Alice was first seen in August of 1976 but was based on the 1975 film, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore starring Ellen Burstyn and centering around Alice Hyatt. The television series had Linda Lavin starring as Alice. After her husband, Donald, was killed in a truck accident, Alice Hyatt and her 12-year-old son, Tommy, moved out of their home in New Jersey and headed for Hollywood. The other two waitresses, in the beginning were Flo and Vera. Flo was the man-hungry southern belle, who's favorite saying was "Kiss My Grits." The other waitress, Vera, was shy and quiet and somewhat, as Mel put it, "dingy." Flo left in 1980 for her own series and was replaced by Belle, Diane Ladd (1980-1981) who was later replaced by Jolene.

     Mel has two other waitresses... Flo, from Texas, who's slew of favorite expressions includes "Kiss my grits!!!" and "When donkeys fly!", and Vera, from New England, who is slightly ditzy, as Mel's nickname for her, "dingey," exhibits. Besides the regulars, several recurring characters are remembered warmly by fans, such as Henry (Marvin Kaplan), and Earl (Dave Madden).
     Over the course of the first four years, not much changes.  At the end of the fourth year, Polly Holliday leaves to star in the spin-off, "Flo", where Flo moves back to Texas.  The spin-off lasts one season, sadly, and Flo never returns to "Alice".  In her space, we are introduced to Belle Dupree (Diane Ladd) , Mel's first waitress when he came to Phoenix several years back.
     Mel favors Belle, until she begins to bond with Vera and Alice.  By season 5, Belle leaves (Diane Ladd, who plays Belle, was in the movie as Flo).  The series' tone hadn't changed, but at the end of season 5, Jolene is introduced.