If your show doesn't pull in enough viewers to justify its budget . 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. 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. The sitcom aired on . 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. Gimme a Break was almost canceled after it's first season due too poor ratings. The show was produced by Alan Landsburg Productions, whose successor-in-interest, Reeves Entertainment Group, took over production in 1985. The show was about a woman named Nell Harper (Nell Carter), who agrees to be a housekeeper for the Kanisky household as a special favor to her late friend, Margaret Huffman Kanisky (played in flashback by Sharon Spelman) who was the wife of police chief Carl Kanisky (Dolph Sweet). The world of online streaming is a callous one. The Chief hits Katie and Julie during the course of the show. Gimme a Break! Lara Jill Miller spoke out in the early 1990s, when the media started doing stories about child stars gone bad. 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. BREAK TIME SERVICE Cancelled. She's in the "White Boys/Black Boys" number with Night Court (1984)'s Ellen Foley. He was born Adolphus J. Telma Hopkins felt the show lost its ground quickly when they made all the changes in the sixth season. is an American sitcom which aired on NBC from October 29, 1981, until May 12, 1987. , and the experimentation became regular use. This line retcons the events of "Samantha Steals a Squad Car", when she, Season 3s The Way to a Mans Heart has her in Weight Winners, a. aired 137 episodes over six seasons, with its finale airing on May 12, 1987. Two episodes were particularly noteworthy. True Hollywood Story, she was adamant that frequently calling her "Maggie" was a tactic to help young Joey and Matthew Lawrence focus on their lines, rehearsals and shootings without acting up, as kids often do. This prompts her to move out of the house temporarily, and when Carl stands his ground and justifies his actions, Nell, Katie and Samantha ostracize him forcing his hand and, in talking to Julie, getting him to reveal why he was so furious with her. Dolph Sweet and Nell Carter both died young. The Amazing Race. Bring this hit sitcom back on the air, immediately. If you grew up in the 80's this show was a must see. The final spin-off attempt of Gimme a Break was at the end of season 5 in 1986 in "The Purse Snatcher". Reportedly, the tears of the cast during this fifth season retrospective episode, when the Chief and Dolph died were quite real. Over the course of the 198485 season, Sweet's health went into serious decline as the cancer further ravaged his body. BREAKIN' GROUND LANDSCAPING, INC. Nell Carter was the only cast member to appear in every episode. was an American sitcom that ran on NBC for six seasons from 1981-87, starring Nell Carter as Nell Harper, a once-aspiring singer who became a housekeeper for the Kaniskys: patriarch Carl, the chief of police of the fictional Glenlawn, California, and his daughters Katie, Julie, and Samantha. That wasn't me; it was just a job.[4], The show received mixed reviews from critics when it premiered. cast members, and just focuses on the two boys and Mr. Pappalard. One of Nell and Addy's New York neighbors was a young lady named Maggie O'Brien, played by Rosie O'Donnell. "The Purse Snatcher" also seems to be one of these. For the six seasons that in ran on NBC-TV(1981-1987) in the eighties,this was one of those shows that was constantly in the top ten ratings during its run on the Peacock network. As the fifth season saw the death of the chief, Nell became the head of the household. Joey Lawrence didn't audition for his role on the show. Hopkins appeared on many Motown hits and worked with legendary acts like the Four Tops and Marvin Gaye. McClanahan would not become a regular cast member on Gimme a Break; but she would return to NBC in 1985 for the sitcom Golden Girls. Later, when he comes back, the two boys try to prove that he stole her purse by putting another purse out to be stolen, along with money from the cash register. NBC then hired the veteran team of Rod Parker and Hal Cooper to take over as executive producers, following their stint at the recently canceled Love, Sidney. Nell also served as a parent to the Chief's three daughters, Katie (Kari Michaelsen), Julie (Lauri Hendler), and Samantha (Lara Jill Miller). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you tap now and watch the short video you'll get 30 minutes of ad free music! Over its run, the series used two different theme songs. 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. I thought she was great! "Gimme A Break" was one of those shows that always had something going for itself and for one this was out of a pick of standard 80's family shows that hit a home run and so much more with the prime essential element of actress Nell Carter,who was also a accomplish Broadway singer/dancer who won a Tony award for her work in "Ain't Misbehavin" in 1978. #IHeartHollywood. [12], Nell Carter received two Emmy nominations as Best Actress in a Comedy Series. January 23, 2003 Pete Schrum who portrayed The Chief's brother Uncle Ed, who got married in season 2, disappeared. FremantleMedia owns the international rights, as they own Thames Television, which acquired Reeves Entertainment Group in 1990. 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. NBC president Brandon Tartikoff had a lot of faith in Nell Carter and thought she had potential to become a breakout star. By the fifth season, ratings started declining and NBC demanded the producers retool the show. Five episodes into the sixth and final season, the show changed locales from Glenlawn to New York City, when Nell. We heart movies. Lara Jill Miller, in particular, was quite close to her. 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. A foster son, Joey (Joey Lawrence) was added in season 3. Please help this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. She played one of the wicked stepsisters. Mamas Date The show has been in off-network syndication since 1985. 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). 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. 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. Nell also served as a confidante to the chief's three daughters, 17-year-old Katie (Kari Michaelsen), 15-year-old Julie (Lauri Hendler), and 13-year-old Samantha (Lara Jill Miller). Nell and the Kanisky family lived at 2938 Wells Drive. We heart all thing in the Entertainment field. 'Gimme A Break'!And Get This Travesty off the Tube. Jonathan Silverman was a good addition after that. 1,041. They either recast them, lose cast members or cancel their show. How much bleeding is normal in early pregnancy? The blonde oldest girl was very pretty but didn't have much to do, just a "hi Nell" or "bye Dad" and that was it. Carter performed the lyrics in both versions of the theme song. The creators of the show were Mort Lachman and Sy Rosen. She was 54. GIMME A BREAK! Laurie Hendler on the other hand, was upset and caught by surprise because she had recently purchased a new house. During the filming of the backdoor pilot Nell and the Kid, Nell and Don Rickles didn't get along and were clashing all over the place. But,they should of been in the show not wiped out all together. Final episode. During the third season, Pat Sajak guest-starred as himself when Nell and Addy were contestants on Wheel of Fortune. The episode only includes Nell and Grandpa from the main cast, and begins with Nell telling Grandpa to go the senior citizen center because it has a mess of women, to which he agrees. Joey Lawrence was asked in an interview if he had the choice to reboot Blossom or Gimme a Break!, which show would he pick. In one episode the chief takes off his belt and chases around Katie threatening to hit her. It's cool that we have reruns of it. Nelle was the most loyal, lovable, and funny person. Officer Simpson, who remained a friend of the family after the death of his superior, stuck around for another season. 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. Sadly, Nell Carter, who played Nell, and Dolph Sweet, who played Carl, have since passed away. She and Max Green (Don Rickles) catch an orphaned girl named Danny stealing money and food. Most of the show's humor came from the clashes of culture (Nell, the Sassy Black Woman from the South vs. straightlaced second-generation Polish Chief Kanisky) and generation (Nell and Carl vs. the girls) in an otherwise standard 80s Dom Com setting. The fish died in the first episode, and kept coming back in subsequent episodes. Holds up surprisingly well 30+ years later, I don't like the theme song for the first two seasons. This was and to this day is still one of my all time favorite sitcoms of the eighties. Your email address will not be published. Rosetta LeNoire took over the role during the show's fourth season. 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. This is one of many shows I used to watch just because it was on, not because I particularly enjoyed it. 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. Her character married the only other Jewish person in the cast, Jonathan Silverman. She had been in rehearsals for ''Raisin,'' a musical adaptation of the play ''A Raisin in the Sun . Jane Dulo who portrayed Mildred Kanisky, mother of Carl Kanisky (played by Dolph Sweet) was born October 13, 1917 (some sources give 1912 and 1918 as her birth year); and with Sweet being born July 18, 1920, he and Dulo are too close in age to be playing mother and son credibly. According to Rod Parker in an interview, at one point during the series Nell Carter had a slight falling out with Joey Lawrence because she thought he was getting too much screen-time. 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. Although there was mutual animosity and hostility between Nell Carter and Rosie O'Donnell on the set, they reconciled when Nell appeared on Rosie's talk show several years later. She made three guest appearances as three different people. Gimme a Break! Then Gold was replaced last minute by Lara Jill Miller, who wound up playing Samantha for the duration of the show. What chapter does Gatsby meet Daisy at Nicks house. Before that she was a contract singer for Motown. To each their own though. Also, the network had nothing to replace the show with as they were struggling with their programming and ratings during this time period. Visual Entertainment (under license from FremantleMedia) released the first two seasons of Gimme a Break! She questioned the child stars' morals, and the media for playing into the victim mentality. She famously shouted, "Shut your mouth!" The American syndication rights are held by NBC Universal Television Distribution, the successor company to original syndication MCA Television. It's that easy! Watch Gimme a Break! In the series pilot, Katie is arrested for shoplifting. NBC president Brandon Tartikoff had a lot of faith in Nell Carter and thought she had potential to become a breakout star. Writing for the Washington Post, Tom Shales wrote an especially scathing review of the pilot episode. She was a mother figure on the set. NBC warned the producers that if they wanted a sixth season, drastic changes would have to be made or the series would be canceled. When he returned in the seventh episode, the cast was shocked by his thin appearance. The episode soon only focuses on Max and Danny at the deli and then Max Green's slummy bachelor apartment and the interaction between him and Danny. Damn!" Parker sat down with Lawrence and had numerous talks with him because he loved the kid and thought was a real pro. / 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 . Grandma Kanisky was dropped from the show with the explanation that she had passed away. We heart Celebrities. The seniors and the youths work together to have their dance. . FremantleMedia owns the international rights, as they own Thames Television, which acquired Alan Landsburg Productions and Reeves Entertainment Group product in 1990. This was explained in the Flashback episode in Season 3. Nell agreed, so as a favor to Margaret she moved into the Kanisky home and took over motherly duties. Alter Ego. The series also had to address the real-life death of costar Dolph Sweet. The overhaul and changes made for the sixth season didn't work out, so the producers quickly scrambled to retool yet again with the ratings continuing to decline. As ABC was developing Growing Pains, and putting the final touches on it before it went to series; they decided to replace the young actress who played Carol in the pilot, Elizabeth Ward, because she was not testing well with audiences, so Tracey Gold was tapped to take over for the role. At the end of the first episode of the fifth season, the picture fades of the Chief slowly, with no applause from the audience. 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. A running gag involved the Kanisky's goldfish, Gertrude. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/GimmeABreak. Nell Carter and Rosie O'Donnell never got along in the final season of the show. 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. Nell became an uptight, overdramatic control freak after season two. We heart you!!! Hopkins portrayed Addy Wilson, a longtime childhood best friend of Nell and a Ph.D graduate. Sweet continued dropping weight, due to cancer. In 2009, VEI announced that they plan on releasing the entire series in a complete series box set in 2010. 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. 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. One episode has Katie hospitalized when her I.U.D. If you grew up in the 80's this show was a must see. Grandma Kanisky was portrayed by three different actresses Elvia Allman, Elizabeth Kerr, and Jane Dulo. 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). Nell Carter, who plays the housekeeper for police Chief Carl Kanisky on ''Gimme a Break,'' will eulogize Sweet . Sammy Davis, Jr. made an appearance on this show, and did duets with Nell and Joey. By season three, when he was added as a regular, his hearing is normal and he is no longer senile. Nell's family. Prior to the pilot episode . Grandpa (John Hoyt) starts off season 1 as almost deaf and very senile. DVD news: Announcement for Gimme a Break! When producers Hal Cooper and Rod Parker took over the show in Season 3 there many changes that occurred. Gimme A Break, was certainly in the same league as any of NBC's other popular comedy shows. 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! 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. "Parents' Week". The husband (played by Dolph Sweet) is the chief of police of Glenlawn CA. 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! Nell Carter Reruns have also aired nationally on WWOR EMI Service (September 30, 1991 to December 31, 1993), TBS Superstation (September 22, 1986 to December 27, 2004) and the USA Network (September 22, 1997 to September 11, 1998). Sweet died Wednesday at Tarzana Hospital, said NBC-TV publicist Matt Bozek. A later Season 1 episode, "Katie the Cheat," has Carl fuming when he learns that Katie did not actually take a college entrance exam (while Julie did). Nell Carter and Dolph Sweet were very close and she was at his side when he died in 1985. I don't remember the original theme song and after looking up old episodes on YouTube I hate it. Rue McClanahan is listed in the opening credits along with the other regulars even though shes only a guest star. I loved grandpa too. Although I don't remember much about it, I must say that it was a pretty good show. Reportedly, Carter was jealous of O'Donnell about stealing the limelight and wouldn't speak to her on set. It revolves around the manager of a Greek restaurant and his assistant investigate the disappearance of Nell's purse while dealing with the manager's father, who owns the restaurant. Reminds me of Mama's Family or something. / Place of burial Joey's supposed backstory of living with an uncle was originally treated as a lie. All these years later I watched a couple episodes just to "check in", and it was pretty much as I'd remembered it. Originally, Nell's mother supported her dream of being a singer, but later became a shrill woman who never had faith in her. BREAK POINT BOOKS & MORE Cancelled. 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. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. However, she was still seen occasionally in the sixth season, visiting from school. But the show belong to Nell Carter who was a joy to watch. [14], This article is about the television series. [11] VEI released Gimme a Break! The episode "Cat Story" was aired live over NBC-TV on March 2, 1985. ", http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Gimme-Break-The-Complete-Series/13768. Everyone was ideally cast, the costume design was great. She had moved in with her other daughter and son-in-law, who also recently moved to New York and was a TV weatherman. The "Flashback" episode shows her alive when the girls were relatively young, but still old enough to remember her. Answer (1 of 2): A2A When Gimme A Break started out it was mildly funny. Sweet died in 1985, at age 64, while the show was still in production. Perhaps television brings Whitney's acting skills out more cause she was really good in her scenes in "Silver Spoons." dckc1966. 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