Ep 16. The Reporter

Alice season 2 episode 16, "The Reporter," follows the chaotic and humorous misadventures of Alice and her coworkers as they attempt to impress a visiting reporter from the Los Angeles Times. The episode opens with Alice and her fellow waitresses discussing their fear of being interviewed by the reporter, who has a reputation for exposing scandalous secrets. Mel, the surly cook, dismisses their concerns and insists that the restaurant has nothing to hide.

Despite Mel's confidence, the staff at Mel's Diner soon find themselves embroiled in a series of hilarious mishaps that threaten to derail their efforts to impress the reporter. When the journalist arrives at the restaurant, Alice and her coworkers struggle to remain professional while dealing with a series of unexpected crises.

One of the main challenges faced by the staff is the sudden appearance of an uninvited guest. Vera, the ditzy yet endearing waitress, has brought her girlfriend to the restaurant without telling anyone. As Alice attempts to keep the reporter entertained, Vera and her girlfriend engage in a series of increasingly bizarre and inappropriate acts in the background, much to the amusement of the other waitresses.

Meanwhile, other characters have their own problems to contend with. Flo, the sassy and no-nonsense waitress, is forced to serve a particularly difficult customer who insists on ordering food that is not on the menu. When Flo attempts to explain that they do not have the items he wants, the customer becomes belligerent and threatens to write a negative review of the restaurant.

At the same time, Mel has discovered that he is out of his secret ingredient, which he reveals to be "soul." As he frantically searches for a replacement ingredient, he enlists the help of Alice, who agrees to play the role of a black market soul dealer. The resulting scene is both hilarious and slightly unsettling, as Alice and Mel engage in a bizarre negotiation with an unsavory character in an alleyway.

As the chaos continues to unfold, the staff at Mel's Diner begin to fear that their efforts to impress the reporter have been in vain. Alice grows increasingly frustrated with the situation and eventually snaps at her coworkers, telling them that they are not acting like professionals. However, after a heart-to-heart conversation with the reporter, she begins to realize that the real story of Mel's Diner is not about scandal or secrets, but about the quirky and lovable characters who work there.

In the end, the reporter submits her article, which is surprisingly positive and uplifting. She praises the staff at Mel's Diner for their hard work, dedication, and ability to come together in times of crisis. As the episode draws to a close, the staff celebrates their success with a round of milkshakes and jokes.

Overall, Alice season 2 episode 16 is a hilarious and heartwarming installment that showcases the strengths of the show's ensemble cast. Through a series of ridiculous and absurd scenarios, the characters are able to come together and learn important lessons about teamwork, professionalism, and the power of friendship.