During the summer 1984 hiatus, Dolph Sweet underwent stomach surgery, which was revealed shortly after to be the first extensive treatment for cancer. In real life the three performers would all go on tour together during their hiatuses. Too many changes were made and and the series was a completely different show from when it started. Gimme A Break, was certainly in the same league as any of NBC's other popular comedy shows. 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. One episode has Katie hospitalized when her I.U.D. 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. is an American sitcom which aired on NBC from October 29, 1981, until May 12, 1987. When Carl demands an explanation, Katie makes a snide remark "She can't say anything, she's dead!" 'Gimme A Break'!And Get This Travesty off the Tube. 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. Final episode date. Carter performed the lyrics in both versions of the theme song. United Paramount Network (UPN) Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. "Nell and the Kid" is about a deli owner who. 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. Nell Carter I loved it when I was little but imo this has not aged well. - A Fan Inquiry to Us on Facebook Leads to Some VERY Interesting New Information! BREAK TIME SERVICE Cancelled. (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 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. Privacy Policy. I have, in fact, written a review of this episode and it has been posted. I don't remember the original theme song and after looking up old episodes on YouTube I hate it. 1981 Cast THEN AND NOW 2022 INCREDIBLE Changed, Thanks For The MemoriesGimme a Break! 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. Ironically though Dolph Sweet died in 1985, the actor who played his father (John Hoyt) made appearances til the end of the show. Nell Carter, who plays the housekeeper for police Chief Carl Kanisky on ''Gimme a Break,'' will eulogize Sweet . John Hoyt's final acting role was Gimme A Break. 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? But I actually like Mama's Family so go figure. [7][8][9][10] Distribution rights are jointly owned by The Program Exchange and NBCUniversal Television Distribution, successor in interest to previous syndicator MCA Television. While never a powerhouse in the ratings, Gimme a Break! on Issac Hayes' hit song "Theme From Shaft.". I had a crush on Joey Lawrence and Matt was cute too. The writers wrote a two part backdoor pilot towards the end of the sixth season titled Parent's Weeks. And because Joey Lawrence was a big hit with audiences, and seemed to supplicate their need on the show. 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. The show was produced by Alan Landsburg Productions (renamed as Reeves Entertainment Group in 1985). Dolph Sweet, the lovingly sarcastic police chief on television's "Gimme A Break" and an actor who began his career in a World War II prison camp, died May 8th, 1985 (shortly after filming the final episode of the 1984-1985 season) of cancer at Tarzana Hospital in Tarzana, California.He was 64. episodes. I still have not received not even an email from them and I still continue to check on all the following channels just to see if they have brought back this show. Gimme a Break was canceled in the spring of 1987. on DVD in Canada between 200607. 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. During the show's third season, Telma Hopkins and Joey Lawrence joined the cast. 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. Kari Michaelson and Nell Carter both had eating disorders during production. 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!" Give her a break! 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. 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. What Are They Thinking of at NBC? The "wacky" Swackhammer character, who served as a foil to Nell, disappeared after a few episodes in the second season. GIMME A BREAK! One of the senior citizens at the center was Papa Jack Jenkins played by Whittman Mayo in the episode. Nell's character went back to school to get her diploma and starting taking college courses in child psychology. The new theme has similarities to the first but with a more positive attitude. 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. Dolph Sweet was in classic movies ,and in Little House on the Prairie. She estimated that at the height of her addiction, she was spending $1000 to $2000 or more a day on drugs. 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, . A foster son, Joey (Joey Lawrence) was added in season 3. Gimme a Break was almost canceled after it's first season due too poor ratings. A very young Joey Lawrence also appeared in it as a young street-hustler-turned-foster-kid-for-the-family. A Fan Inquiry to Us on Facebook Leads to Some VERY Interesting New Information! 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. Nell Harper is the no-nonsense housekeeper and surrogate mother for police chief Carl Kanisky's children: Samantha, Julie and Katie. We heart you!!! In the end, he forgives her, and tells her he was never as rich as he is now that he owns his own deli. Considering it was a. Two episodes were particularly noteworthy. How much bleeding is normal in early pregnancy? 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. Gimme a Break starred the late great Nell Carter who plays a housekeeper that promises her friend to take care of her husband and three daughters when she dies. When they brought the character back in season 2 she was replaced with actress Bonnie Urseth. TV Listings. But the show belong to Nell Carter who was a joy to watch. Who was the unluckiest person in the world? This was the first show in NBC's all-star Thursday night line-up. KARI MICHAELSEN Advertisement The '80s was a great decade for young Kari Michaelsen. Dolph Sweet also played a police chief in the original Out of Towners movie (1970). after the phone rings. 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. On May 12, 1987, "Gimme a Break" was cancelled after 6 seasons and 137 episodes. After the death of Dolph Sweet (Carl) after season 4, the series continued for a season with Nell as the sole head of the Kanisky household. However, she was still seen occasionally in the sixth season, visiting from school. The American syndication rights are held by NBC Universal Television Distribution, the successor company to original syndication MCA Television. (See the Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, What's Happening, The Partridge Family, etc.). I used to watch this show when I was a little girl. 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. Hazel,The Nanny, Mr. Belvedere, Benson,and Family Affair. 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). Very good show that was one of many throughout TV sitcom history that revolved around a housekeeper/butler. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. If you tap now and watch the short video you'll get 30 minutes of ad free music! According to Telma Hopkins, Nell Carter was devastated when the show was canceled and was an emotional wreck at the wrap party. 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. Enjoy all of Ms. Carters' talents and cherish them for all time. 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. 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. [6], VEI released Gimme a Break! [12], Nell Carter received two Emmy nominations as Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Nell Carter won an Emmy and a Tony Award. They ended up working out their differences and became friends. This is ironic since McClanahan was being groomed by the producers to be a regular character on the show - a love interest for the Chief (Dolph Sweet). We heart Beverly Hills. She played one of the wicked stepsisters. Visual Entertainment released the first two seasons of Gimme a Break!' Sweet continued dropping weight, due to cancer. "The Purse Snatcher" also seems to be one of these. In "Julie Smokes", after slapping Julie, Carl says he had never laid a hand on his kids before. Carter distanced herself from the show following its run. 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. I love the actress Laurie Hendler,but think this show is soo boring! It was basic fare for a sitcom, featuring the cute kids, family values, and little lessons learned at the end of each episode. FremantleMedia owns the international rights, as they own Thames Television, which acquired Alan Landsburg Productions and Reeves Entertainment Group product in 1990. The final spin-off attempt of Gimme a Break was at the end of season 5 in 1986 in "The Purse Snatcher". , and the experimentation became regular use. "Gimme a Break! Jonathan Silverman was a good addition after that. usually managed to land in the Top 40 during its first four seasons. The Amazing Race. cast members, and just focuses on the two boys and Mr. Pappalard. From 2006 until 2010, both networks are Ion Television and MeTV reruns this show, during daytime and nighttime. 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. 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The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief (Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters. Nell intervenes (by standing in the way) and stops him, and he eventually cools off and backs away. A guide listing the titles AND air dates for episodes of the TV series Gimme a Break!. ", "Gimme a Break! Several spin-offs were considered by producing pilot episodes during the series run. 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. 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. The series starred Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief (Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters. Dolph Sweet and Nell Carter both died young. Personally I'd kept Gimme a break on forever or even three more seasons. The series starred Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief ( Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters. And there was also occasional humorous interplay with the Chief's children and their grandfather, as well as with some of the early guest. Unlike movies which appear once, it's hard to rate a TV show since you're dealing with dozens of episodes and several seasons. on DVD in Canada between 2006-07. [1], Main article: List of Gimme a Break! Alvernette Jiminez who portrayed Nell's friend Angie during the early years said Nell was rude to her and didn't treat her well. 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 had moved in with her other daughter and son-in-law, who also recently moved to New York and was a TV weatherman. Everyone called Carl "Chief" or "Daddy" except for his parents and brother who called him by his first name. Sweet died in 1985, at age 64, while the show was still in production. 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. Nell Carter was the only cast member to appear in every episode. Like Laura Jill Miller previously, Joey Lawrence was getting older. The series was taped at Metromedia Square in Hollywood before a studio audience. aired 137 episodes over six seasons, with its finale airing on May 12, 1987. She and Max Green (Don Rickles) catch an orphaned girl named Danny stealing money and food. A real romance developed between Kari Michaelson and Andy Gibb when he guest starred. She tries to steal food from Max's fridge and may leave on the run, yet Max catches her. Nell Carter, Jonathan Silverman, Joey Lawrence, and Matthew Lawrence all play characters named after themselves. In this episode, she was a busy body on a hospital pay phone. 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. Telma Hopkins Many Jews from the entertainment industry are buried here. Everyone was ideally cast, the costume design was great. Nell Carter's debut on television was not this show but Cindy; a TV movie which was a 1978 black musical satire of Cinderella. Why Did People In Old Hollywood Talk Funny. 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. to his question about how she'd think her mother would react if she knew her daughter had been arrested. Gimme A Break was in the sitcom line-up, on NBC in the 80s. Gimme a Break! 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. 52 - Minutes needed for No.19 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova to defeat Ysaline Bonaventure 6-2, 6-1, the quickest match of the first . 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. For other uses, see. 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! 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). We heart living like a star. 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. The creators of the show were Mort Lachman and Sy Rosen. 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. Contents 1 Cast 1.1 Main characters 1.2 Recurring characters Their business is recorded as REGISTERED TRADE NAME. Michaelson would binge, purge, and fast. She says "I'm so glad we're all past that image of the black woman as an Aunt Jemima." One of the only TV shows in the history of television to feature a Polish family as its centerpiece. 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. Laurie Hendler on the other hand, was upset and caught by surprise because she had recently purchased a new house. Nell agreed, so as a favor to Margaret she moved into the Kanisky home and took over motherly duties. Gimme a Break! 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. 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. 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. NBC president Brandon Tartikoff had a lot of faith in Nell Carter and thought she had potential to become a breakout star. ' talents and cherish them for all time a hand on his kids before Landsburg Productions ( as. Are held by NBC Universal Television Distribution, the costume design was great the performers... 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