This is one show from the 70s that I never got – Alice. The funny thing is, it ran from August 1979 to July 1985, so it must have had some kind of following. The show was about a widow, who moves with her son (Tommy) to start live over again. One the way, the car breaks down and you see them outside an apartment building with their Delsey luggage. Since Alice needs money, she takes a job at “Mel’s Diner,” a roadside diner outside of Phoenix, Arizona.

The whole series pretty much revolved around what happened at Mel’s Diner, which wasn’t much. Pretty corny 70s style humor. In 1980, one of the waitresses, Flo, went off to star in her own series (of course, named “Flo”).

A number of character changes happen throughout the years and Tommy goes off to college. In the end, Alice finally gets a singing contract and moves to Nashville. And of course, at the same time, the other two waitresses have life-changing events and Mel sales his diner as well. Nicely wrapped up.

You will remember that Flo’s signature phrase was “Kiss my grits!” Polly Holliday, who played Flo, has not said this line since the show ended.

Here are the opening credits: