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
Debbie Reynolds plays an actress whose torrid memoirs convince Mel he's the one she remembers as the greatest kisser in her life.
Directed by Mel FerberGuest stars Lucille Benson, Elvia Allman, Debbie Reynolds
Episode 2
Mel tries to outdo an old buddy who shows up boasting a track record of fast living and sporting a blonde on his arm as proof.
Guest stars Jerry Stiller
Episode 3
There's gold in them there walls, or so Mel reckons after learning that the eccentric who built his diner left $20,000 stashed in another building.
Directed by Marc Daniels
Episode 4
Joel Grey offers his services gratis as the leading man in a musical revue bankrolled by Mel and featuring Alice. Mel, however, has never heard of Grey and gives the role to his bookie.
Directed by Marc DanielsGuest stars Joel Grey, Susan George
Episode 5
Joel Grey walks out after producer Mel turns a revue about New York into a desert musical with tunes like ""Two Tootsies from Tucson"" and ""Ramona from Arizona.""
Directed by Marc DanielsGuest stars Joel Grey
Episode 6
Alice's meddlesome mother knocks the stuffing out of her daughter's Thanksgiving dinner.
Directed by Mel Ferber
Episode 7
Carrie is slow to come out of a depression after a quickie divorce.
Directed by Marc DanielsWritten by Bob BendetsonGuest stars Martha Raye, Mykelti Williamson, Dave Madden
Episode 8
Jolene's brother pays a surprise visit, but the surprise is on him, he gets an icy reception from his sister.
Directed by John PasquinWritten by Stephen Sustarsic, David Adam Silverman
Episode 9
Everyone takes with a grain of salt Alice's claim that she saw a UFO.
Directed by Marc DanielsWritten by Bob BendetsonGuest stars Lucille Benson, Elvia Allman, Tony Longo, James O'Sullivan
Episode 10
Vera, whose cello playing can reduce a virtuoso to tears, is asked to play in a local string quartet.
Directed by John PasquinWritten by Stephen Sustarsic, David Adam SilvermanGuest stars Frank Aletter, Paul Sand
Episode 11
The waitresses pit their musical knowledge against that of three plumbers on a TV quiz show.
Directed by Marc DanielsWritten by Stephen Sustarsic, David Adam SilvermanGuest stars Susan Tolsky, John McCook
Episode 12
Alice fears that freshman Tommy is abusing his new freedom away from home by majoring in extracurricular activities.
Directed by Mel FerberWritten by Stephen Sustarsic, David Adam SilvermanGuest stars Robert Picardo
Episode 13
Jolene can't bring herself to bruise the tender feelings of a bruiser who saved her life and now considers her his girl.
Directed by John PasquinWritten by Bob BendetsonGuest stars Daniel Greene
Episode 14
Mel is stripping his gears over his jazzy new Porsche he purchased for a measly $20.
Directed by John PasquinGuest stars Cassandra Peterson, Dave Madden
Episode 15
Mel has had it up to his keister with the way things are going so he absconds to his apartment for a beer and pizza binge.
Directed by Mel FerberGuest stars Martha Raye
Episode 16
Vera wishes her landlady the worst for evicting her pets then feels responsible when the old crank's apartment catches on fire.
Directed by John PasquinGuest stars Robert Picardo, Dave Madden
Episode 17
In role reversals, Mel becomes an employee by accepting an executive position with a catering firm, and the waitresses become owners by buying his diner.
Directed by Marc DanielsWritten by Linda Morris, Vic RauseoGuest stars Joy Garrett, Richard Deacon
Episode 18
Afraid that he's lost the ""right stuff,"" Tommy quits the basketball team.
Directed by Marc DanielsWritten by Michael CassuttGuest stars Meadowlark Lemon, Dave Madden
Episode 19
After Mel decides to have the waitresses bonded, Vera owns up to a criminal past and takes it on the lam.
Directed by Marc DanielsGuest stars Carol Arthur, Dave Madden
Episode 20
To steal a competitor's secret sauce recipe, Mel persuades his cousin to pose as a woman and apply for a job as a Burger Baby.
Directed by John PasquinWritten by Linda Morris, Vic RauseoGuest stars David Rounds
Episode 21
Mel's experiment with a computer goes well until Vera enters a transaction and erases every trace of Mel's financial existance.
Directed by John PasquinGuest stars Richard Moll, Howard Morton
Episode 22
Using Tommy's marketing advice, Mel increases his business but also learns he's heading for bankruptcy.
Directed by Mel FerberWritten by Bob Bendetson
Episode 23
Jolene's hair is standing on end with a cat burglar prowling her neighborhood.
Guest stars Dean Devlin, Doug Sheehan
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
