by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Per the episode's title, Alice prepares to celebrate (if that is the correct word) her fortieth birthday. Alas, the festivities are threatened with ruin by the unexpected arrival of Alice's meddling mother Mona Spivak. Mona is played by Doris Roberts in what amounts to a dry-run for her lengthier engagement as Ray Romano's mom on Everybody Loves Raymond (And for the record, there is only a seven-year age difference between Doris Roberts and Linda Lavin!)
