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 centered on the lives of the Kanisky Family in Glenlawn, CA, headed by Carl (Dolph Sweet), the widowed Chief of Police in town. I also love the grandfather character. Two of them were during the first season and one was during the second. In real life the three performers would all go on tour together during their hiatuses. All of these things would be deemed as child abuse today and would never be in the show. The series starred Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief ( Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters. And as much as they tried to make it work, there were just things missing. The Complete Series is now available in the US. I saw episodes from Seasons One and Two and it seemed like the middle and younger daughters got all the speaking parts, and the youngest one all the zingers. Date of death. On May 12, 1987, "Gimme a Break" was cancelled after 6 seasons and 137 episodes. When the show started, it was stated that the girls mother had recently passed six months prior. We heart Beverly Hills. Although the show never cracked the top 30, it was still considered a solid enough hit to keep on the air for six years. But in the pilot, he slapped Katie, so that was not true. Privacy Policy. If you want to be free from the ads forever consider buying spotify premium! She played one of the wicked stepsisters. I was sad when Dolph Sweet died,he was funny even though I usually see him in reruns. Like Laura Jill Miller previously, Joey Lawrence was getting older. This was and to this day is still one of my all time favorite sitcoms of the eighties. 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. Nell agreed, so as a favor to Margaret she moved into the Kanisky home and took over motherly duties. Carter performed the lyrics in both versions of the theme song. usually managed to land in the Top 40 during its first four seasons. is an American sitcom that ran on NBC for six seasons (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 (the last of the kids played by a young Lara Jill Miller). Sammy Davis, Jr. made an appearance on this show, and did duets with Nell and Joey. Alpha House. It was explained in the fifth season premiere that the Chief had died and the show continued with Nell taking over as the head of the household. Reminds me of Mama's Family or something. Nell Carter was deemed difficult to work with most of the time. Kari Michaelson and Nell Carter both had eating disorders during production. is an American television sitcom created by Mort Lachman. 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". Nell Carter would admit later in interviews that she had a serious cocaine problem when she starred on this show, which spiralled out of control. I loved it when I was little but imo this has not aged well. 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. 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. She was basically the whole show , which dealt with many cast changes, perhaps the most shocking being Chief Carl Kaminskys death- 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. Nell Carter was the only cast member to appear in every episode. I don't remember the original theme song and after looking up old episodes on YouTube I hate it. It's cool that we have reruns of it. In addition, she said Nell was also unhappy with the script for that week. We heart living like a star. All these years later I watched a couple episodes just to "check in", and it was pretty much as I'd remembered it. We heart you!!! This was also the title of a song by Tony Orlando & Dawn, of which Telma Hopkins was a member. . , and the experimentation became regular use. He then claimed she wasn't very nice to Lawrence and didn't want to do much with him. I think that the cast in Gimme a Break was excellent. 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. 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. 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. 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. January 23, 2003 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. A foster son, Joey (Joey Lawrence) was added in Season 3. Lauri Hendler, who played Julie on the show, admits in interviews that although everyone involved in the production was aware that Dolph was fatally ill for several months, and they all knew his time was coming, when the producers made the announcement on the set that Dolph had passed she burst into uncontrollable tears. Helen Hunt auditioned for the role of Katie Kanisky. 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. If you grew up in the 80's this show was a must see. Officer Simpson also disappeared after Season 5, but it can be assumed that, without the Chief, there was just no excuse for him to be around. When Carl demands an explanation, Katie makes a snide remark "She can't say anything, she's dead!" ", "Gimme a Break! Hazel,The Nanny, Mr. Belvedere, Benson,and Family Affair. 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. She says "I'm so glad we're all past that image of the black woman as an Aunt Jemima." Kari Michaelson, who portrayed oldest daughter Katie on the show, said she was relieved when she got the call that she, Laurie Hendler, and Lara Jill Miller were getting fired during the 1986-1987 season. 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). Gimme a Break! We heart influencers and interesting people. was a Syndication sitcom that was created by Mort Lachman & Sy Rosen, starring Nell Carter in the lead role. The students suggested that if Culverhouse cared, we would give them a break. 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.. IHeartHollywood.com is an online magazine about all thing "Hollywood." Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She appeared in a Season 1 episode as one of Katie's friends. The sitcom took place in the fictional Los Angeles, California, suburb of Glenlawn. 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. She was inconsolable for days after the cast wrap party, refusing to see even close friends as she fell into dark despair. The series starred Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief (Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters. When the show went to New York, it was wasn't the same show anymore.". 52 - Minutes needed for No.19 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova to defeat Ysaline Bonaventure 6-2, 6-1, the quickest match of the first . It's about Nell visiting Samantha at the latter's college and becoming the house mother to her and her dorm-mates. Both Nell and Joey play characters named after the actors. 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. Joey Lawrence didn't audition for his role on the show. 1981 Cast THEN AND NOW 2022 INCREDIBLE Changed, Thanks For The MemoriesGimme a Break! Perhaps television brings Whitney's acting skills out more cause she was really good in her scenes in "Silver Spoons." dckc1966. 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. The other cast was great too. 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. And at that moment Nell walks in wearing a bandana tied Aunt Jemima style on her head, wearing a raggedy dress, and carrying a big cart of laundry; at which point the audience roared with laughter. By this point the girls were all grown up and Dolph Sweet had passed away so there was no father figure in the house. Sweet had missed four episodes in the 1983-84 season because of She was not a "maid" in a conventional sense; she was just doing the family a favor. She made three guest appearances as three different people. (See the Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, What's Happening, The Partridge Family, etc.). Rosie O'Donnell made her television acting debut on this show. She estimated that at the height of her addiction, she was spending $1000 to $2000 or more a day on drugs. Everyone called Carl "Chief" or "Daddy" except for his parents and brother who called him by his first name. From 1981 to 1987, viewers tuned into Gimme a Break! Sweet died in 1985, at age 64, while the show was still in production. Margaret was dying of lung cancer, and the Chief could not have raised the kids alone. Parker said Carter spoiled him for a good two years and then suddenly turned on him. Also, I don't think I've seen every episode. 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. 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. Gimme A Break! cast members, and just focuses on the two boys and Mr. Pappalard. They ended up working out their differences and became friends. Lauri Hendler was the only Jewish member of the original cast. Gimme a Break! Lara Jill Miller, in particular, was quite close to her. In the series pilot, Katie is arrested for shoplifting. 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. Carter would binge eat. I think I'd rather watch Mr. Belvedere! What Are They Thinking of at NBC? As the show grew in popularity, the cast also grew and they added in Carl's father played by Stanley Kanisky (who is almost like the original dad from Fraiser), Adelaide Wilson, who was Nell's best friend, played by Thelma Hopkins, Howard Morton who played Officer Ralph Simpson, and as all 80's shows of that time didthey added in an adorable kid, this one played by Joey Lawrence (pre Blossom) as adopted son" Joey"clever. Over its run, the series used two different theme songs. This instance accidentally retcons the pilot episode's instance by having Carl say he's never slapped one of his daughters before. Marty (Paul Sand) was their landlord who also owned a Mexican restaurant under the name "Esteban." Nell becomes sort of a mother figure for the girls, and everyone tries to learn from each other. GIMME A BREAK. 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. Joey accidentally shoots Nell in the leg while playing with Carl's gun, not realizing that it was loaded. Damn!" Nell and the Kanisky family lived at 2938 Wells Drive. Lara Jill Miller was shown in opening credits as a regular cast member, rather than a guest star, in the episodes where she appeared. 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. John Hoyt's final acting role was Gimme A Break. KARI MICHAELSEN Advertisement The '80s was a great decade for young Kari Michaelsen. In "Julie Smokes", after slapping Julie, Carl says he had never laid a hand on his kids before. on February 14, 2006, available in the United States only. Mel Carter 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. 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. That wasn't me; it was just a job.[4], The show received mixed reviews from critics when it premiered. on Issac Hayes' hit song "Theme From Shaft.". 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. In her autobiography, Rue McClanahan says this was a bad television show, but at that point in her career, she had to take what she was offered. The Complete Series on DVD in Canada on July 20, 2010. 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). TV Listings. She tries to steal food from Max's fridge and may leave on the run, yet Max catches her. O' Donnell has stated numerous times over the years during the final season of the show Nell Carter was in a bad place with personal issues and extremely miserable and unpleasant to be around. [2][3][4][5] More recently as of January 2018, it is now shown on Antenna TV. Platinum. Nell Carter portraying Nell Harper was awesome. However, because of Dolph Sweet's death, the ratings dropped during the fifth season. - The Complete Series - TVShowsOnDVD.com", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gimme_a_Break!&oldid=1105749188, Television series by Alan Landsburg Productions, Television series by Universal Television, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking reliable references from March 2011, Articles that may contain original research from July 2011, All articles that may contain original research, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Bob Christianson (first two seasons only), Best Young Actress in a Television Comedy Series, Best Young Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy Series, Best Young Supporting Actress in a Television Comedy Series, Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series, Mort Lachman and Associates (Entire Series), Lauri Hendler as Julie Kanisky Maxwell (seasons 1-5), This page was last edited on 21 August 2022, at 16:16. He created the role of Police Chief Carl Kanisky in Gimme a Break in 1981. [6], VEI released Gimme a Break! Gimme a Break! Nell Carter was interred in Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California. All rights reserved. The Kanisky daughters need all the help they can . We heart books. The cast found out about the show's cancellation when it was announced at the wrap party. They kept Lara Jill Miller as Sam. NBC already had a college oriented show in development starring Lisa Bonet, The Cosby Show spin-off A Different World for the 1987-1988 season. 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). 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 and the Kid" is about a deli owner who. It was warm, funny, and presented many contemporary topics that modern families struggle with, such as teen sex, drugs, alcoholism, dating, etc. The show aired in ten different time slots during its six season run. 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. Visual Entertainment (under license from FremantleMedia) released the first two seasons of Gimme a Break! The "Flashback" episode shows her alive when the girls were relatively young, but still old enough to remember her. 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. Helen Hunt portrayed Katie's pregnant friend Valerie in season 1. But the show belong to Nell Carter who was a joy to watch. Thelma Hopkins said if the script didn't call for it they wouldn't speak to each other and weren't close outside of the show, but in time managed a decent working relationship. Nell Carter, 54, the Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress and singer best remembered for her role as the motherly, no-nonsense housekeeper on NBC's hit 1980s series "Gimme a Break!," died Thursday at her home in Beverly Hills, the Associated Press reports. The second spin-off attempt from Gimme a Break occurred at the end of season three in 1984 during the episode "The Center". 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. FremantleMedia owns the international rights, as they own Thames Television, which acquired Alan Landsburg Productions and Reeves Entertainment Group product in 1990. New Release. The Amazing Race. in the spring of 1987. Date of birth. Grandma Kanisky was portrayed by three different actresses Elvia Allman, Elizabeth Kerr, and Jane Dulo. After Gimme a Break wrapped in the spring of 1987, Telma Hopkins and Rosetta Lenoire would co-star two years later in the smash hit ABC sitcom Family Matters. She said that "Once that original formula was broken, it just didn't feel the same. Carter found that she saw eye to eye more often with Parker and Cooper on all levels, and due to the stability the latter team would stay with the program for the rest of its run. Nell tries to interfere in her mother's love life.Director:Phil RamunoWriters:Mort Lachman (creator), Sy Rosen (creator), 2 more credits Stars:Nell Carter, . / There were two Matthews on the show. 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. He said Blossom, because Gimme a Break "was done so long ago, it's not really relevant at this point". Nell Carter and Dolph Sweet were very close and she was at his side when he died in 1985. The next networks I'm going to write to are TBS, PAX TV, and possibly ABC Family and request that they bring this incredibly show back on the air so I can tape it. With Nell Carter's personal issues behind the scenes with her drug use, weight struggle, intense mood swings plaguing production and yet another proposed retooling NBC finally had enough and canceled Gimme a Break! (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 Alvernette Jiminez who portrayed Nell's friend Angie during the early years said Nell was rude to her and didn't treat her well. In this episode, she was a busy body on a hospital pay phone. Gimme a Break! Joey's supposed backstory of living with an uncle was originally treated as a lie. Carter had begun experimenting with cocaine while in the cast of Aint Misbehavin 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. 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