Gimme a Break! (1981): 15 Weird Facts You Didn’t Know

1. 

   @RememberWhenHQ

   January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

   Hey, be honest — did you stick with Gimme a Break! all the way to that sudden ending? No finale, no closure… just poof, gone. Wild times. What part of the show sticks with you most — Chief Kanisky, Joey’s big heart, or Nell’s powerhouse voice?
   Hit subscribe if you haven’t already, and share this with someone who still misses that Glenlawn family vibe.

   Check out more of our favorite nostalgic TV show Deep Dives here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRZTUGHHqdh6OxPqp3M0P1Q5DXSKME9ap

2. 

   @JackiePollard-rp3bq

   January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

   One of my surpising facts is learning Grandpa played one of the aliens in the episode of "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?" of The Twilight Zone

3. 

   @ScoobyDo-k8q

   January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

   Hii

4. 

   @Nader_61

   January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

   Completely forgot about this show! Great find/share!

5. 

   @hitman5159

   January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

   Your videos are better produced than the "copy cats". I remember seeing John Hoyt playing Nazi generals on "Hogan's Heroes. Jane Dulo played Grandma Kanisky in 8 episodes (1982-83). She was also Nurse Molly Turner on "McHale's Navy" and 99's mother on "Get Smart".

6. 

   @anthonymeans7439

   January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

   I loved Gimme A Break!

7. 

   @sha11235

   January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

   You can see a bit of Beverly Carlton in Stanley Kanisky.

8. 

   @sha11235

   January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

   Funny thing about Sam in season 6: The last two episodes she appears in when Nell visits her at college was a set up for how the show was going to be if they did a 7th season, with Sam returning full time and Nell there as a house mother at her college. But it didn't happen for different reasons.

9. 

   @sha11235

   January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

   I don't recall David W. Duclon working on Gimme a Break!

10. 

    @sha11235

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Right before Dolph Sweet did Gimme a Break! he was in an ABC show Where the Wind Blows. Sad he died during the run of Break.

11. 

    @Fac725

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Such accomplished lead actors 👏👏👏

12. 

    @RichardDouglasJones

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Did Nell ever wear pants?

13. 

    @lucyfuir6386

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    I almost ran over Nel Carter in Boston Around 2000. It was about 11 at night & raining. I was near downtown crossing and she jumped out into the street from between 2 cars with a kid. I jammed on my brakes and then she ran across the street. As I was thinking it my friend shouted that's Nel Carter. I rolled down the window and shouted Nel she turned around and waved before going into a closed restaurant that opened just for her.

14. 

    @scottbarnes6674

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    I liked when the girls said "Hi Nellie Ruth"

15. 

    @kittyblak393

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Omg, Whitney 😢❤⚘️

16. 

    @gqw7

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    I forgot how good this show was Thank you for this video 🎉

17. 

    @aAintThatGoodNews

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Awesome coverage Grew up on this show and loved it! Nell Carter was so underrated!

18. 

    @vennyvenus1

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    my favorite episode was "The Earthquake" episode where she gets caught in the basement of the public library when an earthquake happened and she got stuck down there with a woman who was deaf and only knew spanish.

19. 

    @guardurcircle

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    I loved this show.

20. 

    @vinnym5607

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    That synthy, new version of the theme is so much better. Would've loved a whole album of that.

21. 

    @vinnym5607

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    The Pointer Sisters in fat suits is wild because Donna Summer was in two episodes of "Family Matters" as an aunt of Urkel and in the first episode, she was in a fat suit.

22. 

    @Wesleyharris1977

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Dolph was really old to be a father. Also could be the girls grandfather.

    …and Nell Carter had such a powerful voice. Very funny too

23. 

    @galvatron435

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    ENJOYED the video

24. 

    @beansre2733

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Watching this was like watching my childhood for 30 minutes. Thanks❤

25. 

    @chrishanzek8930

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    The show was never the same after Dolph's passing.

26. 

    @a.b.s_productions

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    “Gimme A Break” was all over the place. Not the funniest show and Nell Carter sometimes over did it.

    Once the shows left Glenlawn for NYC there seemed like anyone off the street was joining the cast.

27. 

    @Lewisbrolive

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Bro… Thank you this was well done.

28. 

    @dalebaker959

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Nell Carter was a treasure! An amazing talent.

29. 

    @DragonflyJones-d7t

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    I forgot all about Gimme a Break…this video got me reminiscing now. I was a kid back then (born in 77) but I watched a lot of those classic 80’s and early 90’s sitcoms.

30. 

    @Easydread7

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    The episode where she puts rancid oil on the hamster wheel. First time I had ever heard that word.

31. 

    @ThundarBarBar

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    The show threw a second bone to Punky Brewster. There was an episode where Nell’s mom thought she was going blind and was attempting to be indignant about the implications saying that she was glad she wouldn’t have to see Punky Brewster on tv. Then later admits that she is actually afraid of the potential blindness and actually likes watching Punky Brewster.

32. 

    @clevershe8442

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Excellent show analysis that I didn't know I needed. I never knew there were so many accomplished entertainers on the show besides Nell Carter. I didn't watch the show while it was on but now I want to check out old episodes. Thanks for this.

33. 

    @tysonb3568

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Nell Carter was a national treasure! 🥲

34. 

    @FelishaMonique-w8h

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    I loved episodes with nell and her mom.

35. 

    @FelishaMonique-w8h

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    I admired her voice and showmanship. She was such a beautiful woman.

36. 

    @Hezekiah-dj3bm

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Gimme a break was an amazing show, and should be remembered properly🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😅😂

37. 

    @calliepeach6234

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    RIP Susie Garrett

38. 

    @newhorizonsforfifty2833

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Two memorable episodes: the one where Nell teaches the youngest girl the birds and the bees, plus the episode where Dad learned his partner was gay.

39. 

    @allanv7661

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Great show.❤❤❤

40. 

    @Karateka1973

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    I had the privilege of seeing Nell Carter perform in the musical "Ain't Misbehavin'" and I will forever treasure that.

41. 

    @MegazoneMusic23

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    My favorite Episode was with Ray Parker Jr. And they sang together "Heaven Knows".
    I remember that episode well

42. 

    @record216cleveland

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    its crazy… i never thought of her as a singer… but she really was that!

43. 

    @draeking5719

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    I had a crush on Neil Carter ❤

44. 

    @HILLJAYNEUNINHIBITED

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    I loved the Dreamgirls-esque episode with The Pointer Sisters.

45. 

    @eugenepearsoniii9902

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    And she was very very beautiful

46. 

    @MatthewTramp

    January 12, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Other Facts:
    The grandmother was played by three different addresses within the first two seasons.

    Nell’s mother and sister were played by two different actresses and their names were different.

    Her ex-husband was played by two different actors.

    The Chiefs brother Eddie was never mentioned after the second season. The last episode he was on was when he married the ex prostitute.

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