Gimme a Break! 1981
★ 6.7/10 · 31 votes TV-G ComedyFamily 6 seasons · 137 eps Ended
Where to watch:
The Roku Channel
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Quick answer
What is Gimme a Break!?
Gimme a Break! is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1981
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 137
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- First aired
- Oct 29, 1981
- Last aired
- May 12, 1987
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- NBC
- Genres
- Comedy, Family
- Updated
Availability by region
Where to watch
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Estimate the schedule using 137 episodes and an average 30-minute runtime.
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Gimme a Break! is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC. The series premiered on October 29, 1981, and continued to air for several years. It is a comedy and family television show. The show features a housekeeper for a widowed police chief and his three daughters, played by Nell Carter.
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Should you watch it?
“A witty housekeeper navigates life with a widowed police chief and his three daughters.”
Reasons to watch
- Nell Carter's charismatic performance
- strong family dynamics
- blend of humor and heart
Keep in mind
- dated cultural references
- uneven later seasons
you enjoy classic 1980s family sitcoms with strong female leads.
Suitable for general audiences with mild situational comedy and family themes.
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Cast
Nell Carter
Nell Harper
Lara Jill Miller
Sam Kanisky
John Hoyt
Stanley Kanisky
Kari Michaelsen
Katie Kanisky
Lauri Hendler
Julie Kanisky
Joey Lawrence
Joey Donovan
Dolph Sweet
Carl Kanisky
Howard Morton
Ralph Simpson
Telma Hopkins
Addy Wilson
Jonathan Silverman
Jonathan Maxwell
Rosetta LeNoire
Maybelle Harper
Matthew Lawrence
Matthew Donovan
Comprehensive Directory
Episode guide
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Season 1 · 19 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Katie the Crook Mytharc Oct 29, 1981
- E2 A Good Man is Hard to Find Core Nov 5, 1981
- E3 The Second Time Around Core Nov 12, 1981
- E4 Mom's Birthday Core Nov 19, 1981
- E5 Do or Diet Core Nov 26, 1981
- E6 A Man in Nell's Room Core Dec 3, 1981
- E7 Your Prisoner is Dead Core Dec 10, 1981
- E8 Julie's Rejection Core Dec 17, 1981
- E9 Julie's First Love Core Jan 7, 1982
- E10 Nell's Ex Core Jan 14, 1982
- E11 Katie the Cheat Core Jan 21, 1982
- E12 The Emergency Core Feb 4, 1982
- E13 Nell Goes Home Mytharc Feb 11, 1982
- E14 Samantha Steals a Squad Car Core Feb 18, 1982
- E15 Grandma Fools Around Core Feb 25, 1982
- E16 Hot Muffins Core Mar 11, 1982
- E17 Sam's Affair Core Mar 18, 1982
- E18 The Robbery Mytharc Mar 25, 1982
- E19 An Unmarried Couple Mytharc Apr 1, 1982
Season 2 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Nell Goes to Jail Mytharc Oct 2, 1982
- E2 Brother Ed and the Hooker Core Oct 9, 1982
- E3 Sam's Imaginary Friend Core Oct 16, 1982
- E4 Grandpa's Visit Core Oct 23, 1982
- E5 Take My Baby, Please Core Oct 30, 1982
- E6 Porko's Core Nov 6, 1982
- E7 The Chief's Gay Evening Core Nov 13, 1982
- E8 Katie Steals Julie's Jock Core Nov 27, 1982
- E9 Sam Faces Death Core Dec 4, 1982
- E10 Nell Goes Door to Door Core Dec 11, 1982
- E11 Love Thy Neighbor Core Dec 18, 1982
- E12 Love, Kidney Core Jan 6, 1983
- E13 Julie Smokes Core Jan 13, 1983
- E14 The Centerfold (1) Core Jan 20, 1983
- E15 The Centerfold (2) Core Jan 27, 1983
- E16 The Custody Suit Core Feb 10, 1983
- E17 The Return of the Doo-Wop Girls Core Feb 17, 1983
- E18 Eddie Gets Married Core Feb 24, 1983
- E19 Grandpa Robs a Bank Core Mar 3, 1983
- E20 Greenlawn Street Blues Core Mar 10, 1983
- E21 Nell and the Kid Mytharc Apr 28, 1983
- E22 Nell Gets Sick Mytharc May 5, 1983
Season 3 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Groupie Mytharc Sep 29, 1983
- E2 The Way to a Man's Heart Core Oct 13, 1983
- E3 Katie's Commitment Core Oct 20, 1983
- E4 Joey (1) Core Oct 27, 1983
- E5 Joey (2) Core Nov 3, 1983
- E6 The Mayor Core Nov 10, 1983
- E7 Melissa Core Nov 17, 1983
- E8 Nell's Friend Core Dec 1, 1983
- E9 Grandpa's Rebellion Core Dec 8, 1983
- E10 A Kanisky Christmas Core Dec 22, 1983
- E11 Herbie Core Jan 5, 1984
- E12 James Returns Core Jan 12, 1984
- E13 Samantha's Protest Core Jan 19, 1984
- E14 Flashback Core Jan 26, 1984
- E15 Knock Three Times Core Feb 2, 1984
- E16 Valentine Core Feb 9, 1984
- E17 The Big Apple (1) Core Feb 16, 1984
- E18 The Big Apple (2) Core Feb 23, 1984
- E19 Rodeo Mytharc Mar 8, 1984
- E20 Katie's College Core Mar 15, 1984
- E21 The Center Mytharc Apr 19, 1984
- E22 Class of '84 Mytharc May 3, 1984
Season 4 · 25 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 New Orleans (1) Mytharc Sep 29, 1984
- E2 New Orleans (2) Core Oct 6, 1984
- E3 Nell's Birthday Core Oct 13, 1984
- E4 Grandpa's Secret Life Core Oct 20, 1984
- E5 Sam's First Love Core Oct 27, 1984
- E6 Who Dunnit? Mytharc Nov 3, 1984
- E7 Breakdance Core Nov 10, 1984
- E8 Daddy's Little Girl Core Nov 17, 1984
- E9 Carl's Delicate Moment Core Nov 24, 1984
- E10 Julie's Lie Core Dec 1, 1984
- E11 Baby of the Family Core Dec 8, 1984
- E12 TV or Not TV Core Dec 15, 1984
- E13 The Spirit of Christmas Core Dec 22, 1984
- E14 Grandpa's Will Core Jan 5, 1985
- E15 The Answering Machine Core Jan 12, 1985
- E16 The Gift Core Jan 19, 1985
- E17 Alabamy Bound (1) Core Jan 26, 1985
- E18 Alabamy Bound (2) Core Feb 2, 1985
- E19 The Earthquake Core Feb 9, 1985
- E20 The Lookalike Core Feb 16, 1985
- E21 Cat Story Core Feb 23, 1985
- E22 Police Mamas Core Mar 23, 1985
- E23 Monkey See, Monkey Do Core Mar 30, 1985
- E24 Friendship Mytharc May 4, 1985
- E25 Julie's Birthday Mytharc May 11, 1985
Season 5 · 24 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Joey's Train Mytharc Sep 14, 1985
- E2 Ship of Fools (1) Core Sep 21, 1985
- E3 Ship of Fools (2) Core Sep 28, 1985
- E4 The Man From Zoron Core Oct 5, 1985
- E5 Addy's Goodbye Core Oct 19, 1985
- E6 So Long, Jonathan Core Oct 26, 1985
- E7 Mama Core Nov 2, 1985
- E8 Sam's Little Girl Core Nov 9, 1985
- E9 The Elevator Core Nov 16, 1985
- E10 Nell's New Car Core Nov 23, 1985
- E11 Nell's Gifted Child Core Nov 30, 1985
- E12 Katie's Apartment Core Dec 7, 1985
- E13 Snippets Core Dec 14, 1985
- E14 Second Chance (1) Core Jan 4, 1986
- E15 Second Chance (2) Core Jan 11, 1986
- E16 Bienvenido, Jonathan Core Jan 18, 1986
- E17 The Gun Core Feb 1, 1986
- E18 A Lesson for Nell Core Feb 8, 1986
- E19 Pride and Prejudice Core Feb 15, 1986
- E20 Family Reunion Core Feb 22, 1986
- E21 Getting to Know You Core Mar 29, 1986
- E22 Katie's Korner Core Apr 5, 1986
- E23 Found Money Mytharc May 3, 1986
- E24 The Purse Snatcher Mytharc May 10, 1986
Season 6 · 25 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 Sam Goes to College (1) Mytharc Sep 24, 1986
- E2 Sam Goes to College (2) Core Sep 24, 1986
- E3 Below Sea Level Core Oct 1, 1986
- E4 Joey Meets Matthew Core Oct 8, 1986
- E5 Nell Goes Back to New York Core Oct 15, 1986
- E6 The Apartment Core Oct 29, 1986
- E7 I Love New York Core Nov 5, 1986
- E8 Nell the Boss Core Nov 12, 1986
- E9 Harry the Hamster Core Nov 19, 1986
- E10 Joey the Gambler Core Nov 26, 1986
- E11 The Scam Core Dec 3, 1986
- E12 Christmas in New York Core Dec 10, 1986
- E13 Nell's Secret Admirer Core Jan 7, 1987
- E14 The Loan Core Jan 14, 1987
- E15 The Window (1) Core Jan 21, 1987
- E16 The Window (2) Core Jan 21, 1987
- E17 Joey's First Crush Core Jan 28, 1987
- E18 Joey's Teacher Core Feb 4, 1987
- E19 Joey's Hero Core Feb 11, 1987
- E20 Joey the Gigolo Core Feb 25, 1987
- E21 Parents' Week (1) Core Mar 4, 1987
- E22 Parents' Week (2) Core Mar 4, 1987
- E23 Save the Church Core Apr 28, 1987
- E24 Someday, My Prince . . . Mytharc May 5, 1987
- E25 Mama's Date Mytharc May 12, 1987
Verified insights
Frequently asked questions
Who stars in Gimme a Break!?
Nell Carter stars as the housekeeper, alongside Dolph Sweet as the police chief.
How many seasons did Gimme a Break! run?
The show aired for six seasons on NBC.
When did Gimme a Break! premiere?
It premiered on October 29, 1981.
Is Gimme a Break! available to stream?
Availability varies by platform and region; check local streaming services.
What is the show's main premise?
A housekeeper helps raise three daughters after their mother's death while working for their police chief father.
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