Gimme A Break! Nell Carter Sings

[jevilscientist]

THis was my fav show..got all eps on dvd..loved Nell Carter! The show was the best!

[ManCaveWilly01]

I've been to many concerts, but the one concert I attended starring Nell Carter was by far one of the greatest. It's such a loss with her gone, but such a joy to have all the gifts she left behind. What a wonderful and amazing comedian/singer/entertainer!

[PhaedrusNYC]

@duncan7599 I suspect the drugs and alcohol also had something to do with it.

[msm2you]

@duncan7599 Having previously survived two brain aneurysms, Carter died at the age of 54 on January 23, 2003, from heart disease complicated by diabetes.

[melissa3289]

I love thiss show so much when I was younger It was first itme seeinf falling n love with Joey Lawrence YUM! and this has nothing to do with anything but damb the knocking dot really need to knock that long -)

[adelgado75]

Isn't that a cute apartment.  Years later they had working class people living in 'apartments' they clearly couldn't not afford.

[NellCarts]

wow I have the same name! Never heard of her til now, not bad

[Doowopper45]

I believe Nel Carter was in a pre-broaday version of Dreamgirls, and sang "and I am telling you" before Tony award winning Jennifer Holiday. Can anyone confirm this and is there a recording?

[msm2you]

@Doowopper45 According to wikipedia In 1978, Carter was cast as Effie White in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, but departed the production during development to take a television role on the ABC-TV soap opera, Ryan's Hope in New York

[ManCaveWilly01]

@Doowopper45 That's the way I remember it to be. I saw both Jennifer Holiday and Nell Carter in concert. Both powerful awesome singers of the song, "And I Am Tellin' You!" Great music lives on and on. :-)

[Lindawatcher]

I think Nell Carter was sexy as hell;! And I bet she was tons of fun!

[fulleffect29]

The harmony!!!

[781042]

I remember dis

[RKMiz05]

Hey Thank you for uploading this. Do you know the name of this episode? I'm interested in seeing the rest. : )

[Brieannas21]

@RKMiz05 The Return of the Doo-Wop Girls

[RKMiz05]

@Brieannas21 ... Thanks a bunch! : )

[Selnitz]

@Brieannas21 thank you for this vid. i love the Pointer sisters, they really hve great talent:) miss you June Pointer, miss you Nell

[qwandiddy]

Nell sings way more than TWICE better than Rihanna!!!!

[Selnitz]

@qwandiddy hell yeah, of course, wayyyyyyyy far more than..............

[bisexualbuffthug]

Thats bs! No real friends would have done that!

[NTheory08]

nell carter had a very nice shape . niccccccce

[crispybluu]

@NTheory08 she was a pretty gal wasn't she?

[chefstar]

I still remember the day she died. They brought a musical back for her. It was to open in Long Beach, CA. She rehearsed - said she wasn't feeling well (after a great rehearsal) and went home to rest. She never woke up. A perfect way to go.

[ninakaisimone]

the Pointer Sisters know they had some big teeth!!!!!!!!

[crispybluu]

Did she say this (@4:20) on purpose=)

[caseyphx]

@crispybluu  i just wondered that myself! :)

[crispybluu]

@caseyphx so funny huh? June must've been the psychic sister!

[tanquantwal]

Why was Nell Carter the butt of all jokes in the 80s? Not only on her own show but other sitcoms as well. She was a great singer,, dancer and actress. Just because she was heavy she could still out sing, out dance, and out act most of them!!!!

[Brieannas21]

@tanquantwal That is how it was back in then. Once Gimme A Break left, everyone started in on Oprah and then Roseanne. 

[thmspierson]

@Brieannas21 Not to mention Delta Burke.

[ceceyardi]

@tanquantwal  she sure can.

[terracottapie]

@tanquantwal She had a great sense of humor about herself, and approved all the fat jokes.

[hidoll22]

@tanquantwal OMG I was thinking the same she was great and they shouldn't have made her the butt of jokes. She was more then what we see she was a great lady. BOY could she sing

[vanlig99]

Are those the girls the Pointer Sisters?

[Brieannas21]

@vanlig99 Yes

[Selnitz]

@Brieannas21 yes the ever beautiful and talented Pointer sisters, i love them so much

[allhotnow05]

@vanlig99 Yes that is the Pointer Sisters

[Selnitz]

@vanlig99 yes they, the ever beautiful and talented Pointer sisters. i love them:)

[iknowdasright]

Anita looks a LOT like Angela Bassett.

[LRSRSCLSCTS]

Do you have that episode when Nell, Attie (Telma Hopkins), and Lynne Thigpen were singing the 60s doo wop songs....like Going to the Chapel, Big Girls Don't Cry, etc? If you do please post it :-)

[radhikavs]

@LRSRSCLSCTS I was searching for this episode as well.. Hope someone posts it soon!

[rellman]

If you want a laugh, Google "Nell Carter weightlifting naked."

[cjs33139]

If Nell thought shaving with Easy Off was bad, I tried putting Nair on my buttocks and it burned my butthole and ended up with a ring of fire!

[Brieannas21]

@cjs33139 LMBO!!!

[cjs33139]

@Brieannas21 :) BTW, thanks Briennas for uploading 227 and Gimme a Break. I loved all these 80s show as a kid and it's nice to be able to see them once again 20 years later. :)

[ChicagoBubba]

@cjs33139 LOL I have a story about Nair i'd rather not repeat! lol

[JulianSF123]

@cjs33139 - LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

[morehouse01]

THis was actually the dream girls show, dreamgirls was originally written for nell carter however nbc offered her a chance for her own show and she turn it down,

[vision10169666]

i would of totally banged nell she would have been a lil power packed ball of hot lovin

[evangar]

5:49

[southernfratdude]

Biloxi!!!! :13-:14!!!!!!

[funk7000]

who was the blonde? she was a good looking girl

[babyice30]

I love nell! she is being well missed, I had hoped she would played in some m ovies at the big screen before she left this earth.

[songbird2875]

The Pointer Sisters was pretty good actors... they should of done more of this kind of stuff

[mgeek1]

June Pointer and Nell Carter. RIP

[dollarbill1527]

the world lost a star when it lost nell

[Juliaflo]

I second that.

[savaadra1]

I really miss this lady....She had a beautiful voice and she was such a funny lady also. Do anyone know if they have DVD's out for all her shows?

[babyice30]

yes.fyi video store everywhere. 6 seasons

[sexysagi]

I could hear the pain in Nell's voice when she was singing. When she got to the word "tears", I started to cry. It's messed up to be stabbed in the back by people you thought you could trust.

[babyice30]

yes.

[yougottabee]

POINTER SISTERS ROCK! That's them singing in the background when Nell sings.

[betsiecow]

Poor Nell.

[sbhathena]

FYI: Song starts at 5:45

[nealbrice]

Nell, you are missed... and loved.... rest in love and know that we still enjoy your talent and the love that came from within.

[jazzyfayy1983]

rip june and nell

[RhiannanAR1]

God I miss her. This was my favourite Gimme A Break Episode. When she sang Tracks of My Tears I was crying the first time. I got teary again, b/c I realize the world is a little dimmer without her. It was sad to see June Pointer in this too, another great legend. TY so much for posting this, I thought I'd never see this classic episode again. :_)

[ONEMANBAND416]

what happend with this good shows know ol they have is a lot of junk on tv good memories,,,thanx.

[iceybleu]

oh.. nell used to make me happy T T

[habenod]

they need to put this joint on tv 1

[Broadwayjayb]

Wow! It was Like Dreamgirls!

[getjackielove]

RIP Nell Carter and June Pointer. This was a great episode.

[Lovelydiva60628]

loL, those double crossing doo wop girls !!

[kingscub28]

I remember watching Gimmie a break as a kid, back in the 80's. I am a big fan of Nell Carter. (May she rest in peace.) I wish this show would still be on tv.

[THETHICKONE06]

OMG I remember this!! this is great!!

[serglew09]

did you know that this is basicly Dreamgirls nell was going to be Effie in 1981 but she left to do gimmie a break!!!!! god dose everything for a reason because JENNIFER HOLLIDAY knocked them on their feet!!!!!...

[mavensbaby]

you're almost correct... she was the one who origanated the role effie in the workshop. but she left to do the soap opera Ryan's hope

[honeegrrl]

Wow Nell was going to be Effie? I never knew that. Oh well, it worked out for both Nell and Jennifer Holiday, they both got good roles.

[triplemz]

wow...what a poignant clip...so sad and ironic...it's probably how she was treated in real life...YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE TALENT AND SKILL IN THE WORLD,BUT IF YOU ARE NOT A CERTAIN SIZE...well...ya'll no how it goes...too bad...she was mad talented and pretty...may she rest peacefully now...

[Worme95]

Who's singing background?

[MDPERRYWILSON]

Are you serious? Who just left the rooM?

[Worme95]

That doesn't mean they were singing background. Nell was in the room by herself you know.

[kamwood11]

The Pointer Sisters.

[smittied72]

they are some tall girls

[buddyboy80]

I sooo wish Nell would sing "And I Am Telling You" right here. "Where's my dress...?" lol

[awesomeartist45]

I love this show I have every episode on dvd from pilot to finale

[dathlostudios]

where did you get all the dvds from?

[iLuvCiconne16085868]

Thank you for posting this. 2 hallmarks from the 80s - the late Nell Carter and The Pointer Sisters. I watched GIMME A BREAK here in Singapore in the 80s. So glad I have the DVDs now. I heard Nell Carter sang BACK IN THE HIGH LIFE (Steve Winwood) on a variety show once. Awesome!

[tigerwoman]

"Three women with six faces"

Aw, I could relate to Neil in this clip. Bless her up there.

R.I.P. x

[4TYTY]

Nell Carter and The Pointer Sisters. Magical INDEED!!!! ALTHOUGH I LOVED NELL CARTER TO DEATH I DON'T THINK NELL COULD DO WHAT JENNIFER HOLLIDAY DID WITH THOSE NOTES IN DREAMGIRLS...NOT THAT I AM DOUBTING NELL VOCAL SKILLS...CUZ SHE CAN FOR SURE HANG WITH JENNIFER...IT JUST THAT WHEN JENNIFER SINGS IT LIKE SHE TAKES ON A WHOLE ANOTHER PERSONALITY....LOL

[thefifthoctave]

I don't know 4TYTY, Nell could hang with the best of them back then. Her voice is certainly pitched higher than Jennifer's. So she could get the note, but her voice is just not as strong as Jen's. But Jennifer actually helped arrange her songs with the composer to fit her voice after she took over Effie White.

[AndiTheCorinthian]

ALL CAPS IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL!

[83survivor]

Nell Carter and The Pointer Sisters. Magical. This flashback was totally ripped off by Dreamgirls. Had Dreamgirls been made with these four ladies at that time, it would have been a huge hit for both Nell and The Pointers.

[morehouse01]

I miss you Ant Nell, This is quaality TV,

I love you Nell Carter!

[clintonmusiclover]

The Pointer was singing back-up , while Nell Carter was singing the,"Tracks Of My Tears."

[4TYTY]

More clips! PLEEEEEASE

IN CASE Y'ALL DID NOT KNOW THOSE ARE "THE POINTER SISTERS" =ANITA,JUNE AND RUTH

[hbellinger18]

If you have any more Gimme A Break clips please post them. What season is this in.

[Brieannas21]

It's from the second season

[hbellinger18]

This was excellent. But it's a shame how those heifers did Nell, looking at that made me think of Jennifer Hudson in "Dreamgirls". Thanks for posting.

[SB00SOUL]

lol...she may have been mimicking the plot of the play. You know the part of "Effie" was originally written for her but she took the role of this show!

[hbellinger18]

Yeah I'm aware of the story. But do you think she might have been able to hit that note like Jennifer Holiday? Not that I'm doubting Nell.

[SB00SOUL]

You have to have had to see her live to understand why I know it really would have been great. Nell can get up there just like Jennifer Holiday. The only difference is that Jennifer Holliday maybe able to growl a little bit more. Nell was in a different league but the composer of the song wrote it around her voice.

[hbellinger18]

Can't argue with that because lord knows Nell had a powerful set a lungs. God Rest her soul. Do you know where I can get a copy of her broadway show "Ain't Misbehavin"

[wildchats]

More clips!

[Brieannas21]

LOL I'll try to up load more tomorrow

[radhikavs]

@Brieannas21 Hi, do you have that episode where Nell, Telma and Lynne sing the doo wop hits (going to chapel, heatwave etc). The episode's name is Alabamy bound, from season 4. Thanks!

[Brieannas21]

@radhikavs Yes I have that episode. I think It's called Alabama Bound.

[radhikavs]

@Brieannas21 Then please post it when you can. Much appreciated! Thanks!