Surprising Stories from the Set of the Sitcom Alice

As Alice moved through its later seasons, the focus increasingly centered on Linda Lavin’s Alice and Vic Tayback’s Mel. With Polly Holliday gone and new waitresses rotating in, questions about screen time and story emphasis reportedly became a source of tension among cast members.

Actors naturally want strong material, and on an ensemble sitcom, balance is everything. When certain characters began getting fewer punchlines or lighter storylines, it didn’t go unnoticed. No one staged a walkout mid-shift, but behind the scenes, creative spotlight issues were part of the diner drama.