Gimme a Break!_
Gimme a Break! is an American sitcom which aired on NBC for six seasons, October 29, 1981, until May 12, 1987. The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief and his three daughters.
Created By
Morton Lachman, Sy Rosen
Network
NBC
Episodes
137
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
The Roku Channel
FREE
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Overview
Gimme a Break! has 6 seasons with 137 episodes spanning 1981-1987.
Nell Carter →
Year context
Gimme a Break! first aired 45 years ago in 1981.
CAST (9)
SEASONS (6 seasons, 137 episodes)
SEASON 1
01
Katie the Crook
In the series premiere, Samantha comes home with a black eye, and Nell teaches her a few skills on how to fight. Julie an her…
02
A Good Man is Hard to Find
Nell and Angie go to a bar to meet guys. However, Nell gets sad that she isn't admired by any of the men. She then…
03
The Second Time Around
A woman accidently hits the cheifs police car, because her contact lense came out as a moth sat on her face. When she meets the…
04
Mom's Birthday
A woman with a perfume gift for Margaret on her birthday shows up, learning that Margaret is deceased. When the Cheif comes home, he is…
05
Do or Diet
Nell decides to hold her PORKO'S meeting at the house, and when she gets on the scale she gets mad because she gained two pounds.…
06
A Man in Nell's Room
When the Cheif finds a man in Nell's room, he tells her he doesn't want her fooling around with guys in the same house as…
07
Your Prisoner is Dead
As he is on an erand at the drug store, the chief witnesses a robber hold up the place. When the robber turns his gun…
08
Julie's Rejection
Julie wants to join Katie's club, and gets help from Nell and Katie on how to be cool, sitting, and dancing. When she shows up…
09
Julie's First Love
Julie goes off to the arcade after having no luck at finding a date to the Junior prom. At the arcade, she meets a worker…
10
Nell's Ex
Nell's finds out that her ex-husband Tony is in town and wants to meet with her. At the house, he tells her that he is…
11
Katie the Cheat
The chief is counting on Katie to do real good on her final exam, but she gets Julie to take it instead. The family is…
12
The Emergency
Katie comes home with pain in her stomache and Nell rushes her to the emergency room. Once there, she meets a pushy receptionist and seeks…
13
Nell Goes Home
As the Cheif is getting ready to leave for an assignment in New York, Samantha is mad that she can't go fishing with a male…
14
Samantha Steals a Squad Car
As the chief is preparing a speech for an awards banquet, Nell accidently sits on his cap, which ticks him off. As the two fight,…
15
Grandma Fools Around
The family gets ready for Grandma and Grandpa's 55th anniversary at the house. Meanwhile, back at their house, Grandma and Grandpa are reminiscing over old…
16
Hot Muffins
Katie's band is a big success in Glenlawn as they perform at amateur night at a restaraunt. A big producer spots them, and tells them…
17
Sam's Affair
Samantha and her friend Scottie from her baseball team decide to sit on the couch and watch some television. As they are intimidated by a…
18
The Robbery
The Kaniskis come home to find burglars at work, when they return home from thei cheif's law enforcement officer of the year award ceremony. However,…
19
An Unmarried Couple
Katie's friend Valerie shows up at the Kanisky house, pregnant and due any day. She tells Katie that her boyfriend Jonathan had a fight with…
SEASON 2
01
Nell Goes to Jail
While Nell is on the phone with Angie, her phone dies out and a second later a man from the phone company takes the phone…
02
Brother Ed and the Hooker
At the bowling alley, the Cheif meets up with Maxine, a prostitute who is used to nail bad cops. When Ed meets Carl at the…
03
Sam's Imaginary Friend
Katie and Julie go out on a double date as Samantha tells everyone to make room for Debbie Jo, an imaginary friend of hers. The…
04
Grandpa's Visit
When Grandma leaves to go see her sick sister who is about to have an operation, Grandpa is sent to live with the family for…
05
Take My Baby, Please
Katie's friend, Valerie shows up at the Kanisky house with her new baby David. She tells the family that she and her husband Jonathan broke…
06
Porko's
Nell hosts another one of her PORKO meetings at the house, where the head of the weight loss group shows up. When he arrives, the…
07
The Chief's Gay Evening
The Chief goes on a stakeout with two officers where they are on lookout for an old-lady targeter. One of the officers dresses up as…
08
Katie Steals Julie's Jock
Julie invites a handsome boy at school to come over to stud with her, but he falls for Katie, and the two go out. When…
09
Sam Faces Death
Nell is out of town at her cousin's funeral as Simpson storms into the house and says that the Cheif was shot but is alright.…
10
Nell Goes Door to Door
Angie tells Nell that she is going on a trip to Mexico with the money she made by selling vaccums. She urges Nell to attend…
11
Love Thy Neighbor
Nell is woken up in the early hours of the morning by a neighbors barking dog. When the Cheif wakes up he sees that she…
12
Love, Kidney
While playing the accordian at dinner, Uncle Ed falls I'll and feints into the fishtank while cooling off. He ends up in the hospital and…
13
Julie Smokes
The Chief finds a cigarrette in his sock and questions each of the girls about it. When he finds out that Samantha and Katie don't…
14
The Centerfold (1)
When Mr. Swackhammer shows up to inform the Cheif about the female officer who posed nude, he rushes into work and tells her she is…
15
The Centerfold (2)
The man who has a bomb strapped to him tells Simpson he knows him from some place. He realizes that he's seen him before at…
16
The Custody Suit
Aunt Blanche pays a visit to the Chief on his birthday and threatens to take custody of the girls after seeing what looks like Nell…
17
The Return of the Doo-Wop Girls
Nell tells about her singing past with a doo-wop girl group. Nell and her two friends years before she met the Kanisky's decide to audition…
18
Eddie Gets Married
At the dinner table, Grandpa insists that Eddie should marry Maxine, since they have been going together for six months, and she says that if…
19
Grandpa Robs a Bank
Grandpa hides a letter from Grandma and she beleives he is cheating on him. When she secretly takes the letter and reads it, she realizes…
20
Greenlawn Street Blues
When Samantha reads Nell part of her essay she is doing on the Cheif for school, Nell tells her it would be a good idea…
21
Nell and the Kid
While at ""Max's Delacatesan"", Nell and Max see a girl shoplifting. Nell saves her from being arrested, telling Max she is taking her home. Nell…
22
Nell Gets Sick
When Nell is sick at home and the Chief going off to Los Angeles for a meeting, he calls his mother to help out around…
SEASON 3
01
The Groupie
Julie wants to meet Andy Gibb and goes to see him after Nell lets her go, despite the fact that the chief grounded her, only…
02
The Way to a Man's Heart
Nell falls for James Roland, a former member of her weight group , who continues to go to the classes on weight loss. He is…
03
Katie's Commitment
Katie becomes involved with a college professor at Glenlawn Junior College who is much older than her. Nell begins to get upset at the man,…
04
Joey (1)
Katie practices her jazz routine to ""Maniac"" for a show that will be taking pace soon in Glenawn. As the family is getting ready, rehearsing…
05
Joey (2)
Joey goes on a hunger strike and says he is not going to an orphanage. Nell then lies to Joey and tells him that she…
06
The Mayor
The Mayor of Glenlawn falls for Nell, who wants nothing to do with him. He tells her that the cheif will get his new patrol…
07
Melissa
The cheif is awarded man of the year, and Nell tries to fix him up with a woman named Melissa. What he doesn't know is…
08
Nell's Friend
While Nell is out getting the Chief's clothes cleaned, Addy Wilson, Nell's childhood friend arrives at the house. She meets the girls, and says Nell's…
09
Grandpa's Rebellion
Nell, the girls and the Cheif fix up the spare room at the house and await Grandpa's arrival home from his trip to Poland. When…
10
A Kanisky Christmas
Joey's first Christmas might be a disaster if Nell doesn't get the whole family together. Samantha is going to babysit for a couple, Julie is…
11
Herbie
Herbie, Samantha's unseen new friend, puts ideas of judgment day into Samantha's head. An earthquake causes Samantha to freak out, and she says she is…
12
James Returns
James wants to start over again with Nell after she meets him at a fancy restaraunt during a girls night out with Addy and Angie.…
13
Samantha's Protest
Samantha protests against demolition of an historic Spanish site after Nell tells her she did the same thing in Alabama when whites would not serve…
14
Flashback
When the Chief tells Samantha that she cannot go out on a date with a boy, Nell decides to tell the girls the story of…
15
Knock Three Times
Nell gets hypnotized to remember where she put Katie's ring for graduation, but she ends up remembering a whole lot of the girls' dirty laundry,…
16
Valentine
Nell gives advice on Valentine's day to the entire family as she waits for James to come home from his visit to Sanfransico. However, in…
17
The Big Apple (1)
Nell & Addy appear & compete on Wheel of Fortune during Best Friends week. Nell has $7,600 & wants to win a car. But after…
18
The Big Apple (2)
Nell calls the Chief for help and he says he will tell a policeman friend of his about it and he will come up to…
19
Rodeo
After the chief & Nell couldn't take Joey to the rodeo in town, Grandpa decides to take him. But that day, it was raining &…
20
Katie's College
Katie decides to ditch college and open her own busines with friend, which the Cheif agrees to. However, Nell doesnt like the idea, because she…
21
The Center
Nell decides to take Grandpa to the senior citizen Center to have some time to spend with people his own age. While there, the seniors…
22
Class of '84
Nell helps write a book report for a straight-A student who has several children to take care of, and is aways exhausted in class. At…
SEASON 4
01
New Orleans (1)
Nell and Joey go to New Orleans where Nells sees a man she hant seen in 15 years. The two take Joey to the World's…
02
New Orleans (2)
Joey and his father reunite, and he takes Joey on a day at the World's fair. He then asks Nell if he can have Joey…
03
Nell's Birthday
Nell gets the bitrhday blues at turning 33. Addy is mocking her as the two are going on a cruise for singles 18-32 years old…
04
Grandpa's Secret Life
An old Polish man finds Grandpa and forces him to marry his daughter. He finds out that Grandpa was the man that came over on…
05
Sam's First Love
Sam is in love with a boy who just happens to be a big heel. He borrows money from the whole family, and when Nell…
06
Who Dunnit?
Nell and Ray Parker, Jr. have a difference of opinion over giving CPR to a fallen man. When the man dies, Nell and Ray decide…
07
Breakdance
When Katie needs money for her business, Joey helps her out by breakdancing at the beach. Nell finds out Joey's grades are slipping in school,…
08
Daddy's Little Girl
While at Skipper Dwayne's for dinner, Addy finds out her car is being towed away as Nell is approached by a sleezeball who wants to…
09
Carl's Delicate Moment
It's a case of sexual harassment when a female officer wants a raise and the Chief will not give it to her. SHe takes the…
10
Julie's Lie
Nell and Addy go up to a ski lodge to find Julie with her boyfriend, Jonathan after they win their big debate. When Jonathan hurts…
11
Baby of the Family
Samantha gets upset at Nell, who disapproves of her going on a camping trip with teenage boys which will not be chapperoned. She gets increasingly…
12
TV or Not TV
After being lifted by a class at night school on how TV tears families apart from one another, Nell decides to make the family stop…
13
The Spirit of Christmas
Nell and Addy decide to spend Christmas in her apartment a few days earlier, since she is going to Alabama for Christmas, and wont be…
14
Grandpa's Will
When the family tells Grandpa to go see a lawyer to make up his will, he refuses in doing so. In the end, Nell finds…
15
The Answering Machine
Nell is mad that her current flame is going on a buisness trip with another woman, so she leaves him a message on his answering…
16
The Gift
Nell disapproves of Katie accepting a diamond necklace from her new boyfriend and tells her to give it back to him. However, when she is…
17
Alabamy Bound (1)
Nell, Addy, and Joey go off to Alabama to arrive for Nell's sister's Wedding. Nell is angered because her mother has not changed, and she…
18
Alabamy Bound (2)
After hearing the news that her sister Loretta insists that Mama Maybelle move to California to live with Nell in Glenlawn after the wedding, Nell…
19
The Earthquake
Nell is having a very bad day, due to the fact that Sal Bonaducci charged her more money for her car being fixed, and the…
20
The Lookalike
Nell books Sammy Davis Jr. to appear to the town of Glenlawn, and sing for them. However, when she calls Sammy to ask him if…
21
Cat Story
Officer Simpson ane the chief go out during a stormy night in Glenlawn, to check upon a bridge that had washed out. When the chief…
22
Police Mamas
When the whole staff at the police station gets food poisoning, it's up to Addy and Nell to help them out. Simpson makes the two…
23
Monkey See, Monkey Do
The chief gets angry Katie after her friend who got a part in a play offers her apartment to her. The Cheif also gets mad…
24
Friendship
Nell is angry that Addy has not called her in over a week, and is doing things with other members of the family and not…
25
Julie's Birthday
On Julies 18th birthday, Nell has a plan to get her and Jonathan back together after they broke up. She keeps orderig pizza, and when…
SEASON 5
01
Joey's Train
Nell is sad and doesnt want anyone to remind her of the Cheif since he pased away. Joey recives part of a toy train the…
02
Ship of Fools (1)
Nell decides to take her ex-husband's offer up on performing on his ship. While she is on the ship,she finds out that Tony has left…
03
Ship of Fools (2)
While continuing to perform on Tony's ship, Nell discovers that he has fallen in love all over again with a woman that Joey befriends on…
04
The Man From Zoron
Joey is saved by a man from being hit by a bus, and when the man tells his family that he is from another planet,…
05
Addy's Goodbye
Nell finds out Addy was given a teaching job as the a Dean at Columbia University by a professor she despises and thinks is tricky.…
06
So Long, Jonathan
Jonathan leaves on his archeological Mexican dig project. In the meantime, back at the Kanisky house, Julie finds out that she is pregnant with his…
07
Mama
Mama Maybelle arrives in Glenlawn to visit Nell, and tells her that she has to have an eye operation, and fears that she may never…
08
Sam's Little Girl
Sam is taking the role of a big sister to a girl named Pam, a kid from a single-parent home. When Pam arrives at the…
09
The Elevator
Nell finds out that Addy is engaged to be married to her dentist, who has been previously married before, and has several children from each…
10
Nell's New Car
Nell finds out Addy is selling her car, and wants to be the first one to take it off her hands. However, Angies sister has…
11
Nell's Gifted Child
Nel finds out that Joey is a gifted child, and should take a test to see what grade he should be placed into. When Joey…
12
Katie's Apartment
Nell finds out that Katie is dating a married author of a famous book. She tells Katie to stop seeing him, and she tells her…
13
Snippets
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…
14
Second Chance (1)
Nell decides to quit college and pursue a real singing career. She becomes the manager for an ex-con who wrote a song in jail and…
15
Second Chance (2)
The ex-con is sad that Gary hated the song, and decides that singing is not the career for him. Nell then appears on Gary Collins'…
16
Bienvenido, Jonathan
Jonathan returns home, giving attention to everyone accept Julie, who beleives that Jonathan doesn't love her anymore. In the end, Jonathan tells Nell that he…
17
The Gun
Joey accidently shoots Nell when he finds the cheif's gun in one of her dresser drawers. The whole family, including Mama Maybell, who comes for…
18
A Lesson for Nell
Nell finds out that Grandpa is dating Sally Parsons, who was previously dating Officer Simpson. When Simpson finds out he takes it like a baby,…
19
Pride and Prejudice
Nel is rejected for a job as a receptionist because she thinks she is black. When Addy decdies to go for the same job as…
20
Family Reunion
Nell's sister Loretta comes to town when she decides to leave Howard. She confides in Nell on what to do, but Nell doesn't know what…
21
Getting to Know You
When Officer Simpson leaves his cousins adopted children with Nell to babysit for her, her date who is at the house at the time lets…
22
Katie's Korner
Katie, who has been sad since her latest boyfriend left her and is now engaged, is going broke and is deciding to close Katie's Korner.…
23
Found Money
When Nell's grandmother passes away and leaves her a nice amount of money, she decides to split it with the family, and decides to let…
24
The Purse Snatcher
As she is at a Greek restaraunt with her freinds, Nell's purse is stolen, which upsets everyone. However, the two Grek waiters have their own…
SEASON 6
01
Sam Goes to College (1)
Samantha, excitied that she has gotten into Littlfield College in New Jersey, is let down when she recieves a letter in the mail, saying that…
02
Sam Goes to College (2)
Nell continues to talk Samantha out of moving to Sanfransisco with Katie. She then realizes that Samantha is still 17, and she has legal control…
03
Below Sea Level
Nell and Joey fly to New Jersy to move Samantha to her college living space at Littlefield College. While they are there, and New York…
04
Joey Meets Matthew
Joey meets Matthew finally, and is mad that he has a little brother. Tim says that he has some matters to take care of and…
05
Nell Goes Back to New York
Nell recives a letter from Joey in New York, telling her that he is fine, but she knows that Tim is not taking proper care…
06
The Apartment
Nell tries to get a job at a famous New York publishing company. She then decides to rent an apartment in Greenwich Village where she,…
07
I Love New York
Nell is fed up with the new apartment in New York, and tells Addy she wants to go back to Glenlawn to get some of…
08
Nell the Boss
After Addy is laid off at the University for going on strike, Nell hires her as an assistant at Mcdillon and Loud's publishing company where…
09
Harry the Hamster
Nell is furious when she hears a squeaking noise coming from Joey and Matthew's room. When she checks in on them, she finds out that…
10
Joey the Gambler
Joey begins to run ilegal gambling tickets from the staff at El Gatspacio, and Nell is horrified when she finds out he was picked up…
11
The Scam
As Nell and her mother are at the bank to put items into Mama Maybelle's safe deposit box, a con man shows up, tells Nell…
12
Christmas in New York
Nell decides to buy a Christmas tree, as does Addy, who both know that it costs too much for one in New York. As the…
13
Nell's Secret Admirer
Nell gets a call from her highschool secret admirer, whom she never knew personally in Alabama. She decides to met him at El Gatspacio since…
14
The Loan
Nell gives Addy a loan to buy a new dress to attend a gala event, knowing that she will pay her back in no time…
15
The Window (1)
Nell has a better job in her company as a book editor. However, that tears her away from staying with the boys. When Joey tells…
16
The Window (2)
Nell decides to quit her job so she could stay home with the boys. So Nell decides to get a new job instead. When she…
17
Joey's First Crush
Joey begins to have a crush on Maggie, and at her husband's birthday party, Nell finds out that he wants to leave New York behind…
18
Joey's Teacher
Joey is upset because his teacher, Mr. Gronomeir keeps hating him. When Nell invites him to the house to talk about Joey, he trips on…
19
Joey's Hero
When Joey's favorite television star ""Captain Jerk"", is hospitalized after swallowing a whistle, it is up to Nell to give him a blood transfusion since…
20
Joey the Gigolo
Nell knows that her boss is beginning to fire many workers on the job, and when she finds out he has a daughter named Molly…
21
Parents' Week (1)
Nell finds out that it is Parents Week at Littlefield College in New Jersy, and she is upset that Samantha didn't invite her to attend…
22
Parents' Week (2)
Nell tries to convice Samantha to stay in college, and in the end, is successful at doing so. She also is successful at helping a…
23
Save the Church
Nell prepares for Mary-Ellen Baldwin's arrival, a snobbish foe of hers from Alabama. She arrives in New York to tell Mama Maybelle along with Nell…
24
Someday, My Prince . . .
Nell is wooed by an African man who invented chocolate chip cookies in his African country. She is given a necklace by him, and is…
25
Mama's Date
When Grandpa comes to get the boys' pajamas, since they are sleeping in his apartment because Addy is sick in bed, he tells Nell that…
SERIES INFO
6
Seasons
137
Episodes
30 min/ep
Per Episode
Ended
Status
CREW
Creator
Morton Lachman
Creator
Sy Rosen
NETWORKS (1)
NBC
AWARDS (1)
B
Genesis Award
WON
DETAILS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Gimme a Break! about?
Gimme a Break! is an American sitcom which aired on NBC for six seasons, October 29, 1981, until May 12, 1987. The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief and his three daughters.
Where can I watch Gimme a Break!?
Gimme a Break! is available on The Roku Channel. Availability varies by region.
How many seasons does Gimme a Break! have?
Gimme a Break! has 6 seasons with 137 episodes total.
Who created Gimme a Break!?
Gimme a Break! was created by Morton Lachman and Sy Rosen.
Who stars in Gimme a Break!?
The cast of Gimme a Break! includes Nell Carter, Lara Jill Miller, John Hoyt, Joey Lawrence, Telma Hopkins.
What is the rating of Gimme a Break!?
Gimme a Break! has a rating of 6.6 out of 10 based on 28 votes on TMDB.
Is Gimme a Break! still running?
Gimme a Break! has ended. The final episode aired on .
GENRES (2)
Comedy
Family