Robert Fisher Movies
On the occasion of wealthy patriarch Burt Lancaster's 77th birthday, his Long Island home is invaded by well-meaning family members. Lancaster is bored by the well-meaning interference of his grown children, but he thrives on the company of his grandchildren, especially 5-year-old Macaulay Culkin (in a terrific pre-star performance). To the kids, Lancaster reveals what he really wants as a birthday present: an old-fashioned Viking funeral! From this point on, the ending of Rocket Gibraltar is a "done deal", but getting there is all the fun. A superb, hand-picked cast--including Suzy Amis, Sinead Cusack, John Glover, Bill Pullman and Kevin Spacey -does full justice to Amos Poe's whimsical, often deeply touching script. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Lancaster, Suzy Amis, (more)
- 1981
Mel (Vic Tayback) is none too happy when his mom Carrie (Martha Raye) takes over the kitchen and starts turning out her famous chicken pies. An argument inevitably arises, ending when Mel kicks Carrie out of the diner. This proves to be a major blunder when Carrie goes to work for Mel's chief rival Benny Conway (Jack Kruschen)--and syphons off Mel's profits in the process. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
In order to pay for college, Tommy (Philip McKeon) takes a night job as a singer in a non-alcoholic bar. Unfortunately, Tommy's nocturnal duties are so demanding that he begins cutting classes in the daytime, prompting Alice (Linda Lavin) to take a hand in matters. This proves disastrous for both mother and son when Alice's well-meaning interference ends up getting her fired. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Country singer Jerry Reed makes a return appearance to Mel's diner in this episode. At the invitation of Mel (Vic Tayback), Jerry deposits a large fish that he has caught in the restaurant refrigerator until he has time to get it stuffed and mounted. But Alice (Linda Lavin) and the girls don't know about this arrangement--and when they come across the fish, they subdivide it into fillets. Diane Ladd (Belle) sings "Uncle Bud." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
The original TV Guide ad for this episode posed the question "Is Mel Centerfold Material?" Well, not quite, but Mel (Vic Tayback) does find himself spread a bit thin as the "lover" of two different women. It all begins when Mel, in an effort to make his sweetie Marie (Victoria Carroll) jealous, plants a kiss on waitress Vera (Beth Howland)--but Vera doesn't know that she's being used as a pawn in a game of romantic one-upsmanship. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
In the opening episode of Alice's sixth season, diner owner Mel (Vic Tayback) once again allows his judgment to be clouded by his mania for gambling. Specifically, Mel plans to make a 90-to-1 bet on a horse race, using $10,000 borrowed against his diner. To save Mel from himself--and to save their jobs in the bargain--Alice (Linda Lavin) and the girls overpower their boss and rope him to a chair (and in case you're curious, Mel proves that he can still yell "Stow It!" with a gag in his mouth!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Alice (Linda Lavin) is honored when she is made the new manager of her apartment building. But it's hardly an honor when her first assignment is to lock out a tenant who's behind in her rent--namely, her fellow waitress Belle (Diane Ladd). John Sylvester White, formerly the pesky Mr. Woodman on Welcome Back, Kotter, essays a similarly odious role in this episode, which also marks the return of Alice's "alter ego" Sam Butler. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Eddie Barth guest stars as "Rocky" Rockwell, an old buddy of diner owner Mel (Vic Tayback). Paying Mel and extended visit, Rocky arrives bearing news that his wife Mildred (Reva Rose) has walked out on him. Naturally, this places Mel in an awkward position--which gets akwarder and akwarder as the episode progresses. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Polly Holliday makes her final regular Alice appearance in this episode, designed as a lead-in for the actress' new spinoff series Flo (which debuted exactly one month later, on March 24, 1980). When a wealthy Houston restauranteur offers Flo a terrific new job, the "Kiss Mah Grits" girl bids farewell to the gang at Mel's diner--and receives a gala party in honor. The fact that Flo would end up laboring away at her own truck stop in the flyspeck community of Cowtown, Texas was of course not revealed to her (or the viewer) until the situation's full comic value could be realized. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
TV sitcom icon Eve Arden appears as a pscyhologist who runs a TV talk show for teenagers. Everyone at the diner is delighted when Tommy (Philip McKeon) appears on the show to air his opinions. But "delight" is not the operative word when the boy spends his air time telling embarrassing tales about his elders--including his mom Alice (Linda Lavin). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Mel (Vic Tayback) couldn't be happier to have his favorite waitress Belle (Diane Ladd) working for him again. Alice (Linda Lavin) and Vera (Beth Howland) aren't quite so happy: In fact, they're getting REALLY ticked off by Belle's irritatingly "helpful" suggestions as to how they can improve their service. The inevitable showdown occurs just before the final commercial, with a huge cake brought into play as a weapon! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
With the help of local legal expert Earl Hicks (Dave Madden), Mel (Vic Tayback) signs a profit-sharing agreement with waitresses Alice (Linda Lavin), Belle (Diane Ladd) and Vera (Beth Howland). No sooner has the ink dried than Mel is apprised of a means by which he can make more money than ever before. Unfortunately, this would require him to allow the city to condemn the diner--leaving the waitresses holding the bag (but no dough!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Mildred Natwick guest stars as Agatha, the elderly, freewheeling aunt of waitress Vera (Beth Howland). While motorcycling her way to Mexico, Aunt Agatha makes a stopover at Mel's Diner. The old lady's footloose-and-fancy-free outlook on life prompts Vera to experience an epiphany--and to join Agatha on her Southbound odyssey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
In a semi-remake of the third-season episode "Take Him, He's Yours"--which, appropriately, is referenced in this episode!--Tommy (Philip McKeon) again spends a few days in the home of Mel (Vic Tayback). Knowing her boss' low patience threshold, Tommy's mom Alice (Linda Lavin) places a bet that Mel will ultimately kick the boy out. In turn, Mel bets Alice that she won't be able to resist spying on her son--which she does, dressed in a rabbit costume!. This is the final episode of Alice's fourth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Evidently still working for the same children's-theater company depicted in the previous episode "If the Shoe Fits", Vera (Beth Howland) receives glowing reviews for her portrayal of Cinderella. In fact, Vera is so impressive that a TV producer offers her the opportunity to star in a supermarket commercial. Suffice to say the results indicate that Vera had better hold on to her day job! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Telly Savalas takes time off from his Kojak duties to appear as himself in this first episode of Alice's fourth season. All agog when Telly stops over at the diner for a quick bite to eat, starry-eyed Vera (Beth Howland)--who happens to be the only one on duty--can't wait to tell her co-workers. Unfortunately, no one, not even Alice (Linda Lavin), believes Vera's story, and this disbelief snowballs into a near-disaster. Also showing up in a guest bit is Telly Savalas' brother George Savalas, who likewise appeared on Kojak, billed as "Demosthenes". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Mel (Vic Tayback) is so intent upon wedding his girlfriend Marie (Victoria Carroll) that he purchases a very expensive engagement ring. Marie is impressed, but she's not about to give in so quickly. Before any wedding bells will ring, Marie demands that Mel sign a prenuptual agreement which she has drawn up with the help of resident legal expert Earl (Dave Madden). The contract turns out to be so draconian that Mel may well remain a bachelor til the end of his days! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Richard B. Schull appears as Barney of Barney's Burger Barn, the much-maligned (but hitherto unseen) chief competitor of Mel's Diner. Barney glides into Mel's and sweeps Flo (Polly Holliday) off her feet, declaring his undying love. But Mel (Vic Tayback) smells a rat: His chili has just been named "Best in the West" by a local magazine, and he strongly suspects that Barney is using Flo to get his mitts on Mel's top-secret recipe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Having been rejected by his "dream girl" Debbie (Annrae Walterhouse), Tommy (Philip McKeon) tries to polish up his social graces. To this end, he submits to dancing lessons, with Vera (Beth Howland) as his teacher. A few lessons later, and Tommy has again fallen in love--with the nonplussed Vera, who is old enough to be his...uh...well, she's old enough! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Martha Raye returns as Mel's overbearing mother Carrie Sharples. With Mel (Vic Tayback) laid up by another bad injury, Carrie insists upon helping out in the diner's kitchen. This "can it get any worse?" situation soon does get worse--and how!--when it turns out that Carrie's chicken pies are attracting far more customers than Mel's chili ever has! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
As indicated by the title, Art Carney is the guest star in this episode. And yes, Carney is someone's cousin--actually the sixth-cousin of daffy waitress Vera (Beth Howland). Hoping to capitalize on this fact, Vera's boss Mel tries to persuade the actor to endorse a new line of frozen chili called--are you ready?--"Chili Con Carney." And for this Art left The Honeymooners? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Carmine Ciardi appears as Al Sharples, the brother of diner owner Mel and an old flame of waitress Flo (Polly Holliday). Despite the fact that both of them are "three time losers" in the field of matrimony, Al and Flo decide to get married. Not only does this throw the diner into an uproar, but it doesn't do much good for the ego of Flo's current "steady" Bubba (Lou Frizzell). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Alice's date Whizzer (Clifford A. Pellow) manages to get hold of two extra tickets to an upcoming celebirty charity ball. Trouble is, Alice (Linda Lavin) works with three people--and she knows a lot of others. As tension mounts over who will get the tickets, Alice finds herself in the middle of another grand-scale brouhaha amongst her angry acquaintances. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
The inimitable Martha Raye makes her first series appearance as Carrie Sharples, the overbearing mother of diner owner Mel (Vic Tayback). Having figured that he'd escaped his mom's clutches year earlier, Mel learns to his dismay that Carrie intends to spend the entire winter in Phoenix. Will Mel be able to withstand Carrie's verbal slings and arrows--or will he stand up to her at long last? (Trivia note: Alice's boyfriend in this episode, identified as "Greg Lawrence", was known as "Greg Stemple" in most of his appearances). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Alice's 14-year-old son Tommy (Philip McKeon) is in the throes of his first case of puppy love. Not that there's been any real physical contact: in fact, Tommy mostly conducts his courtship by telephone. And it is precisely for this reason that mom Alice (Linda Lavin) is up in arms--the kid spends so much time yakking that she can never get to the phone herself. Appearing as the father of Tommy's girlfriend is Bruce Kirby, the father of comic actor Bruno Kirby. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
