Was Gimme a Break a controversial show?

[Skywalker]

I just saw the first episode and the father slaps his daughter. Was this a controversial show when it was on the air?

[Mr. Television]

I used to watch it when it originally was on and I don't remember any controvery with it.

[hawaii five-o]

No controversy, but some very special episodes.

[bb]

actually there was one episode of Gimmie A Break that caused a bit of controversy. Back in 1981, there was a scene on the show where one of the girls was asked if she ever "french kiss" and there was another scene about losing ones virginity.

Some pastor , I think his name was Donald Wildmon (sp?) was offended by that and other NBC shows that featured as he felt was "immoral" such as Hill Street Blues that his church launched a boycott against NBC.

Of course it made news back then but the boycott didn't last.

[dandelion wine]

Originally Posted by bb

actually there was one episode of Gimmie A Break that caused a bit of controversy. Back in 1981, there was a scene on the show where one of the girls was asked if she ever "french kiss" and there was another scene about losing ones virginity.

Some pastor , I think his name was Donald Wildmon (sp?) was offended by that and other NBC shows that featured as he felt was "immoral" such as Hill Street Blues that his church launched a boycott against NBC.

Of course it made news back then but the boycott didn't last.

I remember when that happened.

That's the only bit of controversy that I can remember, although I went looking around and found this:

With "Gimme a Break," an example of an "all-comforting Black woman," and with many other series, Bogle draws the parallel back to "Beulah," an early show that had an all-sacrificing maid working for a white family.

Primetime Blues

[alienkattuk]

Originally Posted by hawaii five-o

No controversy, but some very special episodes.

Special episodes for SWEEP MONTHS.

BLAH!!!

[gidgetgrape]

I don't remember Gimme A Break being controversal, but I remember there being concern that it wouldn't survive after Dolph Sweet died.

With "Gimme a Break," an example of an "all-comforting Black woman," and with many other series, Bogle draws the parallel back to "Beulah," an early show that had an all-sacrificing maid working for a white family.

I really hate the way Gimme a Break has been used as an example of what's (or what was) wrong with TV. I remember VH-1 using her as an example in one of their programs recently too. Nell was more than maid, especially after the the Chief died. She was like a mother and Black or White there's nothing wrong with that. The children always treated her with respect and she carried herself in away that let you know that she was bigger than her occupation. Mrs. Garrett on Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life showed a lot of the same motherly qualities. She was the Drummond's maid. If she would have been Black would the public's view of her be different?

I also feel that we wouldn't have had The Cosby Show and other great Black sitcoms if it weren't for people like Nell Carter who paved the way for bigger and better things. Ms. Carter should be treated like a pioneer not a sell-out. I wish she was still alive so she could defend herself. I think Hattie McDaniel (Beulah) said it best, "I'd rather play a maid and make $700 a week, than be a maid for $7."

[LostTribesman]

Well in the 80's when people were scarred Russia (pause) U.S.S.R. was going to drop some Commie A-Bomb on the United States everything was looked at with a bit of skepticsm. How could VH1 ever make a show talking about what is or was wrong with television. Art imitates life and vise-versa. You always find some "Uncle Tom" sitting behind a desk that will talk your head right off about how African-Americans are potrayed on televison. The same ones who dont eat oxtail and black eyed peas anymore and walk around with a Lambda Sigma Phi badge on his lapel (I pledged Phi Beta Kappa in my days at the University of Virginia). At any rate, until you start changing the way African-Americans look at themselves taking pop shots at telelvision will get you nowhere.


If I could forecast and go in the past I'd bring Cash that way I'd have answers to the questions we ask.

[OKCRay]

Originally Posted by Otter

I just saw the first episode and the father slaps his daughter. Was this a controversial show when it was on the air?

I know that the critics were definitely not kind to the show, however that didn't prevent it from being a popular show for 6 seasons. Aside from some of the other topics already discussed on this post, in the Season 1 episode "Samantha Steals a Squad Car", they tackle the use of the N-word (which you'd NEVER hear on network TV today!!!), stemming from a scene where Samantha is trying to get Nell and the Chief's attention while they're arguing over Nell sitting on the Chief's hat and flattening it (just before the Chief is supposed to speak at a luncheon). Samantha is upset because one of her classmates called her a Polack, however the Chief and Nell are too wrapped up in their argument. Samantha finally gets their undivided attention (and then some!!!) when she asks Nell "How would you like it if someone called you a (n-word)?"