I ordered a copy of the book "The Show Must Go On: How the Deaths of Lead Actors Have Affected Television Series" from Amazon and there's lengthy 15 page section on Gimme a Break! and details on the drama happening behind the scenes and Nell's struggles with her health and personal issues. Most of the information in the book is already known but there was a new bit of information regarding Nell Carter and Joey Lawrence that I didn't know about until I read this book.

According to executive producer Hal Parker, Nell Carter had a little falling out with Joey Lawrence because she thought he was getting too much screentime. He said Nell spoiled him for two years and then turned on him. He said "don't ask me why" regarding the situation and added on that Nell wasn't very nice to him, and didn't want to do much with him. That's why he had alot of talks with Joey because he loved the kid and thought he was a real pro. Parker said Nell was very volatile and was always most concerned on the effect her erractic mood swings could have on the kids.

I was suprised when I read that because Joey Lawrence said Nell was like a second mother to him. She was close to him and his family and would visit them during Thanksgiving and Christmas. During the summer hiatus she would take him to concerts and to sing with her on tour with Sammy Davis Jr.

I guess there wasn't hard feelings, because Joey invited Nell to make an guest appearance on the his TV show Brotherly Love that he did with his two brothers back in the mid-nineties.

Was anybody else aware of this information? Or is this the first you're hearing about this. What are your thoughts on this?

I remember hearing about this and its not surprising. Nell also turned on Rosie O'Donnel because she got jealous she was getting too much screen time. Nell was a mess on the show. There were weeks of cancelled shoots because Nell could not show up. However Nell also made up with Rosie and appeared on her talk show many years later and joked about their hostilities. Nell made a fortune and blew her career and money away because of cocaine.

If it's true and Nell was resentful and openly hostile toward a young child actor on the set, she obviously had some deeply serious issues... :mad:

I think Nell is awesome!!!

I remember hearing about this and its not surprising. Nell also turned on Rosie O'Donnel because she got jealous she was getting too much screen time. Nell was a mess on the show. There were weeks of cancelled shoots because Nell could not show up. However Nell also made up with Rosie and appeared on her talk show many years later and joked about their hostilities. Nell made a fortune and blew her career and money away because of cocaine.

Yep, Rosie O' Donnell said during the last season Nell was miserable and awful to be around. Her time on the show was disappointing as it was her first acting job.

From the the book it seems like during filming season 2 there was a lot of drama. During the week of filming of the backdoor pilot episode Nell and the Kid, Nell Carter and Don Rickles didn't get along and were clashing all over the place.

During the rehearsal for The Return of the Doo Wop Girls another season 2 episode, Nell kept falling asleep due to binging on drugs and The Pointer Sister were pissed off and rightfully so as they flew out to Los Angeles from Florida to film that episode. The cast and crew got fed up and left the set and left Nell sleeping on the couch without notice.

At the end of of season 2, she also threatened the network if they didn't replace the original producer and writers that she was walking away from the show. It's widely known she hated them and would get into big arguments with them. Hence starting with Season 3 they brought in new writers and executive producers.

Yep, Rosie O' Donnell said during the last season Nell was miserable and awful to be around. Her time on the show was disappointing as it was her first acting job.

From the the book it seems like during filming season 2 there was a lot of drama. During the week of filming of the backdoor pilot episode Nell and the Kid, Nell Carter and Don Rickles didn't get along and were clashing all over the place.

During the rehearsal for The Return of the Doo Wop Girls another season 2 episode, Nell kept falling asleep due to binging on drugs and The Pointer Sister were pissed off and rightfully so as they flew out to Los Angeles from Florida to film that episode. The cast and crew got fed up and left the set and left Nell sleeping on the couch without notice.

At the end of of season 2, she also threatened the network if they didn't replace the original producer and writers that she was walking away from the show. It's widely known she hated them and would get into big arguments with them. Hence starting with Season 3 they brought in new writers and executive producers.
Yes and season 3 things went downhill. The cast would go home and wait for the call when Nell was "well enough" to continue on. Nell had her own show and was on a gravy train yet she did everything to sabotage her own show. I am surprised NBC put up with it because after season 4, the show was not that popular anymore. When the girls were cut out of the show, they were relieved. Just think of that.

One...Nell Carter was probably depressed after Dolph Sweet died, she even saw Dolph on his deathbed and it may have traumatized her.

Two...Nell was using drugs. Rick James said it the best...cocaine is a hell of a drug! Carter probably used it more after Dolph's death.

Three...Nell almost killed herself...I'll be making a post on "what if...Nell Carter died during GAB"?

I wanna give her a big hug :)

If it's true and Nell was resentful and openly hostile toward a young child actor on the set, she obviously had some deeply serious issues... :mad:

Nell had a really rough life in general (won't go into the sordid details here). So her erractic behavior is certainly in line with a person who's dealt with a lot of trauma.

I guess the point is, those around her probably knew not to take her mood swings too personally.

As already mentioned Joey had Nell on his mid 90's show with this brothers. I recently streamed that episode (from YT I think?). Anyway both Nell and Joey looked very happy working together again. FWIW it appeared Nell had lost alot of weight at that point. She looked fantastic. I wonder if she had some kind of weight loss surgery in the 90's?