Gimme A Break - Nell's Last Straw

[@sancm8898]

0:02 the way how she threw her keys and purse😂😂😂

[@jamesknowles8748]

Watched this during its original airing. This was the first time I had ever heard that word. Had a great discussion with my mother after the episode.

[@sandrabutler6047]

I Miss Nell

[@Crazymike1975]

0:41 DANG!!! That should've been Samantha getting manhandled instead of Joey.😮😮😮

[@zecharystigger800]

"Don't you DARE start crying on me." I love how Nell doesn't let Sam evade responsibility. :-)

[@johnshelton6434]

Nothing wrong with Samantha crying. She has feelings too.

[@ohwell94]

​@@johnshelton6434 what Samantha did was cruel and she is old enough to know better than to pull such a nasty vicious stunt

[@johnshelton6434]

@@ohwell94 , I agree. But Samantha felt neglected and rejected by Nell. Nothing wrong with Samantha crying, even though she was in the wrong for what she did.

[@ohwell94]

@@johnshelton6434 nope Samantha can cry over the situation, and talked with Nell BEFORE she pulled this crap She involved a child who she lied to one who had no knowledge of the history saying Nell and everyone would be happy and impressed with his act at the church She embarrassed and humiliated Joey, Nell and that entire church because Sam felt neglected? How is pulling a racist act because your feelings are hurt in any way acceptable or even justifiable or excusable especially when you are old enough to know better? So nope...Sam was going to use tears to get out of it? No way

[@johnshelton6434]

@@ohwell94 You have a point. It's been a while since I've seen the episode. And you're right. Samantha should have carried her fears to Nell before she did such a thing. I don't think Samantha was crying just to get out of being punished. I think it was the culmination of her feeling neglected and rejected. Though that does not excuse what she did. And it was wrong for her to include a naive young child that doesn't know any better.

[@travisjames3517]

Carter was an awesome actress!!!!

[@AmandaHW1984]

Why am I fighting back years of rage right now? This was over 40 years ago and it shouldn't matter but it does.

[@travisschlegel8616]

This will sound corny, but I remember watching this episode live and it really moved me, Nell did a wonderful job in this episode.

[@sha11235]

You mean when it first aired in prime time, right?

[@mikeesernia4281]

Travis Schlegel that doesn’t sound corny at all. 🙂

[@lauraluffman6177]

Yes she did I remember watching this episode as a child

[@Ryooken]

Nah she still should have whipped her behind over this. No black person talks calmly about blackface. Samantha racially humiliated Nell and more importantly turned black people's struggles with life and death into a game of sibling rivalry.

[@KAMALAISHERNAME]

Nothing corny about the *TRUTH*

[@sugarcrafty777]

400 years of this guys. Important show. We raised their children better than they ever could.

[@donaldsp360]

You talking about Americans? Or British ? America hasn't been a country 400 yrs

[@youtpfpm6097]

You are 400 years old ? 😂

[@toffeenut1336]

If you’re referring to America, it was only 76 years. And yeah after the last two years, we’ve seen how great your raise your kids. They’re on the news everyday.

[@jivonleejackson1673]

40 years ago, this wasn’t offensive to me. I was 4. Seeing again PURE ANGER. You live & you learn!

[@toffeenut1336]

Anger is a favorite past time for some. Especially when evolution never hits.

[@93SA10]

Jesus, this is such a powerful episode, I still remember it playing live back in the day.

[@FaytLinegod]

Samantha's mother would've been so ashamed of her for this.

[@curtisljordanjr7273]

I remember this one, where samantha was mad cause joey got all the attention, but n real life the jealousy that Sam was showing was quite real cause the actress who plays her was actually jealous but didn't want nobody else to know

[@chrismulwee4911]

This was one of TV Land's Most Shocking TV moments

[@OTownNews]

“LOOK! AT! WHAT! YOU! DID! TO! THIS! CHILD!”

[@isaacandjoey6919]

Aunt Nell I'm getting dizzy!

[@sancm8898]

@@isaacandjoey6919im sorry go upstairs and wash your face I wanna talk to Samantha alone

[@frenchjr25]

Absolutely relevant in 2020

[@KatoandSara]

Loved Nell. This world lost such a treasure in her. We grew up seeing characters like her. It is horrible to think of the utter crap these last generations have been exposed to.

[@terrrell7798]

I'm watching this on MeTv right now

[@maximusprime3459]

Same diffrerence.

[@kadii2natalie]

I am just realizing that all the shows I watched with Joey Lawrence, his name is usually Joey.

[@reginald1817]

80's tv programming was incredible!!

[@nicklengyel6710]

I remember this episode

[@toyamosley1955]

The beat down

[@GangstaMojo]

I just watch this episode on Antenna TV wow it's been a minute since I saw this I completely forgot about the hate crime episode of gimme a Break

[@kbirdus]

Nell Carter was a terrific performer, and was better than the writing on this series. That said, I remember the lesson from this episode.

[@reginald1817]

Nell was a tremendous talent! She is severely missed!! RIP!

[@jadewade1252]

I would’ve slapped Samantha.

[@reginald1817]

Hmph! Y'all are too nice!!😂😂

[@timriggins70]

Why not she spanked Joey.

[@pamelabutts3344]

I miss Nell Carter!!!

[@rodneybuck5943]

You don’t have to tell me, I know why Cozi TV stopped airing this episode in reruns

[@mixon270]

But having the complete series is better it doesn't miss a beat

[@travisjames3517]

But Samantha was right.

[@JamesJones-zq7pc]

How?

[@travisjames3517]

Nell ignored Samantha when Joey arrived and Nell ignored Joey when Matthew arrived.

[@gerawallstar3487]

​@travisjames3517 it still was no excuse of her to do something racist like that. Not only she offended Nell but also her race.

[@travisjames3517]

@@gerawallstar3487True, but Nell did the same thing when Joey’s brother came. She totally ignored him.

[@kevinhagan3898]

“I’m still not crazy about her” 😂😂😂

[@latonyamcguire6057]

Me two...

[@joel8583]

Why? She wasn't a bad person.

[@Asukenick]

@@joel8583 They mean the sister.

[@RBS_]

.This was the end of a VERY controversial scene, including Children not knowing the racial history about 'B---- Face'; Nell is obviously irate, but, the timeline from when this was shown (Dec. 1984), was showing signs of growth...AND, regression.... (cont.) ...In 1984, Musical acts like Prince, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, etc., were SO revered, they transcended JUST being thought of, as 'Black'... but, Nell was hurt because of the connotation of being thought of as, "The N Word"... (1:44) ....NOW, in 2022, so, SO many Ebony Youth use it, with such liquid-like flow, this moment loses it's TRUE meaning....One step forward.....

[@SPtheGREAT]

THIS WAS TV!!!

[@tjames9698]

But Nell did totally ignore everyone when Joey came.

[@LIT70]

Anyone looking at this in July 2020 and wishing it was this easy to "fix" things?

[@chrismulwee4911]

Nell should have already known Joey was made up like that. After all she drove him to church, and it was obviously Samantha who applied the makeup while still at home. Did Joey maybe have on a toboggan hate with eye holes, while en route to church?

[@JamesJones-zq7pc]

Nell didn’t know, Joey was getting ready at church before he came out and start singing

[@actsismmljcorrectlyobeyed6190]

Dignity is not demanding respect when others act below the office.

[@ClearYourMindTravel]

Poor Joey :-(

[@carmesundae2]

thatsright he thought hewas makeing everyone Laugh thats ritght poor joey

[@gojewla]

I know. That haircut! 😂 he looks like a penis.

[@chriswideman1218]

Y'all remember when Sam's father was gonna give her the "Spanking Of Her Life" when she said the N word? Well she had the Yelling of her Life.

[@timriggins70]

And Joey is the one who gets spanked for it

[@CREEPYKOULWAH]

Come on Samantha

[@valkor73]

i still believe in cracks or belts got at lest 2 times in school

[@nassauguy48]

I had no idea the Governor of Virginia was a child actor on Gimme A Break! :D

[@xavierwatkins4794]

Who

[@nassauguy48]

@@xavierwatkins4794 Not Youngkin, the current one. The previous one, a Democrat. He did a black face routine in college.

[@KAMALAISHERNAME]

I would've loved to see a collaboration with Nell & Roseanne (pre racist Roseanne). Two quick witted, sharp tongued outspoken women.....whewwwwww!!!!!! Those two would've ruled the world!!!!

[@cthulufunk]

Nell Carter was so fantastic, I wish she'd laid off all the soul food, she died way too soon.

[@joel8583]

Yeah, I hear that food is too fattening.

[@CeliniacForLife]

It wasn’t soul food that killed her. It was the effects from the drugs.

[@Angie-wr1zv]

Could we not w/ negative?

[@oceaser6977]

Wow, that’s a kind statement and a racist statement bundled quite nicely

[@maximusprime3459]

Wow. I remember this one. I know if she could, Nell would've brought that strap down on Sam and Joey.

[@noramero2955]

Sam was my least liked character.

[@toffeenut1336]

Probably never even watched the show.

[@baybeeb521]

Including the "n" word

[@joel8583]

I never forgot that episode!

[@loklo101]

The n word came out of Samantha's mouth in a previous episode.

[@aldod3937]

I didnt know blackface was a big deal then too....I mean I totally understand.

[@kingblake2490]

It has ALWAYS been a "big deal".

[@samueljacksonii5473]

Yes, it was a very big deal. Way back in the 1920's, non-Black theatre actors use to draw in large crowds with comedy skits where they would paint their faces black and make fun of how Black people acted and talked back then.

[@AccessoriesAddict5528]

Grounded for only 2 weeks??

[@wilburmcbride8096]

They couldn't get away with doing this episode today with all these snowflakes. Ah, I missed the 80s.

[@BrianRoberson-k7g]

This is horrible, there is nothing good about any of this.

[@zt1053]

I know this episode was trying to make a statement but it really wasn’t consistent With the Sam Nell relationship. Even if Samantha was mad at her would she really stup to this level. Something more believable would’ve been Samantha talking Joey into singing a rap song in front of the church

[@DBMe33]

Not back then, rap was very, very different. It would have just seemed cute. Actually, not now either, really. Theyre doing all, kinds of non church stuff in churches now. But I agree that was a bit much considering their dynamic. Looking back, I noticed Gimme A Break did alot of heavy topic episodes. It was a sitcom thing back in the early 80s but they were particularly gutsy.

[@zt1053]

Io Genesis Maybe some church parishioners might’ve thought it was cute but Nell would still be embarrassed. I know Nell liked to take Joey with her everywhere she went But come on a white kid singing in a black church is just not very realistic and it’s asking for trouble

[@josephcecil1917]

This episode: Blackface is wrong! (It is) Also this episode: Nah, it's cool to just shake a child like that. (It is not)

[@gojewla]

You can shake children, just not babies.

[@Rebmetpes4]

Massa Nell had to ground ol Samantha!

[@THEAdmiralXizor]

REPORTED, you racist.

[@jonstjamesnumba1]

what is da whole thang about gays doing it as an act

[@EyesOfFrozenMeat]

You don't shake a child like that, especially for something as petty as this...

[@kingblake2490]

It was for comedic affect, she wasn't "abusing" or disciplining him. My God.

[@EyesOfFrozenMeat]

@@kingblake2490 I don't care what it is for. You do that to my child and you be swiftly rendered unconscious.

[@kingblake2490]

@@EyesOfFrozenMeat 💯...good for you.

[@maximusprime3459]

Its a sitcom, stop being a dope fiend about it.

[@gojewla]

Not true. You just can’t shake babies. It’s because their anatomy isn’t fully formed yet.

[@zt1053]

Nell Shouldn’t of had a white kid singing in a black church in the first place.

[@OysterPir8]

I've sang in black churches

[@jcarter7929]

Wierdo

[@toffeenut1336]

But it’s so progressive to mix.

[@baybeeb521]

They should have banned this episode for having a white kid in "blackface" it is an insult to African Americans everywhere

[@millenniumman75]

Today, they probably would. The N word was also used frequently on The Jeffersons' early seasons. In 2005 TV Land ranked this episode # 38 as part of its "100 Most Unexpected Moments in TV History". In this case, it probably should be allowed for the sole reason in that it directly addressed the issue and showed that it is unacceptable. In any other context, it wouldn't be acceptable to broadcast. Since the main character is African-American, it could be properly handled. In early 1983, there was an episode where Margaret's sister (the sister of the mother) wanted to take custody of the girls and didn't want Nell raising them. That was a different facet of how racism was handled, but it was just as valid.

[@baybeeb521]

So does Sanford and son

[@baybeeb521]

And all in the family

[@baybeeb521]

Just like in the 70s movies but true

[@schewitt1977]

+millenniumman75 I think it was handed very well. She learned her lesson.

[@davidhunt2321]

they should have arrested her for shaking Joey's head like that.

[@swankhood]

Clearly you weren't raised in the 80's..... Now everyone are snowflakes.

[@kingblake2490]

@@swankhood I mean EVERYONE is a snowflake and ultra sensitive. It was for comedic affect, Joey was not being abused or "disciplined". People cry about everything now days. I miss the 80s.

[@karlvonboldt]

I really don’t see what the big deal is. I don’t Why Samantha had to apologize. She puts Joey in blackface, so what?

[@annmcdonald7713]

Because you are dumb

[@AnonymousC-lm6tc]

You truly are a moron if you see nothing wrong with blackface. Go do some research before you make idiotic comments you insipid fool.

[@DonnaMae582]

Ok you guys are no better than someone in black face when you call her moron and dumb. You could just explain why its bad rather than resorting to name calling.

[@annmcdonald7713]

@@DonnaMae582 She is wilfully ignorant. She obviously has internet access. A quick google search will give her a quick explanation for a thousand people. But she does not want to listen. That is what makes her a moron

[@annmcdonald7713]

@@DonnaMae582 also you obviously dont know what blackface is either, to compare the two very different things

[@justingandara9289]

NELL CAN’T PUNISH SAMANTHA, SHE’S NOT SAMANTHA’S MOTHER

[@kristibradford302]

She raised those girls. Sam was a little girl when Nell first came into the family. The mother and father has handed Nell full responsibility for raising those children and that included disciplining them. So yes Nell has every right to discipline her.

[@monica012077]

Nell is their guardian. Both the girls parents are dead

[@justingandara9289]

@@monica012077 THIS IS SEASON 4, HER FATHER'S STILL ALIVE, SO NELL CAN'T PUNISH SAMANTHA, AND BY THE WAY, PARENT AND GUARDIAN ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, THEY'RE NOT THE SAME

[@justingandara9289]

@@kristibradford302 NO SHE DOESN'T, SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DISCIPLINE HER OR RAISE HER, BECAUSE SHE'S NOT THE MOTHER

[@kristibradford302]

@@justingandara9289 it doesn't matter whether she's their blood parent or not. She has the right to discipline the kids because the parents gave her that authority over them. And that included disciplining the kids when ever needed. She has dealt with those kids since they were little girls. She is like a mom to them .

[@TheDevilsRaspberry]

What's wrong with Blackface??

[@JamesJones-zq7pc]

It brings back to racism when a white man or woman use black paint like makeup but it was more in humor against blacks back in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

[@tamaraknox2185]

I remember this episode