"Alice" waitress Jolene chokes at a restaurant ... you'd think working at Mel's Diner would've turned her off on eating out

 Celia Weston gets a lump in her throat. Could it be Mel's greasy spoon?

The wonderful, terrific, amazing Celia Weston is pure comedic perfection playing Jason Lee's momma Paula in TNT's summer dramedy Memphis Beat. Paula sells cosmetics door-to-door while dispensing motherly advice in her trademark Southern drawl. In this scene from the Aug. 17 episode "Don't Be So Cruel," the former Alice star--she played Southern-fried Jolene Hunnicutt from 1981-85 (replacing the great Diane Ladd, who replaced Polly "Kiss Ma Grits" Hollliday)--chokes on an engagement ring hidden in her soup by Daniel Hugh Kelley from Hardcastle and McCormick! Fortunately, her son comes in for the save. See video below.



Weston has worked steadily, mostly in film, since Mel's Diner closed in 1985. Most recently, she won raves for her brief role in Tom Cruise-Cameron Diaz flick Knight and Day. She's had memorable character parts in Flirting with Disaster, The Talented Mr. Ripley, June Bug and Igby Goes Down. Most recently she's appeared in The Extra Man, The Box, Observe and Report (see her video interview below) and she played Mike Delfino's mother in Desperate Housewives.

Here's hoping TNT renews Memphis Beat for a second season. Celia Weston chokes us up in a good way, and we want her down-home humor in our home every week.