Ep 5. A Call to Arms

Alice is an American comedy television series that aired on CBS from August 31, 1976, to March 19, 1985. The show is set at a greasy spoon diner in Phoenix, Arizona, where Alice Hyatt (played by Linda Lavin) works as a waitress. Alice is a single mother and is trying to make ends meet while raising her son, Tommy (played by Philip McKeon). The show features the interactions between Alice, her coworkers, and her customers, all of whom are colorful characters.

In the fifth episode of the first season, titled "A Call to Arms," Alice and her colleagues at the diner are invited to participate in a charity fundraising telethon. The telethon is being organized by the mayor of Phoenix, who is hoping to raise money to build a new youth center in the city. The diner workers are eager to contribute to the cause and are excited to participate in the telethon.

Alice is put in charge of coordinating the fundraising efforts of the diner staff. Her job is to come up with creative ideas to raise money and to keep track of how much each employee pledges to donate. Alice is determined to make the diner's contribution to the telethon a significant one, as she believes that the youth center is a valuable resource for the young people of Phoenix.

The episode focuses on the different ways in which Alice and her colleagues try to raise money for the telethon. Vera (played by Beth Howland), the diner's ditzy waitress, decides to bake a variety of cakes and pastries to sell at the telethon. Mel (played by Vic Tayback), the gruff cook, pledges to shave his beard off if the diner raises a certain amount of money. And Flo (played by Polly Holliday), the wisecracking waitress, agrees to perform a song and dance routine with Alice during the telethon.

As the day of the telethon approaches, tensions run high at the diner. Alice is worried that they won't be able to raise enough money, and tensions begin to rise between her and her colleagues. However, as the telethon gets underway, the diner workers begin to show their true colors. Vera's baked goods are a huge hit, and Mel's pledge to shave his beard off encourages people to donate even more money. Alice and Flo's song and dance routine is a big success, and the audience responds with cheers and applause.

As the telethon winds down, it becomes clear that the diner workers have raised a significant amount of money for the youth center. Everyone is thrilled with their success and proud of what they have accomplished. Even Alice, who was initially skeptical about the telethon, is pleased with how it turned out.

The episode ends with the diner workers basking in their success. They all feel a sense of satisfaction and pride in knowing that they have contributed to a worthy cause. The telethon has brought them all closer together, and they have bonded over their shared desire to make a positive difference in their community.

In conclusion, "A Call to Arms" is a heartwarming and uplifting episode of Alice. It highlights the value of teamwork and community spirit in achieving a common goal. The episode's focus on charity and the community also highlights the show's underlying themes of friendship and generosity. Fans of the show will enjoy this classic episode, which is a testament to the show's timeless appeal.