Halfway through season 4 of Alice, Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry (Polly Holliday) left Mel's Diner, and headed back home to Texas.
And, just like Alice, Flo opened with the title character's car breaking down, in this case due to a flat tire. Flo soon buys a rundown diner and turns it into Flo's Yellow Rose, which serves as a base for much of the series.
Holliday fronted an ensemble that also included Lucy Lee Flippin (Little House on The Prairie), Sudie Bond, Geoffrey Lewis, and Joyce Bulifant (Match Game, ex-The Red Hand Gang, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Love Thy Neighbor). After getting a cozy time slot behind M*A*S*H, CBS suits moved Flo into an earlier slot opposite Little House in season 2. Ballgame over.
There was at least one crossover with Alice, as Vic Tayback appeared as Mel in season 2, but that was it. Hoyt Axton performed the show's theme song, and also made a guest appearance in season 2. He & Holliday would meet again in "Gremlins".
Following is the series opener, from the winter of 1980.
Edit, 10/1/25: WB has put in a copyright claim on the episodes, so we'll sub in the intro:
We tried the show out at home, but my folks would ultimately settle back on Little House.
In memory of Polly Holliday, 88, who has passed away. No rating out of respect.
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