Alice the 1976-1985 Series

By: J. Reinoehl
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Alice the 1976-1985 Series
Image: Youtube

About This Quiz

Test what you remember about the television show Alice?
What job is Alice’s dream job?
She wants to be an artist.
She wants to be a singer.
“I am a singer. And I’m saving my night time energy towards getting another singing job.”
She wants to be a waitress in a fancy restaurant.
She wants to be a beautician.
What is the name of Alice’s son?
Jimmy.
Kenny.
Johnny.
Tommy.
Alfred Lutter III played Tommy in the pilot episode of Alice as a carryover from the movie. However, he was replaced by Philip McKeon.
Mel’s Diner is located near which city?
Phoenix, Arizona.
Mel’s Diner was based on an actual restaurant located at 1747 NW Grand Ave in Phoenix, Arizona.
Socorro, New Mexico.
Los Angeles, California.
Trenton, New Jersey.

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Which company produced Alice?
MGM.
Warner Brothers.
The pilot episode was not taped at Warner Brothers, but the rest of the series was.
Koch Entertainment.
Columbia.
Upon which movie was the series based?
Taxi Driver.
Kramer vs. Kramer.
Sparkle.
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the movie, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Alice’s husband had been abusive. The television changed this so that Alice would be a character with whom most women could identify.
What was the name of the theme song?
There’s a New Girl in Town.
There’s a New Girl in Town was sung by Linda Lavin and went through several arrangements throughout the show. David Shire wrote the music for it, and Alan and Marilyn Bergman wrote the lyrics.
I’m a Survivor.
Searchin’ My Soul.
Fame.

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What was Mel’s name for Vera?
Swabbie.
Buoy.
Dinghy.
“It’s a great day, we finally get to meet a relative of Vera’s.” “Yeah, Dingy and Aunt Dinghy.”
Anchor
Which actress played Isabelle “Belle” Dupree?
Bonnie Franklin.
Diana Ladd.
Diane Ladd originally played the character Flo in the movie that started the series. When Polly Holiday (who played Flo on the show) left the show, the character Belle took her place and allowed Ladd to reprise her role under a different name.
Bettie White.
Cloris Leachman.
What does the sign on the cash register say?
No shirts, no shoes, no service.
No solicitors.
No refunds or exchanges.
No checks cashed.
Although the rule was “No checks cashed,” Vera cashed one that bounced and Mel almost made her clean his apartment.

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What sarcastic comment did Flo frequently use to respond to others?
Kiss my grits.
“Kiss my grits” was an ad-lib that became a popular catchphrase. Flo’s character was so popular; Polly Holiday was able to do a spin off show based on it.
Kiss me where the sun don’t shine.
Kiss my honeydew.
Kiss my Chihuahua.
The sign on Mel’s diner advertised what size coffee cup?
12-ounce.
14-ounce.
A producer found the sign while scouting around Phoenix, and the owner of the diner agreed to change the name for the opening shot.
16-ounce.
32-ounce.
What was the name of the man Alice dressed up as some times?
Sam Butler.
Alice dressed as Sam Butler whenever they needed a mobster friend to help get them out of trouble.
Johnny Harper.
Henry Winslow.
Danny Gordon.

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What did the series regular, Henry Beesmeyer, do for a living?
He was a sports writer.
He was a high school janitor.
He was a telephone repairman.
“It started out like any other morning. I was on pole 52 making a repair. When suddenly out of the west came a flock of starlings. Birds to the right of me. Birds to the left of me.” “Birds flying over you.”
He was a kindergarten teacher.
Who directed most of the episodes of Alice?
Bill Persky.
Bruce Bilson.
Kim Friedman.
Marc Daniels.
In addition to Alice, Marc Daniels (January 27, 1912 – April 23, 1989) directed the first episodes of I Love Lucy.
What food did Mel make that he guarded the recipe for?
Meatloaf.
Scrambled eggs.
Chili.
“If he left his chili to burn, it had to be something awfully important.”
Chicken noodle soup.

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What was Henry Beesmeyer’s wife’s name?
Cathy.
Chloe.
Chloe (played by Ruth Buzzi) was frequently mentioned on the series but only appeared once in “Henry’s Bitter Half,” which aired January 4, 1981.
Carla.
Conney.
What was Alice’s last name?
Hunnicutt.
Castleberry.
Hyatt.
“My name is Alice Hyatt, H-Y-A-T-T…”
Gorman.
The pay phone inside the diner moved several times. Where was the final place it was located?
Near the entrance to the diner.
The telephone began next to the restrooms, then moved to just outside the kitchen, and finally ended up by the diner door.
Near the restrooms.
In the kitchen.
Just outside of the kitchen.

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Which branch of the military did Mel serve in?
Army.
Navy.
“Hey, what is the big deal? I joined the Navy and look how I turned out.”
Air Force.
Marines.
Which actress played Alice in the television series?
Linda Lavin.
Linda Lavin (b. October 15, 1937) won two Golden Globes for her performance as Alice and was nominated a third time.
Cindy Williams.
Sharon Gless.
Meg Foster.
When others disagree with Mel what does he tell them to do?
Shut it.
Pike it.
Stow it.
“Oh, stow it, Alice.”
Stuff it.

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Which cooking utensil does Mel frequently carry in his hand and threaten people with?
A butcher knife.
A wooden spoon.
A rolling pin.
A spatula.
Melvin Emory Sharples wore a white, Navy beanie and a white, stained T-shirt and frequently carried a metal spatula around.
Which waitress did Elliot Novak, the police officer, marry?
Vera.
“Vera Gorman.” “Oh that’s right! I’m glad you reminded me. Here’s your ticket. If not paid with in ten days you’ll be subject to fine and or arrest. Pick you up at 7.”
Flo.
Jolene.
Belle.
Earl Hicks, the basketball coach for Alice’s son, was a regular character portrayed by David Madden. David Madden was better known for his role in which show that aired prior to Alice?
The Bob Newhart Show.
The Partridge Family.
David Madden played Reuben Kincaid, the Partridge Family’s manager and agent.
The Brady Bunch.
Welcome Back, Kotter.

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Why didn’t Vera have a driver’s license?
She couldn’t afford a car.
She had it taken away for driving under the speed limit.
She lost it and couldn’t drive to the license branch to replace it.
She never learned how to drive.
“I’d drive to Florida, and blammo! I’m in traction.” “Why?” “I don’t know how to drive.”
Celia Weston played which role?
Mona Spivak.
Jolene Hunnicutt.
Celia Weston was hired in the as Jolene Hunnicutt, who replaced Belle as a waitress after Lavin and Ladd reportedly could not get along.
Marie Massey.
Mrs. Walden.
Which television show was a spin-off of Alice?
Vera.
Jolene.
Flo.
Flo left Mel’s Diner in season 4 to start her own business and ended up buying a roadhouse in her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, which she named Flo’s Yellow Rose. The series did okay in the first season ratings but only lasted two seasons after it was moved to an earlier time slot.
Mel’s Diner.

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The diner was decorated in which theme?
Car theme.
50’s theme.
Patriotic theme.
Southwestern theme.
The Southwestern theme was strong in the first season, but then became less prominent as only the wallpaper changed to show various Southwestern items such as cowboys and cactus.
What was Mel’s mother’s name?
Martha.
Susan.
Carrie.
Carrie Sharples always wanted to cook and always made food the customers liked better than Mel’s food.
Karen.
In what year did the pilot first air?
1975
1976
The pilot episode of Alice aired August 31, 1976. It featured many of the plot devices and some of the actors from the movie that quickly changed by episode 2.
1977
1978

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Patrick Cranshaw was a regular on the show during its early days playing an old pervert who was a diner regular named what?
Max.
Joe.
Jack.
Andy.
Patrick Crenshaw (June 17, 1919 – December 28, 2005) had appeared on over 50 television shows and in several movies including Air Bud and Old School.
What is the name of the apartments where Alice and her son live?
Desert Sun Apartments.
In the opening credits, you can see the sign for Desert Sun Apartments as their car is being towed away.
Cactus Country Apartments.
Sleeping Sands Apartments.
Armadillo Apartments.
What shape are the creamers on the tables at Mel’s?
Monkeys.
Frogs.
Cows.
Although they were used throughout the show, Mel gave each of the girls one of the cow-shaped creamers in the final episode (“Th-th-th-that’s All Folks” on March 19, 1985) with a check in it for $5000.
Birds.

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Which actor played Mel?
Vic Tayback.
Victor Tayback (January 6, 1930 – May 25, 1990) was the only actor who played the same roll (Mel Sharples) in both the movie and the entire television series. He also was the only actor to make a guest appearance on the spin-off series, Flo.
Dick Van Patten.
Tom Bosley.
Carroll O’Connor.
Prior to arriving at the diner, Jolene did what for a living?
She was a beautician.
She was a maid.
She was a truck driver.
Jolene Hunnicutt who first appeared in “The Great Escape” (March 15, 1981) was a truck driver when she first came to Mel’s Diner. She fought with her driving partner because he couldn’t keep his hands off her.
She was a waitress.
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