Alice: The Complete First Season

I absolutely love the series "Alice" but I didn't start watching it regularly until around 1983, two years before the series finale. A plot about a widowed mother of one relocating to find a better life for she and her son, was not new to t.v., movies or literature. But that type of plot was easier to digest in a time when a woman found it very difficult to be accepted as independent and capable of making it on her own, without a man, unless she was forced into it because of a death, divorce or because she had to leave an abusive relationship. Another truth of that time was you didn't see a lot of single female characters getting employed for work other than lower paying and/or menial jobs such as waitresses, maids, housekeepers, nannies or clerks. Season one's pilot episode, that aired August 31rst, 1976, had casted Alfred Lutter as "Tommy Hyatt" (Lutter also portrayed the character "Tommy Hyatt" in the movie entitled "Alice doesn't live here anymore" which this series is based upon). For some reason Lutter's portrayal of "Tommy Hyatt" ended after the pilot episode and he was replaced by Philip McKeon beginning with episode two, "Alice Gets A Pass", which starts out with a controversial "bang" by having a gay character. The third episode "A Piece Of the Rock" deals with Alice's late husband's last will and testament and an unknown female beneficiary. It's a very charming and heartfelt episode and one of my season one favorites. Linda Lavin plays the title role of "Alice Hyatt". A fairly young widow ,with a 12 year old son, who decided to move from New Jersey to California to pursue her dream of a singing career but their car breaks down and they end up stranded in Phoenix AZ. Alice gets a one bedroom apartment and then finds a waitressing job at "Mel's Diner". Philip McKeon is well casted as "Tommy Hyatt". Tommy is a charming, self proclaimed, precocious 12 year old and though his on screen appearances aren't as numerous as the other four main characters, he makes an indelible mark on the series. "Melvin Sharples" is played by Victor Tayback. "Mel" is a cook and a "slightly" obnoxious guy who, underneath it all, has a really big heart (to go along with his big mouth and voice). Polly Holliday, who couldn't have been better casted, plays waitress "Florence Jean Castleberry" aka "Flo". A small town, Texas girl living in Phoenix Az in a small trailer. She is tall, attractive, flirty, down-to earth and boisterous and introduces the catch-phrase "Kiss my grits" to the viewing audiences. Beth Howland plays "Vera Gorman". A loveable, skinny, naive and neurotic waitress who can barely make it through a day without some crisis or another. This series deals with various situations. Some are light, some are heavy and others controversial. Although the show features a lot of situations for the title character "Alice" it does disperse plots somewhat equally among the other main characters and their daily lives. I'm so happy that this series became available on DVD. "Alice" is a definite must have for your collection. I very highly recommend this series!!...... (There is an actual "Mel's Diner" in Phoenix AZ . It's hidden away in an industrial area just (correction is) East (not West) of the I-17 freeway, off of Grand Ave, between McDowall and the Papago freeway.)"RIP Philip McKeon"

Why are all of the seasons so expensive and why are only 2 seasons available? Where are all of the other 70s & 80s classics?!?!? WHO IS HOLDING CLASSIC SITCOMS HOSTAGE?!?I was hoping to purchase them since none of them are streaming on their original networks’ streaming channels for some super frustrating & disappointing reason.

Good price on an oldie but goodie for those nostalgic sitcom lovers.

How can you not love the sitcom Alice, and especially the first season, which is possibly the best? From the pilot episode where the diner is unlike the rest of the series, to Vera's misguided Romeo & Juliet episode that keeps Flo and Alice up all night; this comedy excels from the introduction of Linda Lavin onward. Although the character of Vera is first written as pathetic, you can still feel the mutual respect between the three waitresses who band together to outsmart Mel, their slovenly boss, and fight to find a potential partner who lightens their load in life, and also brings joy and laughter along the way. Alice may want to be the star, but all of the characters shine brightly.

Alice is a classic sitcom from that started in the late seventies and continued strong well into the mid eighties. It was one of the biggest hits on CBS, airing nine seasons from August 31, 1976 to March 19, 1985, totaling 202 episodes.The first season of Alice consists of 24 episodes on three discs. In the first episode, we met Alice Hyatt (Linda Lavin), an aspiring singer who stops in Arizona with her preteen son, Tommy (Philip McKeon). She finds employment at Mel's Diner, alongside the sassy Flo Castleberry (Polly Holliday) and the light-headed Vera Gorman (Beth Howland); the diner is owned and managed by the cheap and bossy Mel Sharples (Vic Tayback). This first season is hilariously written and performed, and is just a taste of what is to come for this great series.I know some of the previous reviewers have had problems with the DVDs not playing or skipping uncontrollably. I personally did not experience any of this: my discs worked perfectly and do not skip. My only complaint would be the quality of the episodes. Others had praised it, calling it "perfect", but I would say the quality on all episodes rank a 8.5 out of 10, which isn't too bad, but I expected better from a retail DVD release. Well, overall, I am very satisfied with my purchase.

Going through life with blinders on, it was tough to see... then I rediscovered Alice and now there is a new "girl" in town!This takes me back to my childhood, but the show today is as rich, funny and just plain "good" as it was when it originally aired. This is the perfect way to relax after a long day -- come on down to Mel's diner and let Alice, Flo and Vera take your order for laughter. Mel may not get the order right, but he's always a good guy when it comes down to it.If you never saw Alice originally, watch it now and see how "simpler" life use to be. If you watched it as a child or earlier in life, watch it again and remember back to when our biggest worries in life were if we were going to make the dance down at the VFW on Saturday night!

So glad to see the entire first season on DVD. I went through these in one weekend. The show is funny, touching and takes me back to my teens when it first aired. Linda Lavin is a great lead trying to earn a living at Mel's diner and raise her young teen. Flo (played by Polly Holiday) is the spirited, oversexed waitress and best friend to Alice. Mel is the crusty diner owner and Vera the ultimate ditz. Many good episodes in season 1. Some could call a few a little "dated" but I loved them all. I now see season 2 available. This show never got many reruns so if you're not vey familiar it's like watching a new (old) show. HIGHLY recommended !

Awesome

Love this show. I ordered the second season. Can't wait

Still so funny: the "Trust" episode still gets a big laugh

Very nice show!!

I love it