Alice
Mel Grows Up
TV Flash files “Mel Grows Up” as hour 65 of 202 in the TV Flash guide — Alice (1976–1985) on CBS, season 3, episode 17, aired 1979-02-05, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S03E17: listed hour 65 of 202 in the Alice guide, hour 17 of 24 in season 3. It aired 1979-02-05 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Tommy's First Love” (S03E16). Next is “Vera's Broken Heart” (S03E18).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Mel's pushy mother, Carrie, stops by Phoenix to visit her son and announces that she plans to stay for the entire winter. Mel quickly finds that living with his mother again is too close for comfort but is unable to stand up to her.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Mel Grows Up sit in the Alice guide?
S03E17 is listed hour 65 of 202 — hour 17 of 24 in season 3, season 3 episode 17.
When did Alice S03E17 air?
Mel Grows Up aired 1979-02-05 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Do I need Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore first?
No. The sitcom is inspired by the film, then becomes a CBS diner of its own. Lavin's Alice is the long-running television center.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Linda Lavin keeps a Phoenix diner standing while Vic Tayback's Mel scorches the grill and the goodwill. Polly Holliday's Flo turned kiss-my-grits into a national weapon, then peeled off into her own spin-off. Blue-collar women run this room; nobody is waiting to be rescued between pie slices.
Phoenix, a greasy spoon, and a widowed waitress hustling tables while chasing a singing career: CBS's Alice (1976–1985) kept Mel's Diner standing for nine seasons, 202 episodes, through the early cable era. Inspired by the film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and created by Robert Getchell, it made Linda Lavin the long-game lead. Vic Tayback's Mel scorched the grill and the goodwill. Polly Holliday's Flo turned kiss my grits into a national retort, then peeled off into her own spin-off. Beth Howland's Vera and…
Filed against
- Linda Lavin as Alice Hyatt
Linda Lavin kept a Phoenix diner standing as Alice Hyatt on Alice — blue-collar women running the room, Vic Tayback’s Mel scorching the grill, and nobody waiting to be rescued between the checks. “Kiss my grits” exploded around her. TV…
- Vic Tayback as Mel Sharples
Vic Tayback’s Mel Sharples scorched the grill and the goodwill on Alice — Linda Lavin keeping a Phoenix diner standing, Polly Holliday’s Flo turning kiss-my-grits into a national weapon, then peeling off into a spin-off. Blue-collar women…
- Polly Holliday as Flo Castleberry
Polly Holliday made Flo Castleberry a national weapon on Alice — kiss-my-grits as 1970s diner vocabulary, Linda Lavin keeping a Phoenix room standing, Vic Tayback’s Mel scorching the grill and the goodwill. Blue-collar women run this…
- Beth Howland as Vera Louise Gorman
Beth Howland’s Vera Louise Gorman kept Alice’s Phoenix diner standing in a flutter — Linda Lavin, Vic Tayback’s Mel scorching the grill, Polly Holliday’s Flo turning kiss-my-grits into a national weapon. Blue-collar women running the…
- Philip McKeon as Tommy Hyatt
Philip McKeon played Tommy Hyatt on Alice, the 1970s Phoenix diner sitcom where Linda Lavin keeps the room standing, Vic Tayback’s Mel scorches the grill, and Polly Holliday’s Flo turns kiss-my-grits into a national weapon. Blue-collar…