Alpha House. 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. She estimated that at the height of her addiction, she was spending $1000 to $2000 or more a day on drugs. When he returned in the seventh episode, the cast was shocked by his thin appearance. Universal Studios Home Entertainment released a three-disc DVD of the complete first season of Gimme a Break! 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. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/GimmeABreak. to his question about how she'd think her mother would react if she knew her daughter had been arrested. He never did, however, and eventually, Carl's worst fears losing his wife and partner in raising their daughters to lung cancer came true. Nell became an uptight, overdramatic control freak after season two. I don't want to go to my grave being known as the girl from 'Gimme a Break, she told The New York Times in 1988. During the summer 1984 hiatus, Dolph Sweet underwent stomach surgery, which was revealed shortly after to be the first extensive treatment for cancer. Series Info. She attempted suicide and struggled with her faith. 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 started singing more, Nell's frumpy and unflattering wardrobe, hair and makeup was upgraded to more glamorous and stylish. Several spin-offs were considered by producing pilot episodes during the series run. I don't remember the original theme song and after looking up old episodes on YouTube I hate it. 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. She says "I'm so glad we're all past that image of the black woman as an Aunt Jemima." If I thought television could get substantially worse than this, I am not sure I would have the courage or desire ever to turn the set on again, Shales concluded. She was 54. Now, in conclusion, when and if this show is ever brought back on the air, I hope that you catch it one day before it goes off the air for good. 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. Nell's mother was originally portrayed by Hilda Haynes. They ended up working out their differences and became friends. Five episodes into the sixth and final season, the show changed locales from Glenlawn to New York City, when Nell. While it can be assumed he started a new life after marrying, some lines act as if the Chief were an only child. Status: cancelled/ended Network(s): NBC Run time: 30 min Episodes: 137 eps Genre(s): Comedy, Crime/Mystery . Nov 05, 2007 #8. Nell's Mama Maybelle (Rosetta LeNoire) began being seen in more recurring roles starting in season six after previous guest appearances. Gimme a Break! We heart movies. Alphas. ", http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Gimme-Break-The-Complete-Series/13768. For the primary 4 seasons, Dolph Sweet performed police Chief Carl Kanisky, elevating his three daughters after his spouse's demise. 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. Nell Carter and Dolph Sweet (who played The Chief) both played off one another well. Lawrence was added to show to take over the cute kid role with Lara Jill Miller getting older and maturing into a young women. Her character married the only other Jewish person in the cast, Jonathan Silverman. 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. During the third season, Pat Sajak guest-starred as himself when Nell and Addy were contestants on Wheel of Fortune. 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. It was warm, funny, and presented many contemporary topics that modern families struggle with, such as teen sex, drugs, alcoholism, dating, etc. 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. Nell Carter was nominated twice for an Emmy for her work on this show. Producer Rod Parker expressed that it was difficult decision to let the girls go . New Release. She might as well not have been there at all. 1,041. every chance we could. Nell's middle name is Ruth, which was also Nell Carter's middle name in real life. Throughout the course of Gimme a Break, there had been several un-successful spin-off attempts. 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 series was taped at Metromedia Square in Hollywood before a studio audience. 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. When his backstory is finally explained when he reunites with his father, in particular that his mother is dead and his father was at sea, it turns out that he really was living with an uncle at the time Nell adopted him. The show was produced by Alan Landsburg Productions, whose successor-in-interest, Reeves Entertainment Group, took over production in 1985. Carters publicist Roger Lane said Carter collapsed and died of natural causes in her Beverly Hills home. Kari Michaelson and Nell Carter both had eating disorders during production. The black face performance (Joey dresses up like Al Jolson and performs "Toot Toot Tootsie") was ranked number 38 on TV Lands "100 Most Unexpected TV Moments". They kept Lara Jill Miller as Sam. 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. (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 had a stormy relationship with Gimme a Break! 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. This episode dealt with a Greek restaurant called "Two Guys From Greece" and the two guys who worked at it, Nicky, and his friend Tyler. Even Jonathan Silverman was a semi-regular at one point playing Julie's husband. That wasn't me; it was just a job.[4], The show received mixed reviews from critics when it premiered. I know she did musicals but her singing voice is like chalk on a blackboard, very nasal. 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. How do they think of this stuff? 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. Final episode. Also, I don't think I've seen every episode. The series starred Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief ( Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters. Nell Carter's debut on television was not this show but Cindy; a TV movie which was a 1978 black musical satire of Cinderella. Final episode date. A real romance developed between Kari Michaelson and Andy Gibb when he guest starred. The original theme song's opening line "Gimme a break, I sure deserve it" is a reference to a popular 1970's McDonald's commercial jingle and slogan "You deserve a break today.". [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. 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. 's original producers Coleman Mitchell and Geoffrey Neigher, which involved personality conflicts and creative differences. John Hoyt died in 1991, six years after his on-screen son died. Carter had begun experimenting with cocaine while in the cast of Aint Misbehavin In Season 6, actors were only shown in the opening credits for episodes in which they appeared. The Chief hits Katie and Julie during the course of the show. . We heart TV shows. The abrupt changes in tone are handled adroitly, John J. OConnor wrote. Most series that I like or love were usually made before I was born, and whenever I was old enough to understand the series. "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. Nell becomes sort of a mother figure for the girls, and everyone tries to learn from each other. 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. He was funny, and changed as the show went on, from the senile old goat to a wise old man. During the show's third season, the writers changed the story line and made it that Margaret Kanisky, who was Carl's wife and a close friend of Nell's, asked Nell to raise her kids after she died. Reportedly, Nell's maternal instincts towards the girls and Joey on the show were quite real. Addy got a job in New York City, so Nell, Grandpa and Joey came to New York to join her. One episode has Katie hospitalized when her I.U.D. 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. "The day it was announced we had an MBA class and the topic was corporate culture. In 2009, VEI announced that they plan on releasing the entire series in a complete series box set in 2010. Carter performed both themes. It's about Nell visiting Samantha at the latter's college and becoming the house mother to her and her dorm-mates. Joey's father was portrayed by two different actors Fred McCarren and Patrick Collins (I). When producers Hal Cooper and Rod Parker took over the show in Season 3 there many changes that occurred. We heart living like a star. GIMME A BREAK! aired 137 episodes over six seasons, with its finale airing on May 12, 1987. 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! In one episode the chief takes off his belt and chases around Katie threatening to hit her. A new theme, with music by Jay Graydon and lyrics by Richard Page, was introduced in the third season and used for the remainder of the show's run. Over its run, the series used two different theme songs. Nell Carter portraying Nell Harper was awesome. The series starred Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief (Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters. In 2009, VEI announced that they plan on releasing the entire series in a complete series box set in 2010. This instance accidentally retcons the pilot episode's instance by having Carl say he's never slapped one of his daughters before. One of the senior citizens at the center was Papa Jack Jenkins played by Whittman Mayo in the episode. With spotify premium, you get ad free music, forever! Place of burial But her mom did and helped her obtain it. And because Joey Lawrence was a big hit with audiences, and seemed to supplicate their need on the show. Inter-Uterine Device, an implanted birth control device that, at the time, had a reputation for piercing the uterus and causing dangerous bleeding and possible infection. And there was also occasional humorous interplay with the Chief's children and their grandfather, as well as with some of the early guest. to check out the antics of the Kanisky family. Nell's airhead and squeaky voice friend Angie portrayed by Alvernette Jimenez was dropped from the show. 32. BREAK POINT BOOKS & MORE Cancelled. The 1981 TV Guide Fall Preview used this pilot, as the basis for their description of the show. 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. The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief ( Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters. At the end of the first episode of the fifth season, the picture fades of the Chief slowly, with no applause from the audience. We heart local Los Angeles attractions and events. She appeared in a Season 1 episode as one of Katie's friends. She had suffered from diabetes and had recovered from a near-deadly bout with a brain aneurysm in the 1990s. Rosie O' Donnell and Nell didn't get along during the final season and O' Donnell said Nell treated her terribly. DMCA. 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. 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. , Whatever Happened To: The Cast Of "Gimme A Break!". Rosie O' Donnell revealed in a podcast interview with actress Busy Phillips, that on her first day on set was a toxic experience. According to Telma Hopkins, Nell Carter was devastated when the show was canceled and was an emotional wreck at the wrap party. Again, the Kaniskys only appear in one scene, and most of the focus is put on the boys. To each their own though. The husband (played by Dolph Sweet) is the chief of police of Glenlawn CA. 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. I would be very interested in what anyone here thinks of it. She said that "Once that original formula was broken, it just didn't feel the same. Netflix has announced that Daybreak will not be renewed for a second season. The network deemed Gimme a Break! was an American sitcom that ran on NBC for six seasons from 198187, 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. One of the producers saw him perform on The Johnny Carson Show and immediately wanted to add him as a cast member. She finally sees eye to eye with him, and thanks God for everyone around her, letting him know she also thanks God for him. How long ago Margaret died. Carter died in 2003, at age 54. LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Dolph Sweet, the lovable police chief on the NBC's ''Gimme a Break'' who died of cancer at age 64, began his acting career in a one-act play with fellow prisoners of war during World War II. Two new characters were added to the cast: Addy Wilson, Nell's longtime friend, and Joey Donovan, an abandoned seven-year-old orphan. The Complete Series on DVD in Canada on July 20, 2010. And didn't tell Carl because they both feared the exact angry reaction he ended up having. There were some memorable episodes (such as when Samantha puts Joey in black face to get back at Nell, or when Nell undergoes hypnotherapy to remember where she had put something only to become helpless whenever someone knocked three times, or when the chief was on a stakeout with another officer and told him a horrible gay joke, only to learn that the other officer was gay), but the show was fairly standard. They even doubled down and added ANOTHER cute kid in the form of Matthew Lawrence, who played Joey's brother Matthew. Considering it was a. Although the show never cracked the top 30, it was still considered a solid enough hit to keep on the air for six years. There was also friction between O'Donnell and Carter herself, who did not befriend the younger comedienne and only addressed her during rehearsals as her character's name "Maggie", which according to O'Donnell, was not because Carter was into the Stanislavsky Method. All of these things would be deemed as child abuse today and would never be in the show. Nonetheless, I thought it was funny, and it managed to stand out due to its good cast and themes in its episodes and type of humor. 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. In one scene, and everyone tries to learn from each other in 1991, six after... 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