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Remembering Linda Lavin of Alice; Hulu Releases Chad Powers Teaser

Tony-winning actress Linda Lavin, who starred as Alice Hyatt in Alice, has died. She died in Los Angeles of complications from lung cancer on December 29. Ms. Lavin was 87.

Lavin moved to Hollywood in 1973 and began to work on television. She made her first sitcom guest appearance as Linda Monroe in a 1974 episode of Rhoda. She had a recurring role as Detective Janice Wentworth in five episodes of Barney Miller during the first and second seasons (1975-1976). In 1976, she guest starred as Margaret Gates in an episode of Phyllis.

She starred as Alice Hyatt in the 1976-1985 CBS sitcom Alice. The series is based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Alice Hyatt is a widow who moves with her young son to start life over again, and finds a job as a waitress working at the roadside Mel's Diner in Phoenix, Arizona. Lavin performed the series' theme song, "There's a New Girl in Town," which was written by David Shire and Alan and Marilyn Bergman and was updated for each of the first six seasons. During the series' nine-season run, Lavin earned two Golden Globe Awards in 1978 and 1979 and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1979.

Lavin directed 10 episodes of the series from 1980 to 1984. In a handful of episodes, Alice put on a double-breasted suit and fedora to assume the character of husky-voiced "Sam Butler", a mobster she made up as a ruse to fool her intended target. She also played a dual role as Debbie Walden, the wizened and former landlady of the character Vera Louise Gorman-Novak. The cast of Alice included Vic Tayback, Beth Howland, Polly Holliday (1976-1980), Philip McKeon, Diane Ladd (1980-1981), Celia Weston (1981-1985), and Charles Levin (1983-1985). Recurring cast members included Marvin Kaplan (1977-1985), Dave Madden (1978-1985), Martha Raye (1978-1984), Duane R. Campbell (1978-1985), Tony Longo (1981-1984), and Alan Haufrect (1978-1980).

She starred as Edie Kurland in the 1992-1993 ABC sitcom Room for Two. Edie Kurland is the mother of Jill Kurland (Patricia Heaton), an executive producer of a New York City television show called Wake Up, New York. Edie has her own segment called "Just a Thought" at the end of the program. The series also starred Peter Michael Goetz, Paula Kelly, Bess Meyer, Andrew Prine, John Putch, and Jeff Yagher.

Lavin starred as Florie Bloom in the short-lived 1998 NBC sitcom Conrad Bloom. The show is centered around Conrad Bloom (Mark Feuerstein), a copywriter in New York City, looking for love whilst trying to pursue his career. Florie Bloom is Conrad's guilt-inducing mom. The series also starred Lauren Graham, Jessica Stone, Ever Carradine, Paula Newsome, and Steve Landesberg.

She starred as Lorna Harrison in the short-lived 2013-2014 NBC sitcom Sean Saves the World. Sean Harrison (Sean Hayes) is a divorced gay father with a successful, yet demanding, career. Lorna Harrison is Sean's pushy, meddling mother. The series also starred Megan Hilty, Echo Kellum, Samantha Isler, and Thomas Lennon.

Lavin reunited with Mark Feuerstein in the short-lived 2017-2018 CBS sitcom 9JKL. She starred as Judy Roberts, the mother of Josh Roberts. Josh Roberts (Mark Feuerstein), a divorced actor whose TV series was recently cancelled, moves back to New York City and lives in apartment 9K. His family lives in adjacent apartments: his parents live in 9J, while his brother, sister-in-law, and their newborn baby live in 9L. The cast included Elliott Gould, Liza Lapira, David Walton, Albert Tsai, and Matt Murray.

She starred as Norma Goldman in the 2020-2022 CBS sitcom B Positive. Norma Goldman is one of the senior citizens at Valley Hills assisted living facility. She has a maternal, nurturing relationship with Gina (Annaleigh Ashford), but she can be fairly randy, irresponsible, and demanding. The cast included Kether Donohue, Sara Rue, Izzy G, David Anthony Higgins, and Darryl Stephens.

Lavin guest starred as Phyllis in two episodes of Mom in 2016. Some of her other comedy credits included Bob's Burgers (voice, 2 episodes), Santa Clarita Diet (4 episodes as Jean), Brockmire, and No Good Deed (3 episodes as Phyllis Adelman). She was filming the upcoming Hulu multi-camera comedy series Mid-Century Modern. She was starring as Sybil Schneiderman, Bunny Schneiderman's (Nathan Lane) mother.

Some of her other television guest appearnaces included Harry O, Family, Kaz, Touched by an Angel, The Sopranos, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The O.C. (3 episodes), The Good Wife (3 episodes), Bones, Madam Secretary, and Elsbeth.

She won a Tony Award in 1987 for Best Actress in a Play and her second Drama Desk Award for her role as Kate in Neil Simon's play Broadway Bound. She received Tony Award nominations for her work in Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1970), The Diary of Anne Frank (1998), The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (2001), Collected Stories (2010), and The Lyons (2012).

Ms. Lavin was a talented actress and singer. She was funny and memorable as Alice Hyatt for nine seasons in Alice. She made all of the sitcoms she appeared in much better. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment she brought us during her career. She will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our Alice message board. View photos in our galleries.

Big things are coming in 2025. Hulu's half-hour comedy Chad Powers, from co-creators and executive producers Glen Powell and Michael Waldron will premiere Fall 2025. Eli Manning serves as executive producer along with Omaha Productions' Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, Ben Brown and ESPN. Waldron and Adam Fasullo are executive producing for Anomaly Pictures. Luvh Rakhe will executive produce and Tony Yacenda will serve as director and executive producer. The series stars Powell, who is also co-creating, co-writing and executive producing under his production co-banner Barnstorm Productions.

When bad behavior nukes hotshot QB Russ Holliday's college career, he disguises himself and walks onto a struggling Southern football team as the talented, affable Chad Powers. Based on the sketch produced by NFL Films and Omaha Productions that aired on ESPN+ as part of the Eli's Places series, the half-hour comedy from 20th Television will stream on Hulu. Powell and Waldron co-wrote the pilot.

The series stars Glen Powell as Russ Holliday/Chad Powers, Perry Mattfeld as Ricky, Quentin Plair as Coach Byrd, Wynn Everett as Tricia, Frankie A. Rodriguez as Danny and Steve Zahn as Jake Hudson.

Posted by Todd -- SitcomsOnline.com at 1:00 PM

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Labels: 9JKL, Alice, B Positive, Barney Miller, Chad Powers, Hulu, Mid-Century Modern, Obits, Room for Two, Sean Saves the World