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Nell Carter had a stormy relationship with ''Gimme a Break!'''s original producers Coleman Mitchell and Geoffrey Neigher, which involved personality conflicts and creative differences.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} The uneasy interaction heightened as the show's success grew heavily in the early seasons, so much that Mitchell and Neigher were dismissed from the show at the behest of Carter just prior to the start of the 1983–84 season. Mort Lachman, the show's co-creator, was retained as co-producer (he would serve in this role for all six seasons). 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]]''. 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 Carter had a stormy relationship with ''Gimme a Break!'''s original producers Coleman Mitchell and Geoffrey Neigher, which involved personality conflicts and creative differences.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} The uneasy interaction heightened as the show's success grew heavily in the early seasons, so much that Mitchell and Neigher were dismissed from the show at the behest of Carter just prior to the start of the 1983–84 season. Mort Lachman, the show's co-creator, was retained as co-producer (he would serve in this role for all six seasons). 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]]''. 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.


During the summer 1984 hiatus, [[Dolph Sweet]] underwent stomach surgery, which was revealed shortly after to be the first extensive treatment for [[cancer]]. During the 1984–85 season, Sweet's health went into serious condition as the cancer further spread through the inside of his body. Producers found it difficult to keep him on-screen due to his condition, but Sweet insisted on working as much as possible in order to help with the serious condition of his illness. Sweet died on May 8, 1985, after taping had been completed on season four. As the next season opened, the character of Carl Kanisky was written out as having died, with the season premiere ("Joey's Train") centering around the family's coming to terms with the loss. The Chief's bedroom had remained untouched and unused for a period after his death, and everyone avoided going into it, until mounting grief and sorrow caused Joey to set up his new train, that the Chief had bought him just before he died, in the room. Nell, Katie, and Julie were over Joey disobeying their wish not to use the Chief's room, until they were finally affected by Stanley and Addy's ongoing point that the family was avoiding their feelings.
During the summer 1984 hiatus, [[Dolph Sweet]] underwent stomach surgery, which was revealed shortly after to be the first extensive treatment for [[cancer]]. During the 1984–85 season, Sweet's health went into serious condition as the cancer further spread through the inside of his body. Producers found it difficult to keep him on-screen due to his condition, but Sweet insisted on working as much as possible in order to help with the serious condition of his illness. Sweet died on May 8, 1985, after taping had been completed on season four. As the next season opened, the character of Carl Kanisky was written out as having died (the implication is that he died in the line of duty), with the season premiere ("Joey's Train") centering around the family's coming to terms with the loss. The Chief's bedroom had remained untouched and unused for a period after his death, and everyone avoided going into it, until mounting grief and sorrow caused Joey to set up his new train, that the Chief had bought him just before he died, in the room. Nell, Katie, and Julie were over Joey disobeying their wish not to use the Chief's room, until they were finally affected by Stanley and Addy's ongoing point that the family was avoiding their feelings.


With the Chief's death, Nell became the head of the household in season 5. Officer Simpson, who remained a friend of the family after the death of his friend, stayed for another season. Julie and Jonathan, who were now living in the Chief's old room, found out they were expecting; their daughter, whom they named after Nell, was born before season's end.
With the Chief's death, Nell became the head of the household in season 5. Officer Simpson, who remained a friend of the family after the death of his friend, stayed for another season. Julie and Jonathan, who were now living in the Chief's old room, found out they were expecting; their daughter, whom they named after Nell, was born before season's end.

Revision as of 01:11, 12 August 2013

This article is about the television series. For other uses, see Give Me a Break (disambiguation).
Gimme a Break!
GenreSitcom
Created byMort Lachman
Sy Rosen
Directed byJohn Bowab
Hal Cooper
Jim Drake
Linda Day
Dick Harwood
Jules Lichtman
Will Mackenzie
Patrick Maloney
Phil Ramuno
Tony Singletary
Oz Scott
Howard Storm
StarringNell Carter
Dolph Sweet
Lara Jill Miller
Lauri Hendler
Kari Michaelsen
Howard Morton
John Hoyt
Joey Lawrence
Telma Hopkins
Jonathan Silverman
Rosetta LeNoire
Matthew Lawrence
Paul Sand
Rosie O'Donnell
Theme music composerJay Graydon
Opening theme"Gimme a Break" performed by Nell Carter
ComposerBob Christianson
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes137 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersHal Cooper
Mort Lachman
Rod Parker
ProducersArthur Julian
Coleman Mitchell
Geoffrey Neigher
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companiesAlan Landsburg Productions (1981–1985)
Reeves Entertainment Group (1985–1987)
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseOctober 29, 1981 (1981-10-29) –
May 12, 1987 (1987-05-12)

Gimme a Break! is an American sitcom which aired on NBC from October 29, 1981, until May 12, 1987. The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief (Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters.

Premise

The sitcom took place in Glenlawn, a fictional Los Angeles suburb. Nellie Ruth "Nell" Harper (Nell Carter) 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). Nell also served as a parent to the Chief's three daughters, Katie (Kari Michaelsen), Julie (Lauri Hendler), and Samantha (Lara Jill Miller). A foster son, Joey (Joey Lawrence), was added in season 3.

Over the six-year run, a number of celebrities appeared on the show, including singers Whitney Houston, Andy Gibb, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Ray Parker Jr.. In some of these episodes, the guest would eventually perform a song with Nell. During the third season, Pat Sajak guest-starred as himself when Nell and her friend Addy (Telma Hopkins) were contestants on Wheel of Fortune.

Two episodes were particularly noteworthy. 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. An earlier episode (from the 1984–85 season), "Baby of the Family," ranked No. 38 on TV Land's list of "The 100 Most Unexpected TV Moments"; it depicted Joey dressing and performing in blackface at Nell's church benefit at Sam's behest after Nell forbade her to go on an unchaperoned camping trip.[1]

Cast

Main characters

  • Nell Carter as Nellie Ruth "Nell" Harper. Nell was a singer who ran away from her Alabama home when she was 18. She met Margaret Kanisky and promised to look after her family after she had died from cancer. Nell had the role of housekeeper/mother and remained in the series for the entire 6-year run. She became a foster mother to Joey Donovan in season 3. Nell moved to Greenwich Village in New York in season 6 with Joey and Addy. In season 6, she worked as an assistant-editor for a publishing company.
  • Dolph Sweet as Police Chief Carl "Chief" Kanisky (Seasons 1–4). Police Chief Carl Kanisky, known as "The Chief" was a widower with three daughters. After Dolph Sweet's death on May 8, 1985, it was explained that the Chief had died in the first episode of the fifth season and the show continued with Nell as head of the household.
  • Kari Michaelsen as Kathleen "Katie" Kanisky (Seasons 1–5). Chief Carl Kanisky's eldest, Katie was the typical "blonde" of the family. She decided not to go to college and opened a boutique called Katie's Korner. After her boutique went out of business, she got a job in San Francisco and left the series after season 5. Her last appearance was the first episode of season 6.
  • Lauri Hendler as Julie Kanisky Maxwell (Seasons 1–5). The Chief's middle daughter was the family "brain." She married Jonathan Maxwell at the end of season 4 and became pregnant in season 5. In the season 6 premiere, Nell Maxwell was born and the new 3-member Maxwell family moved to San Jose and left the series.
  • Lara Jill Miller as Samantha "Sam" Kanisky (Seasons 1–5, recurring in season 6). The Chief's youngest daughter began as a typical tomboy and developed into a boy-crazy teenager. She moved to New Jersey to go to college and had a recurring role in season 6.
  • Joey Lawrence as Joey Donovan (Seasons 3–6), who eventually became Nell and the Chief's foster son; before that he had been working as a con artist to raise money to join his uncle in Chicago. Later Joey became a key cast member. His father Tim Donovan appeared on the show in New Orleans and in New York. Joey met his little brother and moved in with Tim at the beginning of season 6 but soon afterwards was reunited with Nell and lived with her and Addy in New York.
  • Howard Morton as Officer Ralph Waldo Simpson (Seasons 3–5, previously recurring). A dopey but lovable police officer who worked with Carl.
  • John Hoyt as Stanley "Grandpa" Kanisky (Seasons 3–6, previously recurring). Carl's crusty but lovable Polish immigrant father. After his wife died, Grandpa Kanisky came to live with his son and granddaughters in season 3. In season 6 he moved to New York, into the same building as Nell.
  • Telma Hopkins as Dr. Adelaide "Addy" Wilson (Seasons 4–6, previously recurring). Nell's childhood friend, Ph.D. and a Phi Beta Kappa, Addy was university advisor and later moved to New York; Nell eventually joined her there. Although Nell and Addy were friends, they were also constantly clashing.
  • Jonathan Silverman as Jonathan Maxwell (Season 5, previously recurring). Julie's husband, pizza-delivery man and archeology student. Jonathan went to Mexico on a dig for 3 months. After season 5, Jonathan, Julie, and their new baby left for San Jose.
  • Rosetta LeNoire as Maybelle "Mama Maybelle" Harper (Season 6, previously recurring). In 1982 and 1983 the character was soft-spoken and named Emma. (LeNoire's character was stern, bitter and critical of Nell.)
  • Paul Sand as Marty (Season 6). The landlord of the building Nell, Addy, Joey, and Matthew lived in and owner of the adjacent restaurant "La Gaspacho." While at the restaurant, he went by the name of Esteban.
  • Rosie O'Donnell as Maggie O'Brien (Season 6). Nell's dental-hygienist neighbor in New York.
  • Matthew Lawrence as Matthew Donovan (Season 6). Joey's little brother.

Recurring characters

  • Alvernette Jimenez as Angie MacDowell. Nell's tall, skinny, and dim-witted friend, the typical airhead. Angie's character was eventually written out of the show, but appeared in several episodes between seasons 1 and 4.
  • Jane Dulo as Mildred Kanisky (née Wuchetzky). Stanley Kanisky's wife, Carl's mother. Also played by Elvia Allman in "Katie the Cheat" and Elizabeth Kerr in "Grandma Fools Around". Jane Dulo played the role in season 2. Her character died leaving Stanley a widower in season 3.
  • Pete Schrum as Ed Kanisky, Carl's brother, an overweight mortician who loved to play practical jokes. Ed was recurring in seasons 1 and 2, then got married and was written out of the series.
  • Patrick Collins as Tim Donovan. Joey and Matthew's father was a merchant seaman. Joey reunited with Tim in New Orleans in season 4 (when Tim was played by Fred McCarren). Joey went to live with Tim and Matthew in the beginning of season 6 when Tim decided to get a job in New York. After realizing he couldn't handle a 9-to-5 job, Tim decided he wanted to go back to sea and Joey returned to Nell and Addy along with Matthew.
  • Jack Fletcher as Erwin J. Swackhammer. During the 1982–83 season, the family contended with this man who would annoy the Kanisky household in various ways. Most notably when he was the manager of the telephone company and had Nell arrested and jailed. After 5 episodes, Swackhammer disappeared with no explanation.

Episodes

Main article: List of Gimme a Break! episodes

Production information

The show was produced by Alan Landsburg Productions, whose successor-in-interest, Reeves Entertainment Group, took over production in 1985. The American syndication rights are held by NBC Universal Television Distribution, the successor company to original syndication MCA Television and 20th Century Fox Television. FremantleMedia owns the international rights, as they own Thames Television, which acquired Alan Landsburg Productions and Reeves Entertainment Group product in 1990. The creators of the show were Mort Lachman and Sy Rosen. Today, 20th Century Fox Television will be added on the sitcoms of Gimme A Break!

Carter performed the lyrics in both versions of the theme song. The original version was used for the first two seasons and was replaced with an up-tempo rearrangement with new lyrics for season three onward.

Broadcast history

Later developments

Nell Carter had a stormy relationship with Gimme a Break!'s original producers Coleman Mitchell and Geoffrey Neigher, which involved personality conflicts and creative differences.[citation needed] The uneasy interaction heightened as the show's success grew heavily in the early seasons, so much that Mitchell and Neigher were dismissed from the show at the behest of Carter just prior to the start of the 1983–84 season. Mort Lachman, the show's co-creator, was retained as co-producer (he would serve in this role for all six seasons). 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. 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.

During the summer 1984 hiatus, Dolph Sweet underwent stomach surgery, which was revealed shortly after to be the first extensive treatment for cancer. During the 1984–85 season, Sweet's health went into serious condition as the cancer further spread through the inside of his body. Producers found it difficult to keep him on-screen due to his condition, but Sweet insisted on working as much as possible in order to help with the serious condition of his illness. Sweet died on May 8, 1985, after taping had been completed on season four. As the next season opened, the character of Carl Kanisky was written out as having died (the implication is that he died in the line of duty), with the season premiere ("Joey's Train") centering around the family's coming to terms with the loss. The Chief's bedroom had remained untouched and unused for a period after his death, and everyone avoided going into it, until mounting grief and sorrow caused Joey to set up his new train, that the Chief had bought him just before he died, in the room. Nell, Katie, and Julie were over Joey disobeying their wish not to use the Chief's room, until they were finally affected by Stanley and Addy's ongoing point that the family was avoiding their feelings.

With the Chief's death, Nell became the head of the household in season 5. Officer Simpson, who remained a friend of the family after the death of his friend, stayed for another season. Julie and Jonathan, who were now living in the Chief's old room, found out they were expecting; their daughter, whom they named after Nell, was born before season's end.

While never a powerhouse in the ratings, Gimme a Break! usually managed to land in the Top 40 during its first four seasons. However, because of Dolph Sweet's death, the ratings dropped during the fifth season. At this point, the producers were faced with a dilemma: either cancel the series or renew it for a sixth season with significant changes. At the start of the 1986–87 season, Katie moved to San Francisco; Julie, Jonathan, and baby Nell moved to San José; and Samantha attended college in New Jersey but visited occasionally in season 6. Addy got a job in New York City; when Nell, Grandpa, and Joey joined her 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. Their landlord was Marty (Paul Sand), who also owned a Mexican restaurant under the name "Esteban." Nell's Mama Maybelle (Rosetta LeNoire) had a recurring role in season 6 after previous guest appearances; she had moved in with her other daughter and TV-weatherman son-in-law, who had also recently moved to New York.

One of Nell and Addy's New York neighbors was young Maggie O'Brien, played by Rosie O'Donnell. O'Donnell later revealed that her initial excitement about being cast on a major primetime television show had very quickly turned to disappointment and downheartedness at feeling like most of the cast had snubbed her and treated her like an interloper. 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. In an interview Carter gave for O'Donnell's E! 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 kid actors will. Carter also said that she called other cast members by their character names for the same reason.

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). Gimme a Break was canceled in the spring of 1987.

Syndication

The show has been in off-network syndication since 1985. Reruns have also aired nationally on WWOR EMI Service and the USA Network .[2][3][4][5] Distribution rights are jointly owned by The Program Exchange, succeeding 20th Century Fox Television.

In May 2013 reruns of the series began airing on the American cable channel TV One.

DVD releases

United States

Universal Studios Home Entertainment released a three-disc DVD of the complete first season of Gimme a Break! on February 14, 2006, available in the United States only. The Complete Series is now available in the US.

Canada

Visual Entertainment released the first two seasons of Gimme a Break! on DVD in Canada between 2006-07. In 2009, VEI announced that they plan on releasing the entire series in a complete series box set in 2010.[6]

VEI released Gimme a Break! The Complete Series on DVD in Canada on July 20, 2010.[7]

UK/ Eire

Simply Media TV Ltd will be releasing a 3-disc DVD collection of the complete UK series and the 95-minute Christmas special. It will be released on the 20th September 2013 in the UK.

References

  1. ^ PRNewswire, "TV Guide and TV Land Join Forces To Count Down The 100 Most Unexpected TV Moments", December 1, 2005.[1] Accessed March 23, 2009.
  2. ^ The Intelligencer—September 30, 1991
  3. ^ The Intelligencer—December 31, 1993
  4. ^ TV Guide—September 20–27, 1997
  5. ^ TV Guide—September 5–11, 1998
  6. ^ Lambert, David (2009-10-02). "Gimme a Break! - A Fan Inquiry to Us on Facebook Leads to Some VERY Interesting New Information!". tvshowsondvd.com. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  7. ^ http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Gimme-Break-The-Complete-Series/13768

External links

Template:Must See TV Thursday

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