Thursday, September 11, 2025

Remembering Polly Holliday of Alice and Flo; Prime Video's Overcompensating Renewed for Season 2

Polly Holliday

Actress Polly Holliday, who starred as Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry in Alice and Flo, has died. She died from an apparent bout of pneumonia at her home in Manhattan, New York City, on September 9. Ms. Holliday was 88.

Alice

Holliday starred as Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry in the CBS sitcom Alice from 1976 to 1980. The show stars Linda Lavin as Alice Hyatt, a widow who moves with her young son to start life over again and finds a job working at a roadside diner in Phoenix, Arizona. Flo is a sassy, man-hungry waitress at Mel's Diner. Her character's catchphrase of "kiss my grits!" remains the most memorable line associated with the series. "When donkeys fly!" was one of her other catchphrases.

She won two Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 1979 and 1980. She received three Emmy nominations for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1978, 1979 and 1980. The season 1-4 cast included Vic Tayback, Beth Howland, and Philip McKeon. Diane Ladd joined the cast in 1980 as Isabelle "Belle" Dupree, a hard-edged but kind-hearted woman. Recurring cast members included Marvin Kaplan (1977-1985), Dave Madden (1978-1985), Martha Raye (1978-1984), Duane R. Campbell (1978-1985), and Alan Haufrect (1978-1980).

Flo

Holliday left the show to star in her own spin-off series Flo, which aired on CBS for two seasons from 1980 to 1981. She reprised her role as sassy and street-smart waitress Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry who returns to her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas—referred to as "Cowtown"—and becomes the proprietor of a rundown old roadhouse that she renames "Flo's Yellow Rose". The cast included Geoffrey Lewis, Jim B. Baker, Sudie Bond, Lucy Lee Flippin, Joyce Bulifant, Leo Burmester, Stephen Keep, George Flower, Mickey Jones, and Terry Willis (1980).

Private Benjamin - Polly Holliday

She joined the cast of the CBS sitcom Private Benjamin in the third season (1982-1983) as a temporary replacement for series regular Eileen Brennan (Cpt. Doreen Lewis), who was recovering from serious injuries after being struck by a car. She appeared as Cpt. Amanda Allan in three episodes before the series was canceled. The series was based on and set during the events of the 1980 movie of the same name.

Home Improvement - Polly Holliday and Patricia Richardson

Holliday had a recurring role as Lillian Patterson, Jill Taylor's (Patricia Richardson) mother, in five episodes of Home Improvement from 1993 to 1999. She starred as Captain Betty in the pilot episode of the CBS sitcom Stir Crazy in 1985. She played Lily, Rose Nylund's (Betty White) blind sister, in the episode "Blind Ambitions" of The Golden Girls in 1986.

She appeared as Prison Inmate Leader in six episodes of the CBS soap opera Search for Tomorrow in 1974. Some of her other television guest appearances included NBC Special Treat, American Playhouse, Amazing Stories (1986), The Equalizer (1988), and Homicide: Life on the Street. She starred as Momma Love, the mother of Reggie Love (JoBeth Williams), in the 1995-1996 CBS legal thriller drama The Client (also referred to as John Grisham's The Client).

Holliday starred as Mrs. Ruby Deagle in the 1984 black comedy horor film Gremlins (1984). She won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 1984. She starred as Gloria Chaney, Daniel Hillard's (Robin Williams) nosy neighbor, in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). She starred as Marva Kulp Sr., the owner and director of Camp Walden, in The Parent Trap (1998). Her final credit was in the 2010 film Fair Game, in which she played Diane Plame, the mother of Valerie Plame.

Ms. Holliday was funny and memorable as Flo in Alice and Flo. Her "kiss my grits!" line was originally written as "kiss my honeydew!", but it didn't get any laughs. It became a widespread, iconic catchphrase of the era. She was the last surviving member of the original cast of Alice. We thank her for the laughs and entertainment that she brought us during her career. She will be deeply missed.

Share your memories on our Alice and Flo message boards. View photos in our Alice and Flo galleries.

Antenna TV Remembers Polly Holliday

Antenna TV remembers the iconic Polly Holliday with special episodes of Alice this week through Saturday. Watch Alice weekdays at 3pm ET, weeknights at 4am ET and Saturdays at 6pm ET on Antenna TV.

September 11
3pm & 4pm - S1E16: "The Accident" (OAD: January 22, 1977)
3:30pm & 4:30pm - S1E20: "The Odd Couple" (OAD: February 26, 1977)

September 12
3pm & 4pm - S2E11: "The Eyes of Texas" (OAD: January 8, 1978)
3:30pm & 4:30pm - S4E12: "Good Buddy Flo" (OAD: January 6, 1980)

September 13
6pm - S3E24: "Flo Finds Her Father" (OAD: April 1, 1979)
6:30pm - S4E18: "Flo's Farewell" (OAD: February 24, 1980)


Overcompensating

Prime Video has ordered a second season of Benito Skinner's Overcompensating from Amazon MGM Studios, A24 and Strong Baby. Skinner will return to write, star, and executive produce.

The series is a college-set ensemble comedy about the chaotic journey of Benny (Skinner), a closeted former football player and homecoming king, as he becomes fast friends with Carmen, an outsider on a mission to fit in at all costs. Deeply funny and personal, the show explores the lengths to which we all overcompensate while finding out who we really are.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Thursday, October 2

English Teacher - "College Week" (FX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
As the students prepare their college applications, Evan starts to question his own hiring. Written by Emmy Blotnick; Directed by Michael McDonald.

English Teacher - "Evan's Mom" (FX, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Evan receives a surprise visit from his mother Elena. Written by Jake Bender & Zach Dunn; Directed by Jonathan Krisel.

English Teacher - "Recruiter" (FX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
A military recruiter comes to the school, and the teachers experiment with new classroom phone policies.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 29)

Thursday, October 2

  • Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) - Catch Jeremy on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Ayo Edebiri (Big Mouth/The Bear) - Ayo appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. She shares details about her new film After the Hunt on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Maz Jobrani (Superior Donuts/The Knights of Prosperity/Better Off Ted) - Maz is a guest on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
  • Benny Safdie (The Curse) - Benny appears on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm. He also talks about The Smashing Machine on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Dwayne Johnson (Young Rock) - Dwayne talks about The Smashing Machine on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother/Star Raving Mad/Doogie Howser, M.D.) - Neil chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Glen Powell (Chad Powers/Scream Queens) - Glen dishes on Hulu's Chad Powers on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just Like That.../Divorce/Sex and the City/Square Pegs) - Sarah talks about I Am You on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Mckenna Grace (Young Sheldon/Crash & Bernstein) - Mckenna talks about Regretting You on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am and on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Henry Winkler (Barry/Arrested Development/Out of Practice/Monty/Happy Days) - Henry talks about his children's book Detective Duck: The Mystery at Emerald Pond on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Emayatzy Corinealdi (Ballers) - Emayatzy talks about Reasonable Doubt on Sherri, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

10/02 - CBS Presents Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion; Apple TV+ Renews Peanuts Specials Through 2030
10/01 - The CW's Six Brand New Movies Starting November 16; Hulu's Family Guy Halloween Special Details
09/30 - Sarah Sherman HBO Comedy Special in December; Huluween Programming for 2025
09/29 - Netflix Renews Haunted Hotel for Season 2; Christmas Comedy Series Sicilia Express
09/28 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 29, 2025)
09/27 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Scrubs Cast Comes Together for First Table Read for Reboot; Monopoly Game Show Moving Ahead
09/26 - Netflix Adds to Cast for Running Point Season 2; Stiller & Meara Apple TV+ Documentary
09/25 - Adam Pally HBO Comedy Special; Jimmy Kimmel Live! Returns with Huge Ratings
09/24 - Weigel's Newest Diginet WEST Launches Monday, September 29; New Baywatch Coming to Fox in 2026-27
09/23 - DMV Trailer for CBS; Mo Amer Returns to Netflix
09/22 - SNL Season 51 Guests for First Episodes; Prime Video's Bat-Fam Series
09/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 22, 2025)
09/20 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Paper to Get Linear Run on NBC; Saturday Night Live Announces New Hosts
09/19 - NBC Schedules The Paper and Stumble in November; Remembering Patricia (Pat) Crowley of Please Don't Eat the Daisies
09/18 - UPtv Acquires The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Camp Rock 3 Coming Soon to Disney
09/17 - FETV Acquires The Munsters Effective September 29; Apple TV+ The Morning Show Renewed for Season 5
09/16 - Disney's SuperKitties Adds to Voice Cast; Netflix Renews The Hunting Wives for Season 2
09/15 - 77th Primetime Emmy Award Winners; Letterman TV Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 15, 2025)
09/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Paramount Looking to Merge with Warner Bros. Discovery; Samsung TV+ Adds Late Night with David Letterman
09/12 - Emmy Awards to Create Special Moments; Ricky Gervais Netflix Animated Comedy Alley Cats Coming in 2026
09/11 - Remembering Polly Holliday of Alice and Flo; Prime Video's Overcompensating Renewed for Season 2
09/10 - Netflix Renews Leanne for Season 2; Hazbin Hotel Returns October 29
09/09 - HBO Comedy The Chair Company; Trailer for Disney's Vampirina: Teenage Vampire
09/08 - The Paper Renewed for Season 2, NYC Event on Tuesday; Final Season of Bel-Air
09/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 8, 2025)
09/06 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Shifting Gears Picked Up for Three Additional Episodes; The Paper Renewed for Season Two
09/05 - Crutch Premieres November 3 on Paramount+; Trailer for Season 2 of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
09/04 - Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween 2025 Schedule; Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Cast
09/03 - Live Staged Reading of Three's Company Episode; Freeform Acquires According to Jim for October
09/02 - Hulu's Chad Powers Trailer; BET's The Hospital Premieres September 10