Take Your Lunch at Mel’s Diner
Crazy Coworker Comedies
Little Linda Lavin left Barney Miller and went on to star in her own Crazy Coworker Comedy, Alice. The character of Alice is a widowed mother to a young son, Tommy. They find themselves stuck when her car breaks down in Phoenix, Arizona. She ends up getting a job at the roadside restaurant called Mel’s Diner. The show was based on the Academy Award-winning film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and the TV series was a hit for 9 seasons.
Because it was a roadside restaurant, the show had a cast of minor reoccurring characters as well as a host of celebrity guest stars. Waitress Flo Castleberry, played by Polly Holliday, is always ready with a quick “You can kiss my grits,” comeback. Vera Louise Gorman, played by Beth Howland, is the other clueless waitress. Known for his gruff “Stow it, Alice,” Mel Sharples, played by Vic Tayback, was the thorn in the existence of the three waitresses at Mel’s Diner.
Video Credit YouTube
In case you are wondering, yes, there was another show called Flo that was a spin off.
