by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Long before spoofing It's a Wonderful Life became the established practice of TV sitcoms at Christmas time, most shows could be counted upon for a takeoff of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". Alice follows the grand tradition in this episode, wherein a Scroogelike Mel (Vic Tayback) fires both Alice (Linda Lavin and Vera (Beth Howland) on Christmas Eve. Sure enough, late that same night Mel is visited by the remonstrative ghost of his former partner Jake (Jack Gilford)...and guess what happens next.
