Alice (1976)

Alice is an American sitcom television series which ran from August 31, 1976 to July 2, 1985 on CBS.[1] The series was based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.[2] 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.

 

Plot

First season

Alice Hyatt (Linda Lavin) is an unemployed widow after her husband, Donald, is killed in a trucking accident, and with her young son Tommy (played by Alfred Lutter in the pilot episode, reprising his role from the movie, but played by Philip McKeon thereafter) heads from their New Jersey home to Los Angeles so that she can pursue a singing career. Her car breaks down on the way in Phoenix (from a presumed engine fire, as seen in the opening credits), and we meet her soon after she has taken a job as a waitress at Mel's Diner, on the outskirts of Phoenix. (The later seasons' exterior shots were of a real diner, named Mel's, still in operation in Phoenix.) Alice works alongside Mel Sharples (Vic Tayback), the grouchy, stingy owner and cook of the greasy spoon, and fellow waitresses and friends, sassy, man-hungry Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry (Polly Holliday), and neurotic, scatterbrained Vera Louise Gorman (Beth Howland).

Each episode invariably started inside the diner, and most if not all subsequent scenes took place there as well. A frequent set for non-diner scenes was Alice's one-bedroom apartment in the Phoenix Palms apartments. (Tommy used the bedroom and Alice slept on the couch.) Vera and Mel's studio apartments and Flo's trailer were occasionally seen.

The diner had its share of regular customers through the years, such as Tommy's basketball coach, Earl Hicks (Dave Madden), and Henry Beesmeyer (Marvin Kaplan), a telephone repairman who always made jokes about Mel's cooking. Henry's oft-mentioned wife Chloe was seen in one episode, played by Ruth Buzzi. Celebrities playing either themselves or other characters were a hallmark of the show.

Principal character Alice Hyatt, played by Linda Lavin.

 

Exit Flo

Polly Holliday left the show to star in her own spin-off series, Flo.[3] In the episode airing February 24, 1980, Flo leaves to take a hostess job in Houston, Texas. (The spin-off show however took place in the character's hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, which she refers to as "Cowtown," as do many real-life locals. When visiting her family on the way to Houston, Flo decides to buy and run a failing road house bar, which she renames Flo's Yellow Rose.) Polly Holliday was never to make a guest appearance on Alice after beginning Flo, although flashbacks including Flo were shown in the final episode of Alice. Vic Tayback made one guest appearance on Flo.

 

Belle enters and exits

Diane Ladd, who received an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Flo in the film version[4] (she lost to Ingrid Bergman),[5] joined the cast as Isabelle "Belle" Dupree, a hard-edged but kind-hearted woman. She had been a waitress of Mel's in the past, and they had also had a romantic relationship of some kind. In spite of Ladd's Golden Globe-winning performance as Belle,[4] the character never gelled with most fans.[citation needed] It has been said that Ladd clashed with her co-stars, and no flashbacks including Belle were shown during the final episode. In early 1981, Ladd exited the series, making one last appearance in which she telephones the diner to tell all that she took a job as a backup singer in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

Jolene enters

Theatre actress Celia Weston then joined the cast as good-natured, boisterous Georgian truck driver Jolene Hunnicutt. Jolene arrives as she and her male driving partner are in the midst of an argument over his unwelcome advances, during which she throws and breaks many of Mel's dishes. Mel agrees to hire her "temporarily" to work off the cost of the dishes, but she stays until the series ends more than four years later. Jolene frequently mentions her grandmother, "Granny Gums," who had only three or four teeth. Jolene also mentions her distant relative Jefferson Davis "Boss" Hogg, a character from the concurrent CBS series The Dukes of Hazzard. In one episode Sorrell Booke guest stars in this role, along with fellow Dukes character, Enos (Sonny Shroyer).

 

Series progression

As the series progressed, it focused more on character development, such as the hasty courtship and marriage of Vera and lovable cop Elliot (Charles Levin). Tommy eventually goes to college and is seen less frequently. In the final season, the character of Alice was absent several times due to Lavin's directing a number of episodes and playing the character of Mrs. Walden. The storyline began its end in the early summer of 1985, when country singer Travis Marsh (played by Lavin's real-life husband Kip Niven), discovering that he's falling for Alice, "kidnaps" her to take her to Nashville, telling her it's time to follow her dream there. Bewildered at the thought of her dreams finally coming true, Alice agrees, but not without extracting a promise from Travis to drive her back to Phoenix so she can get her affairs in order, including ending her current relationship with a writer.

 

Series finale

In the last episode, airing July 2, 1985, typical of sitcoms of the era, news of several life-changing events is revealed within a matter of minutes. Alice finally got a recording contract (after nine years of trying) and was moving to Nashville. Vera had become pregnant and decided to be a full-time mother, after Elliott had been promoted from officer to detective. Jolene's "Granny Gums" finally dies and leaves her enough money to open her own beauty parlor in her hometown. Besides all three waitresses suddenly leaving simultaneously, by an amazing coincidence Mel had just sold the diner for a large amount of money to a real estate developer and must close within days. He surprisingly gives each of his waitresses a $5,000 farewell bonus. Much of the remainder of the episode shows flashbacks to humorous and major events, and many of the big stars who had appeared on the show, including Polly Holliday. Finally, when cleaning out her things, Alice finds the "Waitress Wanted" sign that drew her to the diner nine years earlier. The series' regular customers, such as Henry, say their emotional farewells, followed by Elliot, and finally the principal characters Tommy, Jolene, Vera, and Alice giving theirs. The last thing we see is Mel putting up the "Closed" sign and locking up.

 

Ongoing gags and catchphrases

Flo's catch phrase, "Kiss my grits!" enjoyed widespread popularity at the time the character appeared on Alice. According to Polly Holliday, the line was originally written as "Kiss my honeydew!", but did not get any laughs. (In the original film, Flo, as played by Diane Ladd, tells Mel in one scene to "kiss me where the sun don't shine.") Another of Flo's catchphrases was "When donkeys fly!" Since her portrayal of Flo, Polly Holliday has refused to repeat her famous "grits" line.[6]

Mel would snipe, "Stow it!" at anyone he had qualms with, especially his waitstaff. "Stow it!" was usually followed by either "Alice", "Vera", "Flo", or "Blondie" (in reference to Jolene). He would also bark, "Bag it, Blondie!" to Jolene. Whenever Vera would make one of her dumb remarks, someone was bound to say sarcastically, "Good, Vera." Belle had a catchphrase in "My little voice," which called her "Isabelle," which she usually used when starting to tell others what she thinks is best.

In a handful of episodes, Alice put on a double-breasted suit and fedora to assume the character of husky-voiced "Sam Butler," a mobster she made up as a ruse to fool her intended target. Linda Lavin also played the role of Mrs. Walden, Vera's wizened and abrasive landlady of arbitrary foreign origin in the last season, once even playing both Alice and Mrs. Walden in a split-screen dual role.

Part of Mel's Diner was often destroyed, such as by Flo crashing a truck through the front, Mel chopping down a tree which landed in the diner, Mel accidentally having the building targeted for demolition, and the waitresses crashing a hot air balloon through the roof. Upon crashing through the roof with the hot air balloon, Jolene cries, "We went to the bad place and it looks just like Mel's!"

Mel was a stickler for punctuality. In the fourth season, Mel installs a time clock which ends up working to the waitresses' advantage due to significant overtime, and he finally throws it into the trash. Mel also had a strict rule against moonlighting, often leading to one or more waitresses getting fired. But of course Mel always rehired them before the end of each episode.

Mel's food and cooking were constantly criticized by his waitresses and customers alike, especially Henry, who always blamed it for his indigestion. However, Mel's chili was popular and the point of several episodes. During the first season, a newspaper food critic (played by Victor Buono) dropped dead while eating Mel's chili, but it turned out that Peking Duck from a Chinese restaurant was to blame. Guest star Art Carney in one episode was to be the spokesperson for retail distribution of Mel's Chili ("Chili con Carney") but backed out when he discovered Vera was a distant relative with part ownership in the venture. The popularity of Mel's Chili also led to an appearance on Dinah Shore's talk show, which led to some bickering among the waitresses because Mel could take only one person along, but of course all ended up going. Mel refused to reveal his "secret ingredient" to Dinah and her TV audience during the cooking demonstration.

Flo was supposed to be in her mid-to-late 40s when the show premiered, but Polly Holliday was only 39. Alice was supposed to be 35, but Linda Lavin is just three months younger than Holliday. Vera was referred to as a "kid," presumably in her 20s, but Beth Howland was 35.

The shot of Vera with the "exploding straws" was the only one used during the opening credits for the entire run of the series, with the exception of the pilot episode, which had no scenes from Mel's Diner in the opening.

 

Cast

The door to Mel's Diner. The waitress void was filled by the introduction of Alice Hyatt in the first episode.

Opening titles cast members:

Other recurring cast members:

Other notable guest stars:
Eve Arden, Desi Arnaz, Fred Berry, George Burns (as himself), Ruth Buzzi (as Chloe Beesmeyer, Henry's wife), Robert Goulet, Joel Grey (as himself), Florence Henderson, Jay Leno, Nancy McKeon (Philip's sister, appeared twice in different roles), Frank Nelson, Donald O'Conner (as himself), Jerry Reed, Debbie Reynolds, Telly Savalas (as himself), and Jerry Stiller.

 

Theme song

"There's a New Girl in Town", music by David Shire, lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman; performed by Linda Lavin. Several different arrangements of this tune were used throughout the series' run.

 

Sets

The Mel's Diner set made changes over the years; in the pilot the diner contained a blue refrigerator, but in the series the refrigerator was a dirty stainless steel, then later was changed to clean and shiny stainless steel in 1979-81 and much later an even shinier stainless steel refrigerator and better appliances. However, the rest of the sets remained the same.

The men's and ladies' restrooms were confined to one room in the pilot and during the first season. From 1977-1985, there were separate restrooms with "Ladies" and "Men" written on them.

The storeroom was inside the diner where the Men's restroom would later be and said "Private" on it during the 1976-1977 season. The storeroom from 1977 to 1985 was confined to the back of the diner. Here, the waitresses took their breaks, had their lockers, and stored their uniforms. Mel also conducted his business from this space.

The payphone was a touch tone and was located on the left of the "Restrooms" door in the pilot episode. For the first season, it was moved to the right of the doors that led to the kitchen section of the diner. For the second season, it was moved to the wall between the two doors that became two separate restrooms and was replaced by a phone with a rotary dial. From 1978 to 1985, the phone was a touch tone and was located at a section that was a few steps away from the entrance to the diner.

In the first season, the diner was decorated in an Aztec and Cowboy motif to accommodate the feel of Arizona. For the second season, the walls had pink wallpaper with red lines on it. For the third season, the walls had wallpaper with orange leaves on it.

The pilot episode was taped at CBS Television City in Hollywood, California. After this, the series was taped at The Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California.

 

Differences between the movie and show's premise

Alice had many contrasts with the film on which it was based, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.

Movie TV series
Alice's maiden name was Graham. Alice's maiden name was Spivak.
Alice and Tommy had previously lived in Socorro, New Mexico. Alice and Tommy had previously lived in northern New Jersey.
Alice's late husband Donald was portrayed as abusive. Alice's relationship with Donald is never described, but she kept a photo of him displayed on the wall of her apartment for years after his death.
Alice's original plans were to move back to her hometown of Monterey, California to restart her singing career. Alice's original plans were to move to Los Angeles to restart her singing career.
The restaurant where Alice becomes a waitress was called Mel & Ruby's Cafe and located in Tucson. The restaurant where Alice becomes a waitress was called Mel's Diner and located in Phoenix.
Alice and Flo do not initially like each other and don't become friends until well into the "Tucson" segment of the movie. Flo takes on the role of "big sister" to the other waitresses, and she and Alice were best friends from the beginning of the series.
Alice's car never broke down; she ran out of money, and took the job at Mel and Ruby's temporarily to earn enough money to get them the rest of the way to Monterey. Alice took a job at Mel's because her car broke down when she and Tommy reached Phoenix on the way to Los Angeles.
Mel was a widower, having been married to a woman named Ruby; hence the restaurant's name, "Mel & Ruby's Cafe." Mel was a middle-aged bachelor.
Alice and Tommy live in a nearby motel while she works at Mel's. Alice and Tommy move to the Phoenix Palms Apartments; the distance between her apartment and Mel's Diner is never revealed, but is presumably within walking distance, as it is mentioned that Alice and/or Tommy occasionally walk between the diner and home.
Alice meets and falls in love with a divorced rancher named David, whose wife left him and took their children; David becomes Tommy's guitar teacher. Alice does not get involved in a serious relationship until the last season.
Alice and Flo were around the same age. Flo was roughly ten years older than Alice.
Flo had blonde hair. She was in a crumbling marriage and her husband was not speaking to her. She had a daughter to support and flirted with and accepted passes from her male customers, but never dated any of them. She had a number of one-liners, including "You can kiss me where the sun don't shine." Flo had red hair, was divorced three times and had no children. She lived by herself in a trailer park, dated many men, and her usual catch phrase was "Kiss my grits!"
Vera had a low, quiet voice; she was taken to and from work by her father; she was shy and somewhat awkward, but was not "dumb". Vera had a high voice that was fairly loud; she lived alone in an apartment that was located at an unknown distance from the diner; she was extremely clumsy, and rather slow-witted.

 

Ratings

Year Rating[7]
1976–1977 #30
1977–1978 #8
1978–1979 #13
1979–1980 #4
1980–1981 #7
1982–1983 Not in Top 30
1983–1984 #27
1984–1985 #27

 

Syndication

Alice was seen in reruns:

 

Commercial episode availability

Cover of the six-episode Alice DVD

On June 27, 2006, six episodes of Alice were released on DVD as part of the Warner Bros.' Television Favorites Compilation. The episodes were hand picked by fans at SitcomsOnline.com and are as follows:

  • "Alice Gets a Pass", September 29, 1976 - First non-pilot episode.
  • "The Odd Couple", February 26, 1977 - When Flo's trailer is stolen, Alice allows Flo to move in with her. Alice finds Flo's habits difficult to handle.
  • "Close Encounters of the Worst Kind", January 22, 1978 - Alice's use of psychology causes tension among her coworkers.
  • "Block Those Kicks", October 22, 1978 - The waitresses decide to give up their bad habits in order to encourage Mel to give up his gambling habit.
  • "Cabin Fever", December 2, 1979 - The waitresses, Mel and his girlfriend unknowingly book the same cabin during the same weekend.
  • "Flo's Farewell", February 24, 1980 - Flo leaves Mel's Diner for a hosting job at a restaurant in Texas.

Alice Season 1 is available on Apple iTunes Store for downloading.

 

Episode List

 

  • Season 1

     

    Pilot

    Pilot. Season 1, Episode 1 – Aired: 8/31/1976

    Alice Hyatt and her son Tommy have settled in to their new home in Phoenix and Alice has been working at a grubby little cafe called Mel's Diner for a little over five weeks. Working at the diner with fellow waitresses, Flo and Vera and her grumpy boss, Mel, Alice has already met her share of characters. However, the latest character visiting the diner claims to be a Hollywood agent, giving Alice hopes of making it big and leaving Phoenix once and for all.

     

    Alice Gets a Pass

    Season 1, Episode 2 – Aired: 9/29/1976

    Mel's old college buddy, Jack Newhouse is coming to Phoenix for a visit and to go on a fishing trip with Mel. When Jack arrives and meets everyone, Flo senses an attraction between Alice and Jack, and she pushes the two to go out on a date together. Alice is hopeful for romance when the night goes right, however, Alice's romantic evening comes to a screeching halt when she discovers that Jack is gay.

     

    A Piece of the Rock

    Season 1, Episode 3 – Aired: 10/6/1976

    Alice gets a surprise in the mail when she gets a bill from her deceased husband's insurance company. It seems that he had taken out a life insurance policy that she did not know about, but Alice is in for a shock when she learns that he did not list her as the beneficiary, but instead left it to another woman, named Bubbles. Curious, Alice takes a trip to Flagstaff to see just who else tripped her husband's fancy.

     

    Pay the Fifty Dollars

    Season 1, Episode 4 – Aired: 10/13/1976

    Alice is thrilled to fill in as a nightclub singer in a neighboring town even though the establishment is a known dive. However, she is not so thrilled when the police mistakenly pick her up and accuse her of prostitution. Soon Alice is torn between standing up for herself and pleading not guilty or pleading guilty and getting off with a small fine.

     

    A Call to Arms

    Season 1, Episode 5 – Aired: 10/20/1976

    Alice is fed up with the obscene caller who has been harassing her and keeping her up all night with heavy breathing. Things begin to get out of hand when Alice borrows Vera's answering machine and gets a message that threatens her life. This prompts her to take Flo's advice, which is to get a gun.

     

    The Last Review

    Season 1, Episode 6 – Aired: 10/27/1976

    Mel leaves Alice in charge when he goes away on a fishing trip and Alice has a secret plan to boost business. She gets Mr. James, a famous food critic, to stop by and try out Mel's famous chili. However, her plan goes awry when after one bite of the chili, Mr. James drops dead and the medical report comes back listing the cause of his death as food poisoning.

     

    Sex Education

    Season 1, Episode 7 – Aired: 11/6/1976

    Alice is stunned when she discovers a picture in Tommy's wallet of a naked woman. Later, when she discovers that Tommy is studying with a female classmate who may be pregnant, Alice decides that it is time that she has a talk with Tommy about the birds and the bees. However, she soon learns that Tommy has been taking a sex education class and becomes curious as to just what it is he has been learning.

     

    Big Daddy Dawson's Coming

    Season 1, Episode 8 – Aired: 11/13/1976

    Flo's first husband, L.W., is in town and he has been spending all of his time with Flo and she is convinced that his 'ladies man' ways are behind him. Flo talks Alice into helping her get back with L.W., however, he mistakes Alice's intentions and makes a play for her, but when she turns him down, he causes a rift in Alice and Flo's friendship.

     

    Good Night, Sweet Vera

    Season 1, Episode 9 – Aired: 11/20/1976

    Vera has a falling out with her latest boyfriend Calvin and she decides to end it all by swallowing a bottle of sleeping pills. When Flo discovers that Vera has tried to kill herself, her and Alice must come up with different ways to keep Vera awake until the paramedics arrive. To compound matters, a heavy rainstorm hits Phoenix, impeding the paramedics' arrival.

     

    The Dilemma

    Season 1, Episode 10 – Aired: 11/27/1976

    Alice has found that money is becoming tighter and tighter and she asks Mel for a raise which he promptly refuses. Later, a wealthy old boyfriend of Alice's comes to town for a visit and proposes marriage. Alice begins entertaining the idea of the possibility of living with a loveless marriage and living without having to worry about money.

     

    Who Killed Bugs Bunny?

    Season 1, Episode 11 – Aired: 12/4/1976

    Tommy is disappointed that he can't participate in a father-son camping trip but he is thrilled and so is Alice when Mel agrees to take Tommy. However, when Alice finds out that there will be hunting involved, she refuses to let Tommy go. Following a big argument with Alice, Tommy sneaks out with Mel in the middle of the night but soon discovers hunting is not all that it's cracked up to be.

     

    Mother-in-Law (1)

    Season 1, Episode 12 – Aired: 12/11/1976

    Alice is not too happy when she gets a letter from her mother-in-law, Rose Hyatt, saying that she is coming to Phoenix for a visit. Alice soon gets fed up with Rose's constant insults and trying to get Tommy to move back home with her. However, when Alice learns that Rose's husband has left her, Rose drops a bomb, she's decided to permanently move to Phoenix.

     

    Mother-in-Law (2)

    Season 1, Episode 13 – Aired: 12/18/1976

    Alice is fed up with her mother-in-law, Rose as her houseguest and starts looking for apartments for her to move into. When Rose refuses to look at apartments, Alice calls in her father-in-law, Charlie who has recently left Rose and Alice begs him to take Rose off her hands, but Charlie is enjoying the single life and after 36 years of marriage to Rose he decides he would like to be single for awhile.

     

    Vera's Mortician

    Season 1, Episode 14 – Aired: 12/25/1976

    Vera seems to have been swept off her feet by a man who just happens to be a mortician. Alice and Flo have a bad feeling about the guy especially when Alice discovers that he is married and has a kid. However, before Alice can do anything, Vera announces that the guy has proposed marriage. Meanwhile, Tommy gears up to play in a football game.

     

    Mel's in Love

    Season 1, Episode 15 – Aired: 1/15/1977

    Alice gets a visit from her friend's teenage daughter who hitchhikes to Phoenix and Mel falls head over heels in love with her. However, when she decides to move on to California, Mel is left with a broken heart and promptly gets drunk and cries on Alice's shoulder. Soon Alice has a problem on her hands when it seems Mel has moved on and has fallen for Alice.

     

    The Accident

    Season 1, Episode 16 – Aired: 1/22/1977

    Mel leaves for a trip to Las Vegas and leaves his set of car keys with Alice. Flo snatches the keys to run an errand but on the way she gets into a car accident and totals the car. The girls are shocked when the repair estimate comes in at $600 but just as Flo finds someone to repair the car for cheap, Mel returns unexpectedly and the girls try to hide the truth from Mel.

     

    The Failure

    Season 1, Episode 17 – Aired: 1/29/1977

    A robbery heist goes awry for a clumsy inept robber who must contend with a pregnant woman going into labor in the diner, a stuck cash register and a police stakeout. With everyone held hostage, and Vera ruining Mel and Alice's attempts to get out of the situation, the robber seems to have one chance to redeem himself when he decides to help deliver the baby in the diner.

     

    The Hex

    Season 1, Episode 18 – Aired: 2/5/1977

    Alice has a secret admirer who showers her with flowers and when the man reveals himself, Alice is all excited to go out with him. Meanwhile, a fake Gypsy has been stealing silverware and when Alice confronts her, she puts a hex on her. Alice laughs off the idea of a hex but on her date with her admirer, Alice realizes that maybe there just may be something to it. Meanwhile, Tommy is having troubles studying for a history exam.

     

    The Pain of No Return

    Season 1, Episode 19 – Aired: 2/12/1977

    Alice gets an unexpected visit from Uncle Sam who in the form of an IRS agent shows up at Mel's Diner with the unpleasant news that Alice's deceased husband never paid his back taxes and now Alice must cough up $6000 in a week. Meanwhile, Alice finds yet another unexpected visitor in the diner, when the agent's jealous wife shows up and accuses Alice of having an affair with her husband.

     

    The Odd Couple

    Season 1, Episode 20 – Aired: 2/26/1977

    Flo's trailer is stolen and she soon finds herself without a roof over her head. Alice has the heart to let her stay at her apartment for a spell, however, the spell is broken when Alice finds out that Flo is an all-out slob and has unwelcome visitors coming over at all hours of the night. Soon, Alice must find the words to tell Flo she needs to move out.

     

    A Night to Remember

    Season 1, Episode 21 – Aired: 3/5/1977

    Vera becomes depressed with her birthday approaching and with the fact that she doesn't have a man in her life. Alice and Flo decide the best thing to do to cheer Vera up is to play matchmaker and they set her up on a date with a diner regular, Travis. However, both Alice and Flo's plan works a little too well, as Vera announces that she and Travis are eloping to Las Vegas.

     

    Mel's Cup

    Season 1, Episode 22 – Aired: 3/12/1977

    Tommy needs something to donate to the church rummage sale and being the last minute Alice and Flo try to find something around the diner that wouldn't be missed. This leads them to unknowingly donate Mel's old Navy Trophy. When Mel discovers it is missing he believes it was stolen. Meanwhile, Alice gets it back but trying to put it back in its place without Mel noticing proves to be tricky.

     

    The Bundle

    Season 1, Episode 23 – Aired: 3/19/1977

    Alice finds herself pinching pennies after she realizes she must dig up $600 to put braces on Tommy. Meanwhile, Mel is also having a hard time coming up with extra money for a new refrigerator. Later, it appears that both of their worries are over when Flo finds a bag full of money totaling over $40,000 under one of the tables in the diner. Everyone is excited except for Alice who is the only one who wants to find the owner.

     

    Mel's Happy Burger

    Season 1, Episode 24 – Aired: 3/26/1977

    With profits dwindling and competition moving into the area, taking away customers, Mel is worried he may have to go out of business. Alice suggests that Mel try advertising to boost business and Alice is thrilled when she gets cast in "Mel's Happy Burger" commercial. However, her hopes for stardom may be dashed when she discovers she will have to don a hamburger costume.

     

    Season 2

     

    The Second Time 'Round

    Season 2, Episode 1 – Aired: 10/2/1977

    Flo gets an unexpected visit from her third ex-husband who stops by Mel's Diner with shocking news, it seems the man who gave him and Flo their divorce was a fraud and technically him and Flo are still married. Learning this, Flo becomes surprisingly overjoyed by the fact that she is still married. Meanwhile, Alice encounters a flasher while on her way to work and is stunned when he has the gall to make a second appearance, this time in Mel's Diner.

     

    The Indian Taker

    Season 2, Episode 2 – Aired: 10/9/1977

    Mel's Diner gets an unexpected visit from a Native American who claims the diner was built on his tribe's sacred burial ground and refuses to leave claiming he has come there to die. Mel refuses to take the man seriously but the Native American agrees to leave, that is if Mel were to pay him $200. Meanwhile, working at a diner doubles Alice's pain as she is having a hard time with a crash diet and Flo is feeling no pain when a customer makes a pass.

     

    86 the Waitresses

    Season 2, Episode 3 – Aired: 10/23/1977

    With business on the upswing, Mel decides to get additional help and he hires a waiter. Alice is thrilled, that is until she learns that Mel is paying him $0.25 more, strictly because he is a man. When Alice breaks the news to Flo and Vera, they decide that Alice would be the best person to go to Mel and act as a negotiator, however her attempts don't go quite as she planned. When Mel refuses to match the pay, Alice quits and brings Flo and Vera with her.

     

    Alice by Moonlight

    Season 2, Episode 4 – Aired: 10/30/1977

    Alice has been showing up late for work at the diner and Mel becomes suspicious but lets it slide. Meanwhile, Alice secretly confides in Vera and Flo that she has been moonlighting as a nightclub singer, however, her night job begins to interfere with her day job and she begins walking around like a zombie due to lack of sleep. When Mel learns the truth, he forces her to decide between jobs and without hesitation she quits in a huff.

     

    Single Belles

    Season 2, Episode 5 – Aired: 11/6/1977

    Alice, Flo and Vera each find themselves on a Friday night with nothing to do and Alice suggests that they go out on the town. Flo and Alice talk Vera into going to a singles bar and as soon as they walk through the door, Flo finds herself in heaven and Alice and Vera find themselves getting passes. The evening goes well for Alice and Flo each ending the night with a man that has potential, that is until they discover that they are each after the same man.

     

    The Sixty Minutes Man

    Season 2, Episode 6 – Aired: 11/13/1977

    After watching a segment on 60 Minutes, Alice is convinced she recognized the picture of a suspected mobster who has been on the run for 30 years and is wanted by the FBI to testify against a mob boss who now has a contract out on his life. Alice soon realizes that indeed one of the diner regulars is just that man. With the FBI closing in, the staff must do their best to keep him from being caught.

     

    That Old Back Magic

    Season 2, Episode 7 – Aired: 12/4/1977

    Alice invites Mel, Flo and Vera over to her apartment for brunch and when Mel has an accident, his back goes out. Soon Alice finds herself with a most unwelcome houseguest in Mel, who camps out in her living room while his back heals. Meanwhile, Alice is dating a schoolteacher and having Mel at the apartment makes it hard for any romance and for Mel it makes him frustrated when he misses his poker game, so the girls decide to bring him one.

     

    Love is Sweeping the Counter

    Season 2, Episode 8 – Aired: 12/11/1977

    Flo has plans to go to a big football game in Tucson with a boyfriend of hers, however; first she must get Mel to let her off of work. When Mel agrees to let her leave work early, she discovers her boyfriend cannot take her and she asks Mel to come with her instead. Later, Alice and Vera are both stunned when it seems that Mel and Flo have suddenly become more than just friends, but neither one of them wants to be the one to break the new found relationship off, so they each turn to Alice to play the middle man.

     

    A Semi-Merry Christmas

    Season 2, Episode 9 – Aired: 12/18/1977

    Alice is excited when she plans to take Tommy away for a trip to Colorado Springs to visit her cousin over the Christmas holiday. But her plans seem to be dashed when Mel announces that there will be no Christmas bonuses, which Alice was depending on for bus fair. However, by a strange twist of fate the entire gang ends up on a semi bound for Colorado Springs, but a nasty snowstorm quickly strands them in the middle of the Rocky Mountains.

     

    Oh! George Burns

    Season 2, Episode 10 – Aired: 1/1/1978

    Vera comes to work one day, upset over a character on one her soap operas that is on death's doorstep. It soon becomes apparent to everyone that Vera believes movie and television characters are real. So when George Burns stops by Mel's Diner for lunch, Vera believes that he's actually the Deity he played in the movie Oh, God! She promptly quits her job at the diner and decides to devote the rest of life to do George Burns' bidding and it is up to Alice to bring her back to reality.

     

    The Eyes of Texas

    Season 2, Episode 11 – Aired: 1/8/1978

    Flo has been acting strange, first she writes an order up wrong and then she is late for a date. Alice tries to gently break the news that she may need glasses. However, Flo's vanity keeps her from getting the eyeglasses she obviously needs. When she does finally agree to a pair, her confidence is shattered and she is thrown into a depression when her boyfriend J.W. announces he is married, but she can only believe his breakup is due to her glasses.

     

    Love is a Free Throw

    Season 2, Episode 12 – Aired: 1/15/1978

    Tommy has made friends with a senior basketball player and invites him over for dinner. During the meal, the young man quickly falls head over heals for Alice and she soon begins finding him at every which way she turns. Things turn serious after she refuses to go with him to the senior prom and he slips into a depression and begins neglecting his classes and basketball.

     

    Close Encounters of the Worst Kind

    Season 2, Episode 13 – Aired: 1/22/1978

    Alice has been taking a psychology course and one day she tells the gang that she has been studying repression. However, her explanation of what repression is soon brings forth petty grievances that each Mel's Diner employee has been repressing from one another. However, this leads to a major blowout and soon everyone is fighting with one another and Alice calls for an intervention at her apartment to work through it.

     

    The Pharmacist

    Season 2, Episode 14 – Aired: 1/29/1978

    A pharmacist whose wife just left him and whose dog just died comes into the diner and tries to make a call to President Carter to protest food additives. However, when that doesn't work he tries another tactic, he threatens to take his life by swallowing a Cyanide pill until someone starts taking him seriously. Meanwhile, Flo orders sexy lingerie from a catalog but has a hard time giving it away when it comes in the wrong size.

     

    Love Me, Love My Horse

    Season 2, Episode 15 – Aired: 2/5/1978

    Flo is looking forward to a visit from her bronco-busting baby brother, Jimmie Joe Castleberry. To welcome him to town, Flo sets him up on a blind date with Alice. However, Alice has no idea what she is getting herself into when their first date winds up over a campfire searing steaks and the night ends with a marriage proposal and Alice soon realizes she is dealing with someone who won't take no for an answer.

     

    Florence of Arabia

    Season 2, Episode 16 – Aired: 2/19/1978

    Flo is excited about her latest boyfriend, Ben, because he has been wining and dining her and has begun lavishing her with expensive gifts. First she gets a fur coat and then he presents her with a diamond ring. Alice is excited for Flo but she is in for a shock when she meets Ben, who turns out to be a rich Arab who admits to her that he intends to make Flo his fourth wife and have her join his harem.

     

    The Cuban Connection

    Season 2, Episode 17 – Aired: 2/26/1978

    Alice is thrilled to have her old singing teacher, Ruth come to Phoenix for a visit. Ruth is a little down in the dumps because she just left Paco, her womanizing photographer of a husband. However, when Paco shows up at Mel's Diner, Alice has no choice but to try to mediate the couple's constant squabbling and try to bring them back together, but that is no easy task, especially since Ruth believes Paco and Alice may be fooling around.

     

    Mel's Big Five-0

    Season 2, Episode 18 – Aired: 3/5/1978

    Mel is in an unusually good mood and the girls quickly discover the reason, it happens to be his 50th birthday. When the girls ask him what he would like, Mel insists that he doesn't want anything, but secretly he hopes for a big shindig. However, to Mel's disappointment, the girls take him at his word when he says he doesn't want a 50th-birthday party.

     

    Don't Lock Now

    Season 2, Episode 19 – Aired: 3/12/1978

    Mel quickly realizes that someone has been stealing food out of the storeroom and also has been making long distance phone calls from the storeroom phone. When each one of the girls denies knowing anything about it, Mel installs locks on everything resulting in Mel and the waitresses becoming locked in the storeroom and facing a long weekend trapped in close quarters together.

     

    The Star in the Storeroom

    Season 2, Episode 20 – Aired: 3/19/1978

    Alice tries her best to get tickets for a Jerry Reed concert for Tommy but comes up empty handed. However, there may be a chance when Flo admits that she once babysat for Jerry Reed when he was a youngster. Jerry doesn't remember her at first but one step into Mel's Diner turns out be a big mistake when he gets held up in the storeroom after Flo douses him with ketchup.

     

    Mel's Recession

    Season 2, Episode 21 – Aired: 4/2/1978

    The girls wonder what has gotten into Mel one day when he is grouchier than he normally is. Mel quickly announces that after meeting with his accountant, Mel's Diner had lost money over the past year and Mel's accountant recommends that, to cut costs, he should let one of the waitresses go. Soon, it becomes a competition between the waitresses to see who won't get fired.

     

    Earthquake

    Season 2, Episode 22 – Aired: 4/9/1978

    Vera is convinced that a Native American's prediction that an earthquake will rock Phoenix will come true and everyone is rattled, particularly Alice who having come from New Jersey has never experienced an earthquake before. Meanwhile, as everyone prepares for a quake, Flo discovers that someone has been skimming from the tip jar and becomes convinced that Mel is the culprit.

     

     

    The Reporter

    Season 2, Episode 23

    Mel and the girls have been busy preparing meals for the jury of a sensational rape trial and the trial brings out passion and intrigue in Alice who has religiously been following it in the newspapers. When an investigative reporter stops in Mel's Diner, Alice discovers that he is hiding out and afraid someone is out to kill him to prevent him from printing a news article and Alice decides to help him.

     

    The Bus

    Season 2, Episode 24

    Alice, Flo and Vera begin to consider joining a union after they get fed up with Mel's treatment. Meanwhile, Mel is all excited when a tour bus drops off a load of customers including an AWOL Navy man and his spoiled girlfriend, a blind woman, a woman plagued by motion sickness and a older Jewish couple. When the diner stays open late, the girls decide a union is the best way to go especially when Mel orders them to work late with no overtime.

     

     

     

    Season 3

     

    Take Him, He's Yours

    Season 3, Episode 1 – Aired: 9/24/1978

    Alice has gotten fed up with Tommy's behavior and gets frustrated with his demands over what musical instrument he wants to play. Later, Tommy becomes determined to get a dirt bike, which leads to a big argument in the diner, where Mel quickly boasts that he could do a better job raising Tommy than Alice can. Alice decides to take him at his word and Tommy moves in with Mel.

     

    Car Wars

    Season 3, Episode 2 – Aired: 10/1/1978

    Mel is excited about getting a new car but first he must unload his old Volkswagen bug. When the waitresses hear that Mel is trying to sell his car, they decide to scrape together money to but it themselves. However, following the sale they run into a little problem, the car won't start. The girls soon realize that Mel has stuck them with a lemon and he has no intention of trying to fix the situation.

     

    Citizen Mel

    Season 3, Episode 3 – Aired: 10/8/1978

    Mel catches a glimpse at the man who held up the bank and is reluctant to go to the police with a description. The waitresses talk him into doing the honest thing and his description gets a suspect arrested. However, when the suspect is let go for lack of evidence, Mel runs for his life because the suspect has a record of assaulting witnesses who have testified against him.

     

    Vera's Popcorn Romance

    Season 3, Episode 4 – Aired: 10/15/1978

    Vera has been going to the movies a lot lately and Flo and Alice learn that Vera has not been going alone, but has been accompanied by a mystery man named Brian. The staff soon becomes concerned Vera may be moving to fast when she lets slip she is thinking of moving in with this Brian yet she refuses to bring him to the diner to meet anyone. So Alice, Flo and Mel decide to spy on her in the movie theatre.

     

    Block Those Kicks

    Season 3, Episode 5 – Aired: 10/22/1978

    The girls make a shocking discovery that Mel lost his car to his bookie and they soon realize Mel has a problem and they become afraid that he may lose his diner in a bet. So to show support, the entire gang decides to give up their personal vices: Vera tries to quit smoking, Alice tries to quit eating chocolate, Flo tries to give up coffee and Mel tries to give up his gambling addiction.

     

    What Happened to the Class of '78?

    Season 3, Episode 6 – Aired: 10/29/1978

    Vera gets an invitation to her high school reunion and the gang recalls memories from their high school days but this brings up bad memories for Flo who never graduated from high school. Alice encourages her to begin taking night school classes to get her GED. However, this may be a daunting task when Flo quickly discovers that she would be out partying rather than studying.

     

    Better Never Than Late

    Season 3, Episode 7 – Aired: 11/5/1978

    Hoping to draw in a crowd, Mel decides to keep the diner open later on Saturday nights. Alice agrees to pick up the late shift; however, both Mel and Alice are bored to tears due to lack of customers. When Mel decides to take a nap in the storeroom, Alice plans to run the place herself but she soon comes face to face with a pistol waiving robber who demands all money including the money locked in the safe in the storeroom.

     

    Mel's in a Family Way

    Season 3, Episode 8 – Aired: 11/11/1978

    Mel gets a visit from an old flame who is now happily married and has children. Mel is happy to see them but gets down in the dumps when he realizes that he is 50 years old and doesn't have a family. To cheer him up, Alice invites him over for a dinner with her and Tommy, but Mel quickly mistakes her intentions and soon Mel begins hanging around her apartment all the time.

     

    Who Ordered the Hot Turkey?

    Season 3, Episode 9 – Aired: 11/19/1978

    Mel announces at the last minute that he's decided to keep the diner open for Thanksgiving which ruins the girls plans to have dinner at Alice's apartment with some orphans. Meanwhile, Mel unwittingly buys turkeys, which turn out to be still alive as well as stolen property. Things get worse, when Mel calls the TV station to do a story on him, just as Vera lets all the turkeys free to save them from the knife.

     

    The Happy Hoofers

    Season 3, Episode 10 – Aired: 11/26/1978

    Tommy brings home a report card with straight A's and he begins talking about college. Alice quickly realizes that she is going to need to pick up a second job if she's ever going to be able to pay for college. Alice gets a job delivering singing telegrams but Mel is not pleased at all and fires her after she comes in late. Later, when Vera and Flo defend Alice, Mel fires the two of them as well.

     

    A Slight Case of ESP

    Season 3, Episode 11 – Aired: 12/3/1978

    A phone call to the diner leads to a prediction made by Vera who turns out to be right. Later, a string of bad luck happens in the diner and before each occurrence, Vera makes a prediction, all which come true. Mel begins to believe Vera has ESP and uses her to predict a horse race. However, Mel is not prepared when after having a strange dream, Vera makes a prediction that Mel is going to die.

     

    The Principal of the Thing

    Season 3, Episode 12 – Aired: 12/10/1978

    Alice is mortified when she gets a call from Tommy's school and she's asked to come down and meet with the principal. Alice learns that Tommy has been mocking his teacher in school and threatens to take television away from him. Meanwhile, Alice hits it off with his principal and they start going out but Tommy soon finds himself a target at school when the other classmates tease him about his mother dating the principal.

     

    What're You Doing New Year's Eve?

    Season 3, Episode 13 – Aired: 12/31/1978

    Flo is excited about her New Year's blind date with an airplane pilot that Alice set her up on. However, Flo soon finds herself dateless on New Years when her date gets back together with his wife. Flo agrees to run the diner by herself on New Years Eve but she finds herself not alone when people drop by to try to cheer her up.

     

    Sweet Charity

    Season 3, Episode 14 – Aired: 1/14/1979

    Alice's boyfriend Eric surprises her with tickets to a big celebrity ball and he has two extra tickets. Alice instantly invites Flo and Vera and they each accept however, each one assumes they can also bring a date. Soon it becomes a war over the tickets when Mel jumps in and tries to claim them for himself and his new girlfriend, Marie.

     

    The Fourth Time Around

    Season 3, Episode 15 – Aired: 1/21/1979

    Mel's brother Al comes to Phoenix for a visit and is pleased to see his older brother and Alice and Vera but it's Flo that he is the most pleased to see when they start going out. With a day, Al and Flo arrive at the diner with a big announcement; they are engaged and plan a race to the altar despite the fact that this would be the fourth marriage for each of them.

     

    Tommy's First Love

    Season 3, Episode 16 – Aired: 1/28/1979

    Tommy is a happy teenager when he gets his first girlfriend, Melissa. They've been seeing a lot of each other and talking to each other quite a bit on the telephone. Alice soon gets fed up with Tommy using the telephone non-stop and when he gets into an argument with her, she grounds him, which leads to him and Melissa each running away from home.

     

    Mel Grows Up

    Season 3, Episode 17 – Aired: 2/5/1979

    Mel's pushy mother, Carrie stops by Phoenix to visit her son, Mel and announces that she plans to stay for the entire winter at his apartment. Mel quickly finds that living with his mother again is too close for comfort and has a hard time standing up to her. Meanwhile, Alice tries to help Mel but her plan backfires when Carrie ends up moving in with her and Tommy.

     

    Vera's Broken Heart

    Season 3, Episode 18 – Aired: 2/18/1979

    Vera is excited when her boyfriend Brian asks her one night because he has something very important to discuss. Alice and Flo thinks he may pop the question, but Vera's hopes are dashed when he breaks up with her because he has plans to marry another. This sends Vera into a deep depression and she takes to her bed and won't come out.

     

    Alice's Decision

    Season 3, Episode 19 – Aired: 2/25/1979

    Alice's old friend Ina comes to town and Alice is a bit jealous of her friend who is now a success in show business. Things start looking up for Alice when it seems she may get her long-awaited break, a chance to fill a vacancy in a traveling trio. However, Alice begins having second thoughts when she realizes if she takes this job it would mean hitting the road without Tommy.

     

    The Last Stow It (1)

    Season 3, Episode 20 – Aired: 3/11/1979

    The girls decide to band together and ask Mel for a raise. However, before they can even ask, Mel makes an announcement, that he's sold the diner. The girls are shocked and realize as part of the deal the waitresses will continue on under the new management. It is the new management that soon gets under their skin when a humorless martinet takes over and he runs the diner like an army outfit, which leads to him firing all of the waitresses.

     

    The Last Stow It (2)

    Season 3, Episode 21 – Aired: 3/11/1979

    After being fired, the girls go out and try to get new jobs, while Mel is longing to have his diner back but the new owner refuses to sell it back to him. This leads Mel to open an eatery in Alice's apartment, which quickly catches the attention of the local police. Meanwhile, Flo, Alice and Vera hatch a scheme to try to get Mel back his diner.

     

    If the Shoe Fits

    Season 3, Episode 22 – Aired: 3/18/1979

    Alice is excited when a children's theatre announces that they will be putting on a production of Cinderella and Alice eyes up main role. However, she quickly eyes up a lot more when she meets the 25-year-old director and she becomes insecure about their age difference. Meanwhile, Alice finds herself with some competition when Vera gets cast as Cinderella.

     

    My Fair Vera

    Season 3, Episode 23 – Aired: 3/25/1979

    Vera is excited when she reads the reviews of her performance in Cinderella, which is deemed "brilliant". Meanwhile, Alice must deal with getting reviews that give her performance "adequate" and finds herself being pushed to the side by Vera who is offered a contract with an agent who gets her an audition for a supermarket commercial. This leads Vera to quit her job at the diner.

     

    Flo Finds Her Father

    Season 3, Episode 24 – Aired: 4/1/1979

    Vera takes a call at the diner from a man who claims he is Flo's father and he is coming by the diner to visit her. When Flo learns this she reveals that he ran out on the family when she was a little girl and now 30 years later he resurfaces and she refuses to see him. Meanwhile, Alice tries to bridge the rift between Flo and her father, while Vera and Tommy care for hamsters and they soon get loose.

     

    Has Anyone Here Seen Telly?

    Season 4, Episode 1 – Aired: 9/23/1979

    The Mel's diner staff becomes fed up with Vera who has been playing a game, "The Waitress Who Cried Wolf" claiming that she has seen celebrities around town who aren't really there. So when Telly Savalas gives star-struck Vera a thrill when he stops by the diner while she's working there alone, no one believes her story and she promptly quits in a huff.

     

    Mona Lisa Alice

    Season 4, Episode 2 – Aired: 9/30/1979

    Alice has been dating Greg Stemple for a while and they have really hit it off and Tommy really likes him and quickly sets into motion matchmaking efforts in hopes of his mother remarrying. However, Alice's sour reaction to Tommy's pushy efforts threatens Mel's new promotional gimmick, which is free meals to customers if his waitresses don't smile.

     

    Mel Loves Marie

    Season 4, Episode 3 – Aired: 10/7/1979

    Mel and his girlfriend Marie have been getting serious, so serious that Mel proposes marriage and Marie happily accepts. Later, Mel becomes worried about what would happen if the marriage didn't work and he decides to have a prenuptial agreement drawn up, but when Marie refuses to sign it, the engagement is called off and Mel begs Alice to help get them back together.

     

    Vera Robs the Cradle

    Season 4, Episode 4 – Aired: 10/21/1979

    Tommy's recent relationship with a girl has ended and he is down in the dumps so he happily accepts an invitation by Vera to go out the movies. Later, Vera gives Tommy a dance lesson and at that instant Tommy becomes smitten and falls head over heels for Vera. Now Vera must try her best to let Tommy down without hurting his feelings.

     

    Flo's Chili Reception

    Season 4, Episode 5 – Aired: 10/28/1979

    Mel is excited when a food critic names his chili "the best in the west" in a restaurant magazine but his happiness is short lived when business doesn't pick. Meanwhile, Mel is convinced that his chief competitor Barney from Barney's Burger Barn is romancing Flo just to get the recipe for Mel's Texas-style chili. When Flo refuses to stop seeing Barney Mel fires her and she gets a job at the Burger Barn.

     

    Little Alice Bluenose

    Season 4, Episode 6 – Aired: 11/4/1979

    Vera has been taking an art class and Mel is shocked to learn that part of the class involves sketching nude male models. Even more shocked is Vera's boyfriend Brian who insists that she quit the class but Alice takes Vera's side but has a problem when she discovers that her new boyfriend is one of the nude models.

     

    Carrie Sharples Strikes Again

    Season 4, Episode 7 – Aired: 11/11/1979

    Mel is not happy when his domineering mother, Carrie arrives in town for another visit. Mel quickly gets fed up with her but when his back goes out Carrie is left to take over as chef at Mel's Diner. Mel is not pleased when he learns that his mother's home cooking is bringing in the business and Alice tries her best to try to smooth things over between the two.

     

    Mel's in the Kitchen With Dinah

    Season 4, Episode 8 – Aired: 11/18/1979

    Mel gets an unexpected visitor in the diner, a food critic who begins testing various Mel's Diner specialties. The critic is most impressed with Mel's chili and he reveals that he works for Dinah Shore's television show and he invites Mel and one other person to appear on her show. However things go awry when the waitresses fight over who will accompany Mel on television.

     

    Cabin Fever

    Season 4, Episode 9 – Aired: 12/2/1979

    Flo is disappointed when a planned getaway with her boyfriend to a remote cabin in New Mexico gets cancelled. Overhearing this, Mel thinks it would be a great idea to take his girlfriend Marie there for a romantic outing but finds himself not alone when Flo decided to go on her vacation after all with Alice and Vera in tow.

     

    My Cousin, Art Carney

    Season 4, Episode 10 – Aired: 12/9/1979

    While going through her family tree, Vera discovers that her sixth cousin on her father's side of the family is none other than Art Carney. Meanwhile, Mel is trying to come up with ways to market his chili and gets an idea to have Art Carney endorse it and market it under Chili con Carney. Now, the only problem is getting Art Carney to do it.

     

    Mel, the Magi

    Season 4, Episode 11 – Aired: 12/23/1979

    The girls worry about having enough money to buy gifts for everyone for Christmas and Flo proposes that each one just buys one gift for someone. However, each person's sacrifice of something dear to them to buy a gift for another turns sour (a la O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi"). Meanwhile, a power outage at the diner leads to an unexpected visitor ... Santa Claus.

     

    Good Buddy Flo

    Season 4, Episode 12 – Aired: 1/6/1980

    Flo gets a call from Sy, a trucker boyfriend of hers, telling her that he will be in town and Flo is excited to meet up with him and his partner Tony. Flo is in for a shock when she learns Tony is a Toni, a female partner. Feeling that she may lose Sy, she decides to become a trucker herself and talks Alice into giving her some tips.

     

    Alice in TV Land

    Season 4, Episode 13 – Aired: 1/13/1980

    A TV talk show host, Martha MacIntire, visits Tommy's school looking for volunteers to appear on her talk show to discuss their elders. Tommy happily volunteers and Alice is excited for him, that is until he shows up and calls Mel a cheap skate, calls his mother a nag and says Flo is the person he most admires, leaving Vera left out in the cold when she isn't mentioned.

     

    Alice Beats the Clock

    Season 4, Episode 14 – Aired: 1/27/1980

    Mel gets fed up with the waitresses abusing their time and he decides to install a time clock in the storeroom. The girls object at first but are afraid to lose their jobs but decide to catch Mel on a technicality when they demand overtime for the Sunday cleanup they used to do for nothing. When Mel refuses, the girls promptly go on strike.

     

    Carrie's Wedding

    Season 4, Episode 15 – Aired: 2/3/1980

    Mel is delighted to learn that his mother Carrie is planning on re-marrying. However, when Mel meets his prospective stepfather he has second thoughts due to the fact that the man is his age. As the girls prepare a wedding ceremony at Alice's apartment, Mel stubbornly refuses to attend the wedding.

     

    My Funny Valentine Tux

    Season 4, Episode 16 – Aired: 2/10/1980

    Valentine's Day has everyone getting valentines and finds Tommy without a date for a Valentine's dance. He has his eye on a popular girl and when she accepts he finds himself with another dilemma, he must get a tuxedo. Short on cash, Alice and the girl try to come up with ways to get Tommy a tuxedo.

     

    Auld Acquaintances Should Be Forgot

    Season 4, Episode 17 – Aired: 2/17/1980

    Mel is surprised by a visit from an old Navy buddy, Rocky Rockwell who has come to Pheonix to get away from his life as a cab driver in New York and he down and out because his wife of 25 years has just left him. Mel decides to let him stay in the store room at the diner but soon Rocky has a hard time fitting in when Flo agrees to take him out on the town but promptly rejects him.

     

    Flo's Farewell

    Season 4, Episode 18 – Aired: 2/24/1980

    Flo arrives to work one day driving a fancy convertible and she has an announcement, it seems a wealthy Houston restaurateur has offered Flo a job being a hostess. Flo quickly must make up her mind but finds it hard to leave Alice and Vera and has a hard time breaking the news to a seemingly uncaring Mel.

     

    For Whom the Belle Toils

    Season 4, Episode 19 – Aired: 3/2/1980

    Alice and Vera have become burned out at the diner and insist that Mel hire another waitress to replace Flo. So he brings in his girlfriend Marie but when he tries to get away with not paying her she quits in a huff. Meanwhile, Mel gets a visit from Belle a Mississippi belle who rings Mel's chimes as "one of the best waitresses I've ever had." However, Belle is aiming for nicer pastures as a country-music writer.

     

    One Too Many Girls

    Season 4, Episode 20 – Aired: 3/9/1980

    Mel has hired Belle as the third waitress at the diner but Alice and Vera and the customers wouldn't know it with Belle always coming in late and Mel not batting an eye to her tardiness. It seems she is making big points with her old boss Mel, but she's scoring zero with Alice and Vera and both get especially angry when both of their boyfriends take a liking in the flirtatious Belle.

     

    Vera, the Vamp

    Season 4, Episode 21 – Aired: 3/16/1980

    Vera has been down because her boyfriend Brian has been giving her the cold shoulder and because of his sudden lack of attention, Vera begs Belle to transform her into a sex goddess so she can attract men. Soon Mel finds Belle and a very "different" Vera showing up to his poker game but Vera really gets to try out her new look at work but things soon go awry.

     

    Profit Without Honor

    Season 4, Episode 22 – Aired: 3/23/1980

    Mel's been going through his books and realizes that for the next two months he must cut costs in order to stay in business and he announces he will have either fire one waitress or they would have to have a 20% cut in wages. Alice comes up with an idea of a profit-sharing agreement which Mel agrees to but this is just before learning he'll get a tidy sum for letting the city condemn his property.

     

    Cook's Tour

    Season 4, Episode 23 – Aired: 3/30/1980

    Vera goes on a city tour when she learns that her best friend Bobbi is the tour guide. When Bobbi stops by the diner she falls head over heels for Mel and quickly starts bringing business his way when Mel's Diner becomes a stop on her city tour and her hopes for romance grow, Mel just can't find a way to let her down.

     

    Here Comes Alice Cottontail

    Season 4, Episode 24 – Aired: 4/6/1980

    Tommy is upset with Alice when she refuses to let him go to Mexico with some friends for spring break. Fed up, Mel allows Tommy to move in with him and Alice allows Tommy to stay with him, 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.

     

    Mel and the Green Machine

    Season 5, Episode 1 – Aired: 11/2/1980

    Mel has been having a hard time with running the diner and finds that he's not getting enough profits and it seems that his competition is beating him down. However, things start to turn around for Mel when an automated bank teller accidentally spews out $24,675 to an astonished but delighted Mel. Now Mel has one problem, how to keep his new found wealth looking suspicious.

     

    Dog Day Evening

    Season 5, Episode 2 – Aired: 11/9/1980

    Mel is furious when he finds that someone came into the storeroom and made off with his safe. Mel decides he has had it and decides to rent the services of two very efficient guard dogs. However, one evening when everyone has plans to go out on the town, the dogs trap everyone in the diner with no way to escape.

     

    Hello Vegas, Goodbye Diner (1)

    Season 5, Episode 3 – Aired: 11/16/1980

    Vera participates in a phone in radio contest and she wins a trip for two to Las Vegas. Vera quickly must decide whom she will take but Tommy saves the day and suggests they trade in the plane tickets for bus tickets so everyone can go. Later, at the casino, everyone tries their luck but Mel catches gambling fever and gambles away the diner.

     

    Too Many Robert Goulets (2)

    Season 5, Episode 4 – Aired: 11/16/1980

    Mel is down in the dumps after losing the diner during his gambling streak. However, Mel may get his diner back if Belle can get Robert Goulet to perform for a Las Vegas casino owner but when she reveals she actually doesn't known Goulet, Alice steps in and impersonates him and now the trick is to make sure no one realizes she is not Robert Goulet.

     

    Vera's Aunt Agatha

    Season 5, Episode 5 – Aired: 11/23/1980

    Vera's Aunt Agatha, a freewheeling sexagenarian, makes a pit stop in Phoenix while motorcycling to Mexico. Vera watches her with awe and this prompts Vera to make a life altering decision, she suddenly up and quits working at Mel's Diner and now must decide whether or not to ride off into the sunset with her aunt.

     

    Tommy's T.K.O.

    Season 5, Episode 6 – Aired: 11/30/1980

    Tommy has been having some trouble at school with a bully and when Alice learns of this she is concerned but when Mel suggests that Tommy stand up for himself, Alice demands that he not fight. Later, against Alice's expressed wishes, Mel secretly teaches Tommy how to take care of a school bully but this leads to Tommy being expelled.

     

    The New Improved Mel

    Season 5, Episode 7 – Aired: 12/7/1980

    Mel is none to pleased to have to attend the funeral of an old navy buddy, who had a reputation for being mean, and Mel has a wakeup call when he notices that not too many people came to pay their respects. This persuades Mel to become Mr. Nice Guy to ensure a decent turnout at his own burial, which may come sooner than planned when Mel suddenly lands in the hospital.

     

    Carrie Sings the Blues

    Season 5, Episode 8 – Aired: 12/21/1980

    Mel's mother Carrie makes yet another visit to Phoenix but this time she is singing the blues because her husband of six months has left her. This prompts Carrie to throw herself into work and soon Mel's Diner is booming with business due to her pie sales and Mel doesn't quite have the heart to tell her, her husband wants her back.

     

    Henry's Bitter Half

    Season 5, Episode 9 – Aired: 1/4/1981

    Henry has been in a good mood lately on account of his wife, Chloe has been extra nice to him lately. Originally, Henry thinks its because their 20th wedding anniversary is coming up, but soon he becomes convinced she may be having an affair so to get back at her, he tells her he's having one too, with Alice.

     

    Alice Locks Belle Out

    Season 5, Episode 10 – Aired: 1/11/1981

    Alice comes to work with great news, she's been named the new manager of her apartment building and she is most excited about not having to pay rent. However, she soon finds her job is not so easy when she finds herself with the unenviable task of locking out a delinquent fellow tenant, Belle.

     

    Vera Goes Out On a Limb

    Season 5, Episode 11 – Aired: 1/18/1981

    Construction crews have been working to widen the street in front of Mel's Diner and Mel is fed up with the construction and can't wait for it to be over. However, Vera is anything but happy when she goes out on a limb to save a century old tree in front of the diner from being cut down. She soon takes drastic steps and chains herself to the tree.

     

    The Jerry Reed Fish Story

    Season 5, Episode 12 – Aired: 2/1/1981

    Mel, Charlie and Jerry Reed return to Phoenix having gone on a fishing trip and Jerry was the lucky one, he caught a huge opened mouth bass and has plans to have it stuffed. Later, the waitresses cut up the fish that they find in the refrigerator, not aware of whose it is. Soon they find themselves trying to make amends but the girls soon find themselves scaling the side of Jerry's hotel.

     

    Bye Bye, Birdie

    Season 5, Episode 13 – Aired: 2/8/1981

    Vera is excited when she gets paid this means she can finally pay off the cost of her pet parrot, Birdie. The pet store delivers the bird to the diner where an angry Mel loses temper when the Birdie begins to imitate everything he says and the nose-to-beak yelling match quickly results in Birdie dropping dead.

     

    Alice's Son, the Drop-Out

    Season 5, Episode 14 – Aired: 2/15/1981

    Alice is proud when Tommy gets an after school job singing at a juice saloon. However, she is not proud when she discovers his working has prompted him to begin skipping school and when confronted he announces that he has decided to drop out. A desperate Alice tries to work with Tommy's employer on negotiating a schedule but ends up stealing his job.

     

    Carrie Chickens Out

    Season 5, Episode 15 – Aired: 2/22/1981

    Mel comes to work one day and is surprised to find his mother Carrie has come to town for another visit. She quickly takes over the diner and starts running the kitchen herself. However, Mel quickly gets fed up and kicks her out which prompts her to get a job cooking at one of Mel's competitors.

     

    Macho, Macho Mel

    Season 5, Episode 16 – Aired: 3/8/1981

    While taking out the garbage, Mel has an encounter with a little old lady who catches him by surprise when she mugs him and dumps in the trash bin. However, when Mel recounts the story of the little old lady, she suddenly becomes four thugs and Mel quickly eats his words and suffers ridicule when the mugger is captured and brought to the diner to be identified.

     

    The Great Escape

    Season 5, Episode 17 – Aired: 3/15/1981

    With Belle out of town, Alice and Vera pick up the slack at the diner. Meanwhile, a male trucker, Burt and his female partner, Jolene stop by Mel's Diner and it is there where Jolene decides to take a stand when she gets fed up with Burt constantly making passes at her which ultimately leads to the entire Mel's Diner staff getting locked in the women's bathroom.

     

    Alice Strikes Up the Band

    Season 5, Episode 18 – Aired: 3/29/1981

    A banquet is being thrown and it has a 1940's theme and when the lead singer falls ill a new singer is needed and Alice thinks she is perfect for the job. Later, Alice is overjoyed with glowing reviews and which leads to her being offered a job singing for an influential audience of restaurant owners but that would mean picking up living over the road and away from Phoenix.

     

    Who's Kissing the Great Chef of Phoenix?

    Season 5, Episode 19 – Aired: 4/5/1981

    Mel and Marie get into an argument and break up. Meanwhile, Vera is going through a breakup of her own and Alice talks Mel into taking Vera out to the movies to cheer her up. However, when Marie shows up Mel makes it seem that him and Vera are a romantic item and Vera takes him seriously but she doesn't realize that it's just a ploy to make Marie, jealous.

     

    Baby Makes Five

    Season 5, Episode 20 – Aired: 5/3/1981

    Vera makes an interesting discovery at the laundromat, she finds an abandoned baby and she brings it home with her. Everyone at the diner loves the baby especially Vera who begins to get a little too attached and soon refuses to give the baby girl up and even looks into possibly adopting her.

     

    Bet a Million, Mel

    Season 6, Episode 1 – Aired: 10/4/1981

    Mel gets a great tip about a horse that has odd of 90-to-1 for winning a race. Mel goes crazy and decides to get a loan from a bookie of $10,000 and if the horse loses, Mel loses his diner. Now, it's up to the waitresses to stop Mel from making the biggest mistake of his life and they take a cue from the film 9 to 5 and promptly tie him up in the storeroom.

     

    Guinness on Tap

    Season 6, Episode 2 – Aired: 10/11/1981

    Vera comes to work one day and realizes that it is her anniversary, 8 years ago; she first began working at Mel's Diner, which quickly prompts her to get depressed. She is convinced she hasn't accomplished anything in her life and becomes determined to leave her mark on the world, so she sets out to break the tap dancing endurance record.

     

    Comrade Mel

    Season 6, Episode 3 – Aired: 10/18/1981

    The gang becomes excited when a Russian ballet troupe comes to Phoenix for a performance, but no one is able to get tickets that is until the troupe's Russian towel boy stops by the diner to pick up dinner and he becomes so enchanted by idea of America he decides to defect and takes refuge in Mel's storeroom.

     

    Alice's Halloween Surprise

    Season 6, Episode 4 – Aired: 10/25/1981

    Alice is excited about her latest boyfriend and is not fazed by the fact that he has two children. However, on Halloween, Alice's boyfriend springs a surprise on her not only did he lie about how many kids he has but now he is asking Alice take all four kids out trick-or-treating for the evening and she reluctantly agrees, but is not prepared when one of the kids gets lost.

     

    Alice's Big Four-Oh!

    Season 6, Episode 5 – Aired: 11/8/1981

    Vera and Jolene are planning a 40th birthday party for Alice but are unsure of how Alice will deal with reaching this milestone. However, Alice's way of thinking 'I'm not getting older, I'm getting better' is challenged when her meddling mother comes to town for a visit and immediately starts putting everything about her life down.

     

    Mel's Cousin, Wendell

    Season 6, Episode 6 – Aired: 11/15/1981

    Mel gets a call from his mother with news that his nerdy cousin Wendell is coming to town for a visit and Mel is not looking forward to showing him around the city. However, Mel may not have anything to worry about when Vera catches Wendell's eye and 'smooth operator' Mel gives him some pointers on how to score with her.

     

    Vera's Bouncing Check

    Season 6, Episode 7 – Aired: 11/29/1981

    Vera is excited to see an old high school flame who stops by Mel's Diner for a visit. Being naturally trusting, Vera does find anything wrong with agreeing to cash a check of his despite it being against a Mel's Diner policy. She is not prepared when he is nowhere to be found when it bounces and must make it up to Mel by becoming his slave.

     

    After Mel's Gone

    Season 6, Episode 8 – Aired: 12/6/1981

    Henry stops by the diner one morning with news that he recently made out his will. Alice suggests to Mel that perhaps he should think about making one out himself. However, Mel quickly becomes despondent when he realizes he has no heirs so he decides to divide up all of his possessions to the diner customers and staff, but soon everyone starts fighting over things they don't even have yet.

     

    Mel's Christmas Carol

    Season 6, Episode 9 – Aired: 12/20/1981

    Everyone at Mel's Diner is the Christmas spirit that is except Mel's who has turned into a modern day Scrooge who begins using 'humbug' as a Christmas greeting and refuses to give the girls Christmas bonuses and tries to force them to work on Christmas Eve. After the girls quit in a huff, the ghost of Mel's old partner scares the dickens out of him.

     

    The Wild One

    Season 6, Episode 10 – Aired: 12/27/1981

    The waitresses are mortified when a couple of burly bikers begin frequenting Mel's Diner. Now one is used to their rowdy and rude manners and Mel is scared to throw them out for fear of his life. However, Alice stands up to the bikers and one of them is so impressed with her spirit that it inspires him to recruit her as his 'old lady.'

     

    Alice Calls the Shots

    Season 6, Episode 11 – Aired: 1/3/1982

    Tommy is on cloud nine when he becomes the star of his high school basketball team and Alice could not be any prouder. However, she is in for a shock when she gets a look at Tommy's report card and apparently Tommy has been putting all is focus on basketball rather than homework so she orders him to quit the team right on the eve of a big game.

     

    Not with My Niece You Don't

    Season 6, Episode 12 – Aired: 1/17/1982

    Tommy has been down in the dumps when his latest girlfriend dumps him and Alice believes it has to do with the fact that Tommy's being a little selfish when it comes to taking them out. Mel scoffs at this and gives him some advice on how to charm the ladies. However, Mel becomes a nervous wreck when his niece comes to town for a visit and Tommy promptly applies Mel's advice to her.

     

    Queen of Soaps

    Season 6, Episode 13 – Aired: 1/31/1982

    Vera misses work due to the flu and in her time off she becomes addicted to soap operas. When she returns to work, Mel becomes furious with her when she is caught sneaking into the store room to watch her soaps which results in her quitting her work at the diner and getting a night job so her days are free to watch every soap on the air.

     

    Sharples vs. Sharples

    Season 6, Episode 14 – Aired: 2/7/1982

    Mel gets another visit from his mother, Carrie and she's come to Phoenix with great news, she has become an author and she getting a cookbook published. Mel is excited for her that is until he learns that one of the recipes is his prized secret chili recipe. This leads Mel to take steps to steal it away from her, which lands Carrie and the waitresses in jail.

     

    Valentine's Day Massacre

    Season 6, Episode 15 – Aired: 2/14/1982

    The Mel's Diner staff has gotten into the Valentine's Day spirit when everyone has plans for a special day with a special someone. However, each persons plans quickly start to fall through, even Alice's, who plans to throw a Valentine's party at her apartment but Alice may be the only attendee when everyone's plans get back on track.

     

    The Best Little Waitress in the World

    Season 6, Episode 16 – Aired: 2/21/1982

    Henry reveals what a positive experience he has had after having read a book on building self-confidence. Meanwhile, Vera is fed up with Mel's attitude toward her and after reading the book, she becomes inspired to become "the best little waitress in the world!" Later, Mel leaves a newly confident Vera in charge of the diner while he runs out on an errand but Vera may not have what it takes.

     

    Alice and the Acorns

    Season 6, Episode 17 – Aired: 3/7/1982

    Alice is excited about singing at a 50s theme anniversary party and it brings back old memories of when Alice was the lead singer of her old group 'Alice and the Acorns'. Alice is even more excited when she gets a visit from Brenda, one of the 'acorns' and a high-school chum who's still suffering from her teenage inferiority complex.

     

    Jolene Hunnicutt, Dynamite Trucker

    Season 6, Episode 18 – Aired: 3/14/1982

    The girls close up the diner one evening and all of them are eager to get home, however, one last customer shows up and it turns out to be Jolene's old trucking partner, Burt. When Burt, falls asleep in the diner, the girls decide to help him out by driving his rig to a mining town, blissfully unaware that they're hauling a truckload of dynamite.

     

    Mel Wins By a Nose

    Season 6, Episode 19 – Aired: 3/21/1982

    Mel returns from the doctor and announces that he has to have surgery for a deviated septum and his doctor suggested that if wanted a nose job right away, now would be the best time. This leads Mel to seriously consider getting a nose job and he seeks advice from his friends and co-workers.

     

    Give My Regrets to Broadway

    Season 6, Episode 20 – Aired: 4/4/1982

    Alice's old friend from New York, Julia comes to Phoenix for a visit and to help open a local production of Romeo and Juliet. Julia takes an interest in Tommy and casts him in her production. This seems to open old wounds in Alice whose career has stalled but she really has a problem with Tommy when he announces he wants to take up acting rather than go to college.

     

    Vera's Reunion Romance

    Season 6, Episode 21 – Aired: 4/11/1982

    Vera gets an invitation to her 20-year high school reunion and has no desire to go that is until Alice and Jolene reminder her of all the good things in her life. When Vera flies back to Boston to attend the reunion she runs into her old high school flame, Steve Marsh and promptly returns to Phoenix with stars in her eyes and a sparkler on her finger.

     

    Monty Falls for Alice

    Season 6, Episode 22 – Aired: 4/18/1982

    An acquaintance named Monty, whom the gang first met in Las Vegas suddenly shows up in Phoenix for a visit just after his fiancé ran out on him leaving him at the alter. When Alice agrees to go out on the town with him he flips for her on the first bounce and when she doesn't reciprocate his feelings he threatens to jump from the Mel's Diner sign.

     

    Spell Mel's

    Season 6, Episode 23 – Aired: 5/2/1982

    Mel's business has been going down the tubes and the lack of customers makes Mel take notice of a competitor's contest that is rolling in the customers. Alice suggests that Mel start his how contest with a prize of $101 and when his competitor stops by Mel and him get into a big argument and Mel decides to up the ante to a $3000 prize, even though he can't afford it.

     

    My Mother the Landlord

    Season 6, Episode 24 – Aired: 5/16/1982

    Carrie returns to Phoenix with copies of her newly published cookbook, now with her extra income, she is interested in investing. She decides to purchase an apartment building in the city and it the one she chooses just happens to be the same one where Mel lives. Mel happily envisions a rent-free future but Carrie surprises him when she announces a $50 rent increase.

     

    Sorry, Wrong Lips

    Season 7, Episode 1 – Aired: 10/6/1982

    Vera is addicted to a new book a memoir written by a famous author, Felicia Blake. In her book, Felicia refers to a boy name Mel she once knew back in Brooklyn and who happened to be the greatest kisser of her life. Mel is certain that he is the Mel she is referring too, however, Mel is in for a surprise when Felicia stops by the diner and has no idea who he is.

     

    Do You Take . . . ?

    Season 7, Episode 2 – Aired: 10/13/1982

    Mel is not so excited about a visit from his old buddy from Brooklyn, mostly because he feels that he hasn't accomplished anything and doesn't have anyone special in his life. Mel tries to outdo his old buddy who shows up boasting a track record of fast living and sporting a blonde on his arm as proof, so Mel tries to get a blonde on his arm too ... Jolene.

     

    The Secret of Mel's Diner

    Season 7, Episode 3 – Aired: 10/20/1982

    Mel and the girls are taken by a story published in the local newspaper where an eccentric old man had stuffed thousands of dollars in the walls of his home. Coincidentally, it just so happens the man is the same person who built and sold Mel the diner. There's gold in them there walls, or so Mel reckons and him and girls promptly begin tearing the place apart.

     

    Alice at the Palace

    Season 7, Episode 4 – Aired: 10/27/1982

    Alice is ecstatic to be cast as the lead in a musical revue and has been busy practicing but she soon gets bad news when the producer comes up short on cash and Mel is brought on as producer. Later, when the leading man drops out, Joel Grey offers his services gratis as the leading man but Mel has never heard of Grey and gives the role to his bookie.

     

    Joel Grey Saves the Day

    Season 7, Episode 5 – Aired: 11/3/1982

    Mel finally agrees to cast Joel Grey as the leading man in the musical revue after Mel's first choice sprains his ankle. However, soon after thing start to get out of hand and 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."

     

    Alice's Turkey of a Thanksgiving

    Season 7, Episode 6 – Aired: 11/10/1982

    Alice's meddlesome mother knocks the stuffing out of her daughter's Thanksgiving dinner.

     

    Carrie on the Rebound

    Season 7, Episode 7 – Aired: 1/9/1983

    Carrie arrives in Phoenix with news that she has just come back from a beautiful trip to Mexico and that while there she got a quickie divorce in Tijuana. Heartbroken, Carrie begins crying on everyone's shoulder everyone gets fed up except for Earl, whose listening ear leads to Carrie falling head over heels for him.

     

    Jolene's Brother Jonas

    Season 7, Episode 8 – Aired: 1/16/1983

    Jolene's brother Jonas comes to Phoenix for a surprise visit, but the surprise is on him when he gets an icy reception from his sister. Apparently, Jonas is a professional con man who insists that he's changed but Jolene refuses to give him a chance. Meanwhile, Mel is excited about paying off the mortgage on the diner.

     

    Alice Sees the Light

    Season 7, Episode 9 – Aired: 2/28/1983

    Alice has what she thinks a close encounter of the third kind when she is startled a brilliant bright light while in the storeroom and she rushes out the backdoor and apparently sees a UFO. However, Alice has a hard time convincing people of what she saw while Mel does his best to try to capitalize when Alice becomes a local celebrity.

     

    Vera the Virtuoso

    Season 7, Episode 10 – Aired: 3/7/1983

    Alice's dream of being a singer starts to come true for her when she lands a 10-day gig, which prompts Vera to realize that her dream may never come true. Vera has always dreamed of playing the cello with a string quartet and Jolene encourages her to try to make her dream come true, however, her instructor has a hard time breaking the news that she's not very good.

     

    Alice Faces the Music

    Season 7, Episode 11 – Aired: 3/14/1983

    Henry stops by the diner with news that he recently attended the taping of a game show Go for It, where a set of three people in the same profession test their music knowledge. Vera thinks Alice, Jolene and herself would be perfect for the game show so they pit their musical knowledge against that of three plumbers in hopes of winning big.

     

    Tommy, the Jailbird

    Season 7, Episode 12 – Aired: 3/21/1983

    Tommy comes home from college for a visit and brings his pal, Rudy along. It quickly becomes apparent Rudy seems to be a bad influence on Tommy who suddenly taken an interest in being hip. Alice fears that freshman Tommy is abusing his new freedom away from home by majoring in extracurricular activities and she may be right when Tommy and Rudy land in jail.

     

    Jolene and the Night Watchman

    Season 7, Episode 13 – Aired: 3/28/1983

    Jolene is almost run down by a car but is saved at the last minute by Artie, a muscle bound police guard who also happens to be a Mel's Diner regular who promptly falls head over heels for Jolene. Artie works up the nerve to ask her out and she agrees to go out on a date with him but she can't bring herself to bruise Artie's tender feelings when she wants to break off the romance.

     

    Mel's Dream Car

    Season 7, Episode 14 – Aired: 4/11/1983

    Mel is sky high when he comes in one day with the exciting news that he has just bought a new car, a jazzy new Porsche worth $40,000 and he got it for a really good deal, a measly $20. Mel soon becomes obsessed with his car and he's in for a let down when Jolene forgets to turn the alarm on and the car is stolen from the back alley.

     

    Come Back Little Sharples

    Season 7, Episode 15 – Aired: 4/17/1983

    Mel has a day from hell: the waitresses hit him up for a raise, Henry sends his food back, Marie hounds him to marry her and Carrie stops by all depressed that Mel has never married and given her grandchildren. Mel has had it with the way things are going so he absconds to his apartment for a beer and pizza binge.

     

    Vera, the Torch

    Season 7, Episode 16 – Aired: 4/24/1983

    Vera is furious when she gets a notice from her mean old landlady, Mrs. Walden evicting all of her pets. Vera finds them a new home living with Mel but she wishes her landlady the worst and then feels responsible when the old crank's apartment catches on fire prompting Vera to show her some kindness and invites Mrs. Walden to move in with her.

     

    The Grass is Always Greener

    Season 7, Episode 17 – Aired: 5/1/1983

    Mel is over the moon with excitement when he is offered a job as an executive position with a catering firm but before accepting it he needs to figure out what to do with the diner. That's when Alice, Vera and Jolene decide to go in as partners and decide to buy the diner from Mel. However, the girls' dreams of big money soon fall flat.

     

    Tommy Fouls Out

    Season 7, Episode 18 – Aired: 5/15/1983

    The entire staff of Mel's Diner is excited about going to the first basketball game of the season of Tommy's college basketball team. A fight begins when Alice shows up with only two tickets and the staff tries to decide who gets to go. However, no one may end up going when Tommy shows up and reveals he may quit the team because he is afraid that he's lost the 'right stuff'.

     

    Vera on the Lam

    Season 7, Episode 19 – Aired: 5/22/1983

    Mel learns that a competitor had a waitress who made off with the profits and he becomes worried about internal theft. At Earl's suggestion, Mel decides to have the waitresses bonded and hearing that her past may come to the surface, Vera decides to take it on the lam and run away to avoid facing her criminal past.

     

    Mel's Cousin Wendy?

    Season 7, Episode 20 – Aired: 5/29/1983

    Mel's business has gone down the tubes and he blames Barney's Burger Barn for taking away all of his customers and Mel dreams of getting a hold of Barney's secret sauce recipe. Meanwhile, Mel's cousin Wendell shows up for a visit and Mel persuades him to pose as a woman and apply for a job as a Burger Baby in an attempt to steal the sauce recipe.

     

    Sweet Erasable Mel

    Season 7, Episode 21 – Aired: 6/5/1983

    Vera's on again off again boyfriend, Steve Marsh shows up in Phoenix and with him brings his computer knowledge and he encourages Mel to get a computer installed in the store room for recording keeping and bank transactions. However, Mel's experiment with a computer goes well until Vera enters a transaction and erases every trace of Mel's financial existence.

     

    Tommy Hyatt, Business Consultant

    Season 7, Episode 22 – Aired: 6/12/1983

    Tommy comes home for a visit from college and is all excited about his marketing class. Meanwhile, Mel has been down in the dumps business wise and he starts using Tommy's marketing advice and Mel begins to increase his business but also learns he's heading for bankruptcy and must make a decision, one of the waitress must go.

     

    Jolene Lets the Cat Out of the Bag

    Season 7, Episode 23 – Aired: 9/18/1983

    Jolene's hair is standing on end when a cat burglar begins prowling her neighborhood and she has befriended a real nice guy in her building but when he goes away on a business trip Jolene has Vera and Mel to keep her company but even with two friends over, the burglar strikes.

     

    Mel is Hogg-Tied

    Season 8, Episode 1 – Aired: 10/2/1983

    Jolene is surprised when she gets a visit from a relative Boss Hogg, a distant cousin who has come to Phoenix with Deputy Enos both of "The Dukes of Hazzard". It seems Boss Hogg is planning on opening a chain of restaurants in the Southwest and he is up to his usual low tricks, Boss makes an offer to lease the diner that Mel can't refuse but should.

     

    Vera's Secret Lover

    Season 8, Episode 2 – Aired: 10/9/1983

    Vera is overjoyed when she finds herself with a secret admirer who showers her with gifts including love poems and balloons. Alice and Jolene begin to speculate who Vera's admirer is and Vera begins doing some detective work herself. Little is anyone aware, Mel knows who it is and does have any plans on telling anyone, until the admirer makes his move.

     

    Jolene Gets Her Wings

    Season 8, Episode 3 – Aired: 10/16/1983

    Jolene comes to work one day with great news, it seems she has been secretly going to flight attendant school and has just graduated. Mel is not pleased at the prospect of Jolene moonlighting but Jolene is the one is the most unsure when she gets her first flight, it seems she has a hidden fear ... of flying.

     

    Alice's Blind Date

    Season 8, Episode 4 – Aired: 10/23/1983

    Alice has been lonely and looking for a change, she decides to take the initiative when she learns that an old high school flame is in Phoenix on business and she calls him up and asks him out. Alice is not prepared when she learns he is now blind but it turns into a delightful trip down sensory lane, one that she attempts to share with the diner staff but ends in robbery.

     

    It Had to Be Mel

    Season 8, Episode 5 – Aired: 10/30/1983

    Mel has been getting fed up with the lack of customers so when a famous singer, Sarah James, stops by the diner for directions, Mel and her hit it off. It seems Sarah is in town on a gig and soon Mel is out every night with her, but it comes as a shock when she proposes marriage and Mel accepts and prepares to move to Los Angeles.

     

    The Over-the-Hill Girls

    Season 8, Episode 6 – Aired: 11/6/1983

    Carrie has been down in the dumps, it seems she has been depressed with her life and decides she wants to get a job and she applies for a singing position down at Vinnie's House of Veal, the same place Alice sings occasionally. However, Carrie is turned down and even Alice finds herself replaced because the owner thinks they're too old for the job.

     

    Vera Gets Engaged

    Season 8, Episode 7 – Aired: 11/20/1983

    Vera rushes to work one day and on the way runs across the street into the diner with a police officer on her tail. It seems Vera jaywalked and the officer is planning on giving her a ticket, but what Vera isn't expecting is to fall in love at first sight. Within two weeks, Vera finds herself engaged but the wedding rehearsal soon goes awry.

     

    Vera's Wedding

    Season 8, Episode 8 – Aired: 11/20/1983

    After a whirlwind courtship, Vera is ready to walk down the aisle with Officer Elliot Novak, however, along the way she runs into a stepping stone, it seems the reverend at the wedding rehearsal has married her Mel in error and now must perform a disillusion ceremony. In the meantime, both Vera and Elliot get cold feet and reconsider marriage.

     

    The Robot Wore Pink

    Season 8, Episode 9 – Aired: 12/18/1983

    Alice, Vera and Jolene all watch a documentary on the working conditions in other countries and soon demand the same from Mel. When Mel refuses to hear them out, Alice quits in a huff so Mel replaces her with a very efficient and popular robot named Blanche. Soon Blanche is all the rage and this prompts Jolene and Vera to also quit.

     

    'Tis the Season to Be Jealous

    Season 8, Episode 10 – Aired: 12/25/1983

    Vera is looking forward to spending her first Christmas with her new husband, Eliot. Meanwhile, Eliot is busy down at the mall working undercover as Santa Claus and he is none to pleased when Vera's ex-fiancé Steve Marsh shows up in town and Eliot is afraid his marriage is in trouble when he spots Vera kissing her former fiancé.

     

    Tommy Goes Overboard

    Season 8, Episode 11 – Aired: 1/1/1984

    Tommy comes home from college depressed, it seems he hasn't been doing very well with his classes and to make matters worse his girlfriend just dumped him. Meanwhile, Mel gets a visit from his old Navy buddy Frank and they recall the good old days and Tommy gets an earful about the Navy life, which ends up with Frank recruiting Tommy for the Navy.

     

    Vera, the Horse Thief

    Season 8, Episode 12 – Aired: 1/8/1984

    The circus is in town and the Mel's Diner staff gets free tickets to go and while there, Vera is shocked by how a trainer is treating a miniature horse named Sparky. The next day Vera surprises everyone in the diner when she reveals she has kidnapped Sparky and is keeping him in the storeroom. However, her act soon brings the police to Mel's front door.

     

    Jolene Throws a Curve

    Season 8, Episode 13 – Aired: 1/15/1984

    Jolene has been happy dating the waiter from Lenny's Deli who also happens to a member of Lenny's softball team. When Mel hears this, he decides to organize a softball team as well and soon is making bets with Lenny over who will win. Mel doesn't seem to have a chance in winning that is if he can get trophy winner Jolene to pitch.

     

    Lies My Mother Told Me

    Season 8, Episode 14 – Aired: 1/29/1984

    Mel's mother Carrie arrives in town after having a near death experience on the flight out to Phoenix. She realizes that when her life flashed before her eyes, Mel's image did not, so she decides to try to become a better mother and Mel learns that over the years she has lied to him but he becomes most upset when she reveals the truth about his dog being a war hero.

     

    Alice and the Devoted Dentist

    Season 8, Episode 15 – Aired: 2/12/1984

    Alice gets a craving for a bowl of Mel's chili but she is not prepared when she chips a tooth while eating it. Fearing a lawsuit, Mel sends her to his married dentist, Dr. Gordon who takes one look at Alice's X-rays and falls madly in love with her. Dr. Gordon soon decides to leave his wife for Alice and plans to propose.

     

    Alice's Hot Air Romance

    Season 8, Episode 16 – Aired: 3/4/1984

    Mel's pal Zack, who is a hot air balloon operator, stops by the diner and he sets his sights on Alice. However, Alice isn't quite fond of his sexist attitudes toward women and is in no good mood after he corners her in his balloon. Later, the entire gang finds themselves flying high over Phoenix and without an operator in the balloon.

     

    Dollars to Donuts

    Season 8, Episode 17 – Aired: 3/11/1984

    Mel is out of town and Carrie stops by the diner to help out with the cooking while he's gone. Carrie catches gambling fever and an interested Tommy decides to accompany her to the racetrack where he too catches gambling fever. A concerned Alice worries after Tommy wins big the first day at the track and Tommy bets he'll score in the betting business.

     

    My Dinner with Debbie

    Season 8, Episode 18 – Aired: 3/18/1984

    Vera is surprised when her landlady, Mrs. Walden stops by Mel's Diner for a bite to eat and instantly becomes disgusted with Mel's cuisine. Mrs. Walden swears she is a better cook and invites him over for dinner to prove it and she almost instantly falls head over heels for him. Now Mel has to break it to her that he doesn't have the same feelings.

     

    Vera's Fine Feathered Friends

    Season 8, Episode 19 – Aired: 3/25/1984

    Vera has been watching over a nest of baby blue jays that is perched on the Mel's Diner sign. Vera thinks of herself as their mother so she becomes furious when Mel threatens the nest with a broom when he believes they are responsible for an electrical outage. Later, Vera takes a tumble trying to rescue the nest and lands in the hospital.

     

    Jolene is Stuck on Mel

    Season 8, Episode 20 – Aired: 4/1/1984

    Jolene comes to work late with a surprise, she is engaged and the lucky man is a TV game show host who has plans of whisking her off to California. Jolene's whirlwind romance soon takes a detour when a dab of permanent glue bonds her firmly to Mel and the situation may threaten her impending nuptials and she soon has second thoughts.

     

    Don't Play It Again, Elliot

    Season 8, Episode 21 – Aired: 4/15/1984

    Elliot's parents send him and Vera a gift of a piano and Elliot is soon glued to it, playing it day and night and Vera becomes fed up. Later, Artie, a diner regular, overhears the misery Vera is going through and tries to remedy the situation by using his moving man job as a way to just move the piano out of Vera and Elliot's life.

     

    Mel Spins His Wheels

    Season 8, Episode 22 – Aired: 5/13/1984

    After being in business for 25 years, Mel is excited about getting a lifetime achievement award at a Restaurant Owners award ceremony and he prepares his speech. Meanwhile, Mel disdains the idea of accommodating the handicapped until two sprained ankles give him a different view, from a wheelchair, which may lead him to miss his big award ceremony.

     

    Be It Ever So Crowded

    Season 8, Episode 23 – Aired: 5/20/1984

    Vera and Elliot have been house shopping and they have been having a hard time finding the perfect home. Later, Vera and Elliot buy a charming old house that comes complete with fireplace, furniture and antiques and a border, Rev. Bragg, the forgetful old minister who married them. Vera and Elliot soon must work up the nerve to kick him out.

     

    Romancing Mister Stone

    Season 9, Episode 1 – Aired: 10/14/1984

    Jolene has put an ad in a magazine's personals column and has found success and has had a date every night of the week. With Jolene's success, Vera and Jolene get an idea to put an ad in the same magazine for a lonely Alice and soon Alice is getting responses, now the trick is trying to get Alice to agree to go out with the guys who are responding.

     

    Space Sharples

    Season 9, Episode 2 – Aired: 10/28/1984

    The entire Mel's Diner staff dresses up for Halloween. Alice, Vera and Jolene each dress up as the Marx Brothers while Mel dresses up as Captain Galaxy. Mel shows up at the bank in costume and soon finds himself thwarting a bank robber and he is quickly hailed as a hero. However, Mel soon gets a swelled head and begins dressing like Captain Galaxy everyday.

     

    Big, Bad Mel

    Season 9, Episode 3 – Aired: 11/4/1984

    Mel fears that the parking situation around the diner will ultimately lead to his ruin, especially with Elliot on constant patrol in the area giving parking tickets. So Mel comes up with a solution, he has decided to purchase a nearby day school and then demolish it so he can put in a parking lot. However, Mel soon has an angry group of children at his front door.

     

    Houseful of Hunnicutts

    Season 9, Episode 4 – Aired: 11/18/1984

    Jolene has been enjoying the single life and gets a surprise; her father is coming to Phoenix for a visit. Now, Jolene loves her family but finds it too much of a good thing when her father show up with her five brothers, her grandmother and the family dog. Soon, Jolene finds herself playing the mother in her cramped apartment and turns to Alice for advice in trying to gently kick out her family.

     

    Tommy's Lost Weekend

    Season 9, Episode 5 – Aired: 11/25/1984

    Tommy has been really enjoying college life, especially the social aspect, so much so that it seems he is out partying all night every night. Alice becomes concerned that Tommy has developed a drinking problem especially when he comes home with a hazy memory and a Mohawk to match. Meanwhile, Alice's beau agrees to lend Tommy his sports car but a drunken Tommy "loses" it.

     

    Undercover Mel

    Season 9, Episode 6 – Aired: 12/16/1984

    Elliot and Officer Maxwell have been working undercover to nab some beef rustlers but they have had no luck. That is until Jolene suggests that they should use a decoy. Soon Mel is chosen as the decoy, motivated by the $5000 reward, however, Alice, Vera and Jolene just may ruin everything when they try to help Mel.

     

    Footloose Mel

    Season 9, Episode 7 – Aired: 12/23/1984

    Mel hesitates to become involved with sponsoring local talent for a local performing arts festival but finally agrees to sponsor a boy's break dance troop. Later, Mel has a run-in with them, not realizing who they are; he kicks the group of "hoodlums" out of the diner and now must try to get them to come back to the diner to perform.

     

    Vera's Anniversary Blues

    Season 9, Episode 8 – Aired: 1/8/1985

    Vera yearns for a romantic first wedding anniversary and has high hopes that working together her and Elliot would be able to recreate the first time they met. However, their romantic day quickly goes awry when Vera has one disappointment after another. First she gets a jaywalking ticket, then she gets arrested and then to top it all off, Elliot has to work all day and night.

     

    Kiss the Grill Goodbye

    Season 9, Episode 9 – Aired: 1/15/1985

    The host of a local talk show, "Working Women" shows up at Mel's Diner and immediately all three waitress throw themselves at him wanting to appear on his show. It is decided that Jolene would appear but she does nothing to boost business at Mel's Diner. Soon, Mel faces the fact that it is time to close the business and auction everything off.

     

    Vera, the Nightbird

    Season 9, Episode 10 – Aired: 1/22/1985

    Vera is trying to save up enough money for a video camera for Elliot's birthday and her pay at the diner is just not cutting it. Meanwhile, Vera runs an order down to a local radio station where she is "discovered" and she secretly begins moonlighting as a sultry deejay called Nightbird and she's turning on all the males in Phoenix in the process, including Mel.

     

    Alice Doesn't Work Here Anymore (1)

    Season 9, Episode 11 – Aired: 1/29/1985

    Vera's ex-fiancé, Steve Marsh has a country singer cousin, Travis Marsh who shows up in town and stops by Mel's Diner for a visit. Travis is immediately taken with Alice. Alice and her latest boyfriend have gotten into a rut so when Travis takes interest in her she is taken back and even more so when he begs her to join his band as a singer and go on the road.

     

    Alice Doesn't Work Here Anymore (2)

    Season 9, Episode 12 – Aired: 2/5/1985

    Alice has been taken by country singer Travis Marsh, quite literally when she discovers that he has "kidnapped" her and is hauling her off with him to go on tour in the Southwest. Alice is grateful for the opportunity but soon finds she has some unfinished business to care of back in Phoenix, including speaking to her boyfriend, her son and her co-workers.

     

    The Night They Raided Debbie's

    Season 9, Episode 13 – Aired: 2/6/1985

    Vera and Elliot find owning a home is expensive and to get extra money, they decide to rent out the spare upstairs apartment. After some no-takers, they run into some bad luck when their ex-landlady, Debbie Walden pushes herself and her kitschy furniture into their home and lives practically pushing Vera and Elliot out into the street.

     

    One on One

    Season 9, Episode 14 – Aired: 3/5/1985

    Jolene admits that her lifelong dream was to be a player on a professional basketball team. So when Vera sees an advertisement in the newspaper for tryouts for the Phoenix Suns, Jolene decides to jump at the chance and finds herself with Mel as her coach. However, things soon start getting serious when their training sessions become intimate.

     

    Vera's Grounded Gumshoe

    Season 9, Episode 15 – Aired: 3/12/1985

    Elliot is called to the scene of a domestic spat and while there his gun falls out of the holster and he is accidentally shot. This prompts Elliot to re-examine his career choice and he decides to quit the force. He soon tries different careers but settles on a stay at home husband taking care of the house and in the mean time driving Vera up the wall.

     

    Th-th-th-that's All, Folks

    Season 9, Episode 16 – Aired: 3/19/1985

    Mel is offered a bundle to sell the diner and he decides to jump at the chance even though Mel's Diner will be demolished. Meanwhile, everyone has exciting news; Vera is pregnant, Alice has decided to go on tour with Travis Marsh's band and Jolene's inheritance is allowing her to open up a beauty parlor. On the final day at the diner, Mel closes the blinds and gives away the cow creamers as the gang reminisces about the last nine years via flashback.