Lost College Grad

"Remember that Show: Gimme A Break"

Well Happy Valentines Day or just Happy Tuesday to others, hey it’s Tuesday that means it’s time for another “Remember that Show” blog, what will I write about today? Hmm… Can you tell I’m not prepared today?

Wait I got it!

Hold on one second…

Ok music ready?

Yes.

Ok cue that theme song:

Gimme A Break, I sure deserve it.It's time I made it to the top.Gimme A Break, I'm looking forward, Get behind me, pull out every stop.
I want a happy ending, I'm tired of pretending,Won't let 'em get the best of me.Whoa whoa whoa,
Gimme A Break! The game is survival!Gimme A Break, and plan my arrival!Gimme A Break for heaven's sake!What happened to my piece of the cake?
Gimme A Break!Gimme A Break!Oh Gimme A Break!Gimme A Break!Hey Gimme A Break!

In case you couldn’t tell from the song welcome to Tuesday February 14, 2006 and “Remember that Show: Gimme A Break.”

Yes this NBC show ran from 1981-1987, now I was born in ’81 and I really just remember the later years of the show and the shows that are in syndication for years after. This show also shifted locations and was still able to survive.

The original plot was about a black housekeeper maintaining order of the home of a portly white police chief in this old-fashioned comedy set in the fictional town of Glen Lawn, California. 

Policeman Carl's beloved wife Margaret had died only months before, leaving him with three, winsome daughters, ranging in age from cute grade-schooler to troublesome teen.  Wisecracks and fat jokes abounded, but there was a lot of love as Nell tried to be friend and surrogate mother to the clan.  Officer Simpson was a dopey police officer who was frequently seen, and Joey was a six-year-old orphan and junior-grade hustler who joined the household in the third season.

The Character of Joey was Joey Lawrence of “Blossom” fame. Like WHOA! Sorry had to do that.  Then after the ’84 season actor Dolph Sweet had died leaving the show without a police chief.

So it was time for a change.

Nell Carters character of Nell Harper became caretaker of all the kids. So she was essentially mother and father to them. The new man of the house was Jonathan, who was played by Jonathan Silverman, anyone remember him. He had a short-lived sitcom on NBC a while back.

Any who, as the girls grew up and things changed once again. Nell takes Joey and Grandpa and her best friend Addy to New York where the show was set for its last few seasons.

There they discovered Joey's irresponsible father Tim, who turned over Joey's younger brother Matthew (played by Joey Lawrence's real-life brother) and departed, adding a second child to the shifting household.  Marty was Nell's nutty New York landlord, who also owned the restaurant El Gaspacho downstairs, where he put on a phony Spanish accent and called himself "Esteban". Also a new buddy was added to the mix for Nell the character of Maggie O’Brien, who was played by Rosie O’Donnell.

Lot’s of people appeared in this show who we heard about through out the 1990’s. “Gimme A Break” was a great show with a great leading character. Unfortunately Nell Carter is no longer with us but she was one funny lady.

Ok I know the last sentence was kind of sad, but had to write it.

That’s it for this week.

Until next week!

Later Days!

posted by iBlog Stuff Blogger @ 2/14/2006 12:33:00 PM