Gimme a Break!

Name: Gimme a Break!
Genre: Comedy
Released: October 29, 1981
Cast: Matthew Lawrence, Telma Hopkins, Rosetta LeNoire, Nell Carter, Joey Lawrence

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Gimme A Break: Season 1

Now Playing: Gimme A Break: Season 1

Series Details & Credits

NBC | Release Date: October 29, 1981

Starring: Matthew Lawrence, Telma Hopkins, Rosetta LeNoire, Nell Carter, Joey Lawrence, John Hoyt, Lara Jill Miller, Lauri Hendler, Howard Morton, Kari Michaelson, Rosie O'Donnell, Jonathan Silverman, Paul Sand

Summary: A rotund black housekeeper maintained order in the home of a portly white police chief in this old-fashioned comedy set in the fictional town of Glen Lawn, California. Policeman Carl's beloved wife Margaret had died only months before, leaving him with three, winsome daughters, ranging in age from cute grade-schooler to troublesome teen.A rotund black housekeeper maintained order in the home of a portly white police chief in this old-fashioned comedy set in the fictional town of Glen Lawn, California. Policeman Carl's beloved wife Margaret had died only months before, leaving him with three, winsome daughters, ranging in age from cute grade-schooler to troublesome teen. Wisecracks and fat jokes abounded, but there was a lot of love as Nell tried to befriend and surrogate mother to the clan. Officer Simpson was a dopey police officer who was frequently seen, and Joey was a six-year-old orphan and junior-grade hustler who joined the household in the 1983-1984 season. As the 1985-1986 season opened the chief had passed away (actor Dolph Sweet had died), and Nell became both mother and father to the Kanisky brood. The man of the house was now Jonathan, who had married Julie at the end of the 1984-1985 season and moved in. The ratings started to slip from its usual place that season, and the network was so worried about that, and what they felt was a decline in the quality of the writing, that Hal Cooper, the executive producer, was told by NBC executives to either end production of the series or make major changes. By 1986, with the Kanisky girls grown and/or college-bound, Nell and her best friend Addy decided to leave Glen Lawn for New York City, with Grandpa and little Joey in tow. There they discovered Joey's irresponsible father Tim, who turned over Joey's younger brother Matthew (played by Joey Lawrence's real-life brother) and departed, adding a second child to the shifting household. Marty was Nell's nutty New York landlord, who also owned the restaurant El Gaspacho downstairs, where he put on a phony Spanish accent and called himself "Esteban". The changes didn't help the ratings any, nor did two different time slots that season, and the show quietly ended its network run in the spring of 1987.

NBC Broadcast History

October 29, 1981- August 26, 1982----Thursdays----9:30 p.m.
September 2, 1982- September 30, 1982----Thursdays----9:00 p.m.
October 2, 1982- December 25, 1982----Saturdays----9:00 p.m.
January 6, 1983- August 4, 1983----Thursdays----9:00 p.m.
August 11, 1983- September 20, 1984----Thursdays----8:00 p.m.
September 29, 1984- November 24, 1984----Saturdays----8:30 p.m.
December 1, 1984- August 31, 1985----Saturdays----9:00 p.m.
September 7, 1985- June 7, 1986----Saturdays----8:00 p.m.
June 11, 1986- March 23, 1987----Wednesdays----9:00 p.m.
March 31, 1987- May 12, 1987----Tuesdays----9:00 p.m.… Expand

Creator: Sy Rosen and Mort Lachman

Genre(s): Comedy

Recent Episodes

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S6:E25. Mama's Date
Air Date: May 12, 1987
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S6:E24. Someday, My Prince . . .
Air Date: May 5, 1987
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S6:E23. Save the Church
Air Date: April 28, 1987

See all Seasons and Episodes

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Seasons & Episodes

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Series Overview
Season 6

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- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: September 24, 1986
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  S6:E25. Mama's Date
  Air Date: May 12, 1987
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  S6:E24. Someday, My Prince . . .
  Air Date: May 5, 1987
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  S6:E23. Save the Church
  Air Date: April 28, 1987
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  S6:E22. Parents' Week (2)
  Air Date: April 7, 1987
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  S6:E21. Parents' Week (1)
  Air Date: March 31, 1987
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  S6:E20. Joey the Gigolo
  Air Date: February 25, 1987
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  S6:E19. Joey's Hero
  Air Date: February 11, 1987
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  S6:E18. Joey's Teacher
  Air Date: February 4, 1987
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  S6:E17. Joey's First Crush
  Air Date: January 28, 1987
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  S6:E16. The Window (2)
  Air Date: January 21, 1987
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  S6:E15. The Window (1)
  Air Date: January 21, 1987
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  S6:E14. The Loan
  Air Date: January 14, 1987
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  S6:E13. Nell's Secret Admirer
  Air Date: January 7, 1987
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  S6:E12. Christmas in New York
  Air Date: December 10, 1986
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  S6:E11. The Scam
  Air Date: December 3, 1986
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  S6:E10. Joey the Gambler
  Air Date: November 26, 1986
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  S6:E9. Harry the Hamster
  Air Date: November 19, 1986
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  S6:E8. Nell the Boss
  Air Date: November 12, 1986
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  S6:E7. I Love New York
  Air Date: November 5, 1986
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  S6:E6. The Apartment
  Air Date: October 29, 1986
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  S6:E5. Nell Goes Back to New York
  Air Date: October 15, 1986
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  S6:E4. Joey Meets Matthew
  Air Date: October 8, 1986
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  S6:E3. Below Sea Level
  Air Date: October 1, 1986
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  S6:E2. Sam Goes to College (2)
  Air Date: September 24, 1986
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  S6:E1. Sam Goes to College (1)
  Air Date: September 24, 1986
Season 5

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- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: September 14, 1985
Season 4

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- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: September 29, 1984
Season 3

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- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 29, 1983
Season 2

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- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: October 2, 1982
Season 1

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- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: October 29, 1981