How Well Do You Remember "Alice"?

Alice and Tommy were on their way to Los Angeles when their car broke down in Phoenix. The two became stranded due to their lack of finances, which is why Alice took the waitress job at Mel's Diner.

Flo was played by actress Polly Holiday. After four seasons on "Alice," she left the show to star in a spin-off called "Flo." While the show garnered decent ratings, it only lasted two short seasons.

Like her co-star Linda Lavin, Beth Howland had a background in musical theater. In 2002, she married actor Charles Kimbrough, best known for playing the role of reporter Jim Dial on "Murphy Brown."

Philip McKeon was 12 years old when he won the part of Tommy on "Alice." His younger sister, Nancy, was also on TV - she played Jo Polniaczek on the popular sitcom "The Facts of Life" from 1979 to 1988.

Alice had been married to a trucker named Donald Hyatt when she lived in New Jersey. After he was tragically killed in an automobile accident, she and Tommy packed their bags and headed west to start a new life.

The fact that Mel's food was tasteless and caused indigestion was a running gag throughout the series. His chili was the diner's one saving grace, and even landed the character an appearance on Dinah Shore's talk show in a fourth-season episode.

In addition to her many TV and film roles, Linda Lavin is known for her extensive theater credits. She's won six Tony Awards, two drama desk awards, and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in January 2011.

Though not as popular as her "Kiss my grits" catchphrase, Flo's other frequent exclamation was "When donkeys fly!" Mel had something of a catchphrase, too - he would often tell people he was annoyed with to "Stow it!"

Vera believed Burns was God because of his role in the popular 1977 comedy "Oh, God!", in which he played the almighty creator. "Alice" featured many big-name celebrity guests during its run, including Desi Arnaz, Ruth Buzzi, Robert Goulet and Florence Henderson.

Vic Tayback, who played Mel in both the original movie and the series, made frequent TV appearances on shows such as "The Love Boat" and "Murder, She Wrote" when "Alice" went off the air in 1985. Sadly, he passed away in 1990, at the age of 60, due to a heart attack.

The show's catchy theme song was performed by Linda Lavin, who was also a dancer and singer. In the show, the character of Alice was on her way to Los Angeles to pursue a singing career when her car broke down, and she became stranded with her son in Phoenix.

Tommy developed close relationships with all of the waitresses at Mel's Diner, including Flo, Vera, Belle and Jolene. He also became close to Mel, who ended up serving as a father figure to him for the nine-year duration of the show.

Martha Raye had a long, storied career as a comedian, actress and singer. Nicknamed "The Big Mouth," she was well-known in the '70s and '80s as the TV commercial spokesperson for Polident denture cleanser.

Celia Weston played the role of Jolene from 1981 until the show's end in 1985. The truck-driver-turned-waitress was from South Carolina and frequently referenced a distant relative named Jefferson Davis "Boss" Hogg, who was a character on the popular CBS show "The Dukes of Hazzard."

Henry Beesmeyer was played by character actor Marvin Kaplan, who was also a successful radio and voice-over artist. He was first introduced on the show in 1977 and remained a recurring character until the sitcom went off the air in 1985.

Directed by Martin Scorsese, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" starred Ellen Burstyn as the lead character. She won a Best Actress Oscar for her performance. Vic Tayback, who played Mel, was the only actor in the movie to reprise his role in the TV series.

In the TV series, Alice and Tommy were traveling from New Jersey to Los Angeles when their car broke down in Phoenix, Arizona. However, in the movie on which the TV show was based, they were coming from Socorro, New Mexico.

During the opening credits for the first and second seasons, a montage shows Alice and Tommy driving through Phoenix, breaking down on the highway and bring dropped off by a tow truck at Desert Sun Apartments.

Because the character of Mel was known as a terrible cook, the Heinz company thought Tayback would make the perfect spokesperson for their flavorful barbecue sauce. The series of ads often started with the actor referring to his old role, saying, "I used to be a terrible cook."

Feeling pressure from competing eatery owner Marty, Mel wants to keep the more than $24,000 in cash that the ATM accidentally spits out on him. Luckily, Alice and the other waitresses convince him to return the money to the bank.

Elliot was played by actor Charles Levin, who was added to the main cast and appeared in the opening credits during the show's final season. In the series finale, Vera and Elliot reveal they are expecting a baby.

Diane Ladd was only on the TV series for one season as waitress Isabelle "Belle" Dupree. Interestingly, she was the actress who originated the role of Flo in the movie on which the series is based.

Tommy becomes a star basketball player in high school, thanks in large part to his coach Earl, who was also one of Flo's boyfriends. Tommy eventually goes on to win a scholarship to Arizona State University because of his talent.

Marie and Mel had a tumultuous relationship and would often get into loud screaming matches at the diner. The character made numerous appearances on the show from 1978 through 1984. It's assumed they broke up, as she's neither seen nor mentioned during the show's final season.

The "Waitress Wanted" sign was the same sign that prompted Alice to walk into Mel's Diner and ask for job nine years earlier. And the rest was, as they say, long-running sitcom history.

The fact that Mel's Diner wasn't the most popular (or sophisticated) eatery in Phoenix was an ongoing gag. But even though customers often groaned at the greasy spoon's cuisine, regulars like Henry and Chuck always kept coming back for more.

The mean Mrs. Deagle got her comeuppance in one of the show's most notable scenes - when the Gremlins tamper with her motorized stair chair, and she's famously flown up the staircase and out of the window.

Dave Madden was famous for his role as Reuben Kincaid, the band manager on hit '70s show "The Partridge Family." He appeared on 35 episodes of "Alice" between the years 1978 and 1985.

Travis Marsh was played by Linda Lavin's real-life husband at the time, Kip Niven. During the series finale, Alice announces that she's finally scored a record deal and is moving to Nashville with Travis.

By the show's ninth and final season, Tommy was enjoying the boozy frat party scene a bit too much. After losing Alice's boyfriend's borrowed car due to his drinking, he agrees to get counseling. In true '80s sitcom fashion, Tommy's drinking problem is never mentioned again.

Alice, Vera and Jolene were shocked when Mel, typically a tightwad, gave them each a $5,000 farewell bonus in the series finale. But he could finally afford it, as Mel was able to sell the diner to a real estate developer for a tidy sum.

"Alice" aired on CBS for nine years, from 1976 to 1985. One of CBS's most popular and longest-running sitcoms, it ranked in the Nielsen top 20 for five years straight, from season two through season six.

In the season-three episode "Block Those Kicks," Alice tries to give up chocolate, Vera attempts to quit smoking, and Flo does her best to abstain from drinking coffee. Unfortunately (and of course, hilariously), no one is very successful.

In the episode titled "Tommy Goes Overboard," Tommy comes home from college feeling down about bad grades and a failed relationship. After a night out with Mel and one of his old pals, Alice is shocked when her son announces that he is joining the Navy.

The first episode of "Alice" aired in August of 1976 and the final episode aired in March of 1985. The two-part finale featured the gang reminiscing about the last nine years while flashbacks of some of the show's most memorable moments were shown.