Gimme A Break!- Season 3 intro

[hottie1979]

I like it when the girls said "Hi Nellie Ruth" I think that was the most hilarious dialogue off the sitcom

[SteelAVic18]

Best theme song Ever!!

[Broderick85]

such a good show r.i.p dolph sweet and nell carter one of my favorite episodes is the one with sammy davis jr that one was classic

[Nukem120]

When I was younger.I always like the show.I always had a crush on Sam!

[immaculateprince]

that was the best theme song for that show...

[zoetropez76]

I think I know what happened to her piece of the cake.

[thehunterx1973]

the Kanisky family is what made me love gimme a break the cheif Kaite Julie and Sam. Joey was good too. But they "jump the shark" when the girls won gone.

[SteelAVic18]

Nell reminded me of my grandmother.

[SteelAVic18]

Love the opening of this theme song. RIP Nell Carter

[2quann]

This show is dedicated to a strong black woman who paved the way for other black women in the tv industry.

[rgjmg070607]

i wish i had a clear extended copy of this song ,its been stuck in my head for the last week or so..

[JayNJayShow]

@rgjmg070607 I have a clear copy, but it's only the TV version. Not extended.

Do you still want it?

[rgjmg070607]

@JayNJayShow ill take it ..thanks..check ur inbox

[JayNJayShow]

@rgjmg070607 I did, I don't have anything from you.

Inbox me your email addy and I'll send it to you.

[rgjmg070607]

@JayNJayShow ur gonna laugh but i tried to go to your page and inbox u and couldnt find the personal message option anywhere..lol ...i was gettin frustrated with the new youtube features ..i put it as a comment on your page

[JayNJayShow]

@rgjmg070607 Don't feel bad. I can't even SEE my comments! This whole new design is fucked up. It hides EVERYTHING.

[MyssKk22]

she was also an actress and a contributor to the soundtrack of HAIR, I've always loved her! Also in a move with Chevy Chase called Modern Problems, she was awesome! I love her version of On Broadway!

[keonta81]

I love the way she says nothing can get me down

[jevilscientist]

Nell carter was the best! love her!

[TheRedHotDancer]

r.i.p nell 

[monyvalesti]

i remember it like it wasw yesterday

[SirRembrant]

R.I.P Dolph Sweet

[Miccherry26]

she performed this intro with the legendary Richard Page from the soft rock group Mister Mister.

[ChrisZXQ]

I like this theme better than the others they used.

[MegaSchoolRocks]

I liked the show but not this theme...

[tubedudeT2000]

I love the way Nell Carter sings this.

[bisexualbuffthug]

I still think nell carter should have been the one to sing the 80's song "aeiou". That would have been so right for her! If u agree give a thumbs up!

[mymypie]

This theme song never gets old! I've hipped my 5yr old 2 this show... Sumthin 4 the nxt generation :)

[don312000]

I always thought Howard Morton's character was Roscoe P Coltrane's long-lost brother. Even kinda looks like him!

[mccarrpo]

I used to manage a pet store back in the 80s around the corner from this TV set. The fucking director came in at least once a week to buy goldfish. They killed more goldfish making this TV Show than Hitler killed jews making WW2.

[djalsurdi67]

@mccarrpo why did they need so many goldfish for this show any ideah?

[mccarrpo]

This lady reminds me of my grandmother. Except that my grandmother was white.

[majestic1070]

There's aunt jemima

[khadijahpittman49]

it alright ,not that good, but it is alright

i kinda like it though:]

[BigDan3041]

R.I.P Nell Carter, you were one in a million

[PhilM662]

damn, family matters stole that vacuuming the water from the fish tank gag (wouldn't doubt that it was done before this too though anyway)

[elsyd1971]

DAMN......Dolph Sweet had some kick-ass shoulders!!!!!!

[themostrandomchick24]

@elsyd1971 -LOL, he was just fat and broad-shouldered :-)

[johnson8479]

I loved watching this show! Nell was awesome!!! Too bad there's not many like her anymore, she was a great singer and actress!!! She is greatly missed by many!!!! RIP NELL...WE LOVE YOU!!!

[SongsJerome]

WTF, we used to watch this on TV when I was a kid.

[kittygrrlhk]

I miss Nell, she was hilarious!

[callitasicit33]

My favourite sitcom theme ever!

[Smartboy8877]

I love the way that Katie looks in her jeans in the kitchen scene! Very sexy indeed!

[scottymacgray]

The theme song is so eighties. I love it!

[evesdrop1982]

Such an awesome show! I was just a kid when this was on but I LOVED it and Nell Carter.

[Smartboy8877]

@evesdrop1982

I was twelve years old when this show began. I was crazy about it!

[royalcoils100]

miss the '80's tv shows so much, family entertainment, oh how i hate reality tv!

[stevensjobs]

@royalcoils100 agreed I really missed these shows. I was in here working and all of a sudden I said GIMME A BREAK and instantly that song popped in my head and now I had to look it up .lol

[joeyeights]

Gimme a break, I'm sick of all of your insensitive comments.

[joeyeights]

Gimme a break, Nell Carter's dead?

[meenaamy]

Thumbs up for the 'vacuuming the fish tank' bit.

[stevarino1989]

@meenaamy they used that in Family Matters, which coincidentally also had Telma Hopkins and Rosetta Lenoire as co-stars. 

[TheStanbabe]

I wonder what has happened to those three young ladies..who worked with Ms.Carter and Mr.Sweet and Mr.Morton on"Give Me A Break"?

[rabapab23]

This is the version I remember... thanks for posting!

[Wizdome1]

I vaguely remember this show!

[Sk8brdr4life]

@PussyeverydayIEat Hooray! for racist redneck cousin marrying republicant trash. You sound like a proud american.

[jpickar]

I like the original open so much more...

[wsbtam]

Attention Hollywood TV directors: study this show, The Facts of Life and similar shows and start making new shows with this kind of thought and humor--goodness knows, we sure need them!!

[Lawless66007]

LMAO it still cracks me up when I see her trying to strangle the scale. R.I.P. Nell

[n0wave]

0:34 Still a sucker for that brilliant editing in sync with the clapping

[yurdamannowdog]

Nice. You should check out "Can I Has Break"

[TheBruT4L1ty]

omg* bring back the 80's please.. i miss you...lolz

[PaperMoon2010]

@TheBruT4L1ty I agree!

[stevefromPA2]

Nell Carter,Fred Berry,Shirlley Hemphill, Luther Vandros,Ella Fitzgerald...Diabetes...the lost goes on....

[soseztheleadr]

Good memories.  ^^

[Aries1980100]

Compared to the TV shows they show nowadays, this was one of the best TV shows that was ever aired, brings back childhood memories.

[abysmalatrocious]

For all of us who loved Samantha, google "Lara Jill Miller," and if your server brings up pics, my goodness, look at her today. I think that she looks even prettier with her short hair that she has now. Let me just say, that if you were a real life boyfriend of hers, she must've been fun and spunky as heck.

[MrLogoman007]

@abysmalatrocious Yes yes yes.

[PaperMoon2010]

@abysmalatrocious Yeah I googled her and OMG she looks the SAME!! She looks exactly the same as she did on the show she aged very nicely. :)

[abysmalatrocious]

I liked this Gimme a Break theme the best. Unfortunate that Nell Carter passed away so young. I didn't realize that Howard Morton was as old as he was; he seemed so young!

[spacepenny]

always wanted to bang the oldest daughter. she was one of my first fantasies when i learned about jerking off as a kid.

[abysmalatrocious]

@spacepenny You and many others! Clearly the deliberate "hot daughter" of this show. In the earlier episodes, she was practicing birth control and got pregnant. No shock, huh!

[spacepenny]

@abysmalatrocious the youngest daugter who was kinda tomboyish in the earlier seasons turned out to be pretty bangable also when she got older. it was the middle one i didn't think too much of, but that was probably deliberate as well.

[abysmalatrocious]

@spacepenny I'm with you 120%. Samantha (played by Lara Jill MIller) didn't look feminine in younger episodes, but as the girls got older, she really developed nicely. Some didn't like her big nose, but that didn't bother me. In this Youtube, she still looks lesser, but in the one where she's holding the kitten, she looks great! Funny, SHE, more than the oldest daughter, appeared the most, uh, "slutty" of the sisters. Remember when Johnny from Karate Kid left her in Mexico?

[spacepenny]

@abysmalatrocious you know another hottie from another 80'a sit-com was the woman who played the mother on "alf"; even more so than the daughter on "alf". oh, and the mother on "small wonder". i also had a thing for 80's sit-com moms. lol

[EnglshRoc]

Didnt theguy who played the father die b4 the show was over in real life

[abysmalatrocious]

@EnglshRoc Yes, and I was too young to know, "how did they keep showing episodes with him after he died, how can he cast?" I didn't realize at that young age, that episodes air well after they're actually taped! Seriously, after Dolph Sweet died, I thought that they found a LOOKALIKE to play him. Nell in real life died too young.

[toeman2035]

I get chills whenever I hear Nell's powerful, beautiful voice. She was a classy , talented lady and will always be missed. She overcame such adversity and became a MAJOR star on NBC in the 80's. Sad that her death was totally ignored by the media. They are too wrapped up in losers like Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton.

[kingscub28]

R.I.P Nell Carter!!!!

[Boogers4dinner]

My Jam!

[eracism09]

@Boogers4dinner lol:)

[username121709]

I love that short synth sample from 0:24 to 0:28

[honeyblonde06]

i love this version

[awesomeartistreturns]

I won the complete series dvd in a contest

[MrMoorEnt]

@awesomeartistreturns I HATE TO INTERFERE AND I KNOW YOUT WAS NOT TALKING TO ME, BUT I GOT IT TOO, BUT INSTEAD I ORDERED IT AND I HAVE BEEN LAUGHING AND ENJOYING MYSELF AS WELL.

[Smartboy8877]

@awesomeartistreturns

I am very happy for you! I had to buy my DVDs. However, I would say that it was well worth the money!

[disneydanny2]

@awesomeartistreturns COOL! i know there was at ledast 1 episode that was bbroadcast live, is that one included in the set?

[ProximaB]

@awesomeartistreturns Now it's your responsibility to post every episode. Just kidding with you, lol.

[MilwaukeeIrishJoe]

I LOVED this show as a kid. Probably my all-time favorite 80's show. Nell Carter could do it fuckin ALL man.

[Sheels1976]

OMG!! I loved this show more than any other one in the 80's. What happend to good TV?? It's been replaced with reality crap and other garbage. I think I need to make a trip to DVD planet and fork out a couple hundred dollars to buy old shows because tv SUCKS now!!!!

[jjaszczesny]

Break me off a piece of that Kit-Kat bar!

[crysta2k2]

This theme song sounds like it should be on a lionel richie album (especially around :27 into it)

What memories....

[kentgraovac]

All six seasons of this show will be released on DVD July 20, 2010 by VEI, available for under $45 on Amazon.ca. And YES they are Region 1 and will play in US DVD players too.

I am just passing this info on to those who may not know.

[davidhill45]

@kentgraovac I plan on getting it

[awesomeartistreturns]

@kentgraovac I won it in a contest so and I am extremely happy

[mistrimeat]

Nell Carter used to scare the shit outta me. She looked and acted just like my nanny from when I was a baby. To this day I cant watch an episode of this fucking show in its entirety.

[aires0323]

i loved growing up in the 1980s best decade ever....

[Market42Fan]

Fact: Any show with Joey Lawrence in the cast will somehow end up with him being the de facto main character (examples being Gimme a Break and later Blossom).

[9114southcentral]

I was sooooo in love with LJM when this show was being made.

[SirSleezy]

hehe

[pushitrecords]

R. I. P Nel

[MrRocky9000]

I had forgotten about this version of this song by Nell but I instantly remembered it once I stumbled across it here. This version is my favorite. I love the arrangement and the way Nell is singing it. It was like she was was feeling liberated from something. She has that special gift as a singer that will take you to the place where she is. I feel uplifted after hear this. Wow, that was part of her gift ! We love you Nell !

[tonmagicwon]

@MrRocky9000 the first version that was given to the show when nell carter wasnt in control and the whimsical like begining seems to almost demean her character as being the but of the jokes..ie.{big black lady lets laff} she soon took controll of her show and smoothed it out the way she liked it as an black american ,i like them both but love the 2nd better

[eugene680]

1980's TV sitcom will always be the best, not the shit the're giving us now. Old school will always be the best.

[SouthOx]

havent heard this in years but I can remember every word

[LeeColby1]

god i miss this woman

[LeeColby1]

God I miss you nell why did you have to leave us so early :( Now we are left with beyonce and jayz

[corrincrellin]

Love this theme song and Nell Carter's voice.

Sweeeeeet...

[ajdc88]

Is it safe to assume that alot of this show's material revolved around fish tank mishaps?

[Neno8403]

Love this version of the theme song. I loved this show back in the 80s. Seems sorta cheesy now but it was cool when I was just a kid. RIP Nell Carter.

[KerryC05]

@Neno8403 Lord knows I will always miss Nell Carter. It would've been nice to have her sing at my wedding. :-(

[PPforever]

Oh, my!

I had totally forgotten this version!

Nice!

But I like the other one better!

[imachildofthe80s8089]

It's a shame we have to kill what little joy is left in life by verbally bashing other people who love the same entertainment as us. This isn't suppose to be speech and debate. Let's just comment on what we like on here, and not to try to take something so simple and make it so strenuous. If we don't like these, let's not waste our time and dare go on them, only the ones we do like. Jeez, enough's enough!

[imachildofthe80s8089]

My god you people oughta be ashamed of yourselves. Why must we have to take such lighthearted sitcoms, things that bring us joy from this cruel world that's never gonna improve much and yet find something to complain about(racism, sexuality, weight, whatever the issue) The reason we watch these programs is to unwind from the outside world, to forget our problems if only for a little while(yet we can relate to these people)

[imachildofthe80s8089]

did Nell Carter write the lyrics to this fantastic theme song? She was also know for her gospel career as well. May she RIP. 80's will forever be know for the strong women of family shows: Mama's Family's Vicki Lawrence GAB's Nell Carter and Roseanne's Roseanne Barr

[SNSW1]

No she didn't write the lyrics, she only performed the song, Gimme a Break was given to her after ratings went up on Lobo when she appeared on the second season of that show, LOBO was canceled in 1981. @imachildofthe80s8089

[Cut3gyrl4lyfe]

SEE this is why black women are so beautiful.nell looks wonderful and diva in that black dress!even a little overweight shes stilll gorgeous!

[bisexualbuffthug]

I never knew nell carter but i am sure we would all love her for the kind spirit she was. RIP nell carter! We love you!

[109jla]

I've always loved this show, I had no idea that Joey Lawerence's brother Matt was in it at one time.

[mikeweb92576]

Not a fan of this show, but I sure do love this theme song. It's upbeat and spunkier than the theme of the previous seasons. 5 stars.

[billykid84]

Ah, yes. "Gimme A Break"... The show about a good old fashioned house nigger, who, despite popular opinion, is actually allowed to sleep INSIDE the house with the white people...

She also makes a mean turkey and broccoli quiche.

[billykid84]

No need for "negative comments?" Well, what do you call "fuck you racist/son of a bitch"???

If you disagree with something I say, then why don't you try saying so NICELY, like a GOOD boy or girl. There's no need for negative comments...

[hru98]

What do you expect you both should watch your language

[hru98]

There is no need to use that word---I am white-I loved this show--Nell Carter was hilarious in this

[kittytr99]

@billykid84

You're an idiot!

[billykid84]

Well, THAT seems rather unnecessary. Why unleash your anger on me?

[oscargurses]

wow, same shit decade after decade, everyone talks about the world going to shit, the good old days, golden age of tv and this and that. same whining 25 years ago, will be the same in another 25 years. just relax people, enjoy the music, remember the good times , it'll be over sooner than you know.

[rockeruss555]

Nell Carter and Dolph Sweet will always be missed!.. =(

[cdh98]

A lot of people said this show was racist , because the said Nell character was subservient to all the white character as a maid or nanny but after the death of the father their was no question she was those kids parent especially joey

[tonmagicwon]

@cdh98 it was built around race as did many shows that had whites ''takin care of us good ol negros''like different strokes ,webster and even today the blind side,and sandra even takin care of her own personal nigra ,so is madona angalena joley ,even nazi jessi james thinks it trendi to have you OWN PERSONAL NIGRA //disclaimer im black//

[monicarwells2]

@tonmagicwon I LOVE IT<3

[Doctorkardos]

Yeah, this show was great. The acting, the people, the music. I cant believe people watch crap like Big Love, Curb, Bill Maher.

Gimme a break explored our intellectual capacity as Americans, and prompted us to take a stand against mediocrity, racism, and Combos cheesing our hunger away. A thousand points of light, trickle down Mrs Butterworth

[rockypallo]

Choke that Scale Nell; Choke that Scale! That part was my all time favorate. I like Laura Jill Miller's Character; she was so cool.

[wishpackers]

What a wonderful and talented lady Nell was.

[ladystixxs]

Wow I happened to stumble across this. How I remember this show. The good ol' days of Golden TV.

[Boogers4dinner]

Yeah, something went seriously wrong in America. Politics is up to something. It's strange. They're up to something. This whole decade has been drab for real. Seems like purposely.

[redbladejd]

Man I I was only five when this show started coming on and i remember how my mom would turn it on just so i could see Nell do her hip shake coming down the stairs, and the rag twirl dance at the end and boy I would just crack up laughing, wow I tell ya they don't make television shows like these any more, We love you Ms. Carter and Mr. Sweet

your legacy of comedy will live on forever in our hearts and minds

[PaperMoon2010]

I love this opening theme and the part on the stairs and Nell dancing at the end are my favorite parts too. I used to love this show! So true that they just do not make comedy like tthis anymore. Nell and Mr. Sweet were soooo funny!

[SteelAVic18]

@PaperMoon2010 Yes!! Love when Nell came down the stairs!! lol

[Smartboy8877]

@redbladejd

The one who I love most is Lauri Hendler! I grew up having the biggest crush on Julie from this show! Luckily, she is one of the cast members who is still alive. I wonder if she will ever be a regular in a series again. One can dream!

[caymyrchi]

I remember when they switched to this theme, and I loved it!! I remember taping it onto a tape recorder along with other tv show themes - back before we had a vcr. An interesting (or not so much, lol) tidbit: Richard Page, lead singer of Mr. Mister, sings the backup in this song.

[rockypallo]

I like the part where Nel Carter was choking the scale.

[coolbmartin]

A great show of the 80s.

[Broderick85]

R.I.P. Nell Carter & Dolph Sweet you 2 are missed very much.

[davidberry1972]

season 3 intro is better than 1 and 2

[aceofdatabase]

It doesn't get more classic than that fish tank. It is such a great early memory.

[PYT923]

I used to love this show.....takes me back to great childhood days.....the '80s were the ish!!!

[RetroBoyWontDie]

Damn, the images of the vacuum in the fishtank and Nell choking the scale totally take me back to being 9.

[ChristyLove2000]

I love the theme to this sitcom. I love Nell and the chief.

[keno68cl]

hey i waas forget this show,was one of my fav.80's series?,some know about the actors?,i know mrs Carter is dead around 1999?RIP.

[awesomeartistreturns]

2003

[oldsitcom12]

@tonmagicwon she died of diabeties and a heart problem I am tired of hearing people saying diff ways she died

[kcroyalfanatic]

I know the Chief played by Dolph Sweet passed away during the series. The youngest one is doing well, She does behins the scenes stuff and is very talented.

[Boogers4dinner]

This is one of my all time favorite TV shows. Of All time! I loved the song and it brought a bunch of good memories.

[rugged66]

WHAT DID THAT LADY DIE FROM? She was great on that show.

[jlb02034]

She suffered from diabetes for many years and had an aneurysm in the early 90's.

[jmoon219]

didn't Slayer do a cover of this song?

[PopCulture20]

who is Slayer?

[Broderick85]

God Bless Ya Dolph Sweet, Him and Nell Carter Made the show. It just went downhill after he died.

[haroldlevingston]

This reminds me a lot of "Kate and Allie", but this is funnier. Also, now Lara Jill Miller looks like a boy a little bit, but she is a lot of fun.

[poutaine]

This was one of the best '80s theme songs. Fun fact: Kari Michaelsen almost got the part of Jo on The Facts of Life.

[Mark271792]

Wow.... that's interesting.

[rockypallo]

I really miss Nell Carter; she was funny.

[MszQuEEnB8y3]

i miss the old days! I'm an 8o's baby and it sems like we had real tv, and tv theme songs back then! i love this song!!! i play it over and over and over and over!!!!

[ih8suvz]

True.

[Love4SK]

@MszQuEEnB8y3 , 80s baby, what would you know about 80s tv then? way too young

[momof2preciousangels]

She has an amazing voice! I love this song!

[scottbaino]

It seems like every '80s family sitcom had the same sibling setup:

hot oldest child

smart nerdy middle child

and goofy baby of the family!

[murrangurk]

It was actually required by law. Regan had set up the Comission for the Promotion of American Values, and it would prosecute broadcasters for exhibiting "alternative" family arrangements.

The older child must reflect the fecundity of American youth, the Middle reflected the ingenuity of Am. industry, and the youngest reflected the innocence of Am. and the inherent charm of the "Greatest Country on Earth."

So now you know.

[tygastyl]

seriously?!

[murrangurk]

Oh shit yeah.

Wiki it!

;)