This was also the title of a song by Tony Orlando & Dawn, of which Telma Hopkins was a member. During the show's third season, Telma Hopkins and Joey Lawrence joined the cast. 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. In this episode, she was a busy body on a hospital pay phone. Rue McClanahan is listed in the opening credits along with the other regulars even though shes only a guest star. But,they should of been in the show not wiped out all together. The show has been renewed for a fifth season, but it was undecided what would be done about Sweets character, Bozek said. Everyone was ideally cast, the costume design was great. Grandpa (John Hoyt) starts off season 1 as almost deaf and very senile. They should of had a Gimme a Break reunion movie. Carter distanced herself from the show following its run. Before that she was a contract singer for Motown. 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. 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. Mr. Kaminsky was a widower with 3 daughters, in the initial seasons and Nell was the surrogate mom/housekeeper. Nell Carter and Dolph Sweet (who played The Chief) both played off one another well. On May 12, 1987, "Gimme a Break" was cancelled after 6 seasons and 137 episodes. During the summer 1984 hiatus, Dolph Sweet underwent stomach surgery, which was revealed shortly after to be the first extensive treatment for cancer. 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! [12], Nell Carter received two Emmy nominations as Best Actress in a Comedy Series. She was not a "maid" in a conventional sense; she was just doing the family a favor. Hopkins portrayed Addy Wilson, a longtime childhood best friend of Nell and a Ph.D graduate. on DVD in Canada between 200607. She went into rehab several times during production and was blowing her money on cocaine every week . 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. In the episode "Nell's Friend" Addy talks about the progress of Black Women in modern American society. 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. If your show doesn't pull in enough viewers to justify its budget . Gimme a Break! NBC president Brandon Tartikoff had a lot of faith in Nell Carter and thought she had potential to become a breakout star. Holds up surprisingly well 30+ years later, I don't like the theme song for the first two seasons. 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). The show has been in off-network syndication since 1985. Nelle was the most loyal, lovable, and funny person. on Issac Hayes' hit song "Theme From Shaft.". 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. 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. 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. Platinum. 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). 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. NBC president Brandon Tartikoff had a lot of faith in Nell Carter and thought she had potential to become a breakout star. Alphas. Then Gold was replaced last minute by Lara Jill Miller, who wound up playing Samantha for the duration of the show. He talks about how tough he and his family had it growing up, and also touches upon his deceased wife. GIMME A BREAK!!! She estimated that at the height of her addiction, she was spending $1000 to $2000 or more a day on drugs. Nell intervenes (by standing in the way) and stops him, and he eventually cools off and backs away. 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. 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. 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. . Tubi acquired all seasons of the show as of February 1, 2022. I have, in fact, written a review of this episode and it has been posted. I forgot about this show and I've been watching the reruns . What Are They Thinking of at NBC? (See the Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, What's Happening, The Partridge Family, etc.). Other cast members consisted of Dolph Sweet, Kari Michaelsen, Lauri Hendler, Lara Jill Miller, John Hoyt, Joey Lawrence & his brother Matthew Lawrence, Telma Hopkins, Jonathan Silverman, Rosetta LeNoire, Rosie O'Donnell and Paul Sand. 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. NBC canceled the series in the spring of 1987. They ended up working out their differences and became friends. Typical family situation comedy, nothing special. We heart you!!! FremantleMedia owns the international rights, as they own Thames Television, which acquired Alan Landsburg Productions and Reeves Entertainment Group product in 1990. And because Joey Lawrence was a big hit with audiences, and seemed to supplicate their need on the show. All of these things would be deemed as child abuse today and would never be in 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. During the downtimes from Gimme a Break, Joey Lawrence would tour with Nell Carter and Sammy Davis Junior, and would perform with them frequently. We heart TV shows. 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 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. The one that I really thought that she outdid herself in was the "Emergency". Several spin-offs were considered by producing pilot episodes during the series run. 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. Unfortunately she passed way too early. We heart influencers and interesting people. She might as well not have been there at all. [13] and two Golden Globe nominations as Best Actress in a Television Series-Comedy or Musical. 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. To each their own though. ", http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Gimme-Break-The-Complete-Series/13768. to check out the antics of the Kanisky family. The performances were top-grade, too. Carter also said that she called other cast members by their character names for the same reason. / "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. 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. Telma Hopkins felt the show lost its ground quickly when they made all the changes in the sixth season. In 2009, VEI announced that they plan on releasing the entire series in a complete series box set in 2010. [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. Ironically, Tracey Gold, who was herself replaced last minute before the show went to series; wound up doing this herself to another actress for another family sitcom 4 years later. I would be very interested in what anyone here thinks of it. 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. 'Gimme A Break'!And Get This Travesty off the Tube. TV Listings. Two episodes were particularly noteworthy. Throughout the course of Gimme a Break, there had been several un-successful spin-off attempts. Unreliable citations may be challenged or deleted. These attributes contributed to the producers decision to drop most of the cast for sixth season except for Nell Carter, Thelma Hopkins, Joey Lawrence and John Hoyt. Nell Carter Reportedly, Nell's maternal instincts towards the girls and Joey on the show were quite real. 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