Contents 1 Premise 2 Cast 2.1 Main characters 2.2 Recurring characters 3 Episodes 4 Production information 5 Broadcast history This instance accidentally retcons the pilot episode's instance by having Carl say he's never slapped one of his daughters before. O'Donnell later revealed how, at first, she was thrilled and excited at being cast on a major prime time television show, yet very quickly became disappointed and disheartened at feeling snubbed by most of the cast, who, for the most part, treated her more as an interloper than as a fellow actor. Dolph Sweet also played a police chief in the original Out of Towners movie (1970). What Are They Thinking of at NBC? Dolph Sweet was absent in the first six episodes of the fourth season due to stomach surgery. ", http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Gimme-Break-The-Complete-Series/13768. Gimme a Break! Early episodes implied it was recent, and any bad behavior from the girls was treated as a reaction to it, and the plotlines of a few early episodes revolve around Nell getting used to the family. The daughters were all fired at the end of the fifth season, because of the low ratings on the show. John Hoyt's final acting role was Gimme A Break. The original third child was a red-headed boy named Matthew, as seen in the original pilot. Nell says "Damn! in the spring of 1987. This was meant to be a cliffhanger season finale, as the episode ends saying "To Be Continued", but the next season's premiere had to be retooled to have the family deal with the Chief's death instead of his reaction to Julie's sudden marriage. Both Nell and Joey play characters named after the actors. She questioned the child stars' morals, and the media for playing into the victim mentality. This does bring up the question of what happened to said uncle this whole time? Sadly Dolph Sweet passed away during the 3rd season but the show was able to continue thanks to a stellar cast including the 3 daughters Katie, Samantha, and Julie (Kari Michaelsen, Lara Jill Miller and Lauri Hendler) also Silver screen legend John Hoyt as Grandpa Stanley, Howard Morton as the lovable but bumbling Officer Simpson as well as Thelma Hopkins as Addie and Joey Lawrence round out the cast. Dolph Sweet's final episode aired May 11, 1985, three days after he died. Gimme a Break! Joey: Part 1: Directed by Hal Cooper. every chance we could. Why Did People In Old Hollywood Talk Funny. NBC granted Nell's wishes and replaced Lachman and Rosen with new show runners Rod Parker and Hal Cooper who previously worked on (All in the Family, Maude and Love, Sidney) beginning in Season 3. Cooper and Parker thought the original producers didn't utilize Nell's talents and one of the first things they changed to the show was having Nell sing more on the show. Universal Studios Home Entertainment released a three-disc DVD of the complete first season of Gimme a Break! In the series pilot, Katie is arrested for shoplifting. Joey's supposed backstory of living with an uncle was originally treated as a lie. Spring break was eliminated as a way of reducing travel and thus the spread of COVID-19 amongst The University of Alabama campus community. Nell becomes sort of a mother figure for the girls, and everyone tries to learn from each other. FremantleMedia owns the international rights, as they own Thames Television, which acquired Alan Landsburg Productions and Reeves Entertainment Group product in 1990. A female classmate had called Sam another ethnic slur, referring to her as a "dumb Polack," at school, which resulted in Sam getting into a physical altercation with the girl in which Sam was hit with a stick. Several spin-offs were considered by producing pilot episodes during the series run. GIMME A BREAK (Entity Number: 1260888) was incorporated on 10/12/2001 in Ohio. In the episode "Nell's Friend" Addy talks about the progress of Black Women in modern American society. She was a mother figure on the set. Despite these extensive changes, ratings continued to decline as NBC began to move the show around to various spots in its schedule (the show averaged out at #42 in the Nielsens for season six, which was actually 7 spots higher than in its third season, when NBC evidently gave the show more support). 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[5], By contrast, the New York Times found the show promising, praising the performances of Carter and Sweet and the way the show balanced wisecracks with bits of seriousness. Gordon Ramsays 24 Hours to Hell and Back, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life), Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! She said that "Once that original formula was broken, it just didn't feel the same. Nell Carter and Dolph Sweet were very close and she was at his side when he died in 1985. However, if you ask me, it was still a good show. The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief (Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters. The second spin-off attempt from Gimme a Break occurred at the end of season three in 1984 during the episode "The Center". In "Julie Smokes", after slapping Julie, Carl says he had never laid a hand on his kids before. By the end of the Season 2 the tension between them gotten so bad to the point that Nell threatened the network and demanded either they get replaced or she wouldn't return to the show. DON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTGimmie a break is an American television sitcom that was created by Mort Lachman and Sy Rosen. The marriage story-line with Lauri Hendler and Jonathan Silverman's characters didn't click with viewers and neither did Silverman's character who was added a series regular. "Nell and the Kid" is about a deli owner who. Originally, Nell's mother supported her dream of being a singer, but later became a shrill woman who never had faith in her. In 2009, VEI announced that they plan on releasing the entire series in a complete series box set in 2010. Howard Morton's role on the show as Officer Simpson served no purpose anymore with The Chief gone. , Whatever Happened To: The Cast Of "Gimme A Break!". Julie and Jonathan, who were now living in the Chief's old room, found out they were expecting a baby; their daughter, whom they named after Nell, was born before season's end. Nell wonders why her mother would have a date, and when her mother shows up, she meets her date, Ernie, a man from her past. I just hope some network brings this series back one day so that I'll be able to see every episode. , and the experimentation became regular use. The show "Gimme A Break" was based on a cop who moved his family from New York to California after his wife Margaret passed away and also became the chief of police in a small fictional California town who in turn had this housekeeper named Nell who was no only in charge of the household,but also was in charge of his three daughters too in which Nell was not only the mother to them,but she had some tough love around that too. I understand that they had Katie,Julie,Jonathan and baby Nelle exit. was a hit TV present that ran for six seasons from 1981 to 1987 on NBC. After the original pilot was filmed NBC told the show producers they wanted to go to series with the show; but they had to redo the pilot. GIMME A BREAK! "Baby of the Family" had a resentful and jealous Samantha dressing up Joey in black face for a performance at Nell's black church, to get even with Nell for ignoring her. The one that I really thought that she outdid herself in was the "Emergency". The episode Julie's Birthday (1985) was Dolph Sweet's last appearance before his death. May 12, 1987 The producers took notice Miller's jealousy on set towards Lawrence and that's what inspired them to write the infamously controversial black face episode Baby of the Family. Lara Jill Miller said the jealousy her character feels when Joey was adopted by the Kanisky clan, and she was no longer the baby of the family, was quite real; She was in fact jealous of the attention Joey Lawrence was now getting on the set. The series starred Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief ( Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters. . For the final season, the show underwent a Retool, with most of the cast (minus the older Kanisky daughters) moving to New York City. Over its run, the series used two different theme songs. Nell Carter, Jonathan Silverman, Joey Lawrence, and Matthew Lawrence all play characters named after themselves. During the summer 1984 hiatus, Dolph Sweet underwent stomach surgery, which was revealed shortly after to be the first extensive treatment for cancer. Reportedly, Nell's maternal instincts towards the girls and Joey on the show were quite real. All rights reserved. Cozi TV started airing the show as of January 3, 2022. Another episode has Julie not knowing the cause of her mother's death (it was lung cancer, which is how Carl convinces Julie to quit smoking). The cast found out about the show's cancellation when it was announced at the wrap party. On May 12, 1987, "Gimme a Break" was cancelled after 6 seasons and 137 episodes. I am so happy that this show has finally made it to the era of DVD. To this day I have written letters to the Hallmark Channel, KSMO WB 62, KCMI 38, USA, and KCWE 29 networks requesting that they bring this show back on the air. We heart movies. Nov 05, 2007 #8. Grandma Kanisky was portrayed by three different actresses Elvia Allman, Elizabeth Kerr, and Jane Dulo. I wish I could sue NBC for the grievous consternation, intestinal distress and aggravated low moaning I have suffered as a result of Gimme a Break, Shales wrote, going on to criticize the shows sex jokes and what he found to be the racial stereotypes embodied by Carters character. Producers found it increasingly difficult to keep him on-screen due to his condition and gaunt appearance, but Sweet insisted on working as much as possible in order to help him cope with his illness. Reportedly, the tears of the cast during this fifth season retrospective episode, when the Chief and Dolph died were quite real. Later additions to the cast included Stanley Kanisky (Carls father), Adelaide Addy Wilson (Nells best friend, played by Telma Hopkins), adopted son Joey (Joey Lawrence) and Nells mother, Maybelle. cast members, and just focuses on the two boys and Mr. Pappalard. Nell's character went back to school to get her diploma and starting taking college courses in child psychology. The episode "Cat Story" was performed and broadcast live on March 2, 1985, as a promotional gimmick, which the cast was able to pull off without a hitch. In 2009, VEI announced that they plan on releasing the entire series in a complete series box set in 2010. Carter performed both themes. When I tried to tape it when I finally got my cable back and I was shocked to learn that it had been taken off the air. In the show, the chief of police's wife has just died, and he asks Nell (Nell Carter) to come in and work for him, helping him raise his three daughters in the process. Though the sitcom was hardly groundbreaking for its time,the series earned Nell Carter two Emmy nominations for her work and in turn gave her an opportunity to sing and dance in some of the episodes occasionally. And as much as they tried to make it work, there were just things missing. She had moved in with her other daughter and son-in-law, who also recently moved to New York and was a TV weatherman. Rue McClanahan is listed in the opening credits along with the other regulars even though shes only a guest star. Five episodes into the sixth and final season, the show changed locales from Glenlawn to New York City, when Nell, concerned for Joeys welfare after he moved there with his absentee father, traveled there to check on him. Nell Carter Perhaps television brings Whitney's acting skills out more cause she was really good in her scenes in "Silver Spoons." dckc1966. / She might as well not have been there at all. Your email address will not be published. To each their own though. / Nell became an uptight, overdramatic control freak after season two. Nell Carter got more creative control of the show when the new producers Rod Parker and Hal Cooper came onto to the show during it's third season. The network deemed Gimme a Break! Before I wrap this up, I'd like to say that I'll always remember this show in my memory forever, even though I don't think I've seen every episode. Over the six-year run, a number of celebrities appeared on the show, including singer Whitney Houston, Andy Gibb, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Ray Parker, Jr.. The series starred Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief (Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters. However, because of Dolph Sweet's death, the ratings dropped during the fifth season. (TV Series) Julie Smokes (1983) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Jim Drake Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) Produced by Film Editing by Larry Harris Casting By Randy Stone Art Direction by Peter Clemens Costume Design by Palmer Brown Makeup Department Production Management Nell Carter and Rosie O'Donnell never got along in the final season of the show. Addy got a job in New York City, so Nell, Grandpa and Joey came to New York to join her. I loved it when I was little but imo this has not aged well. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. If you grew up in the 80's this show was a must see. The first occurred at the end of season two in 1983 with the episode "Nell and the Kid" in which Nell goes to Max's Deli. Personally I'd kept Gimme a break on forever or even three more seasons. Given some supportive scripts, Miss Carter and Mr. Sweet could insure a good run for this series.[6]. The two made peace in 1997 when Rosie had her hit talk show which lasted for six seasons. Carl has to deal with the aftermath of shooting a man dead. She believes it was the customer that the two guys had her sit with, and who she took a liking to. Nell agreed, so as a favor to Margaret she moved into the Kanisky home and took over motherly duties. Nell Carter, the robustly sassy singer and actress who exploded onto the New York musical stage in the Fats Waller revue Aint Misbehavin and went on to become a popular television star in the series Gimme a Break!, died yesterday at her home in Beverly Hills, Calif. She was 54. She finally sees eye to eye with him, and thanks God for everyone around her, letting him know she also thanks God for him. Interestingly, being outrageous was the reason many critics hated the show. She was basically the whole show , which dealt with many cast changes, perhaps the most shocking being Chief Carl Kaminskys death- Dolph Sweet. after the phone rings. Nell was at Dolph's bedside during his death, and read his eulogy at his funeral. John Hoyt died in 1991, six years after his on-screen son died. Mort Lachman, the show's co-creator, was retained as co-producer (he would serve in this role for all six seasons). NBC had many quality sitcoms on the air in the 80s, such as Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts Of Life, Silver Spoons, etc. Rosie O' Donnell revealed in a podcast interview with actress Busy Phillips, that on her first day on set was a toxic experience. Gimme a Break! Age, September 13, 1948 The series was taped at Metromedia Square in Hollywood before a studio audience. Gimme a Break! Please help this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. Minelli flew her to a special rehab center the Halzalden Clinic in Minnesota where she kicked her habit a second time and lost over 90 pounds. Watch Gimme a Break! The Alvin Show. I always thought the show lost it when they kept changing the words to the openingbut it did have all us kids saying "GIMME A BREAK!" During the show's third season, Telma Hopkins and Joey Lawrence joined the cast. Give her a break! He talks about how tough he and his family had it growing up, and also touches upon his deceased wife. During the downtimes from Gimme a Break, Joey Lawrence would tour with Nell Carter and Sammy Davis Junior, and would perform with them frequently. The original unaired pilot had the same plot as season one, episode one, "Katie the Crook", but it had a different set for the house, and the third Kanisky child was a redheaded boy named Matthew. including a new theme song, new producers, and new writers (only co-Creator Mort Lachman stayed). This was the first show in NBC's all-star Thursday night line-up. Nell Carter, who plays the housekeeper for police Chief Carl Kanisky on ''Gimme a Break,'' will eulogize Sweet . on Issac Hayes' hit song "Theme From Shaft.". After The Cosby Show (1984) became a big hit, NBC didn't want to a show about a black housekeeper raising a white family on the same network as the Cosby Show with a black family where the father is a doctor and the mom is a lawyer. I watched reruns of this show when it aired on USA in 1998. But,they should of been in the show not wiped out all together. One of the senior citizens at the center was Papa Jack Jenkins played by Whittman Mayo in the episode. I also love the grandfather character. Another issue was the Lawrence brothers Joey and Matthew, Nell's two young foster kids she was raising had no place in this proposed retooling. It's about Nell visiting Samantha at the latter's college and becoming the house mother to her and her dorm-mates. Everyone was ideally cast, the costume design was great. And didn't tell Carl because they both feared the exact angry reaction he ended up having. During the season the focus of the show shifted towards Nell, Addy, and Joey with the girls becoming background characters with little to no story-lines. As with many star vehicles in Hollywood, the main character was named after the star. Theme song is catchy though,but that's it. 'Gimme A Break'!And Get This Travesty off the Tube. The episode "Cat Story" was aired live over NBC-TV on March 2, 1985. He was funny, and changed as the show went on, from the senile old goat to a wise old man. Like the episodes "Nell and the Kid" and "The Center", this episode does not rely on any Gimme A Break! This sitcom centers on a housekeeper played by Nell Carter. After the death of actor Dolph Sweet after Season 4, the series continued for a season with Nell as the sole head of the Kanisky household, which was sad, so they decided to completely revamp the show, and for the final season, most of the cast (minus the older Kanisky daughters) moved to New York Cityand enter pre-famous Rosie O' Donnel as wacky friend Maggie, and Paul Sand as Marty the loveable landlord. Sweet on July 18th, 1920 in New York, New York. Sammy Davis, Jr. made an appearance on this show, and did duets with Nell and Joey. Ambitions. But her mom did and helped her obtain it. We heart all thing in the Entertainment field. Hopkins appeared on many Motown hits and worked with legendary acts like the Four Tops and Marvin Gaye. He then claimed she wasn't very nice to Lawrence and didn't want to do much with him. Two new characters were added to the cast: Addy Wilson, Nell's longtime friend, and Joey Donovan, an abandoned seven-year-old orphan. If your show doesn't pull in enough viewers to justify its budget . Ms. Carter collapsed and was found by one of her sons, said her spokesman, Roger Lane. Gimme A Break was in the sitcom line-up, on NBC in the 80s. Series Info. The episode's main plotline was about Nell's stolen purse, but went into the relationship of Mr. Pappalardo, his son, Nicky, his son's friend, and the establishment that Mr. Pappalardo owned and made the boys operate. Damn!" Enough said. Tracey Gold was originally tapped to play Samantha, but at the last moment was replaced by Lara Jill Miller. on DVD in Canada between 2006-07. to check out the antics of the Kanisky family. She attempted suicide and struggled with her faith. Producer Rod Parker expressed that it was difficult decision to let the girls go . The show has been in syndication since 1985. I was 9 years old in 1981 when this show debuted. Gimme A Break! Before Lawrence arrived on set Nell would take Lara to eat at restaurants, but when Lawrence arrive on set Nell shifted her focus to the much younger and cuter Joey. Treat Williams and Beverly D'Angelo are also in the movie, and so is fellow NBC sitcom alumnus Charlotte Rae, from The Facts Of Life (1979). Early in her career, singer Whitney Houston made her acting debut in a non-singing role the Season 3 episode Katie's College. Unlike movies which appear once, it's hard to rate a TV show since you're dealing with dozens of episodes and several seasons. However, she was still seen occasionally in the sixth season, visiting from school. From 2006 until 2010, both networks are Ion Television and MeTV reruns this show, during daytime and nighttime. Nell's mother was originally portrayed by Hilda Haynes. During the first season, Nell Carter and Dolph didn't get along in the beginning coming from different backgrounds in real life and in showbiz. Alphas. If you want to be free from the ads forever consider buying spotify premium! There were two Matthews on the show. The show has been renewed for a fifth season, but it was undecided what would be done about Sweets character, Bozek said. episodes. Instead of the Chief taking her in to custody, Max decides to adopt her, and has her work to pay back the money and food she stole. The episode aired three days after he died. She says "I'm so glad we're all past that image of the black woman as an Aunt Jemima." The sitcom took place in the fictional Los Angeles, California, suburb of Glenlawn. Before she starred on Gimme a Break, Telma Hopkins' claim to fame was starring in the hit group from the 70s Tony Orlando and Dawn, of "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" fame. Hopkins revealed she convinced LeNoire who was hesitant to read the script and take on a role on the series predicting it would be a big hit. [2][3][4][5] More recently as of January 2018, it is now shown on Antenna TV. A feisty housekeeper named Nell helps a widowed police chief raise his three daughters in a sassy sitcom that mocked stereotypes by showing a loving relationship . At one point, during 1984 Carter tried to commit suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills and champagne during her visit in London to see good friend Liza Minelli. The network fired the three daughters, Jonathan Silverman, and Howard Morton, the location was changed from Glenlawn, California to more upscale Manhattan, New York, Nell became an assistant at a publishing house, and Joey Lawrence's younger brother Matthew Lawrence was added to the cast. Nell Carter portraying Nell Harper was awesome. This list included Helen Hunt, who is, in fact, my favorite actress ever! In the episode, Nell decides to have lunch there just to try a new hip place in town, and finds her purse has been stolen. / Nelle was the most loyal, lovable, and funny person. Throughout the course of Gimme a Break, there had been several un-successful spin-off attempts. Visual Entertainment (under license from FremantleMedia) released the first two seasons of Gimme a Break! Enjoy all of Ms. Carters' talents and cherish them for all time. Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Best Actress Television Series Musical or Comedy, "List of Season's Top-Rated TV Shows With PM-Nielsens, Bjt", "Please! / Pete Schrum who portrayed The Chief's brother Uncle Ed, who got married in season 2, disappeared. At The Center, Lilly (Gwen Verdon) says that the teen youth center burnt to the ground, and the seniors must share their center with the kids from the youth center. Houston played Rita, a friend of Katie Kanisky (Kari Michaelsen). The first was composed by Bob Christianson with lyrics by Bob Garrett and Marley Sims; two versions of this song were used, one for the first season and a new recording for the second. is an American television sitcom created by Mort Lachman. [14], This article is about the television series. In this episode, she was a busy body on a hospital pay phone. When the two are arguing, Katie makes a snide remark about why she thinks her father wanted her to take the test, prompting him to warn her to stop, and when she presses on, he takes off his belt and chases after her. All is resolved when Andy brings up his deceased wife Maybelle, and how he's still not over her, but agrees to go to Lilly's place if she invites him again. At the start of the 198687 season, Katie moved to San Francisco; Julie, Jonathan, and baby Nell moved to San Jos; and Samantha attended college in New Jersey. Unreliable citations may be challenged or deleted. She was 54. This re-write was due in part of the backlash the show receiving at the time for the depiction of Nell's character as the "black maid" to a white family. This was a reasonably funny comedy starring Nell Carter. Discovery Kids on NBC Schedule April 9, 2005, Discovery Kids on NBC Schedule May 14, 2005, Discovery Kids on NBC Schedule May 21, 2005, Discovery Kids on NBC Schedule May 28, 2005, Discovery Kids on NBC Schedule June 11, 2005, Discovery Kids on NBC Schedule April 2, 2005, Lauri Hendler as Julie Kanisky Maxwell [seasons 1-5], Kari Michaelson as Katie Kanisky [seasons 1-5], Lara Jill Miller as Samantha "Sam" Kanisky, Dolph Sweet as Chief Carl Kanisky [seasons 1-4], Howard Morton as Officer Ralph Simpson [seasons 1-5], John Hoyt as Grandpa Stanley Kanisky [seasons 2-6], Joseph Lawrence as Joey Donovan [seasons 3-6], Telma Hopkins as Addy Wilson [seasons 4-6], Jonathan Silverman as Jonathan Maxwell [seasons 4-5], Peter Schrum as Uncle Ed Kanisky [season 2], Jane Dulo as Grandma Mildred Kanisky [season 2], Rosetta LeNoire as "Mama" Maybelle Harper [season 6], Matthew Lawrence as Matthew Donovan [season 6], Rosie O'Donnell as Maggie O'Brien [season 6]. Dolph Sweet and Nell didn't get along at first but ended up becoming friends. on DVD in Canada between 200607. Nell and the Kaniskys had a black goldfish named Gertrude, who keeps getting killed throughout the series (accidentally by Nell, with a rogue vacuum cleaner, or with a sprinkle of Comet) only to reappear again. 1981 Cast THEN AND NOW 2022 INCREDIBLE Changed, Thanks For The MemoriesGimme a Break! Carters publicist Roger Lane said Carter collapsed and died of natural causes in her Beverly Hills home. I loved grandpa too. The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons Ever! She made three guest appearances as three different people. Grandpa (John Hoyt) starts off season 1 as almost deaf and very senile. He died 4 years after the show went off the air. Five episodes into the sixth and final season, the show changed locales from Glenlawn to New York City, when Nell. Nell's father was originally the one who disapproved of Nell's dreams, but after he died. Final episode date. By season three, when he was added as a regular, his hearing is normal and he is no longer senile. During the third season, Pat Sajak guest-starred as himself when Nell and Addy were contestants on Wheel of Fortune. Another episode that aired earlier in the 198485 season, "Baby of the Family", ranked No. 15 were here. Mr. Kaminsky was a widower with 3 daughters, in the initial seasons and Nell was the surrogate mom/housekeeper. NBC warned the producers that if they wanted a sixth season, drastic changes would have to be made or the series would be canceled. It was warm, funny, and presented many contemporary topics that modern families struggle with, such as teen sex, drugs, alcoholism, dating, etc. Ironically though Dolph Sweet died in 1985, the actor who played his father (John Hoyt) made appearances til the end of the show. is an American television sitcom created by Mort Lachman and Sy Rosen, that aired on NBC for six seasons from October 29, 1981, to May 12, 1987. Jonathan Silverman was a good addition after that. Nell's middle name is Ruth, which was also Nell Carter's middle name in real life. Veterans of Cancelled TV Shows That We Lost in March 2009, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart. - A Fan Inquiry to Us on Facebook Leads to Some VERY Interesting New Information! I was born in 1978. Parker said he was always most concerned on the effect Nell's intense mood swings could have on the kids on the show. In the episode he slaps Julie, Carl reveals his regret he never slapped Margaret (his now late wife and daughters' late mother) when he couldn't get her to stop smoking, in what would have been a misguided (to say the least) attempt to wake her up to the fact that she was killing herself with her chronic smoking. At first, everyone hates the idea, but then they all decide to have a dance there consisting of both punk rock and old time music from the early 1900s. Alter Ego. In Season 6, actors were only shown in the opening credits for episodes in which they appeared. In revealing that their late mother, Margaret, was a heavy smoker, Carl reveals that he and Margaret had fought about the issue many times and that he wishes he had slapped her to get her to realize she was killing herself. This was explained in the Flashback episode in Season 3. This show is in syndication on Antenna Tv and the episodes are on YouTube . The "Flashback" episode shows her alive when the girls were relatively young, but still old enough to remember her. Before that she was a contract singer for Motown. I had a crush on Joey Lawrence and Matt was cute too. Carter's character works in the home of a widowed chief of police who needs help taking care of his three daughters. "The Purse Snatcher" also seems to be one of these. I was young when this show aired. Then Gold was replaced last minute by Lara Jill Miller, who wound up playing Samantha for the duration of the show. On May 8, 1985, actor Dolph Sweet (who portrayed the character of Carl "The Chief" Kanisky) passed away from cancer at the age of 64 and his final appearance on the show aired three days later on the day of his funeral. [11] VEI released Gimme a Break! Sweet had missed four episodes in the 1983-84 season because of Very good show that was one of many throughout TV sitcom history that revolved around a housekeeper/butler. I know she did musicals but her singing voice is like chalk on a blackboard, very nasal. Nell Carter and Joey Lawrence perform a "Me and My Shadow" number, much like Beatrice Arthur did with Esther Rolle on Maude (1972) due in part that both shows were executive produced by Hal Cooper. was a Syndication sitcom that was created by Mort Lachman & Sy Rosen, starring Nell Carter in the lead role. As they were redoing it, the boy was replaced by Tracey Gold, who was going to play a tomboy named Samantha. KARI MICHAELSEN Advertisement The '80s was a great decade for young Kari Michaelsen. Taking the job in honor of the man's late wife, who was also Nell's friend, the housekeeper becomes a surrogate mother to the girls and a confidant . Nell Carter was nominated twice for an Emmy for her work on this show. She was inconsolable for days after the cast wrap party, refusing to see even close friends as she fell into dark despair. One of the episodes is called "Knock Three Times". Whitney was very young on Gimme A Break, and only had a minute or two on screen. Wonderful show with many risqu , over the top episodes. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/GimmeABreak. Alpha House. Miller also expressed in the same interview that she felt the producers made a big mistake getting rid of the daughters and implied that the decision came from the girls receiving less story-lines starting around the fourth season and more emphasis being put on Nell Carter and Thelma Hopkins. The Season 2 episode "Julie Smokes" has Carl slap his daughter across the face when, after she lied to him that she was not smoking, she accidentally blew smoke in his face, having unsuccessfully concealed that she had currently been smoking a cigarette. a guest appearance by Tony Randall in part two, NBC was to have an entire block of live episodes the night the episode originally aired. "Gimme a Break!" became Sweet's last work because of his unfortunate cancer diagnosis, which took away his life in 1985. This was also the title of a song by Tony Orlando & Dawn, of which Telma Hopkins was a member. The fish died in the first episode, and kept coming back in subsequent episodes. The "wacky" Swackhammer character, who served as a foil to Nell, disappeared after a few episodes in the second season. But the show belong to Nell Carter who was a joy to watch. The show centered on the lives of the Kanisky Family in Glenlawn, CA, headed by Carl (Dolph Sweet), the widowed Chief of Police in town. Carter would binge eat. At some point during the mid-1990s, Carter had begun a relationship with a woman named Ann Kaser, but this was not known to the public until after her death. While it can be assumed he started a new life after marrying, some lines act as if the Chief were an only child. Everyone called Carl "Chief" or "Daddy" except for his parents and brother who called him by his first name. Nell started singing more, Nell's frumpy and unflattering wardrobe, hair and makeup was upgraded to more glamorous and stylish. When they brought the character back in season 2 she was replaced with actress Bonnie Urseth. To open the next season, the crew wrote out the character of Carl Kanisky and built the season premiere ("Joey's Train") around the family's coming to terms with the loss and their indecision over facing the one place that evoked the most memories of Carl his empty bedroom. Altered Carbon. At the end of the first episode of the fifth season, the picture fades of the Chief slowly, with no applause from the audience. I have, in fact, written a review of this episode and it has been posted. In real life the three performers would all go on tour together during their hiatuses. She had been in rehearsals for ''Raisin,'' a musical adaptation of the play ''A Raisin in the Sun . I thought she was great! The plan was for Nell to become a housemother at Samantha's college dorm, reminiscent of the early seasons of the hit NBC sitcom the The Facts of Life. While never a powerhouse in the ratings, Gimme a Break! The Complete Series is now available in the US. A foster son, Joey (Joey Lawrence), was added to the Kanisky household in season three. Nell wonders why her mother would have a date, and when her mother shows up, she meets her date, Ernie, a man from her past. Contents 1 Cast 1.1 Main characters 1.2 Recurring characters The original version was used for the first two seasons and was replaced with an up-tempo rearrangement with new lyrics for season three onward. The creators of the show were Mort Lachman and Sy Rosen. We heart you!!! The abrupt changes in tone are handled adroitly, John J. OConnor wrote. on February 14, 2006, available in the United States only. Later additions to the cast included Stanley Kanisky (Carls father), Adelaide Addy Wilson (Nells best friend, played by Telma Hopkins), Rue McClanahan is listed in the opening credits along with the other regulars even though, She was 54. Gimme a Break! [6], VEI released Gimme a Break! In fact it, along with Fame, Hill Street Blues, Cheers and Taxi became the original Thursday night anchors of "Must See TV" programming on NBC. Lara Jill Miller revealed in interview that she was initially fired along with Kari Michaelson and Lauri Hendler but ended up being kept around for six guest appearances due to her close relationship with Nell Carter who pulled strings with the network. (a Titles & Air Dates Guide) . Platinum. The sitcom aired on . Nell Carter and Dolph Sweet (who played The Chief) both played off one another well. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A foster son, Joey (Joey Lawrence), was added to the Kanisky household in season three. Carters publicist Roger Lane said Carter, Nell Carter, the robustly sassy singer and actress who exploded onto the New York musical stage in the Fats Waller revue Aint Misbehavin and went on to become a popular television star in the series Gimme a Break!, died yesterday at her home in Beverly Hills, Calif. She was, At some point during the mid-1990s, Carter had begun a relationship with a woman named Ann Kaser, but this was not known to the public until after her death. after Carl dies, much in the same way Florida Evans shouts the same thing after her husband James died on Good Times, ten years earlier. Nell Carter was interred in Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California. She did, however, return for an episode in Season 4, this time as a romantic interest for Grandpa. Nov 05, 2007 #9. It was released as the third and final single from the album on March 3, 2008, by Jive Records.The song was written by Nate "Danja" Hills, Jim Beanz, Keri Hilson and Marcella Araica, while production was handled by Danja and vocal production was handled by Beanz. What chapter does Gatsby meet Daisy at Nicks house. Those episodes were: Nell and the Kid, The Center, and The Purse Snatcher. "Julie's Birthday" aired three days after Sweet passed on from the disease at age 64. Prior to the pilot episode . She went into rehab several times during production and was blowing her money on cocaine every week . Lara Jill Miller spoke out in the early 1990s, when the media started doing stories about child stars gone bad. Nell Carter had a stormy relationship with Gimme a Break! 52 - Minutes needed for No.19 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova to defeat Ysaline Bonaventure 6-2, 6-1, the quickest match of the first . He was born Adolphus J. On May 12, 1987, "Gimme a Break" was cancelled after 6 seasons and 137 episodes. However, they were considered acceptable at the time. The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief ( Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters. Margaret was dying of lung cancer, and the Chief could not have raised the kids alone. There, they discovered Joey's irresponsible father, Tim (guest star Patrick Collins), who showed him his brother, Matthew (played by Matthew Lawrence, Joey's real-life brother), and left them with Nell and Grandpa. How much bleeding is normal in early pregnancy? Nell's airhead and squeaky voice friend Angie portrayed by Alvernette Jimenez was dropped from the show. Nellie Ruth "Nell" Harper (Nell Carter) agrees to be a housekeeper for the Kanisky household as a special favor to her late friend, Margaret Kanisky (ne Huffmann) (played in flashback by Sharon Spelman), who was the wife of police chief Carl Kanisky (Dolph Sweet). so it is a very stressful job on top of raising his daughters without their mother, But the chemistry Nell and Dolph had was terrific. By this point the girls were all grown up and Dolph Sweet had passed away so there was no father figure in the house. This show was one of my favorite's as a kid growing up in the 1980s It had me laughing constantly. Nell's family. I think that the cast in Gimme a Break was excellent. We heart influencers and interesting people. Two of them were during the first season and one was during the second. So three different actors were cast in the role of the youngest Kanisky child; a boy and two girls. We heart books. Now, maybe it's just because I watched the three or four episodes that were the exception to the rule, but didn't that oldest daughter ever have any lines? Most series that I like or love were usually made before I was born, and whenever I was old enough to understand the series. In an interview Carter gave for O'Donnell's E! Parker sat down with Lawrence and had numerous talks with him because he loved the kid and thought was a real pro. Gimme a Break! Nell Carter, 54, the Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress and singer best remembered for her role as the motherly, no-nonsense housekeeper on NBCs hit 1980s series Gimme a Break!, died Thursday at her home in Beverly Hills, the Associated Press reports. Gimme a Break was almost canceled after it's first season due too poor ratings. 1,041. There were two reasons why it didn't happen. #80s Began in 1981, ran 6 seasons & 137 episodes. [citation needed] The uneasy interaction heightened as the show's success grew heavily in the early seasons, so much that Mitchell and Neigher were dismissed from the show at the behest of Carter just prior to the start of the 198384 season. Over the course of the 198485 season, Sweet's health went into serious decline as the cancer further ravaged his body. One of the producers saw him perform on The Johnny Carson Show and immediately wanted to add him as a cast member. Final episode. It was sad when the actor who played the chief died. Though I watched Gimme a Break from the start, it goes without saying that I lacked the maturity at that age to fully understand the adult humor and social issues being explored. Nell even predicted it, teasing her co-star that she would soon be dating Andy Gibb even before he came to the set; she was right. Unfortunately she passed way too early. Telma Hopkins It was basic fare for a sitcom, featuring the cute kids, family values, and little lessons learned at the end of each episode. to his question about how she'd think her mother would react if she knew her daughter had been arrested. Future seasons adding 'child' Joey Lawrence,Jonathon Silverman and Telma Hopkins as a fine tandem to Nell, especially proving more so important after Dolph Sweets sudden death with 2 seasons left. [12], Nell Carter received two Emmy nominations as Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Gimme a Break! Not a brilliant show by any means, but certainly a show that highlights the great talents of Nell Carter, in basically her only venture in TV. Laurie Hendler who plays "Julie" is shown for only a few seconds at the start of episode 3 season 6 (Below Sea Level) taking a seat behind Nell & Joey on an airplane even though she was fired at the end of season 5. See even close friends as she fell into dark despair interred in Hillside Memorial Park Culver... 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