Alice
Alice Strikes Up the Band
TV Flash files “Alice Strikes Up the Band” as hour 114 of 202 in the TV Flash guide — Alice (1976–1985) on CBS, season 5, episode 18, aired 1981-03-29, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S05E18: listed hour 114 of 202 in the Alice guide, hour 18 of 20 in season 5. It aired 1981-03-29 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “The Great Escape” (S05E17). Next is “Who's Kissing the Great Chef of Phoenix?” (S05E19).
Viewer FAQ
Where does Alice Strikes Up the Band sit in the Alice guide?
S05E18 is listed hour 114 of 202 — hour 18 of 20 in season 5, season 5 episode 18.
When did Alice S05E18 air?
Alice Strikes Up the Band aired 1981-03-29 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…