VEI is re-releasing Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series on DVD on May 29

[TJ]

It has been out of print for a long time. They have changed the price to $49.99. It was originally listed at $29.99.

Earning herself Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominations for her portrayal of Nell Harper, Nell Carter brings this classic ‘80s sitcom to life. Gimme A Break! centers on the spirited but by no means typical, Kanisky family consisting of widowed Police Chief Carl Kanisky, his three daughters Katie, Julie and Samantha, and their feisty housekeeper-turned-surrogate mother Nell. Joining the GMAB! clan in its Third Season is Joey Donovan, a six-year-old orphan played by a pint-sized Joey Lawrence. This budding con artist is soon taken in by Nell and becomes one of the show’s leads in a cast that kept growing with the additions of The Chief's dopey subordinate Officer Simpson (Howard Morton), Grandpa Kanisky (John Hoyt), Julie’s boyfriend and eventual husband Jonathan (Jonathan Silverman), Joey’s younger brother Matthew (Joey's real-life kid brother Matthew Lawrence), Nell's mother Maybelle (Rosetta Le Noire), street-smart kid Maggie (Rosie O'Donnell), plus Nell's girlfriends Angie (Alvernette Jimenez) and Addy (Telma Hopkins). With her strong opinions and humorous maternal instincts, Nell's role extended far beyond that of a normal housekeeper, giving GMAB! its punchy premise and helping to redefine the meaning of "family." This box set includes every episode from GMAB!’s six season run and features guest appearances from Sammy Davis Jr., Don Rickles, Danny Glover, Rue McClanahan, Whitney Houston, Helen Hunt, The Pointer Sisters, Milton Berle, Andy Gibb, Tony Randall, James Cromwell, Ray Parker Jr., Paul Williams, and Pat Sajak.

Region 1 (USA/Canada) | Approx 49 hrs. | 6 seasons | 4:3

$49.99USD

I don't see an updated link for it on Amazon yet. It's available to pre-order on VEI's site.

https://www.visualentertainment.tv/c...40605744169065

[cloggedmind]

Just in case this new release doesn't fix that one, little syndicated edit problem from the last one..

Gimmie the complete, restored episode from Season 4, "Who Dunnit?".



Painstakingly restored and (mostly) color timed and geometrically aligned so that the disparate footage sources match as closely as possible. Had to do some serious color dialing to get the pastel hues to match: the interior wall colors, the front door and, especially, Ray's shirt, Nell's makeup and sparkly, blue dress which was grey in the syndication copy. Or, was it the dvd? Forgot now. But, within each differently edited copy of the show, colors and lighting would vary from shot to shot, and camera to camera. Efforts were made to make this less noticeable, but not take away from the original color design.

Also, just a hint of all over color boost to emphasize that 80's look.

The soundtrack also had to be repaired since, in the syndicated edit, canned laughter was used to cover some edits, and the hacked version on dvd ended with Nell looking nonplussed when Ray slammed the door on her-- freeze frame, credits and applause that cross-faded into the end theme had to be excised and re-edited to include the proper tag scene. Make sense? Not reading the description, I'm sure. But, the end result is relatively seamless and, to me, worth it!

And, and, AND-- the final product was upscaled to 1080i (1080p thanks to YouToob's re-encoding!) to retain as much detail from each source as possible, as well as the fluid, video look.

Save this one and add it to your sets/collections now, folks. It may not be on the new dvd and it could get pulled down at any time! The last time I posted it, the thing got yanked within a week.

Also, if anyone gets this new dvd set, do report back with what you find on it. Is this episode still edited, or could it have been corrected? Are there any other errors, omissions or, possibly, extra material?

[Robert 13]

Originally Posted by cloggedmind

Just in case this new release doesn't fix that one, little syndicated edit problem from the last one..

Gimmie the complete, restored episode from Season 4, "Who Dunnit?".



Painstakingly restored and (mostly) color timed and geometrically aligned so that the disparate footage sources match as closely as possible. Had to do some serious color dialing to get the pastel hues to match: the interior wall colors, the front door and, especially, Ray's shirt, Nell's makeup and sparkly, blue dress which was grey in the syndication copy. Or, was it the dvd? Forgot now. But, within each differently edited copy of the show, colors and lighting would vary from shot to shot, and camera to camera. Efforts were made to make this less noticeable, but not take away from the original color design.

Also, just a hint of all over color boost to emphasize that 80's look.

The soundtrack also had to be repaired since, in the syndicated edit, canned laughter was used to cover some edits, and the hacked version on dvd ended with Nell looking nonplussed when Ray slammed the door on her-- freeze frame, credits and applause that cross-faded into the end theme had to be excised and re-edited to include the proper tag scene. Make sense? Not reading the description, I'm sure. But, the end result is relatively seamless and, to me, worth it!

And, and, AND-- the final product was upscaled to 1080i (1080p thanks to YouToob's re-encoding!) to retain as much detail from each source as possible, as well as the fluid, video look.

Save this one and add it to your sets/collections now, folks. It may not be on the new dvd and it could get pulled down at any time! The last time I posted it, the thing got yanked within a week.

Also, if anyone gets this new dvd set, do report back with what you find on it. Is this episode still edited, or could it have been corrected? Are there any other errors, omissions or, possibly, extra material?

Thanks for sharing that! You did a fantastic job on restoring that episode. I sent you a private message. Let me know if you can help. Thanks!

[cloggedmind]

Originally Posted by Robert 13

Thanks for sharing that! You did a fantastic job on restoring that episode. I sent you a private message. Let me know if you can help. Thanks!

Well thank you for the kind words!

Due to stalkers from StereoCentral boards (not a nice place), I had PM service here switched off.

-Best,
R. (cloggedmind)

[Robert 13]

Originally Posted by cloggedmind

Well thank you for the kind words!

Due to stalkers from StereoCentral boards (not a nice place), I had PM service here switched off.

-Best,
R. (cloggedmind)

Oh, I understand. I was just wondering if there was anyway to get a copy of what you made, either a physical or digital version that I can include with the complete set. It seems unlikely that they will remaster the set for that one edit. I understand if it's too much trouble but man, that would be one happy day for me. :-)

[cloggedmind]

Originally Posted by Robert 13

Oh, I understand. I was just wondering if there was anyway to get a copy of what you made, either a physical or digital version that I can include with the complete set. It seems unlikely that they will remaster the set for that one edit. I understand if it's too much trouble but man, that would be one happy day for me. :-)

Tell you what.. I'll see if I can upload the original 2gb file to Mega and I'll open the PM long enough to send you the link. The original file looks so much better than the Youtube re-encode.

[Robert 13]

Originally Posted by cloggedmind

Tell you what.. I'll see if I can upload the original 2gb file to Mega and I'll open the PM long enough to send you the link. The original file looks so much better than the Youtube re-encode.

Wow! OMG, thank you so much! You have made this GAB fan very happy! I thought it would look better having the original file versus the YouTube encode. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! It's the one show I really am glad to have absolutely complete in every way. My compliments to you for making this happen!

[Robert 13]

Originally Posted by cloggedmind

Tell you what.. I'll see if I can upload the original 2gb file to Mega and I'll open the PM long enough to send you the link. The original file looks so much better than the Youtube re-encode.

I tried downloading but it says it is no longer available. Did I already miss it?? :-( Sorry for the trouble. I was in the process of getting it and the screen went to "no longer available". Hope you can help. I was so excited to get that episode.

[Moviebuff75]

This is my favorite show. Can I get one as well?

[Robert 13]

Originally Posted by cloggedmind

Tell you what.. I'll see if I can upload the original 2gb file to Mega and I'll open the PM long enough to send you the link. The original file looks so much better than the Youtube re-encode.

Just hoping if I add another message, you'll see it here. Really hoping you can re-send the link. Sorry for the trouble. I would love to have this newly remastered version of "Who Dunnit" so badly!!

[AngieTribeca]

I recieved the re-release in the mail and can confirm that the Who Dunnit episode is the same version previously used. I thought they might have restored it but my expectations were very low. They ran a sale on the VEI website so it doesn't hurt to own it twice since I paid next to nothing on the new set.

[Robert 13]

Originally Posted by AngieTribeca

I recieved the re-release in the mail and can confirm that the Who Dunnit episode is the same version previously used. I thought they might have restored it but my expectations were very low. They ran a sale on the VEI website so it doesn't hurt to own it twice since I paid next to nothing on the new set.

I received my set, checked and discovered the same. That would have made this set more valuable. @cloggedmind did a fantastic job on the restoration of that episode. I really wish I could get a copy and include it with the set to make it absolutely "complete!".

[cloggedmind]

Things worthy of note:

In this episode, the kitchen set is only half-dressed. What we see after Nell talks to The Chief and the door swings shut is that the refrigerator and everything to the left and beyond is dark. I presume that side of the stage was where the benefit hall band stand was set.

Mr. Smith sitting at his table was obviously pre-roll footage flown in on cue, as we know the Gimme A Break stage set wouldn't be big enough for that focal length AND have the living room/band stand set up (using the episode "Cat Story" as a reference, where we get a bird's eye view of the layout).

Also, random passer-by and good Samaritan, Cliff Norton, is also the announcer at the benefit for Eddie The Enforcer's widow! Too bad we didn't get a little extra scene of him being roped-in to taking part in the "festivities". Lost opportunity!

https://mega.nz/file/PKIVgYzD#xFgk1a...idZTUh6LgYRs9A

Gimme a break, now I know what it takes.
I'm putting a new face on the old one
Ready for anything.

Playing with fate, not a moment too late.
I'm showing the whole world
Nothing can get me down.
Woo woo hoo!

Gimme a break,
Yeah yeah!
Gimme a break
'Cause I sure need one!

Gimme a break,
Yeah yeah!
I finally know where I belong.

Gimme a break,
Yeah yeah!
Gimme a break
'Cause I sure need one!

Gimme a break,
Yeah yeah!
I finally know where I belong.
Gimme a break!

source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthe...eaklyrics.html

[Robert 13]

Originally Posted by cloggedmind

Things worthy of note:

https://mega.nz/file/PKIVgYzD#xFgk1a...idZTUh6LgYRs9A

Gimme a break, now I know what it takes...

That worked! Thanks so much! You have no idea how happy I am to have a truly complete collection of the entire series now. You did what the companies should do! The extra attention to detail and research to find out if the missing scenes are out there. VEI and Universal also used several edited episodes for Kate & Allie where tag scenes were missing. It's a shame they couldn't retrieve those, most were in the first season sadly. Gimme a Break is really one of my most-cherished shows from the 80s. Once again, SO HAPPY to have this episode complete the series for me. THANK YOU!!!!