When did the whole Linda Lavin/Polly Holliday thing start? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JYuhas · 03-19-2011, 11:08 PM

Does anybody know when it started, like either which season(s), year(s), episode(s), etc.?

mstewart · 03-22-2011, 12:16 AM

I believe the third season when the feud between Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday started to blow open. The show took off and that was their best season. In fourth season it was full tilt. People were watching the show for Flo not Alice. In the fourth season you can the tension between those two by the way they interacted with each other on camera. There weren't too many scenes they had together as they did in the early seasons because of the tension. Look at some of the episodes fo that season and you would see Linda rolling her eyes at Polly when she gets a laugh.

JAlanRuss72 · 03-25-2011, 06:12 PM

Even before I knew about the feud, I did start picking up on a little tension in season 4 (1979-80), Flo's last season. I particularly remember a very good episode where Mel installed a time clock and the waitresses were picketing the Diner. Whenever Flo would get a big laugh, Alice would look away, roll her eyes and sigh, appearing irritated. It was really a shame, too, because I actually think they did some of their best scenes together. They played off of each other's characters really well IMO.

mstewart · 03-26-2011, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAlanRuss72

Even before I knew about the feud, I did start picking up on a little tension in season 4 (1979-80), Flo's last season. I particularly remember a very good episode where Mel installed a time clock and the waitresses were picketing the Diner. Whenever Flo would get a big laugh, Alice would look away, roll her eyes and sigh, appearing irritated. It was really a shame, too, because I actually think they did some of their best scenes together. They played off of each other's characters really well IMO.

That season was when their feud went full tilt. You did not see them in many scenes together compared to earlier seasons. The same tension got passed to Diane Ladd who did a great job filling the shoes. I understood when Ruth Buzzi guest starred on the show Linda Lavin was threatened by her and letting her know that she is the star. What a shame. Linda would not have lasted on any of Norman Lear nor MTM shows because they were both ensemble cast where not one particular star shined.

gttiene · 05-15-2011, 04:27 AM

It's amazing that the show stayed on for 9 seasons. It sounds like Linda had an attitude problem. It was the supporting characters that made this show in the first place. IMO.

magellan333 · 06-03-2011, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstewart

That season was when their feud went full tilt. You did not see them in many scenes together compared to earlier seasons. The same tension got passed to Diane Ladd who did a great job filling the shoes. I understood when Ruth Buzzi guest starred on the show Linda Lavin was threatened by her and letting her know that she is the star. What a shame. Linda would not have lasted on any of Norman Lear nor MTM shows because they were both ensemble cast where not one particular star shined.

If Linda Lavin was given the boot, I think the show would have carried on fine without her. Mel's character was strong enough to carry the program and it could have been retitled Mel's Diner. Think about the show Valerie. When the lead role was given the axe, it carried on fine without her and in my opinion was better.

mstewart · 06-03-2011, 07:50 PM

The more I read about Linda Lavin the more I dislike her. Alice could had gone down as a classic but Linda ruined it by not getting along with anyone who could outshine her.

Dr. Jazz · 07-05-2011, 02:53 AM

While I'm not disputing anything that's been said about Linda Lavin's time on Alice, I do want to add that I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Lavin in person on the streets of NY a few years back and she was very friendly and one of the nicest celebrities I've ever met. That's not to say that she was friendly to work with on set because I don't know lol

glickmam · 08-03-2011, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magellan333

If Linda Lavin was given the boot, I think the show would have carried on fine without her. Mel's character was strong enough to carry the program and it could have been retitled Mel's Diner. Think about the show Valerie. When the lead role was given the axe, it carried on fine without her and in my opinion was better.

Better? Give me a break. As a result of how the producers treated Ms. Harper, the show is rarely seen in syndication and probably will never see the light of day on DVD. In fact, I have only one good piece of advice for Warner Bros. regarding The Hogan Family: burn the negatives and collect the insurance.

lucyandethel · 08-19-2011, 01:41 AM

I think perhaps next to Bonnie Franklin (ONE DAY AT A TIME), Linda Lavin was perhaps the most "miscast" actress to star in a sitcom. She just was not a funny person. Franklin the same...very annoying. Polly Holliday was the star of "Alice" and it never recouped itself after Holliday left.

OnTheMarkTexas · 08-26-2011, 08:24 PM

Even though Polly nor Linda has ever publically spoken about their "fued" (in all likelihood, it was a one way fued on Lavin's part) Diane Ladd had no problem speaking about it on the E! True Hollywood Story as well as in print interviews.

It pretty much goes that Linda Lavin became jealous that the character of Flo had become so popular and that the tension on the set could be downright palpable at times. Lavin made it known to producers that she could no longer tolerate working with Polly Holliday.

The producers came up with the idea of a spin-off for Flo to appease both actresses. It seemed to be a good fix to a nasty situation, plus the producers were making money off of two sitcoms, not just one.

The first season of FLO (a mid-season replacement consisting of only 6 episodes) did well in the ratings. However, CBS seemed to lose interest in the show after that. During it's second season the network moved it around on the schedule and audiences quickly lost track of tho show, since from week to week, they never knew when it would air. By the end of the 1980-81 season, FLO's ratings had fallen and CBS announced it's cancellation.

Jack77 · 06-25-2012, 03:03 PM

Does anyone have Alice The E! True Hollywood Story recorded? Please contact me via private message! Thanks.

TVFactFan · 06-25-2012, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack77

Does anyone have Alice The E! True Hollywood Story recorded? Please contact me via private message! Thanks.

I never heard of a ETHS of Alice being done

ThomasE · 09-06-2012, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I never heard of a ETHS of Alice being done

Maybe it originally ran under TV Tales. TV tales was canceled by E and some of the eps were converted to THS.

TVFactFan · 09-07-2012, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Maybe it originally ran under TV Tales. TV tales was canceled by E and some of the eps were converted to THS.

TV Tales was so much better than THS. I have TV Tales for

Jeffersons
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03-19-2011, 11:08 PM	#1
JYuhas Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 29, 2010 Location: Edison, New Jersey Posts: 112	When did the whole Linda Lavin/Polly Holliday thing start? Does anybody know when it started, like either which season(s), year(s), episode(s), etc.?
	__________________ Add me as a friend on Facebook. To find and/or search for me on Facebook, my name is Jonathan Yuhas, and my E-mail address is Jonathan.Yuhas@yahoo.com Last edited by JYuhas; 03-19-2011 at 11:58 PM.

03-25-2011, 06:12 PM	#3
JAlanRuss72 Eternal Member Eternal Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 22, 2006 Location: Cookeville, TN Posts: 488	Even before I knew about the feud, I did start picking up on a little tension in season 4 (1979-80), Flo's last season. I particularly remember a very good episode where Mel installed a time clock and the waitresses were picketing the Diner. Whenever Flo would get a big laugh, Alice would look away, roll her eyes and sigh, appearing irritated. It was really a shame, too, because I actually think they did some of their best scenes together. They played off of each other's characters really well IMO.
	__________________ Jeff Russell Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/Jrussell1972

06-25-2012, 03:03 PM	#12
Jack77 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2003 Posts: 339	E! True Hollywood Story Does anyone have Alice The E! True Hollywood Story recorded? Please contact me via private message! Thanks.

03-22-2011, 12:16 AM	#2
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	I believe the third season when the feud between Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday started to blow open. The show took off and that was their best season. In fourth season it was full tilt. People were watching the show for Flo not Alice. In the fourth season you can the tension between those two by the way they interacted with each other on camera. There weren't too many scenes they had together as they did in the early seasons because of the tension. Look at some of the episodes fo that season and you would see Linda rolling her eyes at Polly when she gets a laugh.

05-15-2011, 04:27 AM	#5
gttiene Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 17, 2010 Location: KY Posts: 32	It's amazing that the show stayed on for 9 seasons. It sounds like Linda had an attitude problem. It was the supporting characters that made this show in the first place. IMO.

06-03-2011, 07:50 PM	#7
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	The more I read about Linda Lavin the more I dislike her. Alice could had gone down as a classic but Linda ruined it by not getting along with anyone who could outshine her.

07-05-2011, 02:53 AM	#8
Dr. Jazz The Evil Empire. . . . Forum Star Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Posts: 11,101	While I'm not disputing anything that's been said about Linda Lavin's time on Alice, I do want to add that I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Lavin in person on the streets of NY a few years back and she was very friendly and one of the nicest celebrities I've ever met. That's not to say that she was friendly to work with on set because I don't know lol

08-19-2011, 01:41 AM	#10
lucyandethel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 18, 2009 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 435	I think perhaps next to Bonnie Franklin (ONE DAY AT A TIME), Linda Lavin was perhaps the most "miscast" actress to star in a sitcom. She just was not a funny person. Franklin the same...very annoying. Polly Holliday was the star of "Alice" and it never recouped itself after Holliday left.

08-26-2011, 08:24 PM	#11
OnTheMarkTexas Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 05, 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 61	Even though Polly nor Linda has ever publically spoken about their "fued" (in all likelihood, it was a one way fued on Lavin's part) Diane Ladd had no problem speaking about it on the E! True Hollywood Story as well as in print interviews. It pretty much goes that Linda Lavin became jealous that the character of Flo had become so popular and that the tension on the set could be downright palpable at times. Lavin made it known to producers that she could no longer tolerate working with Polly Holliday. The producers came up with the idea of a spin-off for Flo to appease both actresses. It seemed to be a good fix to a nasty situation, plus the producers were making money off of two sitcoms, not just one. The first season of FLO (a mid-season replacement consisting of only 6 episodes) did well in the ratings. However, CBS seemed to lose interest in the show after that. During it's second season the network moved it around on the schedule and audiences quickly lost track of tho show, since from week to week, they never knew when it would air. By the end of the 1980-81 season, FLO's ratings had fallen and CBS announced it's cancellation.