Diane Ladd as Belle - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MichaelKeith · 07-11-2017, 03:32 PM

How many episodes did Diane Ladd appear in as Belle? Seems she was only there for about 10 episodes before they got rid of her too. Guess Linda Lavin couldn't handle the competition of having a real movie star in the role. Apparently Linda didn't like Polly Holliday upstaging her either. What a diva and drama queen Lavin was. They should have left Flo on the show for the run of it.

DJM77 · 07-11-2017, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelKeith

How many episodes did Diane Ladd appear in as Belle?

22

rcbrad · 07-11-2017, 08:16 PM

We do not know the whole story, but it's a shame that Linda did not take some lessons from Mary Tyler Moore about doing what is best for the show and appreciating others. Many of the episodes and a fair amount of more screen time revolved around Alice, so I am not sure why she was so upset about being upstaged. She should count her lucky stars the show was a hit, she was pretty much an unknown before Alice ran. Without the other strong, talented cast members the show may not have turned into a hit at all? I wonder if the show would have remained in better shape if Flo and or Belle lasted longer. Most of the remaining post Flo/Belle episodes were not the best.

MichaelKeith · 07-12-2017, 02:28 PM

Thank you both for the replies!

Ron Ron · 07-12-2017, 02:30 PM

Wasn't Diane Ladd let go after she won a Golden Globe for her work as Belle on Alice? I am sure Linda Lavin wasn't too happy she won.

Kasey · 07-13-2017, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Ron

Wasn't Diane Ladd let go after she won a Golden Globe for her work as Belle on Alice? I am sure Linda Lavin wasn't too happy she won.

Yes. Diane won a GG for her work, but was not happy working there so wanted out once her contract was up. I always thought it was jarring to have Celia Weston show up and finish out the season instead of starting fresh at the beginning of S6.

Christopher · 07-13-2017, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasey

I always thought it was jarring to have Celia Weston show up and finish out the season instead of starting fresh at the beginning of S6.

Also it was disrespectful to Diane because her last episode was the introduction for Celia's character Jolene. That was the main focus of Diane's last episode. Diane appeared to have had the same treatment that episode that Suzanne Somers had on Three's Company; a telephone scene away from the main cast. Diane deserved better than a one minute (if it was even a minute at all) goodbye scene with Mel on the phone. I wish the production company and CBS had the guts to stand up to Linda instead of allowing her to bully them into getting what she wanted. Linda was not the best actress on the show, hell she couldn't even sing. I feel the show could have gone on without her the way Valerie did when it was changed to The Hogan Family.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcbrad

Most of the remaining post Flo/Belle episodes were not the best.

If I remember correctly, quite a few of the post Flo episodes are just remakes of the Flo seasons. I remember there was a Jolene episode where a semi crashed into Mel's diner just like an episode from the Flo seasons. There was a second Jerry Reed episode. Also Belle moving in with Alice driving her nuts was like the one when Flo moved in with Alice. There was also another episode where Tommy moved in with Mel and it made Alice nervous. There wasn't much creativity with Alice after season 4.

MichaelKeith · 07-13-2017, 12:38 PM

Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Martin produced many of the seasons of Alice. They were two of the original writers for Lucille Ball and her show from back in the 50s through the 60s. I guess they were used to dealing with a big and sometimes temperamental star in Lucy (I am in no way comparing Lucille Ball to Linda Lavin. I love and respect Ms. Ball. I'm just saying that Bob Carroll and Madelyn Pugh Martin may have just bent over backwards to please Linda Lavin, at least it seems that's what they did). I can't believe they fired Polly in the first place! I can certainly understand Diane Ladd wanting out of her contract with the tension on the set caused by the lead character. I'm happy she won the Golden Globe and am surprised that Polly Holliday never won it for her portrayal, which was great.

Ron Ron · 07-13-2017, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher

Also it was disrespectful to Diane because her last episode was the introduction for Celia's character Jolene. That was the main focus of Diane's last episode. Diane appeared to have had the same treatment that episode that Suzanne Somers had on Three's Company; a telephone scene away from the main cast. Diane deserved better than a one minute (if it was even a minute at all) goodbye scene with Mel on the phone. I wish the production company and CBS had the guts to stand up to Linda instead of allowing her to bully them into getting what she wanted. Linda was not the best actress on the show, hell she couldn't even sing. I feel the show could have gone on without her the way Valerie did when it was changed to The Hogan Family.

If I remember correctly, quite a few of the post Flo episodes are just remakes of the Flo seasons. I remember there was a Jolene episode where a semi crashed into Mel's diner just like an episode from the Flo seasons. There was a second Jerry Reed episode. Also Belle moving in with Alice driving her nuts was like the one when Flo moved in with Alice. There was also another episode where Tommy moved in with Mel and it made Alice nervous. There wasn't much creativity with Alice after season 4.

Agree with all of your post. It was shabby the way Diane was treated and it also reminded me of Suzanne Summers exist.

Alice could have gone on with it being called Mel's Dinner. They could have brought back Diane and Polly with Vera as the third waitress.

The Jolene episodes aren't as bad as I remember them but they did have a lot of repeats from the Flo years.

Ron Ron · 08-08-2017, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelKeith

Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Martin produced many of the seasons of Alice. They were two of the original writers for Lucille Ball and her show from back in the 50s through the 60s. I guess they were used to dealing with a big and sometimes temperamental star in Lucy (I am in no way comparing Lucille Ball to Linda Lavin. I love and respect Ms. Ball. I'm just saying that Bob Carroll and Madelyn Pugh Martin may have just bent over backwards to please Linda Lavin, at least it seems that's what they did). I can't believe they fired Polly in the first place! I can certainly understand Diane Ladd wanting out of her contract with the tension on the set caused by the lead character. I'm happy she won the Golden Globe and am surprised that Polly Holliday never won it for her portrayal, which was great.

Polly did win a golden globe for her role as Flo. She won twice and then the following year Diane Ladd won for her role as Belle. That's why both ladies left. Linda Lavin supposedly threw a fit that both ladies won. She and Beth didn't get nominated until the final year of the show for an Emmy and neither won. Imagine if Beth had won one in 82....she would have been fired too...LOL

Christopher · 08-15-2017, 08:04 PM

It's amazing Diane won for her role as Belle. Watching season 5 episodes, she looks out of place. I didn't realize the first time watching these episodes that the writers didn't know what to do with her. No wonder there were quite a few episode remakes when her character was in the show. I'm sure Diane is a wonderful actress, but her character Belle isn't an award winning role IMO.

TV Guy · 09-04-2017, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher

It's amazing Diane won for her role as Belle. Watching season 5 episodes, she looks out of place. I didn't realize the first time watching these episodes that the writers didn't know what to do with her. No wonder there were quite a few episode remakes when her character was in the show. I'm sure Diane is a wonderful actress, but her character Belle isn't an award winning role IMO.

Agreed. Diane was so good as Flo in the movie, and her Flo was so different than Polly's. They should have modeled Belle after Diane's Flo. But the original Flo had an edge to her, and that's probably not what producers (and "Lucy" vets) Bob Carroll and Madelyn Davis were looking for. So they came up with that southern-fried cariacature, and I don't think it really worked. Neither did Jolene.

tlc38tlc38 · 09-16-2017, 10:16 PM

I actually liked Belle. She was a good replacement for Flo and she got better as time went on.

I'm not a huge fan of Linda Lavin simply because of her diva antics but I still enjoy the show. However, I refuse to watch anything else with her in it.

Face it Linda...Vic, Beth, Polly, Diane, and Celia all were basically better than you.

Kasey · 09-24-2017, 12:23 PM

Diane seemed to be a little *off* in the S5 ep "Carrie Chickens Out". She had trouble with the line "that cash register will be ringin' and singin'". She kind of slurs the word "register". And she stumbles on another line later in the episode too. I'm surprised the sound editor didn't loop her lines in this. Didn't an insider come on here awhile back saying something about a drinking problem? LOL.

tlc38tlc38 · 09-24-2017, 12:26 PM

^She was probably drinking to deal with Linda.

07-11-2017, 03:32 PM	#1
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	Diane Ladd as Belle How many episodes did Diane Ladd appear in as Belle? Seems she was only there for about 10 episodes before they got rid of her too. Guess Linda Lavin couldn't handle the competition of having a real movie star in the role. Apparently Linda didn't like Polly Holliday upstaging her either. What a diva and drama queen Lavin was. They should have left Flo on the show for the run of it.

09-16-2017, 10:16 PM	#13
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,259	I actually liked Belle. She was a good replacement for Flo and she got better as time went on. I'm not a huge fan of Linda Lavin simply because of her diva antics but I still enjoy the show. However, I refuse to watch anything else with her in it. Face it Linda...Vic, Beth, Polly, Diane, and Celia all were basically better than you.
	__________________ 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. Last edited by tlc38tlc38; 09-19-2017 at 06:01 PM.

07-11-2017, 08:16 PM	#3
rcbrad Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Posts: 479	We do not know the whole story, but it's a shame that Linda did not take some lessons from Mary Tyler Moore about doing what is best for the show and appreciating others. Many of the episodes and a fair amount of more screen time revolved around Alice, so I am not sure why she was so upset about being upstaged. She should count her lucky stars the show was a hit, she was pretty much an unknown before Alice ran. Without the other strong, talented cast members the show may not have turned into a hit at all? I wonder if the show would have remained in better shape if Flo and or Belle lasted longer. Most of the remaining post Flo/Belle episodes were not the best.

07-12-2017, 02:28 PM	#4
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	Thank you both for the replies!

07-12-2017, 02:30 PM	#5
Ron Ron Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 30, 2005 Posts: 2,138	Wasn't Diane Ladd let go after she won a Golden Globe for her work as Belle on Alice? I am sure Linda Lavin wasn't too happy she won.

07-13-2017, 12:38 PM	#8
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Martin produced many of the seasons of Alice. They were two of the original writers for Lucille Ball and her show from back in the 50s through the 60s. I guess they were used to dealing with a big and sometimes temperamental star in Lucy (I am in no way comparing Lucille Ball to Linda Lavin. I love and respect Ms. Ball. I'm just saying that Bob Carroll and Madelyn Pugh Martin may have just bent over backwards to please Linda Lavin, at least it seems that's what they did). I can't believe they fired Polly in the first place! I can certainly understand Diane Ladd wanting out of her contract with the tension on the set caused by the lead character. I'm happy she won the Golden Globe and am surprised that Polly Holliday never won it for her portrayal, which was great.

08-15-2017, 08:04 PM	#11
Christopher The OG Core Four Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2001 Posts: 14,833	It's amazing Diane won for her role as Belle. Watching season 5 episodes, she looks out of place. I didn't realize the first time watching these episodes that the writers didn't know what to do with her. No wonder there were quite a few episode remakes when her character was in the show. I'm sure Diane is a wonderful actress, but her character Belle isn't an award winning role IMO.

09-24-2017, 12:23 PM	#14
Kasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,143	Diane seemed to be a little off in the S5 ep "Carrie Chickens Out". She had trouble with the line "that cash register will be ringin' and singin'". She kind of slurs the word "register". And she stumbles on another line later in the episode too. I'm surprised the sound editor didn't loop her lines in this. Didn't an insider come on here awhile back saying something about a drinking problem? LOL.

09-24-2017, 12:26 PM	#15
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,259	^She was probably drinking to deal with Linda.