Alice

It's enchanting, it's hard to believe that such a terrific show once existed. I fell in love with Alice while watching reruns as a young girl, and I'm so happy to see that the reruns are being aired on TNN.

It's a very light hearted show, you don't have to really think about anything, you can just sit back and relax.

All the actors (especially in the first few seasons) are amazing to watch, no wonder it lasted 9 years.

Not only did this show boast great writing and characters, but it also included a great list of guests as well. Desi Arnaz, Eve Arden, Art Carney, and Martha Raye were just some of the names to take a shot at Alice.

All the cast members played their characters to the hilt, especially Polly Holiday as Florence Jean Castleberry. Sadly, her series "Flo" did not do as well.

A great series well worth watching.

I used to watch this show when I was a kid growing up and my mom and sister would watch too and we would always laugh when Flo told Mel, "KISS MY GRITS!!!!". If I was asked about my favorite of the cast, I wouldn't be able to choose. I think Vera is lovable and sweet but then Flo is also wild and lots of fun while Alice is level-headed, smart and has a great singing voice. There are several episodes that I love. For example the one where Alice tries out for a night club act at Disney World and Vera comes to the audition and while Alice is warming up her vocal chords Vera is accidentally mistaken for Alice and does her own audition. Alice then sings "Paper Moon" while the talent scout is yelling at someone on the phone and he somehow is still able to concentrate on her and gives her the contract. After she leaves we can hear Alice telling Vera in an excited screaming voice that she got it and the two of them start screaming joyously in the hall. It was funny but the best episode was the last of the series when they had a montage of the best episodes, and all the celebrity appearances. It was sad to see it go but I'll always remember it as one of the best shows on tv.

Although not always hilarious, it's funny! This is a nice show to watch no matter in what mood you are. Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis - who co-wrote all of the I LOVE LUCY episodes as well as writing for THE LUCY SHOW, HERE'S LUCY, and THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW - produced this series. Enough said!

What happened to "Alice"? You can't find it on DVD, can't find it on cable, and can't even locate it late at night in local syndicated reruns. It's hard to guess why the powers-that-be at TV Land or Nick at Nite haven't realized that this show would be popular as part of their lineup.

Anyway, this show set itself apart from many of its era by its semi-unpredictability. Every plot didn't have a happy ending, and there wasn't necessarily a "good" lesson taught to the viewer by the end. For example, in one episode when Flo enrolls in night school to finally earn her high school diploma, she has trouble concentrating on her homework, and is "forced" by Alice to stay home and study. Rather than provide the viewer with the happy and P.C. ending where Flo realizes the value of an education, the episode concludes with her sneaking out the window to go on a date. Presumably, Flo never gets that diploma.

The show did a good job presenting a blue-collar "diner" setting. None of the waitresses were beautiful, and outside of the endless parade of famous guest stars, the clientele shown in Mel's fit well with that of a '70s greasy spoon in a city like Phoenix. Supporting characters such as Henry and Earl -- everymen in all senses of the term -- fit in well with this motif.

Each character brought something to the show. Alice was the sensible single mom with big hopes and dreams. Vera was the childlike ditz. Flo was the outspoken, aging, oversexed country woman. Mel was gruff and selfish, but was kind-hearted beneath the surface. "Kiss my grits" became a household phrase.

Unfortunately, with Flo's departure, the show took a steady turn downhill. Diane Ladd's Belle and Celia Weston's Jolene were nowhere near as colorful as Flo, and as a result, the plots started to slip, as well. A lot of the later episodes were stupid and downright embarrassing. Many of the early elements that made this show great were simply missing in the later years.

Overall, this was a very entertaining show, and it's a shame that it can no longer be found. Hopefully this will change in future years.