It's a wonder Alice didn't get jealous of Vic Tayback - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Frump · 10-04-2011, 07:12 AM

Almost EVERYONE I know refers to this show as Mel's Diner rather than Alice. I'm surprised Linda didn't have conflict with him.

Brian Damage · 10-04-2011, 09:04 AM

I'm surprised the name of the sitcom wasn't changed to the Linda Lavin show.

lol

Tap Dancer · 10-04-2011, 12:10 PM

Did she have trouble with men or was it always women she was jealous of?

TV_Forever · 10-15-2011, 04:10 AM

Good question. If anyone knows Patty Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond /The Middle, one might pose that question. Then again we have the casts of Conrad Bloom and The O.C.among others we could ask. I don't think Barney Miller should count however. In that show she had to know she wasn't navigating the ship!

Constantlybuying · 02-10-2012, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frump

Almost EVERYONE I know refers to this show as Mel's Diner rather than Alice. I'm surprised Linda didn't have conflict with him.

God dont' scare us with that one!

OnTheMarkTexas · 02-10-2012, 09:15 PM

Vic Tayback was probably the only member of the cast she couldn't intimidate. She basically drove Polly Holiday and Diane Ladd off the set with her passive/aggressive attitude; Beth Howland and Celia Weston were too afraid to rock the boat.

tlc38tlc38 · 09-17-2017, 03:48 PM

Linda sounds like a very jealous and selfish person but that still doesn't stop me from enjoying the show.

To me, Vera was my favorite, followed closely by Flo and then Mel. I never actually liked Alice which is sorta ironic.

I do know lots of people who refer to the show as either "Mel's Diner", "Flo", or "kiss my grits".

Kasey · 09-17-2017, 04:01 PM

I can enjoy the show without pondering all the backstage drama, just as I can still watch Charlie's Angels knowing how much Kate Jackson disliked Cheryl Ladd and not have it bother me. I will say that after Flo left, Linda was given a chance to display her comedic chops more than she did when Polly was there. She had a great way with a line that made me LOL on many occasions. My favorite is the scene in S6's Bet a Million Mel, where she calls the horse race over the phone. She is brilliant in that scene. Also, I just watched Tommy's TKO and the scene in the principal's office is hilarious because of her telling Mel at first "SIT down...SIT down" when he argues with the other father and finally, "Ok, get him" when the father insults Tommy one time too often. Her delivery was priceless--a skill that is invaluable in series television.

Ron Ron · 09-17-2017, 10:38 PM

Linda was ok as long as she didn't sing on the show.

Bonniegirl · 09-17-2017, 11:03 PM

Wow, really ? I LOVE Alice!! I mean not just the show, I really love the show, but I LOVE the character of Alice too!!

She was a cool tough Jersey girl!!

And Linda Lavin was a very beautiful woman!

Sad to read that she wasn't very nice!!

My favorite characters on the show were Mel and Vera , but I also loved Alice, Tommy,Flo, Jolene and even Belle was OK !

In other words I think they all worked well as an ensemble !

And I have personally never heard this show referred to anything other than Alice!!!

I personally think the show would not have been as good or been the same without Alice/Linda Lavin!!!

daveorender · 07-13-2018, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheMarkTexas

Vic Tayback was probably the only member of the cast she couldn't intimidate. She basically drove Polly Holiday and Diane Ladd off the set with her passive/aggressive attitude; Beth Howland and Celia Weston were too afraid to rock the boat.

Grow up. You were on the set, right? You KNOW what went on. Polly Holliday has already refuted the rumors of a feud with Linda Lavin, from a linked interview posted here.

Yong Fang · 07-14-2018, 05:07 AM

Fire Linda Lavin, and have Vic Tayback and Polly Holliday as the stars supported by Beth Howland and Laura Dern's mom (sorry forget her name). That would have been a great series.

Vic Tayback was a struggling bit part actor for years when he landed this show (and the film this show came from) and became a star. Seemed like a good guy and it is great when good, hard working people make it, and Tayback made enough scratch to live easy for the rest of his life, but unfortunately his life was short, he died when he was about 60. Sad.

OneWayFilms · 07-16-2018, 05:21 PM

Vic was the only remaining actor from the original film, so he basically had seniority over Linda Lavin. Perhaps When Dianne Ladd returned to the show from the film, she might have been a bit of a diva, since she played Flo in the original film, and thought she was pretty important stuff around there, but since it was already several seasons in, and the rest of the cast was already settled into their roles and characters, I can see Linda clashing with Ladd. I'm guessing Linda and Vic got along great from the beginning and they had a mutual respect for each other.

10-04-2011, 07:12 AM	#1
Frump Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 06, 2003 Location: McMinnville Posts: 1,206	It's a wonder Alice didn't get jealous of Vic Tayback Almost EVERYONE I know refers to this show as Mel's Diner rather than Alice. I'm surprised Linda didn't have conflict with him.
	__________________ Frump

10-04-2011, 09:04 AM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I'm surprised the name of the sitcom wasn't changed to the Linda Lavin show. lol
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

09-17-2017, 03:48 PM	#7
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,262	Linda sounds like a very jealous and selfish person but that still doesn't stop me from enjoying the show. To me, Vera was my favorite, followed closely by Flo and then Mel. I never actually liked Alice which is sorta ironic. I do know lots of people who refer to the show as either "Mel's Diner", "Flo", or "kiss my grits".
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

10-04-2011, 12:10 PM	#3
Tap Dancer Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 20, 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 754	Did she have trouble with men or was it always women she was jealous of?

10-15-2011, 04:10 AM	#4
TV_Forever Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 31, 2005 Posts: 184	Good question. If anyone knows Patty Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond /The Middle, one might pose that question. Then again we have the casts of Conrad Bloom and The O.C.among others we could ask. I don't think Barney Miller should count however. In that show she had to know she wasn't navigating the ship!

02-10-2012, 09:15 PM	#6
OnTheMarkTexas Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 05, 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 61	Vic Tayback was probably the only member of the cast she couldn't intimidate. She basically drove Polly Holiday and Diane Ladd off the set with her passive/aggressive attitude; Beth Howland and Celia Weston were too afraid to rock the boat.

09-17-2017, 04:01 PM	#8
Kasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,143	I can enjoy the show without pondering all the backstage drama, just as I can still watch Charlie's Angels knowing how much Kate Jackson disliked Cheryl Ladd and not have it bother me. I will say that after Flo left, Linda was given a chance to display her comedic chops more than she did when Polly was there. She had a great way with a line that made me LOL on many occasions. My favorite is the scene in S6's Bet a Million Mel, where she calls the horse race over the phone. She is brilliant in that scene. Also, I just watched Tommy's TKO and the scene in the principal's office is hilarious because of her telling Mel at first "SIT down...SIT down" when he argues with the other father and finally, "Ok, get him" when the father insults Tommy one time too often. Her delivery was priceless--a skill that is invaluable in series television.

09-17-2017, 10:38 PM	#9
Ron Ron Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 30, 2005 Posts: 2,138	Linda was ok as long as she didn't sing on the show.

09-17-2017, 11:03 PM	#10
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,890	Wow, really ? I LOVE Alice!! I mean not just the show, I really love the show, but I LOVE the character of Alice too!! She was a cool tough Jersey girl!! And Linda Lavin was a very beautiful woman! Sad to read that she wasn't very nice!! My favorite characters on the show were Mel and Vera , but I also loved Alice, Tommy,Flo, Jolene and even Belle was OK ! In other words I think they all worked well as an ensemble ! And I have personally never heard this show referred to anything other than Alice!!! I personally think the show would not have been as good or been the same without Alice/Linda Lavin!!!

07-14-2018, 05:07 AM	#12
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Fire Linda Lavin, and have Vic Tayback and Polly Holliday as the stars supported by Beth Howland and Laura Dern's mom (sorry forget her name). That would have been a great series. Vic Tayback was a struggling bit part actor for years when he landed this show (and the film this show came from) and became a star. Seemed like a good guy and it is great when good, hard working people make it, and Tayback made enough scratch to live easy for the rest of his life, but unfortunately his life was short, he died when he was about 60. Sad.

07-16-2018, 05:21 PM	#13
OneWayFilms Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 02, 2005 Posts: 110	Vic was the only remaining actor from the original film, so he basically had seniority over Linda Lavin. Perhaps When Dianne Ladd returned to the show from the film, she might have been a bit of a diva, since she played Flo in the original film, and thought she was pretty important stuff around there, but since it was already several seasons in, and the rest of the cast was already settled into their roles and characters, I can see Linda clashing with Ladd. I'm guessing Linda and Vic got along great from the beginning and they had a mutual respect for each other.