Nell agrees to look after the Kanisky's home, as a special favor to her dying friend, and takes on the role of housekeeper to widowed police chief Carl and a parental figure to his three tee... Read allNell agrees to look after the Kanisky's home, as a special favor to her dying friend, and takes on the role of housekeeper to widowed police chief Carl and a parental figure to his three teenage daughters, and eventually a foster son.Nell agrees to look after the Kanisky's home, as a special favor to her dying friend, and takes on the role of housekeeper to widowed police chief Carl and a parental figure to his three teenage daughters, and eventually a foster son.
- Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
- 14 nominations total
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- TriviaThe show's producers were very concerned about Nell Carter's escalating drug use, binge eating, rapidly fluctuating weight, and self-destructive lifestyle. She went into rehab several times during production and was blowing her money on cocaine every week. At one point, during 1984 Carter tried to commit suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills and champagne during her visit in London to see good friend Liza Minelli. Minelli flew her to a special rehab center the Hazelden Clinic in Minnesota where she kicked her habit a second time and lost over 90 pounds.
- GoofsThe front door of the set has a brass mail slot, but exterior shots are of a door with no slot.
- Alternate versionsWhen this show first aired on the NBC television network, it ended with the logo for Alan Landsburg Productions superimposed against clips from the episode that was ending. However, in 1985, Alan Landsburg Productions was merged into Reeves Entertainment Group, which took over production of this series. The same year, it entered American syndication, with the Reeves Entertainment Group logo replacing the aforementioned one, sometimes cutting off the end of the closing music.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 34th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1982)
- SoundtracksMerry Christmas Stranger
Performed by Nell Carter and Telma Hopkins
Featured review
This was a reasonably funny comedy starring Nell Carter. A very young Joey Lawrence also appeared in it as a young street-hustler-turned-foster-kid-for-the-family. It was basic fare for a sitcom, featuring the cute kids, family values, and little lessons learned at the end of each episode. In the show, the chief of police's wife has just died, and he asks Nell (Nell Carter) to come in and work for him, helping him raise his three daughters in the process. Nell becomes sort of a mother figure for the girls, and everyone tries to learn from each other. There were some memorable episodes (such as when Samantha puts Joey in black face to get back at Nell, or when Nell undergoes hypnotherapy to remember where she had put something only to become helpless whenever someone knocked three times, or when the chief was on a stakeout with another officer and told him a horrible gay joke, only to learn that the other officer was gay), but the show was fairly standard. Nonetheless, I thought it was funny, and it managed to stand out due to its good cast and themes in its episodes and type of humor. It was sad when the actor who played the chief died. Jonathan Silverman was a good addition after that. I also love the grandfather character. He was funny, and changed as the show went on, from the senile old goat to a wise old man.
Unfortunately, the show went downhill after Nell and Addy moved to New York, and they changed the premise of the show. I didn't think it was as good after that, and I hardly watched it anymore.
Overall, anyone into '80s TV show might like this one. I used to enjoy watching it when I was younger. **1/2 out of ****
Unfortunately, the show went downhill after Nell and Addy moved to New York, and they changed the premise of the show. I didn't think it was as good after that, and I hardly watched it anymore.
Overall, anyone into '80s TV show might like this one. I used to enjoy watching it when I was younger. **1/2 out of ****
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