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. One of the only TV shows in the history of television to feature a Polish family as its centerpiece. Nell and the Kanisky family lived at 2938 Wells Drive. Nell Carter was deemed difficult to work with most of the time. Visual Entertainment released the first two seasons of Gimme a Break!' On May 12, 1987, "Gimme a Break" was cancelled after 6 seasons and 137 episodes. 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). The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief (Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters. A foster son, Joey (Joey Lawrence) was added in season 3. Hopkins appeared on many Motown hits and worked with legendary acts like the Four Tops and Marvin Gaye. The writers wrote a two part backdoor pilot towards the end of the sixth season titled Parent's Weeks. 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. It was a sitcom that ran for a total of 6 seasons and consisted of 137 episodes. I was born in 1978. 1,041. 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. However, another good one that I think deserves mentioning is Hazel Shermet. [14], This article is about the television series. They should of had a Gimme a Break reunion movie. GIMME A BREAK (Entity Number: 1260888) was incorporated on 10/12/2001 in Ohio. Hazel,The Nanny, Mr. Belvedere, Benson,and Family Affair. Alpha House. A real romance developed between Kari Michaelson and Andy Gibb when he guest starred. Privacy Policy. 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. 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. "There ain't no Julio here!" 'Gimme A Break'!And Get This Travesty off the Tube. In addition, she said Nell was also unhappy with the script for that week. The network deemed Gimme a Break! When they brought the character back in season 2 she was replaced with actress Bonnie Urseth. At the end of the first episode of the fifth season, the picture fades of the Chief slowly, with no applause from the audience. When the two are arguing, Katie makes a snide remark about why she thinks her father wanted her to take the test, prompting him to warn her to stop, and when she presses on, he takes off his belt and chases after her. 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. How long ago Margaret died. I vaguely remember the theme song. usually managed to land in the Top 40 during its first four seasons. Parker said he was always most concerned on the effect Nell's intense mood swings could have on the kids on the show. Howard Morton's role on the show as Officer Simpson served no purpose anymore with The Chief gone. 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. premiered on NBC from October 29, 1981, and aired its final episode on May 12, 1987. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Given some supportive scripts, Miss Carter and Mr. Sweet could insure a good run for this series.[6]. 15 were here. She's in the "White Boys/Black Boys" number with Night Court (1984)'s Ellen Foley. Sammy Davis, Jr. made an appearance on this show, and did duets with Nell and Joey. For other uses, see. 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. The boss, Mr. Pappalardo, fires Tyler, and Nell realizes she didn't lose her purse after all, making Mr. Papallardo re-hire him. Parker was completely bewildered regarding the fallout. One of the producers saw him perform on The Johnny Carson Show and immediately wanted to add him as a cast member. In the series pilot, Katie is arrested for shoplifting. Two episodes were particularly noteworthy. This show is in syndication on Antenna Tv and the episodes are on YouTube . 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. Date of birth. Reruns have also aired nationally on WWOR EMI Service and USA. #80s Began in 1981, ran 6 seasons & 137 episodes. The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons Ever! Rosetta LeNoire took over the role during the show's fourth season. 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. Grandma Kanisky was portrayed by three different actresses Elvia Allman, Elizabeth Kerr, and Jane Dulo. Gimme a Break! Over its run, the series used two different theme songs. Interestingly, being outrageous was the reason many critics hated the show. is an American sitcom which aired on NBC from October 29, 1981, until May 12, 1987. It was basic fare for a sitcom, featuring the cute kids, family values, and little lessons learned at the end of each episode. When producers Hal Cooper and Rod Parker took over the show in Season 3 there many changes that occurred. It came to a natural end with Tom moving away to be in Crossroads, but as we all know, that too has died on its arse so I. Originally, Nell's mother supported her dream of being a singer, but later became a shrill woman who never had faith in her. 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. In the episode "Nell's Friend" Addy talks about the progress of Black Women in modern American society. The producers wanted a foil for Nell to interact with instead of just solving the girls problems. Very good show that was one of many throughout TV sitcom history that revolved around a housekeeper/butler. GIMME A BREAK! Nell Carter, 54, the Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress and singer best remembered for her role as the motherly, no-nonsense housekeeper on NBCs hit 1980s series Gimme a Break!, died Thursday at her home in Beverly Hills, the Associated Press reports. 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, . 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. 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. With Nell Carter, Dolph Sweet, Kari Michaelsen, Lauri Hendler. Most series that I like or love were usually made before I was born, and whenever I was old enough to understand the series. 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. But the show belong to Nell Carter who was a joy to watch. He is survived by his wife of eleven years and son from his first marriage. Tubi acquired all seasons of the show as of February 1, 2022. In Season 6, actors were only shown in the opening credits for episodes in which they appeared. The performances were top-grade, too. 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 says "Damn! The show has been in syndication since 1985. I would be very interested in what anyone here thinks of it. 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's character went back to school to get her diploma and starting taking college courses in child psychology. Give her a break! 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. Another episode that aired earlier in the 198485 season, "Baby of the Family", ranked No. KARI MICHAELSEN Advertisement The '80s was a great decade for young Kari Michaelsen. 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. NBC president Brandon Tartikoff had a lot of faith in Nell Carter and thought she had potential to become a breakout star. For the final season, the show underwent a Retool, with most of the cast (minus the older Kanisky daughters) moving to New York City. Contents 1 Premise 2 Cast 2.1 Main characters 2.2 Recurring characters 3 Episodes 4 Production information 5 Broadcast history A foster son, Joey (Joey Lawrence) was added in Season 3. 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. January 23, 2003 In an interview Carter gave for O'Donnell's E! Joey's father was portrayed by two different actors Fred McCarren and Patrick Collins (I). Gimme A Break was in the sitcom line-up, on NBC in the 80s. I used to watch this show when I was a little girl. Nell started singing more, Nell's frumpy and unflattering wardrobe, hair and makeup was upgraded to more glamorous and stylish. The original third child was a red-headed boy named Matthew, as seen in the original pilot. The 1981 TV Guide Fall Preview used this pilot, as the basis for their description of the show. He died 4 years after the show went off the air. Telma Hopkins 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. He threatens to spank Samantha, though it doesn't happen. Altered Carbon. Rue McClanahan is listed in the opening credits along with the other regulars even though shes only a guest star. 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. I was very young when it originally aired. Laurie Hendler on the other hand, was upset and caught by surprise because she had recently purchased a new house. John Hoyt died in 1991, six years after his on-screen son died. It's that easy! A very young Joey Lawrence also appeared in it as a young street-hustler-turned-foster-kid-for-the-family. It was warm, funny, and presented many contemporary topics that modern families struggle with, such as teen sex, drugs, alcoholism, dating, etc. He was funny, and changed as the show went on, from the senile old goat to a wise old man. I am sure if Nell Carter hadn't passed away, they would be bringing this show back. This was also the title of a song by Tony Orlando & Dawn, of which Telma Hopkins was a member. When the show went to New York, it was wasn't the same show anymore.". Grandpa (John Hoyt) starts off season 1 as almost deaf and very senile. The two made peace in 1997 when Rosie had her hit talk show which lasted for six seasons. NBC canceled the series in the spring of 1987. 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. Telma Hopkins felt the show lost its ground quickly when they made all the changes in the sixth season. The episode aired three days after he died. "Baby of the Family" had a resentful and jealous Samantha dressing up Joey in black face for a performance at Nell's black church, to get even with Nell for ignoring her. All rights reserved. The show followed Nell Harper, the housekeeper to Carl Kanisky and his three teenage daughters, Katie, Julie, and Sam. FremantleMedia owns the international rights, as they own Thames Television, which acquired Alan Landsburg Productions and Reeves Entertainment Group product in 1990. 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. One episode has Katie hospitalized when her I.U.D. Age, September 13, 1948 According to Telma Hopkins, Nell Carter was devastated when the show was canceled and was an emotional wreck at the wrap party. We heart all thing in the Entertainment field. The seniors and the youths work together to have their dance. But in the pilot, he slapped Katie, so that was not true. One of the episodes is called "Knock Three Times". To each their own though. Gimme a Break! And there was also occasional humorous interplay with the Chief's children and their grandfather, as well as with some of the early guest. New Release. Universal Studios Home Entertainment released a three-disc DVD of the complete first season of Gimme a Break! 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). Answer (1 of 2): A2A When Gimme A Break started out it was mildly funny. The fish died in the first episode, and kept coming back in subsequent episodes. So three different actors were cast in the role of the youngest Kanisky child; a boy and two girls. However, if you ask me, it was still a good show. She revealed an incident where the cast was in the lunchroom doing a reading of the script and Joey and Matthew Lawrence's mother Donna Lawrence started making her way into the room and Nell Carter yelled across the room at the boys mother to get out and inappropriately called her the "c-word slur" right in front of the two brothers who were in the room when the incident happen. / Nell Carter was interred in Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California. Alphas. Nell Carter, who plays the housekeeper for police Chief Carl Kanisky on ''Gimme a Break,'' will eulogize Sweet . Ambitions. This sitcom centers on a housekeeper played by Nell Carter. NBC president Brandon Tartikoff had a lot of faith in Nell Carter and thought she had potential to become a breakout star. In 2009, VEI announced that they plan on releasing the entire series in a complete series box set in 2010. The series also had to address the real-life death of costar Dolph Sweet. I understand that they had Katie,Julie,Jonathan and baby Nelle exit. And as much as they tried to make it work, there were just things missing. 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. Houston played Rita, a friend of Katie Kanisky (Kari Michaelsen). Addy got a job in New York City, so Nell, Grandpa and Joey came to New York to join her. Carter would binge eat. Dolph Sweet's final episode aired May 11, 1985, three days after he died. Carl has to deal with the aftermath of shooting a man dead. Like the episodes "Nell and the Kid" and "The Center", this episode does not rely on any Gimme A Break! 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. Carter had begun experimenting with cocaine while in the cast of Aint Misbehavin The American syndication rights are held by NBC Universal Television Distribution, the successor company to original syndication MCA Television. / [11] VEI released Gimme a Break! The Complete Series on DVD in Canada on July 20, 2010. "The day it was announced we had an MBA class and the topic was corporate culture. She played one of the wicked stepsisters. Early in her career, singer Whitney Houston made her acting debut in a non-singing role the Season 3 episode Katie's College. Hopkins portrayed Addy Wilson, a longtime childhood best friend of Nell and a Ph.D graduate. The second spin-off attempt from Gimme a Break occurred at the end of season three in 1984 during the episode "The Center". 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. Everyone was ideally cast, the costume design was great. Nell Carter and Rosie O'Donnell never got along in the final season of the show. 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. In "Julie Smokes", after slapping Julie, Carl says he had never laid a hand on his kids before. Sadly Dolph Sweet passed away during the 3rd season but the show was able to continue thanks to a stellar cast including the 3 daughters Katie, Samantha, and Julie (Kari Michaelsen, Lara Jill Miller and Lauri Hendler) also Silver screen legend John Hoyt as Grandpa Stanley, Howard Morton as the lovable but bumbling Officer Simpson as well as Thelma Hopkins as Addie and Joey Lawrence round out the cast. The Chief's brother, to a degree. She had been in rehearsals for ''Raisin,'' a musical adaptation of the play ''A Raisin in the Sun . (a Titles & Air Dates Guide) . Producer Rod Parker expressed that it was difficult decision to let the girls go . FremantleMedia owns the international rights, as they own Thames Television, which acquired Reeves Entertainment Group in 1990. She famously shouted, "Shut your mouth!" The new theme has similarities to the first but with a more positive attitude. She estimated that at the height of her addiction, she was spending $1000 to $2000 or more a day on drugs. She can do it all sing, dance and act. The cast addition of Joey Lawrence's younger brother Matthew Lawrence in the final season, was forced on the producers and ordered from NBC to preserve the cuteness factor. (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 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. Tracey Gold was originally tapped to play Samantha, but at the last moment was replaced by Lara Jill Miller. Contents 1 Cast 1.1 Main characters 1.2 Recurring characters Kari Michaelsen and Lauri Hendler returned for the Season Six episode Sam Goes to College at the beginning of Season Six despite leaving the show the previous season. 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. Nell Carter portraying Nell Harper was awesome. The first two seasons use a different theme than the later seasons. Miller also expressed in the same interview that she felt the producers made a big mistake getting rid of the daughters and implied that the decision came from the girls receiving less story-lines starting around the fourth season and more emphasis being put on Nell Carter and Thelma Hopkins. Although not noted on several Gimme A Break! 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. Taking the job in honor of the man's late wife, who was also Nell's friend, the housekeeper becomes a surrogate mother to the girls and a confidant . I was 9 years old in 1981 when this show debuted. 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. Kanisky was portrayed by three different actresses Elvia Allman, Elizabeth Kerr, and family Affair sitcom history that around! By Tony Orlando & Dawn, of which Telma hopkins felt the show followed Nell Harper, the housekeeper Carl. 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