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Gimme a Break!

Nellie Ruth "Nell" Harper agrees to be a housekeeper for the Kanisky household as a favor to her late friend, Margaret Huffman Kanisky, who was the wife of police chief Carl Kanisky. Nell also serves as a parent to the Chief's three daughters, Katie, Julie, and Samantha.

Genres: Comedy, Family

Premiered: 1981-10-29

Runtime: 30 mins

Status: Ended

Rating: 4.8/10

Network: NBC

Main Cast

Nell Carter
as Nellie Ruth 'Nell' Harper

John Hoyt
as Grandpa Stanley Kanisky

Kari Michaelson
as Katie Kanisky

Lauri Hendler
as Julie Kanisky Maxwell

Lara Jill Miller
as Samantha Kanisky

Joey Lawrence
as Joey Donovan

Dolph Sweet
as Chief Carl Kanisky

Telma Hopkins
as Dr. Adelaide "Addy" Wilson

Howard Morton
as Officer Ralph Simpson

Rosetta LeNoire
as Maybelle "Mama Maybelle" Harper

Paul Sand
as Marty

Rosie O'Donnell
as Maggie O'Brien

Matthew Lawrence
as Matthew Donovan

Jonathan Silverman
as Jonathan Maxwell

Episode Guide

Season 1

Episode 1: Katie the Crook
Aired: Oct 29, 1981
No summary available.
Episode 2: A Good Man is Hard to Find
Aired: Nov 5, 1981
No summary available.
Episode 3: The Second Time Around
Aired: Nov 12, 1981
No summary available.
Episode 4: Mom's Birthday
Aired: Nov 19, 1981
No summary available.
Episode 5: Do or Diet
Aired: Nov 26, 1981
No summary available.
Episode 6: A Man in Nell's Room
Aired: Dec 3, 1981
No summary available.
Episode 7: Your Prisoner is Dead
Aired: Dec 10, 1981
No summary available.
Episode 8: Julie's Rejection
Aired: Dec 17, 1981
No summary available.
Episode 9: Julie's First Love
Aired: Jan 7, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 10: Nell's Ex
Aired: Jan 14, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 11: Katie the Cheat
Aired: Jan 21, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 12: The Emergency
Aired: Feb 4, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 13: Nell Goes Home
Aired: Feb 11, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 14: Samantha Steals a Squad Car
Aired: Feb 18, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 15: Grandma Fools Around
Aired: Feb 25, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 16: Hot Muffins
Aired: Mar 11, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 17: Sam's Affair
Aired: Mar 18, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 18: The Robbery
Aired: Mar 25, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 19: An Unmarried Couple
Aired: Apr 1, 1982
No summary available.

Season 2

Episode 1: Nell Goes to Jail
Aired: Oct 2, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 2: Brother Ed and the Hooker
Aired: Oct 9, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 3: Sam's Imaginary Friend
Aired: Oct 16, 1982
Sam acquires an imaginary friend the rest of the family wants to get rid of.
Episode 4: Grandpa's Visit
Aired: Oct 23, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 5: Take My Baby, Please
Aired: Oct 30, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 6: Porko's
Aired: Nov 6, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 7: The Chief's Gay Evening
Aired: Nov 13, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 8: Katie Steals Julie's Jock
Aired: Nov 27, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 9: Sam Faces Death
Aired: Dec 4, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 10: Nell Goes Door to Door
Aired: Dec 11, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 11: Love Thy Neighbor
Aired: Dec 18, 1982
No summary available.
Episode 12: Love, Kidney
Aired: Jan 6, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 13: Julie Smokes
Aired: Jan 13, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 14: The Centerfold (1)
Aired: Jan 20, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 15: The Centerfold (2)
Aired: Jan 27, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 16: The Custody Suit
Aired: Feb 10, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 17: The Return of the Doo-Wop Girls
Aired: Feb 17, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 18: Eddie Gets Married
Aired: Feb 24, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 19: Grandpa Robs a Bank
Aired: Mar 3, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 20: Greenlawn Street Blues
Aired: Mar 10, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 21: Nell and the Kid
Aired: Apr 28, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 22: Nell Gets Sick
Aired: May 5, 1983
No summary available.

Season 3

Episode 1: The Groupie
Aired: Sep 29, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 2: The Way to a Man's Heart
Aired: Oct 13, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 3: Katie's Commitment
Aired: Oct 20, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 4: Joey (1)
Aired: Oct 27, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 5: Joey (2)
Aired: Nov 3, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 6: The Mayor
Aired: Nov 10, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 7: Melissa
Aired: Nov 17, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 8: Nell's Friend
Aired: Dec 1, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 9: Grandpa's Rebellion
Aired: Dec 8, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 10: A Kanisky Christmas
Aired: Dec 22, 1983
No summary available.
Episode 11: Herbie
Aired: Jan 5, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 12: James Returns
Aired: Jan 12, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 13: Samantha's Protest
Aired: Jan 19, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 14: Flashback
Aired: Jan 26, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 15: Knock Three Times
Aired: Feb 2, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 16: Valentine
Aired: Feb 9, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 17: The Big Apple (1)
Aired: Feb 16, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 18: The Big Apple (2)
Aired: Feb 23, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 19: Rodeo
Aired: Mar 8, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 20: Katie's College
Aired: Mar 15, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 21: The Center
Aired: Apr 19, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 22: Class of '84
Aired: May 3, 1984
No summary available.

Season 4

Episode 1: New Orleans (1) (a.k.a.) Joey Goes to New Orleans (1)
Aired: Sep 29, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 2: New Orleans (2) (a.k.a.) Joey Goes to New Orleans (2)
Aired: Oct 6, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 3: Nell's Birthday
Aired: Oct 13, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 4: Grandpa's Secret Life
Aired: Oct 20, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 5: Sam's First Love
Aired: Oct 27, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 6: Who Dunnit?
Aired: Nov 3, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 7: Breakdance
Aired: Nov 10, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 8: Daddy's Little Girl
Aired: Nov 17, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 9: Carl's Delicate Moment
Aired: Nov 24, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 10: Julie's Lie
Aired: Dec 1, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 11: Baby of the Family
Aired: Dec 8, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 12: TV or Not TV
Aired: Dec 15, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 13: The Spirit of Christmas
Aired: Dec 22, 1984
No summary available.
Episode 14: Grandpa's Will
Aired: Jan 5, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 15: The Answering Machine
Aired: Jan 12, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 16: The Gift
Aired: Jan 19, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 17: Alabamy Bound (1)
Aired: Jan 26, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 18: Alabamy Bound (2)
Aired: Feb 2, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 19: The Earthquake
Aired: Feb 9, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 20: The Lookalike
Aired: Feb 16, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 21: Cat Story
Aired: Feb 23, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 22: Police Mamas
Aired: Mar 23, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 23: Monkey See, Monkey Do
Aired: Mar 30, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 24: Friendship
Aired: May 4, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 25: Julie's Birthday
Aired: May 11, 1985
No summary available.

Season 5

Episode 1: Joey's Train
Aired: Sep 14, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 2: Ship of Fools (1)
Aired: Sep 21, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 3: Ship of Fools (2)
Aired: Sep 28, 1985
While Nell is working aboard her former husband Tony's ship as a performer, Joey accompanies her on the journey, and after he makes a new friend on the ship, Tony begins to develop romantic feelings for the familiar person.
Episode 4: The Man From Zoron
Aired: Oct 5, 1985
After a mysterious stranger saves young Joey from being struck by a bus, the stranger claims that he is from a different planet, and while he continues to visit the family, Nell attempts to have him reveal his true origins.
Episode 5: Addy's Goodbye
Aired: Oct 19, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 6: So Long, Jonathan
Aired: Oct 26, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 7: Mama
Aired: Nov 2, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 8: Sam's Little Girl
Aired: Nov 9, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 9: The Elevator
Aired: Nov 16, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 10: Nell's New Car
Aired: Nov 23, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 11: Nell's Gifted Child
Aired: Nov 30, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 12: Katie's Apartment
Aired: Dec 7, 1985
No summary available.
Episode 13: Snippets
Aired: Dec 14, 1985
Nell and the gang decorate the Christmas tree as Joey pretends that he is sick, but wants to help out as well. During the Christmas gathering, the family recalls events from the past. In the end, Joey tells Nell that he was only pretending to be sick because he didn't have enough money to buy her a Christmas present, but she tells him it doesn't matter.
Episode 14: Second Chance (1)
Aired: Jan 4, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 15: Second Chance (2)
Aired: Jan 11, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 16: Bienvenido, Jonathan
Aired: Jan 18, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 17: The Gun
Aired: Feb 1, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 18: A Lesson for Nell
Aired: Feb 8, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 19: Pride and Prejudice
Aired: Feb 15, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 20: Family Reunion
Aired: Feb 22, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 21: Getting to Know You
Aired: Mar 29, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 22: Katie's Korner
Aired: Apr 5, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 23: Found Money
Aired: May 3, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 24: The Purse Snatcher
Aired: May 10, 1986
No summary available.

Season 6

Episode 1: Sam Goes to College (1)
Aired: Sep 24, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 2: Sam Goes to College (2)
Aired: Sep 24, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 3: Below Sea Level
Aired: Oct 1, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 4: Joey Meets Matthew
Aired: Oct 8, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 5: Nell Goes Back to New York
Aired: Oct 15, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 6: The Apartment
Aired: Oct 29, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 7: I Love New York
Aired: Nov 5, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 8: Nell the Boss
Aired: Nov 12, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 9: Harry the Hamster
Aired: Nov 19, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 10: Joey the Gambler
Aired: Nov 26, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 11: The Scam
Aired: Dec 3, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 12: Christmas in New York
Aired: Dec 10, 1986
No summary available.
Episode 13: Nell's Secret Admirer
Aired: Jan 7, 1987
No summary available.
Episode 14: The Loan
Aired: Jan 14, 1987
No summary available.
Episode 15: The Window (1)
Aired: Jan 21, 1987
No summary available.
Episode 16: The Window (2)
Aired: Jan 21, 1987
No summary available.
Episode 17: Joey's First Crush
Aired: Jan 28, 1987
No summary available.
Episode 18: Joey's Teacher
Aired: Feb 4, 1987
No summary available.
Episode 19: Joey's Hero
Aired: Feb 11, 1987
No summary available.
Episode 20: Joey the Gigolo
Aired: Feb 25, 1987
No summary available.
Episode 21: Parents' Week (1)
Aired: Feb 25, 1987
No summary available.
Episode 22: Parents' Week (2)
Aired: Mar 4, 1987
No summary available.
Episode 23: Save the Church
Aired: Apr 28, 1987
No summary available.
Episode 24: Someday, My Prince . . .
Aired: May 5, 1987
No summary available.
Episode 25: Mama's Date
Aired: May 12, 1987
No summary available.