Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Comedy
    Comedy TV Shows - 1980s 2 Mins Read

    Gimme A Break

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 8 1 – 1 9 8 7 (USA)
    137 x 30 minute episodes

    Fresh from Broadway and her Tony Award-winning performance in the musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, Nell Carter starred in this comedy as Nellie Ruth Harper, a singer who cuts short her musical career to keep house for the crusty but lovable, widowed police chief, Carl Kanisky (Dolph Sweet).

    gimmeabreak2The series revolved around their shared problems in keeping law and order over Carl’s three troublesome young daughters, Katie, Julie and Sam. Because Nell Carter was a heavy-set woman, lots of good-natured fat jokes prevailed.

    Nell was built like a medicine ball and emphasised her lines by tossing her enormous torso from side to side.

    In an exchange with Carl, she would punctuate a putdown by ramming her formidable bustline into his chest (and considering the size of his belly, this was quite a feat).

    Dolph Sweet died of cancer in May 1985, shortly after filming the fourth season’s final instalment. His place as “man of the house” was taken by Jonathan Maxwell (Jonathan Silverman), who had married Julie (Lauri Hendler).

    Joey Donovan, an orphan, had joined the cast in 1983, and when Katie and Julie left the show at the end of the fifth season, Nell moved to New York with Joey and Grandpa and her best friend Addy.

    By then, the series was so far removed from its original premise that it lasted only one more season.

    The 23 February 1985 episode was presented ‘live to air’ – a rare event by that stage on television. It was mostly a gimmick to generate interest in the series, whose popularity had begun to fade.

    The show’s theme was sung by Nell Carter herself. Sadly, Nell collapsed and died of natural causes in her Beverly Hills home on Thursday, 23 January 2003. She was just 54 years old.

    Nellie Ruth “Nell” Harper 
    Nell Carter
    Chief Carl Kanisky 

    Dolph Sweet
    Julie Kanisky/Maxwell 

    Lauri Hendler
    Katie Kanisky 

    Kari Michaelson
    Samantha Kanisky 

    Lara Jill Miller
    Jonathan Maxwell 

    Jonathan Silverman
    Officer Ralph Simpson 

    Howard Morton
    Grandpa Stanley Kanisky 

    John Hoyt
    Grandma Mildred Kanisky 

    Jane Dulo
    Uncle Ed 

    Pete Schrum
    Joey Donovan

    Joey Lawrence
    Addy Wilson 

    Thelma Hopkins
    Matthew Donovan 

    Matthew Lawrence
    Marty/Esteban 

    Paul Sand
    Maybelle Harper 

    Rosetta LeNoire
    Maggie O’Brien 

    Rosie O’Donnell

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Carter Country
      Carter Country
      1 9 7 7 - 1 9 7 9 (USA) 12 x 30 minute episodes This US sitcom was set in…
    • Lobo
      Lobo
      1 9 7 9 - 1 9 8 1 (USA) 37 x 60 minute episodes Claude Akins starred as Sheriff Elroy P.…
    • Mickey Rooney Show, The (Hey Mulligan)
      Mickey Rooney Show, The (Hey Mulligan)
      1 9 5 4 - 1 9 5 5 (USA) 34 x 30 minute episodes Mickey Mulligan (Mickey Rooney) is a…
    • Fear, The
      Fear, The
      1 9 8 8 (UK) 5 x 60 minute episodes Set in the high-energy style-conscious London of the 1980s, The Fear depicts…
    • You Take The Kids
      You Take The Kids
      1 9 9 0 - 1 9 9 1 (USA) This short-lived CBS comedy about a blue-collar family living in Pittsburgh's…
    • Circus Of The Stars
      Circus Of The Stars
      1 9 7 7 - 1 9 9 4 (USA) 19 x 60 minute episodes Circus of the Stars was…
    • When The Whistle Blows
      When The Whistle Blows
      1 9 8 0 (USA) 10 x 60 minute episodes This short-lived ABC comedy featured a gang of young Los Angeles…
    • On The Up
      On The Up
      1 9 9 0 - 1 9 9 2 (UK) 19 x 30 minute episodes Tony Carpenter (Dennis Waterman) is a…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleSeven Of One
    Next Article I Didn’t Know You Cared

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Kate Smith Hour, The
      1 9 5 0 – 1 9 5 4 (USA) 854 x 60 minute episodes Kate […]
    • Holding On
      1 9 9 7 (UK) 8 x 60 minute episodes Holding On followed various […]
    • Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour, The
      1 9 7 8 (USA) 5 x 60 minute episodes William Hanna and Joseph […]
    • Brinsley Schwarz
      It’s a tad unfair that Brinsley Schwarz became a global […]
    • Orchard End Murder, The (1980)
      Pauline Cox (Tracy Hyde, former child star of 1971’s […]
    • Girls Just Want To Have Fun (1985)
      American teen flicks are never short of clichés, and this […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64442824 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Television frontman Tom Verlaine dies at 73

    www.bbc.co.uk

    His band rose to fame in the 1970s New York punk scene, scoring UK hits including Marquee Moon.
    20 hours ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64418847 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mr Blobby costume sells for more than £62,000 on eBay

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The character, made famous by BBC show Noel's House Party, had been in storage since the 1990s.
    2 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Put some beefiness into your mid-week menu with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the Radio Times on 30 September 1965.

    Put some "beefiness into your mid-week menu" with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the "Radio Times" on 30 September 1965. ... See MoreSee Less

    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    They were awful. An overpowering savoury flavour that lingered in your mouth for hours. Heaven knows what unmentionable parts of a bull went into making them 😳

    More sad news 😪

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    US rock legend David Crosby dies aged 81

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Crosby, who co-founded both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, had been ill for some time.
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened? 

All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened?

    All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 54
    • Shares: 22
    • Comments: 7

    Comment on Facebook

    I thought we would have moving pavements by now when I was a kid 😂

    Totally agree!!!

    The new Tesla, 4.6 next century.

    We got transvestite story hour instead

    We appear to be going backwards

    There's actually a very good David Graeber essay on this very topic: thebaffler.com/salvos/of-flying-cars-and-the-declining-rate-of-profit

    The Jetsons strike again.

    View more comments

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

    nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    That is so sad to hear 😥 rest in peace 🙏 🕊 xx

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    😍😍😍😍

    Vale Jeff Beck. Dead at 78. 😢

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Jeff Beck: British guitar legend dies aged 78

    www.bbc.co.uk

    One of rock's most influential guitarists, he was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Hi everyone. Were in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes.

    Hi everyone. We're in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes. ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 5
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    Ironically, this post has jumped off the page at me. You'll probably get most traffic today because everyone will want to see what they might be missing!

    Martin Platt

    RIP Fred White, drummer with Earth, Wind and Fire, who has died aged 67. 😢

    RIP Fred White, drummer with Earth, Wind and Fire, who has died aged 67. 😢 ... See MoreSee Less

    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Great band

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.