of TV LAND. And i honestly don't think TV LAND showed more than one episode of FLO.

Originally posted by SOLOMON


We might be talking the same episode off TV LAND because the episode i purchased was off of TV LAND. And i honestly don't think TV LAND showed more than one episode of FLO.

No, the network aired three.

Originally posted by ThomasE


No, the network aired three.


Oh ok so it was more than 3 aired on TV LAND. I think i only saw the Christmas episode. I eventually recorded over the Flo episode i purchased-LOL. it was that bad

Alice is by far a superior show to Flo. They never should have made a spin-off. Flo without Mel, Alice and Vera around just isn't right, the magic is gone.

I have one episode of Flo called, What Are Friends For?, that I recorded a couple summers ago. Mel guest starred and in that episode, it was apparent the problem was the writing.

Alice on the other hand certainly deserves to come to TV Land. It's a classic and the Flo years (1976-1980) are by far the best.

I just wish I had recorded more episodes when it was on TNN.

This show may have been bad, but you can't deny that it made history in the ratings. When it premiered in March 1980, the show landed at #1 each week until the end of the season, giving it an overall rating of 7, and that's basically the only reason this show is even remembered, because it was bad, yet made it to the top. Also, Polly Holliday was nominated 3 times for her role as Flo, one time being for this show...

Like most spinoffs, Flo wasn't nearly as good as the show it was spun off from and like most shows that spinoff main characters, Alice was never the same after Flo's departure. Flo's replacement, Belle, lasted only one season.


:eek:

Originally posted by Dr. Thong
Like most spinoffs, Flo wasn't nearly as good as the show it was spun off from and like most shows that spinoff main characters, Alice was never the same after Flo's departure. Flo's replacement, Belle, lasted only one season.


:eek: I agree. I didn't like Belle but I did like Jolene. Flo was like the Ropers and Fish. They never should have left there parent show.

Originally posted by mr roper
I agree. I didn't like Belle but I did like Jolene. Flo was like the Ropers and Fish. They never should have left there parent show.

We seem to agree on many things, Mr. Roper. By the way, Three's Company was never the same after The Ropers left. Bringing Don Knotts as Ralph Furley was the beginning of the end. The final nail in the coffin was when Suzanne Somers left the following season.

:(

The problem is that networks and producers get greedy and break up great casts with chemistry so that they can make more shows and more money. More often than not, it doesn't work. They should have let Flo come back to Mel's diner, but I read that Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday did not get along, so I doubt that was an option.

Originally posted by Dr. Thong
The problem is that networks and producers get greedy and break up great casts with chemistry so that they can make more shows and more money. More often than not, it doesn't work. They should have let Flo come back to Mel's diner, but I read that Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday did not get along, so I doubt that was an option.


Yeah that's was why Polly got her own spinoff due to the bad relationship between her and Linda. So it was no way she was going to return to Alice after her spinoff failed-lol

I remember seeing an episode of Flo, and Solomon is right, the show was pretty crappy stuff...

Originally posted by Undercover Angel
I remember seeing an episode of Flo, and Solomon is right, the show was pretty crappy stuff...


The only episode of Flo that was somewhat watchable was the one when Mel from Alice made a guest appearance.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
The only episode of Flo that was somewhat watchable was the one when Mel from Alice made a guest appearance. Wow, I am surprised that Linda Lavin made a guest appearence on her show; I heard that Lavin was quite the bitch on the set of Alice, and treated the other actors poorly

Originally posted by Undercover Angel
Wow, I am surprised that Linda Lavin made a guest appearence on her show; I heard that Lavin was quite the bitch on the set of Alice, and treated the other actors poorly


No Linda Lavin didn't make a guest apperance on Flo, it was Vic Tayback, the guy who played Mel.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
No Linda Lavin didn't make a guest apperance on Flo, it was Vic Tayback, the guy who played Mel. I did not read your post clearly...:rolleyes: sorry Solomon:blush:

What are you talking about? Flo should have won a ton of Emmys. You'd have to be blind not to realize that.

Originally posted by Starsky's Chick
What are you talking about? Flo should have won a ton of Emmys. You'd have to be blind not to realize that.


Yeah the character FLO was entertaining on Alice not on her own show. On her own show, she only said-"kiss my grits" once and that is when Mel from Alice made a guest apperance.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Yeah the character FLO was entertaining on Alice not on her own show. On her own show, she only said-"kiss my grits" once and that is when Mel from Alice made a guest apperance.

:(

Yeah that's was why Polly got her own spinoff due to the bad relationship between her and Linda. So it was no way she was going to return to Alice after her spinoff failed-lol

Quite true because Linda was upset over all the attention Flo got and it was stated that Polly Holliday was the star. Diane Ladd, Belle, had the same problem with Linda Lavin as well. From what I understand Linda Lavin was a difficult actress to deal with on Alice. She was the star and projected that it was her show. Look at the price of that. Alice was never the same after Polly Holliday left. The Flo years on the show were priceless and LOL funny.

fko was not a good show at all i didnt like it when it first aired and when i saw it again on tv land a few years ago it was even worse than i rememberd

fko was not a good show at all i didnt like it when it first aired and when i saw it again on tv land a few years ago it was even worse than i rememberd


You are right, just something for me to keep in my collection since i'm a Tv trader. But the show was awful

You are right, just something for me to keep in my collection since i'm a Tv trader. But the show was awful

That's the problem with spinning off - you take a perfectly good show and strip it of its players. Alice proved that the whole was better than the sum of its parts.

Good thing we never got to see Vera. :lol:

IS it ever going to be on TVLand or anything like that?

IS it ever going to be on TVLand or anything like that?


It can if TV Land ever does a spinoff special or Holiday Marathon.

Yeah the character FLO was entertaining on Alice not on her own show. On her own show, she only said-"kiss my grits" once and that is when Mel from Alice made a guest apperance.

Not so. I have four ep's of "Flo", and she says it four times total, in three of them. I loved the episodes "No Men's Land" and "Welcome To The Club"...they were excellent! Much funnier than the ep with Mel...although I like that one better now, that I've seen it a couple of times. The Christams ep wasn't very good, but it was supposed to be more "dramatic" and "touching".

I'd like to see more.

Not so. I have four ep's of "Flo", and she says it four times total, in three of them. I loved the episodes "No Men's Land" and "Welcome To The Club"...they were excellent! Much funnier than the ep with Mel...although I like that one better now, that I've seen it a couple of times. The Christams ep wasn't very good, but it was supposed to be more "dramatic" and "touching".

I'd like to see more.


I just can;t understand who else she would say Kiss My Grits to on FLO when the phrase originated from ALICE. Now it was ok for her to say it to MEL but to other cast members?. Makes no sense

I finally got to see the spinoff Flo and after about 5 minutes, i was no longer interested. Maybe it was because I had just watched a episode of Alice before I watched Flo. Actually I don'tthink it would have made a difference becuse the show was just thrown togeher. This show was worst than Taxi-LOL. And that's pretty bad.
did you get some episodes of Flo Soloman?

I just can;t understand who else she would say Kiss My Grits to on FLO when the phrase originated from ALICE. Now it was ok for her to say it to MEL but to other cast members?. Makes no sense

Are you kidding? Flo didn't JUST say "kiss my grits" to Mel on "Alice". It's not like the line was created just to put Mel down. It was a part of Flo's personality: for her NOT to say it to other people would make no sense. Anyway, I just wanted to clear up the misinformation.

did you get some episodes of Flo Soloman?


Yeah I have a total of 5

Are you kidding? Flo didn't JUST say "kiss my grits" to Mel on "Alice". It's not like the line was created just to put Mel down. It was a part of Flo's personality: for her NOT to say it to other people would make no sense. Anyway, I just wanted to clear up the misinformation.



Kiss my Grits should have been left on Alice.

Kiss my Grits should have been left on Alice.

You are entitled to your opinion, but I could not disagree with you more. It would have been preposterous for Flo not to say her siginture line on her own show. :crazy:

You are entitled to your opinion, but I could not disagree with you more. It would have been preposterous for Flo not to say her siginture line on her own show. :crazy:


Why couldn;t it be a NEW PHRASE since it was a NEW SHOW?

I just can;t understand who else she would say Kiss My Grits to on FLO when the phrase originated from ALICE. Now it was ok for her to say it to MEL but to other cast members?. Makes no sense

Flo probably had some of the same producers and writers that Alice did, so it makes perfect sense.

It's the same character, so why wouldn't she say it??

Flo probably had some of the same producers and writers that Alice did, so it makes perfect sense.

It's the same character, so why wouldn't she say it??


Because the Phrase started on a Different Show that's why. Grady from Sanford and Son didn't say Good Goobley GOO on his Spinoff

Because the Phrase started on a Different Show that's why. Grady from Sanford and Son didn't say Good Goobley GOO on his Spinoff




Just wanted to share some information on this show. Polly had wanted to quit Alice because of problems with Linda Lavin (many problems originated because Linda believed Alice was HER show and had complained numerous times that Polly's character was distracting and taking away from the purpose of the series). Polly was also becoming increasingly annoyed by being bothered in her private life by strangers thinking she was just like her character Flo (and repeatedly asking her to say "kiss my grits"). When Polly went to the producers to let them know she was leaving they talked her into doing a show of her own. Since Flo was the popular character from Alice they thought the spinoff would do better than the original series. They were sadly wrong. Flo refused to say "kiss my grits" anymore, with exception of one episode, which according to gossip at the time the show was recorded, the producers had to do a lot of begging to get her to say it. FLO suffered from numerous rewrites and writers. Compared to ALICE which continued to do well, FLO just wasn't at the same level and after two seasons was yanked. Polly went on to make some guest appearances on other TV shows (most notably as Rose's blind sister on the Golden Girls). She now focuses mostly on theater. She rarely, if ever, talks about ALICE or FLO. The longstanding rumour was that she hated TV and TV shows and that she has told friends she wished she would have never done either show (which is a shame).

Incidently, when ALICE was being cast, the producers originally wanted Diane Ladd as Flo. She refused because she didn't want to do another TV show. She would eventually agree to play Belle but after battles with the producers she left the show less than one year later.

Just wanted to share some information on this show. Polly had wanted to quit Alice because of problems with Linda Lavin (many problems originated because Linda believed Alice was HER show and had complained numerous times that Polly's character was distracting and taking away from the purpose of the series). Polly was also becoming increasingly annoyed by being bothered in her private life by strangers thinking she was just like her character Flo (and repeatedly asking her to say "kiss my grits"). When Polly went to the producers to let them know she was leaving they talked her into doing a show of her own. Since Flo was the popular character from Alice they thought the spinoff would do better than the original series. They were sadly wrong. Flo refused to say "kiss my grits" anymore, with exception of one episode, which according to gossip at the time the show was recorded, the producers had to do a lot of begging to get her to say it. FLO suffered from numerous rewrites and writers. Compared to ALICE which continued to do well, FLO just wasn't at the same level and after two seasons was yanked. Polly went on to make some guest appearances on other TV shows (most notably as Rose's blind sister on the Golden Girls). She now focuses mostly on theater. She rarely, if ever, talks about ALICE or FLO. The longstanding rumour was that she hated TV and TV shows and that she has told friends she wished she would have never done either show (which is a shame).

Incidently, when ALICE was being cast, the producers originally wanted Diane Ladd as Flo. She refused because she didn't want to do another TV show. She would eventually agree to play Belle but after battles with the producers she left the show less than one year later.



The only time Flo said-"Kiss My Grits" on her own show was when Mel from Alice made a Guest Apperance. Other than that I personally think it was no reason for her to say kiss my grits on any other episode

The only time Flo said-"Kiss My Grits" on her own show was when Mel from Alice made a Guest Apperance. Other than that I personally think it was no reason for her to say kiss my grits on any other episode


If you read what I wrote I clearly said she said it only once (during the FLO season). Polly herself has said before she was sick of saying it and she was sick of people coming up to her and asking her to say it. Since I was only 7 when the series originally aired I cared either way. I'm just trying to explain what I have seen and heard and read. I have an interview with Polly from the mid 80's (around the time the original Gremlins movie came out) and she explained that she hated the character of Flo and she hated that people would approach her thinking she was just like her (she mentioned an incident where one gentleman tried to touch her inappropriately and she also mentioned people screaming "Kiss My Grits" at her and asking her to say it).

I have all of the FLO series. It's not very good but I've always like Polly and she tried to do her best. I have met her three times, and despite reports of her being nasty to fans, she was actually very sweet to me. I only asked her once about Alice and all she would say it was something about it being water under the bridge.

If you read what I wrote I clearly said she said it only once. Polly herself has said before she was sick of saying it and she was sick of people coming up to her and asking her to say it.


I know, I was just pointing out that she only sad it on her spinoff when it made sense to say it, when Mel came. I was in a debate on the Alice Board when I said it was no need for her to say kiss my grits once she got her own show. And some members would say-Why it was her trademark?-lol I said yes it was but on ALICE not FLO

I know, I was just pointing out that she only sad it on her spinoff when it made sense to say it, when Mel came. I was in a debate on the Alice Board when I said it was no need for her to say kiss my grits once she got her own show. And some members would say-Why it was her trademark?-lol I said yes it was but on ALICE not FLO


I see where you're coming from. Besides, I think that phrase was growing tired by then anyway.

I see where you're coming from. Besides, I think that phrase was growing tired by then anyway.


It's a shame she couldn't return to Alice like Marla Gibbs returned to the Jeffersons when her spinoff failed. The Flo Spinoff had to WORK because she wasn't getting along with Linda Lavin. That wasn't the case with Marla Gibbs. The spinoff FLO is just so unwatchable that it amazes me how it finished #7 after it's First season

It's a shame she couldn't return to Alice like Marla Gibbs returned to the Jeffersons when her spinoff failed. The Flo Spinoff had to WORK because she wasn't getting along with Linda Lavin. That wasn't the case with Marla Gibbs. The spinoff FLO is just so unwatchable that it amazes me how it finished #7 after it's First season



I agree with that. It's a shame they didn't get along. Finishing #7 is proof that people enjoyed the character. To bad the spin off was so weak.

It is a real shame. I really liked Holliday and the character of Flo, but the spinoff just didn't work. ALICE was best when Flo was on it and Flo was at HER best when she was on Alice IMO.

It is a real shame. I really liked Holliday and the character of Flo, but the spinoff just didn't work. ALICE was best when Flo was on it and Flo was at HER best when she was on Alice IMO.


Well put.

I thought the flo spinoff sucked also