Flo
Encyclopedia
Flo is an American sitcom
which aired on CBS
from 1980 to 1981. The series is a spin-off
for Polly Holliday who portrayed the sassy and street-smart waitress Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry
on the sitcom Alice
. Flo was cancelled at the end of its second season.
for a new job as a restaurant hostess (as described in her last appearance in Alice) when she stops to visit her family in her hometown of Fort Worth, which she refers to as "Cowtown", as do many real-life locals. In a fit of nostalgia, she buys a rundown roadhouse
she had enjoyed in her formative years, and names it "Flo's Yellow Rose". Coping with the business, as well as her mother and sister, caused most of the conflict in the series.
Vic Tayback
made one appearance as Mel Sharples from Alice. Once Flo began, Polly Holliday never appeared again on Alice, except in flashback clips in the last episode.
, who would co-star with Holliday in the 1984 film Gremlins
.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
which aired on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from 1980 to 1981. The series is a spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
for Polly Holliday who portrayed the sassy and street-smart waitress Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry
Florence Jean Castleberry
Florence Jean Castleberry , better known to all as "Flo", is a fictional character in the movie Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, the subsequent television series, Alice, and that show's spinoff, Flo...
on the sitcom Alice
Alice (TV series)
Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to July 2, 1985 on CBS. The series was based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start her life over again, and finds a job...
. Flo was cancelled at the end of its second season.
Synopsis
Flo is on her way to Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
for a new job as a restaurant hostess (as described in her last appearance in Alice) when she stops to visit her family in her hometown of Fort Worth, which she refers to as "Cowtown", as do many real-life locals. In a fit of nostalgia, she buys a rundown roadhouse
Roadhouse (facility)
A roadhouse is a commercial establishment typically built on a major road or highway, to service passing travellers. Its meaning varies slightly by country.-USA:...
she had enjoyed in her formative years, and names it "Flo's Yellow Rose". Coping with the business, as well as her mother and sister, caused most of the conflict in the series.
Vic Tayback
Vic Tayback
Victor "Vic" Tayback was an American actor.-Life and career:Tayback was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, the son of Helen and Najeeb James Tayback. His parents were immigrants from Aleppo, Syria. Tayback moved with his family to Burbank, California, during his teenage years and attended...
made one appearance as Mel Sharples from Alice. Once Flo began, Polly Holliday never appeared again on Alice, except in flashback clips in the last episode.
Cast
- Polly Holliday — Florence Jean "Flo" CastleberryFlorence Jean CastleberryFlorence Jean Castleberry , better known to all as "Flo", is a fictional character in the movie Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, the subsequent television series, Alice, and that show's spinoff, Flo...
- Jim B. Baker — Farley Waters
- Sudie Bond — Mama Velma Castleberry
- Joyce BulifantJoyce BulifantJoyce Bulifant is an American television actress, notable for her sunny "little girl"-like Southern lilt of a voice. She was a frequent panelist on the television game show Match Game, more often than not giving bizarre answers that seldom matched the contestants.-Life and career:Bulifant was born...
— Miriam Willoughby - Leo BurmesterLeo BurmesterLeo Burmester was an American actor. Burmester worked for director John Sayles several times, including in Passion Fish and Lone Star , and also for directors such as John Schlesinger and Sidney Lumet, and as the Apostle Nathaniel in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ...
— Randy Stumphill - Lucy Lee FlippinLucy Lee FlippinLucy Lee Flippin is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her performance as Eliza Jane Wilder on the TV series Little House on the Prairie. She also played Fran Castleberry, the sister of Polly Holliday's character on the show Flo...
— Fran Castleberry - George Flower — Roy
- Mickey JonesMickey JonesMickey Jones is an American musician and actor.-Early life:Jones was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Frances Marie and Fred Edward Jones...
— Chester - Stephen Keep — Les Kincaid
- Geoffrey Lewis — Earl Tucker
- Terry Willis — Wendell Tubbs (1980)
- Mary Wingler — Virginia Monarch
Reception and cancellation
The short first season (spring 1980) was a ratings success ranking at #7 and had 24.4 million viewer average. The following season brought a sharp decline in numbers (due to a timeslot change), and thus ended Flo.Theme song
The theme song, "Flo's Yellow Rose" was written and sung by Hoyt AxtonHoyt Axton
Hoyt Wayne Axton was an American country music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. As he matured, some of his songwriting efforts became well...
, who would co-star with Holliday in the 1984 film Gremlins
Gremlins
Gremlins is a 1984 American horror comedy film directed by Joe Dante, released by Warner Bros. The film is about a young man who receives a strange creature—called a Mogwai—as a pet, which then spawns other creatures who transform into small, destructive, evil monsters. It was followed by a sequel,...
.
Season 1
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | "Homecoming" | March 24, 1980 |
| 1-2 | "Showdown at the Yellow Rose" | March 31, 1980 |
| 1-3 | "Happy Birthday, Mama" | April 7, 1980 |
| 1-4 | "Take My Sister, Please" | April 14, 1980 |
| 1-5 | "The Hero of the Yellow Rose" | April 21, 1980 |
| 1-6 | "The Reunion" | April 28, 1980 |
Season 2
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 2-1 | "The Enemy Below" | October 27, 1980 |
| 2-2 | "Farley, the People's Choice" | November 3, 1980 |
| 2-3 | "Bull Is Back in Town" | November 17, 1980 |
| 2-4 | "A Castleberry Thanksgiving" | November 24, 1980 |
| 2-5 | "Willoughby Versus Willoughby" | December 1, 1980 |
| 2-6 | "So Long, Shorty" | December 8, 1980 |
| 2-7 | "Deserted Islands" | December 15, 1980 |
| 2-8 | "The Miracle of Casa de Huevos" | December 22, 1980 |
| 2-9 | "Grey Escape" | January 5, 1981 |
| 2-10 | "Pretty Baby" | January 12, 1981 |
| 2-11 | "Not With My Sister, You Don't" | January 26, 1981 |
| 2-12 | "The Price of Avocados (Part 1)" | February 7, 1981 |
| 2-13 | "The Price of Avocados (Part 2)" | February 14, 1981 |
| 2-14 | "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (a.k.a.) Welcome to the Club" | February 21, 1981 |
| 2-15 | "Gunsmoke at the Yellow Rose" | February 28, 1981 |
| 2-16 | "What Are Friends For?" | March 14, 1981 |
| 2-17 | "Just What the Doctor Ordered" | March 21, 1981 |
| 2-18 | "Footsie" | April 4, 1981 |
| 2-19 | "You Gotta Have Hoyt" | April 11, 1981 |
| 2-20 | "Flo's Encounter of the Third Kind" | April 18, 1981 |
| 2-21 | "No Men's Land" | June 23, 1981 |
| 2-22 | "The Daynce" | June 30, 1981 |