Polly Holliday "FLO" was interviewed tonight on INSIDER talking about ALICE

[Ireneparalegal]

Polly talked abt the catchphrase KISS MY GRITS and how she had no idea what it meant. She hasn't said that catchphrase in over 25 years. She has done work in plays and also on Broadway. She also talked abt the fact that she and Alice became "tired and impatient"...that's something that happens when good actresses get older. Polly also talked abt how she DIDN'T want to do FLO, but Warner Brothers "pushed" her to do it.

Here is some info from the INSIDER website on her interview:

July 24, 2006

Whatever Happened to 'Alice'?


It's been over 20 years since the greasy spoon sitcom served up laughs for the last time, but while "Alice" doesn't live on television anymore, patrons of the long-running CBS series can now order up their favorite moments on a new six-episode DVD collection.

The show, based on the 1974 film 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore,' aired for nine seasons from 1976-1985. It starred LINDA LAVIN as Alice Hyatt, a widowed mother of a teenage son who is forced to take a waitress job at Mel's Diner after her car breaks down in Phoenix on her way to Hollywood to pursue a singing career.

The talented ensemble cast included VIC TAYBACK as Mel, the establishment's owner, with Alice's fellow waitresses played by BETH HOWLAND as ditzy Vera and POLLY HOLLIDAY as the sassy, flirty Florence Jean Castleberry -- a character that soon became an audience favorite thanks to one line that eventually became a national catchphrase: "Kiss my grits!"

"That was in the original pilot for the show and I had never heard that before in my life," says Alabama-native Holliday. "I told the writers then, 'Are you sure this is a real thing? I've never heard anybody say that.' And they said, 'Oh it'll be funny.' And I said, 'Well, if you say so.'"

Sure enough, the memorable outburst generated huge laughs every time Flo slung it at her boss.

"I told them [the writers] that we should only use it when she's so mad she can't think of anything else and she should only say it to Mel," says Holliday.

Her Flo character soon became so popular that Holliday eventually left "Alice" in 1980 to do a spin-off titled, naturally, "Flo."

"After four years, they said, 'We really think the "Alice" show is strong enough for Flo to leave and that Flo is strong enough to be on her own show,'" recalls Holliday.

Unfortunately, "Flo" was unable to re-capture the magic of the original series and was cancelled after just one season on the air. But Holliday has no regrets -- and rightfully so. After all, the role landed the now 69-year-old actress two Golden Globes and five Emmy nominations.

"I loved doing the character," says Holliday. "I think I could have done the character for the rest of my life and still found things to do with her."

Holliday recently sat down and watched the episodes featured on the DVD and says, "I just think it's an awfully good show and I think it's still funny."

For more with Polly Holliday, be sure to watch tonight's "Insider."

[TALLguyinKY]

Very cool, thanks for sharin' that!

[Ireneparalegal]

you are very welcome!

[Brian Damage]

I thought she was dead.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I thought she was dead.

OMG WTF?????? serious????? OMG

[Brian Damage]

yep, I always assumed she died.

[Scoobiedoo30]

I saw The Inviewer wiuth Polly Hollyday on The Insider on WWL TV CBS 4 on Monday, July 24, 2006b at 6:30 pm

[TALLguyinKY]

<Her Flo character soon became so popular that Holliday eventually left "Alice" in 1980 to do a spin-off titled, naturally, "Flo."

"After four years, they said, 'We really think the "Alice" show is strong enough for Flo to leave and that Flo is strong enough to be on her own show,'" recalls Holliday.>

Gotta hand it to the interviewer/writer...that sure is a sugar-coated way of skirting around the whole Linda-Lavin-grew-jealous-of-Polly-and-basically-booted-her-out-of-the-show issue.

[ethelmaepotter]

Lavin felt she was the star of the show and she became LIVID when she thought Holliday was getting all the laughs and all the attention. Lavin when to not the show's producers but to Warner Brothers and CBS and said either she goes or I go. Holliday left and "Alice" began a long, slow and painful death.

[JAlanRuss72]

Did anybody tape the interview with Polly Holliday? If so I'd like to purchase a copy or work out a trade. Thanks!!!

Jeff

[AB]

I didn't know Linda Lavin had such hard feelings about her; I always wondered why she left the show.

[ahafan02]

Originally Posted by ethelmaepotter

Lavin felt she was the star of the show and she became LIVID when she thought Holliday was getting all the laughs and all the attention. Lavin when to not the show's producers but to Warner Brothers and CBS and said either she goes or I go. Holliday left and "Alice" began a long, slow and painful death.

Yeah that is true. Lavin thought the show should be centered around a "strong working mother" (Alice) and her son. She was angry and had (apparently) many verbal angry arguments with the producers and writers over Flo's character (as well as Diane Ladd..which Lavin apparently didn't get along with either). Polly and Linda apparently hated each other. Alice was never the same after Polly left...don't get me wrong I am still a fan of the post-Flo shows, but the first years were certainly the best.

Flo's spin off show could have been fantastic but it was such a lame story with lame characters. Polly deserved better. After Alice and Flo, Polly once told an interview that she never wants to do a TV show again.

[Scoobiedoo30]

The Last thing Polly was on was Home Improvement as Jill'sd mom