"The Center" - Worst Episode of GAB? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Kasey · 08-21-2010, 01:03 PM

I just finished Season Three last night and I was surprised at this episode.

I must have missed it during the NBC run and I never saw it when GAB was in syndication in 1988-90 on local stations here.

It's obvious this was one of those horrible proposed spin-off attempts by NBC, like the Facts of Life episode with Jo's tomboy cousin or the later Golden Girls "Empty Nest" episode with Rita Moreno.

A culture clash in a retirement/youth center? Who actually thought this would work as series? I know NBC was desperate for hit sitcoms at this point but really? Thankfully, Cosby, Golden Girls and 227 weren't too far off.

I am so glad this didn't get picked up. What a waste of the terrific Ray Walston to be stuck in a dud like this.

Smartboy · 08-25-2010, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasey

I just finished Season Three last night and I was surprised at this episode.

I must have missed it during the NBC run and I never saw it when GAB was in syndication in 1988-90 on local stations here.

It's obvious this was one of those horrible proposed spin-off attempts by NBC, like the Facts of Life episode with Jo's tomboy cousin or the later Golden Girls "Empty Nest" episode with Rita Moreno.

A culture clash in a retirement/youth center? Who actually thought this would work as series? I know NBC was desperate for hit sitcoms at this point but really? Thankfully, Cosby, Golden Girls and 227 weren't too far off.

I am so glad this didn't get picked up. What a waste of the terrific Ray Walston to be stuck in a dud like this.

I recently watched this episode on DVD. I will agree that it was pretty bad! Most of the humor was next in line to being slapstick. Unlike sitcoms like "Gilligan's Island" and "Three's Company" Gimme a Break!" simply did not lend itself to slapstick.

Mr. Television · 08-25-2010, 10:57 PM

Yea I remember when that aired. It was a backdoor pilot that never got picked up.

Heidi Dawn · 08-27-2010, 01:22 PM

I don't think it would have made a good series anyway. Was 'The Purse Snatcher' supposed to be another pilot, it's the one set in a restaurant run by two younger men and one of the guy's father owns it. Most of the action in that episode took place at the restaurant.

Wildchats · 08-28-2010, 08:01 AM

I think The Purse Snatcher was definitely a spin-off attempt. Nell And The Kid was okay, and I bet if they made that a series with Don Rickles, it would have had more of a cast than just Danny and Max. Perhaps they move into a bigger apartment complex with neighbors on the cast. They said "Max" was gonna be the title to that.

The Center was too large of a production. There were so many actors on it, and it would have been weird to see how it would have worked if it became a series with an opening title sequence. Plus, who knows how they would have re-tooled it for the season premiere if it became a series. It was definitely a dull epiosde.

I think the Purse Snatcher would have been a good series attempt. It was mostly about the Greek Restaurant and the two guys were funny, but also, it was kind of boring, yet a lot better idea than The Center.

Sam going off to College was a good spinoff attempt, had they stuck to that. If GAB was cancelled at the end of season 6, Sam's Spinoff would have been going into it's 2nd season, had that spin-off series gotten renewed for a 2nd season, and Nell could have joined the cast or her and the GAB cast could have made appearances on it. This would have extended the life of GAB had they done that.

There were a few episodes in the series I found to be boring, most were episodes I had not seen before until the series was put on DVD. The Center in season 3 is definitely one of the most boring episodes. I also think Earthquake in season 4 is pretty boring because it's only about Nell and the deaf woman trapped in a library alone after an earthquake. Season 5 had several boring episodes. The Purse Snatcher was boring, but it was good toward the end of the episode. Ship Of Fools Pt I and 2 I also found to be boring, even though Nell did sing. Getting To Know You was also a little boring. In season 6, there were a few that were boring. The Scam and The Loan were a little boring to me. There were some stupid episodes in season 6 that were just plain stupid but not as boring as those episodes I've listed, such as pretty much the entire New York season. I did like Mama's Date, even though it had few cast members in it.

It seems the episodes that had the least cast/scenes with the cast were very boring.

Svenfan1234 · 04-16-2018, 01:30 PM

Truth is, there were a lot more "bad" episodes of GAB than good... while I like the show, and Nell Carter, it's too bad she was stiffed with such an amazingly unprofessional cast who couldn't act. No wonder Gimme a Break isn't regarded as a classic. The Center was bad, but there were worse.

TV Guy · 04-16-2018, 01:40 PM

The show’s writers and producers share a lot of the blame. Every once in a while there was a bit that was funny and made you realize the show’s potential. But they needed new creative people.

Svenfan1234 · 04-16-2018, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

The show’s writers and producers share a lot of the blame. Every once in a while there was a bit that was funny and made you realize the show’s potential. But they needed new creative people.

And some of the actors too. Nell was good, just some crap writing. I like the show, but the writing isn't spotless.

MrCleveland · 04-27-2018, 06:40 PM

I do like this episode...but if this became a spin-off, John Hoyt would've probably been on this show. And whoever sang "Born to be Dead", probably would've sang the theme song.

AntennaTV2020 · 02-16-2022, 02:12 AM

All the backdoor pilots were terrible. Nell and the Kid, The Center, and The Purse Snatcher.

I absolutely hate backdoor pilots. Most of them are terrible 99% of the time.

08-21-2010, 01:03 PM	#1
Kasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,143	"The Center" - Worst Episode of GAB? I just finished Season Three last night and I was surprised at this episode. I must have missed it during the NBC run and I never saw it when GAB was in syndication in 1988-90 on local stations here. It's obvious this was one of those horrible proposed spin-off attempts by NBC, like the Facts of Life episode with Jo's tomboy cousin or the later Golden Girls "Empty Nest" episode with Rita Moreno. A culture clash in a retirement/youth center? Who actually thought this would work as series? I know NBC was desperate for hit sitcoms at this point but really? Thankfully, Cosby, Golden Girls and 227 weren't too far off. I am so glad this didn't get picked up. What a waste of the terrific Ray Walston to be stuck in a dud like this.

08-25-2010, 10:57 PM	#3
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	Yea I remember when that aired. It was a backdoor pilot that never got picked up.
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08-27-2010, 01:22 PM	#4
Heidi Dawn Muppets Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 883	I don't think it would have made a good series anyway. Was 'The Purse Snatcher' supposed to be another pilot, it's the one set in a restaurant run by two younger men and one of the guy's father owns it. Most of the action in that episode took place at the restaurant.
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08-28-2010, 08:01 AM	#5
Wildchats Me Senior Member Join Date: Jul 15, 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,076	I think The Purse Snatcher was definitely a spin-off attempt. Nell And The Kid was okay, and I bet if they made that a series with Don Rickles, it would have had more of a cast than just Danny and Max. Perhaps they move into a bigger apartment complex with neighbors on the cast. They said "Max" was gonna be the title to that. The Center was too large of a production. There were so many actors on it, and it would have been weird to see how it would have worked if it became a series with an opening title sequence. Plus, who knows how they would have re-tooled it for the season premiere if it became a series. It was definitely a dull epiosde. I think the Purse Snatcher would have been a good series attempt. It was mostly about the Greek Restaurant and the two guys were funny, but also, it was kind of boring, yet a lot better idea than The Center. Sam going off to College was a good spinoff attempt, had they stuck to that. If GAB was cancelled at the end of season 6, Sam's Spinoff would have been going into it's 2nd season, had that spin-off series gotten renewed for a 2nd season, and Nell could have joined the cast or her and the GAB cast could have made appearances on it. This would have extended the life of GAB had they done that. There were a few episodes in the series I found to be boring, most were episodes I had not seen before until the series was put on DVD. The Center in season 3 is definitely one of the most boring episodes. I also think Earthquake in season 4 is pretty boring because it's only about Nell and the deaf woman trapped in a library alone after an earthquake. Season 5 had several boring episodes. The Purse Snatcher was boring, but it was good toward the end of the episode. Ship Of Fools Pt I and 2 I also found to be boring, even though Nell did sing. Getting To Know You was also a little boring. In season 6, there were a few that were boring. The Scam and The Loan were a little boring to me. There were some stupid episodes in season 6 that were just plain stupid but not as boring as those episodes I've listed, such as pretty much the entire New York season. I did like Mama's Date, even though it had few cast members in it. It seems the episodes that had the least cast/scenes with the cast were very boring.
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04-16-2018, 01:30 PM	#6
Svenfan1234 Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 12, 2015 Posts: 11,200	Truth is, there were a lot more "bad" episodes of GAB than good... while I like the show, and Nell Carter, it's too bad she was stiffed with such an amazingly unprofessional cast who couldn't act. No wonder Gimme a Break isn't regarded as a classic. The Center was bad, but there were worse.
	__________________ [

04-16-2018, 01:40 PM	#7
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	The show’s writers and producers share a lot of the blame. Every once in a while there was a bit that was funny and made you realize the show’s potential. But they needed new creative people.

04-27-2018, 06:40 PM	#9
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	I do like this episode...but if this became a spin-off, John Hoyt would've probably been on this show. And whoever sang "Born to be Dead", probably would've sang the theme song.
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02-16-2022, 02:12 AM	#10
AntennaTV2020 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 18, 2017 Posts: 61	All the backdoor pilots were terrible. Nell and the Kid, The Center, and The Purse Snatcher. I absolutely hate backdoor pilots. Most of them are terrible 99% of the time.