The poker scene in THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC was hilarious...

[Ireneparalegal]

I like that this big scene was just the four of them, and playing poker to boot. It was funny as hell and I when Flo said, "This isn't a hand...it's a little foot." That line cracks me up everytime.

Vera knowing all the cards because of the recipes on the back was so funny.

[Brieannas21]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I like that this big scene was just the four of them, and playing poker to boot. It was funny as hell and I when Flo said, "This isn't a hand...it's a little foot." That line cracks me up everytime.

Vera knowing all the cards because of the recipes on the back was so funny.

I have to agree, anytime with all of them are together in a small space at one time makes a funny episode. That's why Semi Christmas, Cabin Fever and Old Black Magic are three of my favorite episodes.

[Brian Damage]

I liked the banter between Mel and Vera:

Mel: You can't tie me to an ironing board! What if the apartment catches fire?

Vera: Heat is good for a bad back.

[JAlanRuss72]

I like how Flo was already laughing right before Mel slid down and fell from the ironing board. She obviously knew it was coming, she had even moved her feet up to the sofabed-lol

[mstewart]

Originally Posted by JAlanRuss72

I like how Flo was already laughing right before Mel slid down and fell from the ironing board. She obviously knew it was coming, she had even moved her feet up to the sofabed-lol

Polly Holliday a couple of times even turned her head laughing a number of times in that episode.

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

I have to agree, anytime with all of them are together in a small space at one time makes a funny episode. That's why Semi Christmas, Cabin Fever and Old Black Magic are three of my favorite episodes.

Old Black Magic and Semi Christmas was the funniest that those four were together in a small space. Cabin Fever was a good episode but unfortunately you can sense the tension between Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday because Polly lost the edge in playing Flo in that season. Unfortunately Linda Lavin did not realize how good she had it when the original four were together. They made great comedy together and knew how to play off each other well. Diane Ladd had the potential to do it as well but Linda Lavin, again, was threatened. When the Jolene, Celia Weston, years came along the show started to go downhill.

[JAlanRuss72]

Originally Posted by mstewart

Polly Holliday a couple of times even turned her head laughing a number of times in that episode.



Old Black Magic and Semi Christmas was the funniest that those four were together in a small space. Cabin Fever was a good episode but unfortunately you can sense the tension between Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday because Polly lost the edge in playing Flo in that season. Unfortunately Linda Lavin did not realize how good she had it when the original four were together. They made great comedy together and knew how to play off each other well. Diane Ladd had the potential to do it as well but Linda Lavin, again, was threatened. When the Jolene, Celia Weston, years came along the show started to go downhill.

Agreed. There never was a better ensemble on the show than when it was Alice, Flo, Vera and Mel. Each character was different and had a COMPLETELY different outlook on life than the other. This made for some great comedy, just seeing the different personalities interacting with each other.
On a side note, there were a number of episodes where you could see Polly trying not to laugh, especially in seasons 3 and 4. In one episode (season 3)where Vera gets dumped by her boyfriend Brian, she says that she's going to end up an old maid:
VERA: (depressed) I'll just be a little old lady in the park. People will pass by me and say 'she never married, did she?' And I'll say (in an old lady's voice) Nooooo I never did!!! (Vera starts to cry- Polly can clearly be seen with her hand over her mouth and head turned to the side, trying not to crack up)
and again
Mel's buddy Rocky from Brooklyn is in town after his wife left him(season 4). Mel is trying to force one of the waitresses to go out with him.
VERA: Mel, I can't go out with a man who smokes cigars. Cigars make me sick!

MEL: Hold your nose.

VERA: (holding her nose) Cigars make me sick.
(Again Polly turns her head to the side with her hand over her mouth, clearly about to break up). Very funny--- sorry ***Off Topic***
Just wanted to share those in the LIKELY event that Ion cuts those scenes.

[fordamian]

i love this part of the ep...vera is so nice!!!

[uno546]

Originally Posted by mstewart

Old Black Magic and Semi Christmas was the funniest that those four were together in a small space. Cabin Fever was a good episode but unfortunately you can sense the tension between Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday because Polly lost the edge in playing Flo in that season. Unfortunately Linda Lavin did not realize how good she had it when the original four were together. They made great comedy together and knew how to play off each other well. Diane Ladd had the potential to do it as well but Linda Lavin, again, was threatened. When the Jolene, Celia Weston, years came along the show started to go downhill.

I agree that Old Black Magic and Semi Christmas was the funniest that those four were together in a small space. I hadn't seen them in sooo long but was able to watch the episodes online. They had over 50 episodes for free. http://video.aol.com/video-category/...il/per-page/24
Page 2 has Old Black Magic and Semi Christmas FYI...

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by JAlanRuss72

Agreed. There never was a better ensemble on the show than when it was Alice, Flo, Vera and Mel. Each character was different and had a COMPLETELY different outlook on life than the other. This made for some great comedy, just seeing the different personalities interacting with each other.
On a side note, there were a number of episodes where you could see Polly trying not to laugh, especially in seasons 3 and 4. In one episode (season 3)where Vera gets dumped by her boyfriend Brian, she says that she's going to end up an old maid:
VERA: (depressed) I'll just be a little old lady in the park. People will pass by me and say 'she never married, did she?' And I'll say (in an old lady's voice) Nooooo I never did!!! (Vera starts to cry- Polly can clearly be seen with her hand over her mouth and head turned to the side, trying not to crack up)
and again
Mel's buddy Rocky from Brooklyn is in town after his wife left him(season 4). Mel is trying to force one of the waitresses to go out with him.
VERA: Mel, I can't go out with a man who smokes cigars. Cigars make me sick!

MEL: Hold your nose.

VERA: (holding her nose) Cigars make me sick.
(Again Polly turns her head to the side with her hand over her mouth, clearly about to break up). Very funny--- sorry ***Off Topic***
Just wanted to share those in the LIKELY event that Ion cuts those scenes.

Good points my friend. Losing Flo was such a loss to the show.

Those four together in a scene just made the show so darn funny.