Sometimes, knockoffs manage to become something special in their own right, while at others, they never quite break free of the shadow of the shows they were imitating.

Stivaktakis had never heard of Linda Lavin (who played the title role) or the catchphrase "Kiss my grits!" (which launched a thousand T-shirts) before he bought the diner.

WILLIAMSBURG -- Former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw will be the College of William and Mary's spring commencement speaker.