Surprising Stories from the Set of the Sitcom Alice

Before Linda Lavin landed the role in 1976, CBS reportedly considered other actresses to take over the character Ellen Burstyn made famous in the 1974 film. Stepping into an Oscar-winning role wasn’t a small ask, and the network wanted someone who could anchor a weekly series.

Lavin ultimately won the part and made it her own, bringing warmth, wit, and musical talent (hello, theme song) to the diner. It’s hard to imagine Mel’s Diner without her steady presence, but early casting conversations could have sent the show in a very different direction.