why did polly holliday leave the show alicedavid w carter high school yearbook
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest 06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. It is currently called Pat's Family Restaurant. Philip McKeon, known for playing the son of Linda Lavin's titular character in the classic CBS sitcom "Alice," has died. Mel Sharples has never been married. Despite Ladds Golden Globe winning performance as Belle, the character was not retained for the duration of the series and was replaced early in 1981, the character making one last appearance in which she telephones the diner to inform everyone that she had taken a job as a backup singer in Nashville, Tennessee. Flo's catchphrase, "Kiss my grits!" enjoyed widespread popularity at the time the character appeared on Alice. More than a year later, she was cast in the Broadway hit All Over Town. Just scanned through the Flo chapter and it only mentions that the show was cancelled due to poor ratings and that Polly was nominated for an Emmy Award but nothing about. You don't get to do that in TV or the movies.". Well, Polly Hollidays exit from Alice was something related to her having a feud with one of the casts of Alice. What happened to the actress? Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to March 19, 1985 on CBS, during which a total of 202 episodes were produced spanning nine seasons. All of this frustrates me because I am a huge fan of the show. 06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series 7 Who are the voice actors for Alice in Borderland? Her character coined the popular catchphrase "Kiss my grits!" But now the show was stronger in many areas. Once she left it was never quite the same. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Holliday worked as a piano teacher in her native Alabama, and then in Florida. I write articles on lifestyle, especially celebrity gossip. View Today's Active Threads (No Chit Chat/Chit Chat Only) / View New Posts (No Chit Chat/Chit Chat Only) / Mark All Boards Read / Chit Chat Board, Alice (Sitcoms Online) / Alice links and theme songs at Sitcoms Online / Alice Photo Gallery / Flo Message Board / Flo Photo Gallery. A book chronicling the development of the TV series, entitled "Alice: Life Behind the Counter in Mel's Greasy Spoon (A Guide to the Feature Film, the TV Series, and More)," was published by BearManor Media. Well, Linda Lavin did an incredible job in Alice. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In 1973, she moved to New York and appeared in Alice Childress's play Wedding Band at the Public Theater. 01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series She briefly did waitressing for Mel after Flo left but was replaced when Belle was hired. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. In 1976 Holliday became known for her American sitcom role of Florence Jean Castleberry (Flo) on the television series Alice. She left Florida State for Sarasota, where she taught for a year before making a change that was a turning point in her career _ becoming a member of the Asolo State Theater's first repertory company. From what I understand, it was a similar situation to what happened with Polly Holliday: Clashing egos. What happens to atoms during chemical reaction? No doubt about that! Peacock's Twisted Metal Drops in July; IFC Dark Comedy SisterS Launching May 17 It has been more than 15 years since Polly Holliday first uttered the phrase that she probably will never be able to shake. Since leaving Alice and Flo, Ms. Holliday has done television movies as well as a live television production of All the Way Home for NBC. Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Johnny Depp Hatter Tarrant Hightopp Mia Wasikowska Alice Kingsleigh Helena Bonham Carter Iracebeth Anne Hathaway Mirana Sacha Baron Cohen Time. What did Flo say in Alice? 11 Who was the actress who replaced Polly Holliday? Martha Raye, who played Mel's mother Carrie, in real life was only thirteen and a half years older than Vic Tayback. They were looking for a replacement for the soon-departing Polly Holliday on "Alice" and Diane landed the part. | Polly Dean Holliday (born July 2, 1937) is an American actress. I'm guessing that Linda didn't have many issues with Cecilia Weston (Jolene) because she didn't pose enough of a treat like Polly Holliday and Diane Ladd. In 1976 Holliday became known for her American sitcom role of Florence Jean Castleberry ("Flo") on the television series Alice. What characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? Besides that, Asian entertainment also excites me a lot. Polly Holliday left "Alice" in the middle of it's fourth season to star in her own show, where Flo moves to Texas. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Returns in June; Apple TV+ Releases Details on Platonic Polly Holliday. This is ironic because people said the same thing about Alice's sister series on Sunday nights on CBS; One Day at A Time. She also appeared in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap as the director of Camp Walden. On television, she is best known for her role as Jolene Hunnicutt in the CBS sitcom Alice (198185). During the opening credits to the last season, an outtake is shown, revealing. Holliday celebrates her birthday every year with family and friends on the 2nd of July. Since leaving Alice and Flo, Ms. Holliday has done television movies as well as a live television production of All the Way Home for NBC. Then there was a Broadway revival of Arsenic and Old Lace in 1986-87 and a run at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis as Amanda in The Glass Menagerie. In fact, such was her appeal that when she left Alice in 1980, the character moved right along with her to a new CBS series titled Flo. All the Locations. Flo left Texas after a few years and came back to Phoenix. Among these, which is your favorite? | Read on to know about the cast and their characters. It was hard to see her leave, but they did so in the best way possible. 8 Who are the actors in Alice Through the Looking Glass? Allegedly Linda Lavin had trouble getting along with her co-stars, which is why Polly Holliday and Diane Ladd left the show. 29 episodes aired, though it is unkown whether more episodes where produced and filmed. Ongoing Gags and Catchphrases. The first season episodes were very basic comedy, nothing to write home about. 1980 I believe the third season when the feud between Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday started to blow open. | These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Made a few short appearances in studio movies and returned to her love of the theater. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. She currently stars in the CBS sitcom B Positive. Polly Holliday/Age. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Linda was still the star of the show. One of the first was the Broadway show All Over Town, which was directed by Dustin Hoffman. She moved to CBS for a short time to star in the TV series based on the movie Private Benjamin. I had posted on the prior page (last post of the page), the link to Polly's comments about set tensions. When does Alice in Borderland come out on Netflix? Google Earth's ground view still shows the name as "Mel's Diner.". All Rights Reserved. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The attention was too much for her. The End of an Era. 05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series She began her professional acting career as a member of the Asolo Theatre Company in Sarasota, Florida, where she stayed for 10 years. 05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve Most of the episodes revolve around events at Mels Diner, where Alice is employed. The show's cast also included Vic Tayback as the diner's owner and Polly Holliday, Beth Howland, Diane Ladd and Celia Weston as waitresses. 05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series Big Mouth Gets 2 More Seasons, While Human Resources Concludes; HBO Max's The Other Two Returns May 4 It does not store any personal data. Alice is an American sitcom television series that aired on CBS from August 31, 1976, to March 19, 1985. ", But most of all, she wants to be on stage. Not much is known. The Flo character was vital to the show and it's overall chemistry, and was more popular than any other character. To find and/or search for me on Facebook, my name is Jonathan Yuhas, and my E-mail address is Jonathan.Yuhas@yahoo.com. Yes, she opened her place. Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start her life over again, and finds a job working at a roadside diner on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. But Polly Holliday was good too. 05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray) In 2000, she was inducted into the Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame.[5]. Both first replacements happened in 1980 and the second replacements both happened in 1981. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Mr. McKeon was born on Nov. 11, 1964, in Westbury, N.Y. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. See production, box office & company info, A good send off for Flo, though we hate to see her go, Stage 3, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA. Polly Holliday, who played sassy waitress Flo Castleberry, is also still alive. That was a good ending, though. [1], Polly Holliday at the Internet Movie Database. Fans of "Alice" remember Polly Holliday as the motherly best friend of Alice on the sitcom by the same name. Each character on the show was perfectly cast, that is an asset and a plus. Right after Polly Holliday left Alice, she was offered her spin-off instead. And this little theater in Indiana seats only about 300." Vic Tayback, a film, television and theater actor best known for playing Mel the diner owner in the television series Alice, died of a heart attack yesterday at his home in Glendale, Calif. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Everything is good now! Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Polly Holliday. The series is streaming on Netflix. Ladd was succeeded by Celia Weston, who remained until the series ended. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Linda Lavin 05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray) 03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD) These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". So could it have been something Miss Lavin's part that may have possibly been contributing factors to them not staying to the series' end? Allegedly Linda Lavin had trouble getting along with her co-stars, which is why Polly Holliday and Diane Ladd left the show. That was all because of the prominence of the character. Now I think I would like to do comedy more. In 1983, Holliday joined the cast of the CBS-TV sitcom Private Benjamin as a temporary replacement for series regular Eileen Brennan, who was recovering from a serious car injury. As a result, only one of the two episodes she filmed was aired. Her final appearance was in Season 4 Episode 18. What is thought to influence the overproduction and pruning of synapses in the brain quizlet? While working on All Over Town, she befriended the play's director, Dustin Hoffman, who later worked with her on the 1976 movie All the President's Men. However, it was reported that Linda was not enjoying but was very jealous of all the attention and appreciation that Polly used to get for her Flo character. In 1976 Holliday was cast in what would be her major break as sassy, man-hungry waitress Flo Castleberry on the American sitcom Alice. She wanted to be back on broadway where she could return to a regular life and she also wanted to try her hand at more movies. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Talking about Polly Holliday portrayed the character of a sassy waitress, Florence Jean Flo Castleberry. One of those new projects was Alice, and thus the call went out for Polly Holliday. Polly finally got another series (again based on the movie) called "The Client" but it barely lasted one season. Whenever any of the waitresses disagreed with Mel, he would often tell them to "Stow it.". She was only on for a short while while the main star Eileen Brennan was recovering from a terrible car accident. The waitresses at Mels Diner from left: Vera (Beth Howland), Alice (Linda Lavin), Flo (Polly Holliday). "Kiss My Grits" quickly became the catchphrase for the whole series. "Dustin Hoffman left after the show opened to do the movie All the President's Men," she said, "and he recommended me for a small part in that film. New on DVD/Blu-ray (January-June) The series is based on the 1974 film Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore. Someone asked Linda about Polly on her instagram and Linda said they haven't seen each other in about 30 years. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The phrase became part of the American vocabulary and Hollidays popular character of Flo later received a spin-off show, entitled Flo. "Those were three wonderful years," she said, referring to the time spent with her mother, "the last year especially. Diane Ladd/Age. 04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray) Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century]. flashbacks reference and shows actress Polly Holliday as her character Florence "Flo" Jean Castleberry, however, the show does not show actress Diane Ladd as Belle. Her character coined the popular catchphrase Kiss my grits!. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD) Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. It annoyed Linda that Polly had become the breakout star when it was supposed to be Linda's show. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. SitcomsOnline Digest: Bob Hearts Abishola to Return with Smaller Regular Cast; CBS Developing Comedy Set in 1700s However, the show was suffering low ratings before Holliday arrived and was shortly canceled. Allegedly Linda Lavin had trouble getting along with her co-stars, which is why Polly Holliday and Diane Ladd left the show. 01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release) Polly Holliday did such a great job as Floperfect coming timing and funny delivery of her lines, balanced with the very real bittersweet feelings that she was moving from her beloved friends in the show. - The Complete Series I would have done it for 10 more.". Bonnie Franklin allegedly had trouble getting along with some of her co-stars too; specifically Glen Scarpelli and Mary Louise Wilson; and this contributed to their leaving the show also. I don't know if any of this is true but it is amazing how often these actors aren't satisfied with what they struggled their whole lives to have. Do you need underlay for laminate flooring on concrete? 05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series However, nothing but the lighted sign with the coffee cup was used. Polly Holliday She coined the phrase Kiss my grits!. I don't think any of the co stars ever spoke of the friction. By this time in the show, the scripts were at their strongest (no Mary Tyler Moore Show, but they were good nonetheless), and the actresses had fine tuned their characters and performances to be the best they could. That was all because of the prominence of the character. - The Complete Series Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday are the only living Season 1 cast members from this show; Vic Tayback, Beth Howland and Phillip McKeon have all passed away. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Whats your say on Polly Hollidays exit from Alice? However, it is highly likely that all filmed episodes were aired. I think they wrote themselves into a corner that made it unlikely that Flo could come back permanently. Who is the actress who played Flo on Alice? Examples would include Vivian Vance from "The Lucy Show" and William Frawley from "My Three Sons"those were important performers playing important characters , and their sudden absences were explained away in a brief sentence or two. Both sitcoms featured an ATM going haywire, Alice (Mel and the Green Machine 1980) and Three's Company (The Money Machine 1983). She has appeared on stage, television and in film. In 2000, she was inducted into the Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". On the Broadway stage, she has appeared in revivals of Arsenic and Old Lace (1986) as Martha Brewster, one of the dotty, homicidal, sweet old aunties; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1990), for which she was nominated for a Tony for her portrayal of Big Mama; and Picnic (1994). | The 1976 series made Diane Ladd, Linda Lavin, Polly Holliday, Beth Howland and Celia Weston stars . She served as the protagonist of the sitcom Alice Hyatt. Her character's catchphrase of "Kiss my grits!" She is known for playing the title character in the sitcom Alice and for her stage performances, both on and off-Broadway. Obviously not buddies if they haven't talked in that long. 02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten What for? It looks like Linda felt Flo was taking the spotlight when the show was called ALICE and was supposed to be a vehicle for her. She coined the phrase "Kiss my grits!" This is the story of how one of the South's most ubiquitous phrases was created for a TV show set in Arizona. People are idiots at CBS allowing or forcing Polly off the show. There's some awfully good stuff back there that most people don't remember _ or never even saw. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The show is called Alice. 10 When did Polly Holliday leave Flo on Alice? The series is based on the 1974 film Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore. The actor died Tuesday morning in Texas following a longtime . 84years (July 2, 1937) HELLO. Polly Dean Holliday (born July 2, 1937) is an American actress. Soundtracks, The shot of the station wagon during the show's opening credits is from, The actual restaurant building on which this show is based is located at 1747 NW Grand Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Your email address will not be published. Who was the actress who replaced Polly Holliday? South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray), Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray), https://people.com/archive/kiss-what-vol-13-no-14/. She starts rehearsals at the end of this month, and the play will run through the middle of July. The film was a critical smash, garnering an Oscar for Ellen Burstyn's performance, and making $21 million worldwide. 04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray) The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. She has appeared on stage, television and in film. 04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) I don't think Linda has ever commented on any issues there were. The illness of her mother brought her back to Alabama for nine months before she was summoned to New York to meet the director of a coming production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Flo gets a wonderful job offer in Houston and says goodbye to Mel's Diner. It has a counter, two large booths and a couple of tables. - The Complete Series Required fields are marked *, Where is My Southern Family Christmas Filmed? While in All Over Town, she befriended the show's director, the one and only Dustin Hoffman. She graduated in 1959 with a degree in piano. 02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series Alice is an American sitcom television series that aired on CBS from August 31, 1976, to March 19, 1985. 04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) I met her, she's an incredibly sweet lady but very private. [1] She grew up in Childersburg and Sylacauga, where her brother Doyle's boyhood friend, Jim Nabors, lived. See What the Mel's Diner Stars Are Up to Now! The phrase became part of the American vocabulary. 2023 OtakuKart.com. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten In 1973, Holliday moved to New York City and appeared in Alice Childress's play Wedding Band at the Public Theater. Alice tied with MASH in the Nielson ratings for three years; 1977, 1980, and 1983. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Created by Robert Getchell, it concluded with Season 9. Reason Behind Her Exit, What Happened to Rollins on SVU? On "Alice," Celia was to fill the void left by two former, well-known cast members, first Polly Holliday, who left in 1980 to star in her own spinoff series, "Flo," then Diane Ladd, who quit the series in 1981 after only one season. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Both didnt get along well. There were issues between Lavin/Holliday but that's not the real reason she left. Her play in Alice is memorable mainly for her catchphrase, Kiss my grits! Born on 2 July 1937, Polly is now 85 years old. The show was a hit from the start, and so was Polly Holliday. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". If Suzanne Somers could make up with John Ritter and Joyce Dewitt then these too could you would think. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The big time, before Flo, meant roles on Broadway and in the movies. 05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series I guess we'll never really know of the show was offered to Polly, or "forced" upon her. Largo lawyers death part of uncommon trend. 06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. One even took it to her social media, wondering how often these actors were unsatisfied with what they struggled for. It is a live-action series produced by Netflix, directed by Shinsuke Sat, and premiered in December 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFMXSO1_-5I. "Well, Linda's a bigger person than that.". Polly admits there were some "work tensions" on the set but nothing deeper. What happened to Mel from Mel's Diner? She coined the phrase Kiss my grits! This is the story of how one of the Souths most ubiquitous phrases was created for a TV show set in Arizona. How many seasons was Polly Holliday on Alice? She made her exit in 1980, right after Season 4. Its been several decades, though. She is best known for her portrayal of sassy waitress Florence Jean "Flo" Cstleberry on the hit CBS-TV series Alice , and her starring role in its short-lived spinoff, Flo. Henry Winkler, Jimmie Walker, John Travolta and of course Polly. Your email address will not be published. on Why Did Polly Holliday Leave Alice? Mel's diner doesn't seem to offer any kind of take- out service (Perhaps Mel is afraid the customer would bring the food back). View Today's Active Threads (No Chit Chat/Chit Chat Only) / View New Posts (No Chit Chat/Chit Chat Only) / Mark All Boards Read / Chit Chat Board, Alice (Sitcoms Online) / Alice links and theme songs at Sitcoms Online / Alice Photo Gallery / Flo Message Board / Flo Photo Gallery. "Two days after that play closed a year ago last August I came back to Alabama and spent two years with mother," Ms. Holliday said. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 1 Why did Polly Holliday leave the show Alice? [4], In 1983, Holliday joined the cast of the CBS-TV sitcom Private Benjamin as a temporary replacement for series regular Eileen Brennan, who was recovering from serious injuries after being struck by a car.[4]. "An actor is unfortunate if he doesn't get to spend a lot of time on stage," she said. 05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve Also Read:Why Did Will Ferrell Leave The Office? And that, in turn, eventually led to her casting as Flo. In the final episode entitled "Tha, Tha, Tha,Tha, That's All Folks!" Therefore, the friction between the two actresses made Holliday leave for her on Short-lived spin-off series Over the course of four years, Holliday appeared as Florence Castleberry on 90 episodes of "Alice." She left in 1980, five years before the show came to an end, to portray the same character on her own show called "Flo." More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest That's all she said. It also earned her the nomination for Golden Globe Award and Primetime Emmy Award. On the Broadway stage, she has appeared in revivals of Arsenic and Old Lace (1986) as Martha Brewster, one of the dotty, homicidal, sweet old aunties; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1990), for which she was nominated for a Tony for her portrayal of "Big Mama"; and Picnic (1994). 04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray) The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start life over again, and finds a job working at a roadside diner in Phoenix, Arizona. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. 05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray) Of course, the real key to the puzzle is the fact that Polly Holiday stayed on for 3 seasons while her first replacement Diane Ladd only stayed on for a single season. This is mentioned in. No. She is best known for her portrayal of sassy waitress Flo on the hit 1970s sitcom Alice, and her starring role in its short-lived spinoff, Flo. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Holliday is an Episcopalian who sang in the St. Andrews Episcopal Choir in Mobile, Alabama[2] and in January 2010 she appeared as herself in an official advertisement campaign for the Episcopal Church. If you are looking for the reason behind Polly Hollidays departure from Alice in the midway, here are your answers. How is frequency related to velocity and wavelength? By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Then, she said, "I guess I'll come back to Alabama and clear out my stuff and go back to New York." Even when they gave tribute to the celebrities who portrayed themselves on the show when Belle, portrayed by Ladd, did a great singing audition for Jerry Reed. He was 60 years old. In the movie, Diane Ladd's Flo character tells Mel to "Kiss my honeydew!" However, the UK's Channel 4 showed it twice weekly and did not take a break between seasons and so the final episode was shown in the UK in 1986 - only a year after the show ended in the US. 04/04 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD) Everything happens for good, though! Polly Holliday got her start on Broadway in 1973. - The Complete Series Was there any recast? It's hard to do, but in a way it doesn't take as much of an emotional toll. He was 55. Many sitcoms of the 60s - 90s didn't do a good job of writing out characters, even ones that were instrumental to the success of the show. //-->. The favorite dish at Mel's Diner was chili. Search Sitcoms Online: