Ep 13. Close Encounters Of The Worst Kind

Alice was a popular sitcom in the late 70s and early 80s that was inspired by the Martin Scorsese movie Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The show followed the life of Alice Hyatt, a single mother who worked as a waitress at Mel's Diner in Phoenix, Arizona, as she struggled with raising her son, managing her love life, and dealing with the antics of her co-workers.

In season 2 episode 13, titled Close Encounters Of The Worst Kind, Alice and her friends at the diner are introduced to a group of eccentric UFO enthusiasts who have come to Phoenix in search of extraterrestrial life. While the group's leader, Professor Lawrence Duncan, is convinced that he has made contact with beings from another planet, the rest of his followers are skeptical and Alice and her colleagues are quickly drawn into their strange world.

As the episode unfolds, the UFO enthusiasts become increasingly convinced that they have been chosen by aliens to be their messengers on Earth, and they begin to carry out a series of bizarre and otherworldly tasks. Meanwhile, Alice and the rest of the gang at Mel's Diner are forced to deal with the aftermath of their strange behavior, as they are hounded by the media and ridiculed by their friends and family.

Despite the chaos that ensues, Alice and her friends find themselves captivated by the UFO enthusiasts' sense of wonder and enthusiasm, and they begin to question their own beliefs and values. Ultimately, the episode serves as a reminder of the power of imagination and the importance of believing in something larger than ourselves, even in the face of ridicule and skepticism.

With its blend of humor, heart, and offbeat charm, Close Encounters Of The Worst Kind is a standout episode of Alice's second season and a reminder of the enduring appeal of this beloved classic sitcom.