Alice (1976 – 1985): Lavin vs. Holliday
Alice, based on the 1974 Martin Scorsese film Alice Doesn’t Live here Anymore, focuses on a young widow from New Jersey working at Mel’s Diner and raising a young son. Linda Lavin played Alice, the titular waitress who dreamed of a singing career while trying to make ends meet. Lavin already had a reputation of being tough to work with. She was reportedly jealous of how popular costar Polly Holliday’s character ‘Flo’ had become. Flo was a tough-talking Southerner with big hair and a catchphrase, “Kiss my grits!” Holliday’s character was so popular it became a spinoff, Flo (1980-1981). The spinoff was cancelled after one season, but despite hop much audiences loved Flo as a character, Holliday refused to do guest spots on Alice.