TV series
Kiss my grits!
Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to March 19, 1985 on CBS. The series is based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start her life over again, and finds a job working at a roadside diner on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. Most of the episodes revolve around events at Mel's Diner.
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Checked Jul 22, 2026
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Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to March 19, 1985 on CBS. The series is based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start her life over again, and finds a job working at a roadside diner on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. Most of the episodes revolve around events at Mel's Diner.
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Episode 1
Telly Savalas gives star-struck Vera a thrill when he stops by the diner while she's working there alone. When no one believes her story, she quits in a huff.
Directed by Marc DanielsWritten by Tom WhedonGuest stars George Savalas, Telly Savalas
Episode 2
Alice's sour reaction to Tommy's matchmaking efforts threatens Mel's new promotional gimmick which is free meals to customers if his waitresses don't smile.
Directed by Marc DanielsWritten by Tom Whedon
Episode 3
Mel gives a big engagement ring to his girlfriend Marie, but the sparkle quickly fades when he insists that she sign a premarital agreement.
Directed by Marc Daniels
Episode 4
Just one dance lesson and Tommy falls head over heels for his instructor, Vera.
Directed by Marc Daniels
Episode 5
Mel is convinced that his chief competitor is romancing Flo just to get the recipe for Mel's Texas-style chili, rated by a food critic as being ""the best in the West.""
Directed by Marc DanielsGuest stars Michael Alldredge, Med Flory, Ted Gehring, Claude Stroud
Episode 6
Vera's boyfriend objects to her sketching nude males in art class.
Directed by Marc DanielsWritten by Tom WhedonGuest stars Terry Wills
Episode 7
The return of Mel's domineering mother does nothing for his ego because after his back goes out, the customers flock in, for his mother's cooking.
Guest stars Ted Gehring
Episode 8
Things get hotter than Mel's chili when Dinah Shore invites Mel to prepare his recipe on her show and bring along one, but only one waitress.
Directed by Norman AbbottWritten by Tom WhedonGuest stars Ronnie Schell
Episode 9
Mel, his girlfriend and the waitresses spend the weekend packed like sardines in a fishing cabin.
Directed by Marc DanielsWritten by Dan Wilcox, Thad Mumford
Episode 10
Vera asks Art Carney, a sixth cousin on her father's side, to endorse Mel's chili, so it can be marketed frozen as Chili con Carney.
Written by Tom WhedonGuest stars Alan Oppenheimer
Episode 11
A yule tale (with a touch of O. Henry's ""The Gift of the Magi"") finds the girls pooling their meager resources to celebrate Christmas at the diner.
Directed by Marc DanielsGuest stars Ancel Cook, Michael Alldredge, Ted Gehring, Marvin Kaplan
Episode 12
Flo takes the wheel herself when she learns that her trucker beau has a female partner.
Directed by Marc DanielsWritten by Linda Morris, Vic RauseoGuest stars Sherry Jackson
Episode 13
Tommy stirs up trouble by candidly discussing his elders on a TV talk show.
Directed by Norman AbbottGuest stars Michael Alldredge, Eve Arden, Dave Madden
Episode 14
Mel installs a time clock which prompts the waitresses to demand overtime for the Sunday cleanup they used to do for nothing.
Directed by Marc DanielsWritten by Katherine GreenGuest stars Michael Alldredge, Ted Gehring
Episode 15
Mel is delighted that his mother is planning to remarry until he meets his prospective stepfather.
Directed by Gary ShimokawaGuest stars Phil Leeds, Ancel Cook
Episode 16
Tommy has his heart set on taking his girl to a formal Valentine's dance and he needs a tuxedo.
Directed by Marc DanielsWritten by Tom WhedonGuest stars Terry Wills, Kelly Parsons
Episode 17
Mel plays host to a buddy whose wife has just left him.
Directed by Marc DanielsGuest stars Michael Alldredge, Ted Gehring, Marvin Kaplan
Episode 18
A wealthy Houston restaurateur offers Flo a job she finds hard to refuse.
Directed by Marc DanielsGuest stars Michael Alldredge, Ted Gehring, Marvin Kaplan
Episode 19
Mel hires Belle, a Mississippi belle who rings Mel's chimes as ""one of the best waitresses I've ever had."" However, Belle is now aiming for lusher pastures as a country-music writer.
Directed by Marc DanielsWritten by Linda Morris, Vic Rauseo
Episode 20
The new waitress Belle is making big points with her old boss Mel, but she's scoring zero with Alice and Vera.
Directed by Marc Daniels
Episode 21
Heartbroken over her boy friend's sudden lack of attention, Vera begs Belle to transform her into a sex goddess.
Written by Linda Morris, Vic Rauseo
Episode 22
Mel signs a profit-sharing agreement with the girls just before learning he'll get a tidy sum for letting the city condemn his property.
Where to watch AliceEpisode 23
Mel is receptive to an infatuated tour guide, as long as she keeps steering tourists into his diner.
Written by Linda Morris, Vic RauseoGuest stars Howard Platt
Episode 24
Alice allows Tommy to stay with Mel, prompting a wager between Alice and Mel, she bets that he will kick Tommy out and Mel bets that Alice will snoop on her son.
Directed by Marc DanielsGuest stars Felice Schachter, Hector Elias
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Linda LavinAlice Hyatt
Philip McKeonTommy Hyatt
Vic TaybackMel Sharples
Beth HowlandVera Louise Gorman-Novak
Celia WestonJolene Hunnicutt
Polly HollidayFlorence Jean Castleberry
Diane LaddBelle Dupree
Charles LevinElliot Novak
CBSUnited States
Warner Bros. TelevisionUnited States
