Alice (TV series)

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Polly Holliday, Vic Tayback, and Diane Ladd were great. Linda was ok, but the singing...no thank you. Her singing the theme was fine, but all the singing in episodes. get over yourself. No disrespect intended, but I guess hearing how she was towards her co-stars doesn't help my opinion of the character. she was ok, like I said, being the straight man, that sometimes found herself in wacky situations, I could appreciate, but if the stuff about the ego is true.. She should have taken the attitude of Mary Tyler Moore, and embraced being part of an ensemble cast. Mary Tyler Moore show was also light-years beyond this, and quite frankly, while I appreciate the Rhoda years, it was always the antics with the WJYM crew that I enjoyed the most. It seemed to only get better each season.

I am glad that you mentioned the singing. For someone who made the singing so much a part of the character, I didn't understand how the voice was anymore than slightly above average. I never cared for that part of the character

MTM was far better as the center of her show, because the supporting characters were written and performed as fully developed ones, not just plot devices.
PollyHolliday, Vic Tayback and Diane Ladd could have been utilized far better - all were skilled performers.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

I am glad that you mentioned the singing. For someone who made the singing so much a part of the character, I didn't understand how the voice was anymore than slightly above average. I never cared for that part of the character

MTM was far better as the center of her show, because the supporting characters were written and performed as fully developed ones, not just plot devices.
PollyHolliday, Vic Tayback and Diane Ladd could have been utilized far better - all were skilled performers.

The one scene that kept coming to my mind as I was typing about the singing was Alice and Mel's mom singing "Da Ya Ythink I'm Sexy'? LOL.

I mean, I get the fact she was supposed to be an aspiring singer, and we were probably bound to hear it sometimes, but.. it should have been written in a less over the top way when she did sing. They gave off vibes like she was one of the special guest stars(that just happened to be in Phoenix, stopping at Mel's diner, LOL) there to just put on a show when she did sing, at least that's how I'm remembering it. I'm sure it wasn't that way every single time, but if nothing else, there was just too much of it. She was a better singer than me, , and a lot of other people who think they can sing, but it just came across as a vehicle for her to show off, like she was taking advantage of the show. I could be wrong, maybe the producers actually pushed for it? I wasn't there, but I just know how it comes across.

Yes, as far as MTM, she didn't seem to have a problem with letting the other cast members shine, and so they did flesh out those characters better because of this. The writing was just simply stronger on MTM show as well, though, at least for me, but Mary seemed like a good team player, and that worked to the show's advantage. In defense of Linda Lavin, I don't think Alice was ever meant to be the kind of comedy that MTM show was in the first place, but the supposed reputation of Linda, and chasing off her funny supporting ladies just unfortunately somewhat taints an already not that funny character for me. May she rest in peace, though.. We all probably would have different ways of dealing with sudden fame like that, and some not so flattering. Maybe it was an insecurity issue on her part? I'm not saying it makes her actions right(if in fact true), and at the very least, she shouldn't have taken it out on the actresses. I wonder how they were towards her, though.

 

[ClassyCo]

For me, ALICE is one of those sitcoms that is entirely carried by its supporting cast.* I do not find Linda Lavin the least bit funny, nor do I necessarily even "like" her or her character of Alice Hyatt. Of the original cast, Vic Tayback, Beth Howland, and Polly Holliday are far funnier actors and characters. Yes, I understand that Alice was supposed to be the straight-woman to all the chaos, just like Mary on MARY TYLER MOORE. The sole difference is I like Mary, but I don't like Alice.

*Interestingly, my parents both called the show "Mel's Diner" (the name of the diner everybody worked at) instead of "Alice". They were both actually a little taken for a bit of a surprise when I told them the show was actually called ALICE. My dad even said, "Well, they should've called it 'Mel's Diner'."

 

[Soaplover]

Lavin was funny, but she wasn't lead character funny. The show Alice didn't really hone in on what made Lavin funny like it ended up doing for Vera, Mel, Flo, and Belle.

The show even figured out how to use Weston and that was making her more like a kid sister/town boy instead of the flashy overly sexual being that both Flo and Belle displayed.

For me, her guest turn on Rhoda was hilarious and her supporting roles as the pushy mother from hell were where Lavin could utilize her comic abilities in a more effective way.

 

[Crimson]

Interesting to me how ALICE and THREE'S COMPANY had parallels with their three "blondes" -- the first being a breakout, the second being a short term replacement, and the third being a pleasant placeholder. My unpopular opinion is in both cases the second was the best of the three.

 

[ClassyCo]

Interesting to me how ALICE and THREE'S COMPANY had parallels with their three "blondes" -- the first being a breakout, the second being a short term replacement, and the third being a pleasant placeholder. My unpopular opinion is in both cases the second was the best of the three.

So, you think Belle and Cindy were the best?

I don't know if I've heard anyone say that they prefer Cindy to Chrissy or Terri on THERE'S COMPANY.

 

[Crimson]

Chrissy Snow started out as an appealing character but, like most dumb sitcom characters, she evolved to be so stupid as to seem like a mental defective. Plus the way Suzanne began to play the character -- the dead-eyed stare, the weird snorting laugh, the knock knees, the odd hairstyles that looked like a polyester wig -- was very off putting.

Terri was OK, but it seemed like neither the writers nor the actress bothered to give the character much personality.

I didn't care for Jenilee Harrison on DALLAS but found her very likeable on THREE'S COMPANY. I think Cindy was sweet, pretty and her klutziness gave John Ritter lots of opportunity for physical comedy.

 

[ClassyCo]

Chrissy Snow started out as an appealing character but, like most dumb sitcom characters, she evolved to be so stupid as to seem like a mental defective. Plus the way Suzanne began to play the character -- the dead-eyed stare, the weird snorting laugh, the knock knees, the odd hairstyles that looked like a polyester wig -- was very off putting.

Fair, but to give Suzanne Somers credit, she brought more to the character than what was apparently written. Now, that doesn't mean everything she brought was a hit with every viewer, but she did add more to the performance than what was on the page.

Terri was OK, but it seemed like neither the writers nor the actress bothered to give the character much personality.

Priscilla Barnes felt instantly overwhelmed when she got the THREE'S COMPANY job. In interviews, she's spoken about how she was flooded with requests for fan magazine interviews or to appear on talk shows before she even started filming any of her episodes. She felt the attention was unearned and it frightened her. Which, to be fair, what did she expect when accepting a job as yet another replacement on a Top 10 network sitcom in the early 1980s? Apparently, Priscilla went to the producers and asked off the show, but they held her to her three-year contract. This, along with her being uncomfortable with all the attention, caused the producers to sideline her character. I'm sure it showed up in her performance as Terri, too.

I didn't care for Jenilee Harrison on DALLAS but found her very likeable on THREE'S COMPANY. I think Cindy was sweet, pretty and her klutziness gave John Ritter lots of opportunity for physical comedy.

Likewise, I have no fondness for Jenilee Harrison on DALLAS. For me, she was mere Afton-filler for Cliff, and not necessarily a good one. She is quite pretty and funny on THREE'S COMPANY. I might need to review her episodes again. They're on Peacock, but they're the butchered syndicated cuts that run like 20 minutes long.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Interesting to me how ALICE and THREE'S COMPANY had parallels with their three "blondes" -- the first being a breakout, the second being a short term replacement, and the third being a pleasant placeholder. My unpopular opinion is in both cases the second was the best of the three.

Interesting - I could understand preferring Diane Ladd, who is a superb actress. I thought she was underutilized and not that well written in "Alice"
I would say that if I knew nothing else about a show/movie, etc, I would be more likely to watch it if Diane Ladd was in the cast, as opposed to Lnda Lavin

I don't think I have ever heard someone prefer Jenilee Harrison to Suzanne Somers. To each their own

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Fair, but to give Suzanne Somers credit, she brought more to the character than what was apparently written. Now, that doesn't mean everything she brought was a hit with every viewer, but she did add more to the performance than what was on the page.


Priscilla Barnes felt instantly overwhelmed when she got the THREE'S COMPANY job. In interviews, she's spoken about how she was flooded with requests for fan magazine interviews or to appear on talk shows before she even started filming any of her episodes. She felt the attention was unearned and it frightened her. Which, to be fair, what did she expect when accepting a job as yet another replacement on a Top 10 network sitcom in the early 1980s? Apparently, Priscilla went to the producers and asked off the show, but they held her to her three-year contract. This, along with her being uncomfortable with all the attention, caused the producers to sideline her character. I'm sure it showed up in her performance as Terri, too.


Likewise, I have no fondness for Jenilee Harrison on DALLAS. For me, she was mere Afton-filler for Cliff, and not necessarily a good one. She is quite pretty and funny on THREE'S COMPANY. I might need to review her episodes again. They're on Peacock, but they're the butchered syndicated cuts that run like 20 minutes long.

Three's Company was basically a farce comedy, so maybe Suzanne Somers was directed to be more oblivious, to make it work the way that the producers wanted.
In any case, the show was never as good without her IMHO.
I never cared for the Janet character - too self-righteous/judgmental for the first 4-5 years of the show.
Priscilla Barnes seemed like she was playing a generic character/plot device - she was whatever the show needed to make the script work.
By then, it was the John Ritter show - maybe it always was
Don Knotts is a terrific comedic actor, but I preferred the Jack/Chrissie/Janet/Mr and Mrs Roper years
Richard Kline was a good supporting actor who worked well with the cast, and he had a larger role after Suzanne Somers departed

I disagree about Jenilee Harrison on Dallas - I thought she showed a lot of growth as an actress. I wouldn't say it was an Emmy worthy performance, but it was better than I expected. By season 4, maybe Suzanne Somers had become a little too popular for the rest of cast's liking. Yes, she did mess up the contract negotiations, but I always thought that the cast was too unforgiving for too long a period. John Ritter certainly had other successes, but Joyce DeWitt not so much (Sour Grapes?)
Of course, Suzanne Somers eventually reclaimed her career

 

[ClassyCo]

Three's Company was basically a farce comedy, so maybe Suzanne Somers was directed to be more oblivious, to make it work the way that the producers wanted.
In any case, the show was never as good without her IMHO.

I agree, the show wasn't as good without Suzanne Somers. It injured the chemistry, even if the off-camera situation was better.

I never cared for the Janet character - too self-righteous/judgmental for the first 4-5 years of the show.

Janet was never supposed to be the "funny" character, or at least that's how it came off. She could drop a one-liner and dabble in some physical comedy, but she was basically the straight-woman to Jack, Chrissy, and the rest of the cast pretty much. They do let her relax a little as time lingered on, which I guess can be conjured up to the show's longevity and rotating "blonde roommate" scenario.

As a side note, once Joyce Dewitt got her hair cut before the start of Season 4, I found her to be far prettier than Suzanne Somers. If I'm being honest, even the short-running Ann Wedgeworth was prettier than Suzanne to me.

Priscilla Barnes seemed like she was playing a generic character/plot device - she was whatever the show needed to make the script work.

There were apparently a lot of issues surrounding Priscilla Barnes once she joined the show. As I stated above, she felt the immediate attention she received was unwarranted and it scared her. She wasn't prepared for the fame, but she should've known that was going to come by joining a "hot" show like THREE'S COMPANY, especially when she was the second replacement in a year's span of time. Likewise, there were evidently numerous reasons Terri was kept more in the background and basically there to help the title make sense in the final seasons.

Don Knotts is a terrific comedic actor, but I preferred the Jack/Chrissie/Janet/Mr and Mrs Roper years

Don Knotts was the perfect successor to Norman Fell and Audra Lindley, and if I do say so myself, I didn't really miss the Ropers once they were gone. Of course, I loved their chemistry with one another and the three roommates, but Knotts slid into the cast and fit in so easily. His type of comedy was tailor-made for the show.

There's a story surrounding all of that, too, but you probably already know it. Norman Fell didn't want to do THE ROPERS spinoff, but was pressured into doing it by Audra Lindley, the producers, and the network. Still very reluctant, Fell only agreed to the spinoff if the producers gave him the guarantee he could return to THREE'S COMPANY if THE ROPERS failed. The producers told him if the spinoff failed to go beyond a single season, he could return to the parent show. This is where they got Fell and used this agreement against him. When THE ROPERS failed after a season-and-a-half, Fell asked to return to THREE'S COMPANY. The producers told him that wasn't going to happen because the spinoff had ran longer than the designated time frame. Also, the cost-cautious producers realized that Don Knotts was single-handedly filling a vacancy previously held by two actors.

But, as I say, you probably know all of that.

Richard Kline was a good supporting actor who worked well with the cast, and he had a larger role after Suzanne Somers departed

Richard Kline's Larry is a bit of a creep, but I think that's the "point" of his character. He is quite funny and a good counterpoint to Jack.

I disagree about Jenilee Harrison on Dallas - I thought she showed a lot of growth as an actress. I wouldn't say it was an Emmy worthy performance, but it was better than I expected.

While I can see your points, I'm just not a fan of Jenilee on DALLAS. But, to each their own.

By season 4, maybe Suzanne Somers had become a little too popular for the rest of cast's liking. Yes, she did mess up the contract negotiations, but I always thought that the cast was too unforgiving for too long a period.

Suzanne was the celebrity of the show. She's the one that got all the publicity, the magazine covers, the interviews. She was the breakout star. I'm sure that rubbed some people the wrong way, but as you've said, she overplayed her hand when it came to her contract negotiations in 1980. Somers herself later said, "Never think you're no replaceable."

John Ritter certainly had other successes, but Joyce DeWitt not so much (Sour Grapes?)
Of course, Suzanne Somers eventually reclaimed her career

John had success on the big and small screens, while I think Joyce pretty much said she was fine with semi-retirement after eight years on a network sitcom. And, yes, Suzanne rebounded with the thigh master and STEP BY STEP.

 

[Daniel Avery]

Andrea Martin has always been brilliant, but this send-up of our pal Linda Lavin is a little too close to perfection.

"Hey Dick! I guess she told you to eat her grits!"

 

[Chris2]

In the movie “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”, Alice’s singing is average at best, and you know that the most she’s going to achieve in that field is singing in some second-rate nightclub. That’s how I took Alice’s singing on the show, too (though Linda Lavin probably didn’t see it that way).

I didn’t like Flo’s replacements. I would have liked Diane Ladd’s character better if she had been written closer to the character she played in the movie - someone with a little more edge. But she wound up with a character who was awfully cartoonish (as the entire show was by then).

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Andrea Martin has always been brilliant, but this send-up of our pal Linda Lavin is a little too close to perfection.

"Hey Dick! I guess she told you to eat her grits!"

I think that I saw that. It was quite good

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

In the movie “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”, Alice’s singing is average at best, and you know that the most she’s going to achieve in that field is singing in some second-rate nightclub. That’s how I took Alice’s singing on the show, too (though Linda Lavin probably didn’t see it that way).

I didn’t like Flo’s replacements. I would have liked Diane Ladd’s character better if she had been written closer to the character she played in the movie - someone with a little more edge. But she wound up with a character who was awfully cartoonish (as the entire show was by then).

I agree. The movie was more realistic about the singing.
Diane Ladd is a superb actress who was not written well

 

[Crimson]

Andrea Martin has always been brilliant

I haven't seen a lot of SCTV but this skit seems typical: impeccable impersonations by a talented cast, but I never know what the actual joke is beyond the impersonation. Maybe it's era-specific, or Canadian, humor that I just don't get.