Do you think 'Flo' Failed As A Spinoff Because it Was Too Rural???

[PracTz]

Flo worked best as a fish out of water but back in her hometown all she could do was seem trashier than any of the other locals.

[TVFactFan]

Im still surprised this show was on DVD. Curious to know the sales numbers

[TMC]

TV Party argued that unlike its parent show Alice, Flo simply wasn't that funny:

'Flo,' a spinoff of 'Alice' (1976-85), aired on CBS from March 24, 1980, to July 21, 1981 with Polly Holliday reprising her role as sassy Mel's Diner waitress Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry.

Polly Holiday immediately became the breakout star of 'Alice,' in 1976, much like Fonzie on 'Happy Days,' with her catch phrase "Kiss my grits!" So naturally, after 4 seasons on 'Alice,' CBS decided in 1980 that she could carry her own sitcom

After Polly Holliday left 'Alice' she was replaced by one of the greatest character actresses of all time, Diane Ladd, who played Flo in the motion picture 'Alice' was based on, 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore,' directed by Martin Scorsese.

Ladd was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in that film so it was somewhat surprising that she chose to basically return to that role on the small screen, her character renamed Isabelle "Belle" Dupree. The actress won a Golden Globe for her performance on 'Alice' but Diane Ladd was dropped from the cast before the end of the 1980-81 season, allegedly due to clashes with other cast members.

Instead of portraying a hash house waitress, as she did on 'Alice,' in this new series Flo was the proprietor of Flo's Yellow Rose, a country-western bar, all the rage in 1980. This was the period of time when 'Urban Cowboy' rocked the box office, suddenly everybody in America was a cowboy/girl, wearing Stetson hats, boots, and tight jeans. 'Dallas,' also on CBS, was hugely popular on TV as well.

The not-very-catchy theme song was sung by Hoyt Axton. One of the recurring elements of the show was the celebrities who entered the diner playing either themselves or some other character including Victor Buono, Robert Goulet, Art Carney, Martha Raye, George Burns, and Jerry Reed.

While 'Alice' was a generally humorous show with hints of pathos, 'Flo' was thoroughly unfunny, with the actors employing annoying nasal twangs that they associated with Southern hicks. Another advantage 'Alice' had was the writing team responsible for Lucy's best shows, from 'I Love Lucy,' 'The Lucy Show,' and 'Here's Lucy.' Which would explain why Desi Arnaz, pretty much retired from TV, appeared in one of the better episodes of 'Alice.'

In one storyline, Sorrell Booke of 'The Dukes of Hazzard' guest starred as Boss Hogg, along with fellow Dukes character Enos (Sonny Shroyer). Vic Tayback made a guest appearance as Mel from 'Alice' but Polly Holliday never returned the favor and didn't appear again on the series that made her famous.

'Flo' was a highly rated program - at first - finishing the 1979-80 season at number 7. But the poor quality of the scripts and atrocious acting drove viewers away. With the entire show centered on her, Flo came off as an unsympathetic character. As a result, the series didn't crack the top 30 for season 2, after which it was canceled.

To this day, Polly Holliday refuses to repeat her catch phrase, "Kiss my grits!"

[TVFactFan]

should have copied what Gary marshall did and have CBS pair Alice and Flo in the same hour

[JR1]

To me, the show got better as the second season went on- still not a great show, though it did improve. The two-part trailer-dedicated episode was among the second-season highlights.

Behind-the-scenes events (see the behind-the-scenes tidbits thread) probably didn't help matters. Unlike Alice, where no one who worked on the show has said much of anything about rumored issues, with Flo, we do have players who have talked about problems on the show.

[TVFactFan]

Seemed like the show never had a link to its parent show and came off as a completely different show. Not another diner or location in arizona, some bar way in the state of Texas lol

[JR1]

That could be part of it. Sometimes, though, a spun-off character, in a location not near the setting of the parent show, does well- see Frasier, though that started when the parent show ended.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by JR1

That could be part of it. Sometimes, though, a spun-off character, in a location not near the setting of the parent show, does well- see Frasier, though that started when the parent show ended.

Then you had shows where the spinoff stayed in the same city or state

Ropers
Jeffersons
Laverne and Shirley
Fish
Grady

[JR1]

Yeah, hit or miss. If only there were a crystal ball for spin-offs' fates.