"Gimme a Break!" (1981) TV series 1981-1987

Creators:

Mort Lachman
Sy Rosen
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

29 October 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Carl Kanisky is chief of police in Glenlawn, California. After the death of his wife, Margaret, he asks her friend...

Plot Keywords:

California | Housekeeper | Widower | Polish | African American

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 12 nominations

Cast

Nell Carter	...	Nellie Ruth 'Nell' Harper (137 episodes, 1981-1987)
Lara Jill Miller	...	Samantha 'Sam' Kanisky (107 episodes, 1981-1987)
Lauri Hendler	...	Julie Kanisky / ... (97 episodes, 1981-1986)
Kari Michaelson	...	Katie Kanisky (96 episodes, 1981-1986)
Dolph Sweet	...	Chief Carl Kanisky (83 episodes, 1981-1985)
John Hoyt	...	Grandpa Stanley Kanisky (78 episodes, 1982-1987)
Joseph Lawrence	...	Joey Donovan (77 episodes, 1983-1987)
Telma Hopkins	...	Addy Wilson (68 episodes, 1983-1987)
Howard Morton	...	Officer Ralph Simpson (50 episodes, 1981-1986)

Series Directed by
Hal Cooper		(81 episodes, 1983-1987)
Jim Drake		(14 episodes, 1982-1983)
Linda Day		(10 episodes, 1981-1987)
Will Mackenzie		(7 episodes, 1981-1982)
Tony Singletary		(5 episodes, 1982-1987)
Patrick Maloney		(4 episodes, 1986-1987)
Phil Ramuno		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Dick Harwood		(2 episodes, 1981-1982)
Howard Storm		(2 episodes, 1981)
John Bowab		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Oz Scott		(2 episodes, 1983)
Jules Lichtman		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Writing credits
Arthur Julian		(28 episodes, 1983-1987)
Mady Julian		(20 episodes, 1984-1987)
Ted Bergmann		(13 episodes, 1981-1983)
Terry Hart		(13 episodes, 1985-1987)
Chip Keyes		(8 episodes, 1981-1982)
Doug Keyes		(8 episodes, 1981-1982)
Rod Parker		(8 episodes, 1983-1987)
Tom Biener		(8 episodes, 1983-1985)
Ron Landry		(8 episodes, 1983-1985)
Gary H. Miller		(7 episodes, 1983-1985)
Pam Veasey		(6 episodes, 1986-1987)
Ron Bloomberg		(5 episodes, 1984-1985)
J. Stanford Parker		(4 episodes, 1981-1983)
Chet Dowling		(4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Sandy Krinski		(4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Joan Brooker		(4 episodes, 1985-1987)
Nancy Eddo		(4 episodes, 1985-1987)
Mort Lachman		(3 episodes, 1981-1985)
Sy Rosen		(3 episodes, 1981-1985)
Booker Bradshaw		(3 episodes, 1981-1983)
Coleman Mitchell		(3 episodes, 1981-1983)
Geoffrey Neigher		(3 episodes, 1981-1983)
Hal Cooper		(3 episodes, 1983-1985)
Ed Jurist		(3 episodes, 1983)
Larry Rhine		(3 episodes, 1983)
Erik Tarloff		(2 episodes, 1981-1982)
Gina Goldman		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Rob Kaplan		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Pamela Norris		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Produced by
Mort Lachman	....	executive producer (8 episodes, 1981-1986)
Hal Cooper	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 1983-1986)
Terri Guarnieri	....	associate producer / coordinating producer (6 episodes, 1983-1986)
Arthur Julian	....	producer (6 episodes, 1983-1986)
Rod Parker	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 1983-1986)
Coleman Mitchell	....	producer (2 episodes, 1981-1983)
Geoffrey Neigher	....	producer (2 episodes, 1981-1983)
Jan Siegelman	....	associate producer (1 episode, 1982-1983)
Marica Govons	....	associate producer (unknown episodes, 1986-1987)
Brigit Jensen	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Gayle S. Maffeo	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Bob Christianson		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Kelly Sandefur		(1 episode, 1983)

Series Casting by
Randy Stone		(2 episodes, 1985)

Series Art Direction by
Chris Idoine		(3 episodes, 1983-1985)
Chuck Murawski		(3 episodes, 1983-1985)

Series Costume Design by
Palmer Brown		(3 episodes, 1983-1985)

Series Makeup Department
Linda Cowan	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1985)
Pamela Huggins	....	hair stylist: Nell Carter (2 episodes, 1985)
June Josef	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1985)
Jaren Millard	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1985)
Maria Valdivia	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1985)

Series Production Management
Mary Ellen Jones	....	unit manager (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Douglas Wellman	....	unit manager (19 episodes, 1981-1982)
Howard Lipstone	....	executive in charge of production (3 episodes, 1983-1985)
Patty Gary Cox	....	unit manager (2 episodes, 1985)
Debbie Elbin Penchina	....	unit production manager: NY (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Patrick Maloney	....	associate director (3 episodes, 1983-1985)

Series Art Department
Ed Beceril	....	property master (2 episodes, 1985)
Larry Buck	....	property master (2 episodes, 1985)

Series Sound Department
Sam Mallaun	....	audio (3 episodes, 1983-1985)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Roberts	....	lighting director (3 episodes, 1983-1985)

Series Casting Department
Randy Stone	....	casting (1 episode, 1983)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Shawna McGee	....	costumes: Nell Carter (2 episodes, 1985)
Jefferson Beeker	....	costumes: Miss Carter (unknown episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Editorial Department
Harold McKenzie	....	editor: videotape (2 episodes, 1985)

Series Music Department
Jay Graydon	....	composer: theme music (3 episodes, 1983-1985)

Series Other crew
Franco Bario	....	production assistant / production coordinator (48 episodes, 1985-1987)
Michael Mount	....	production executive (31 episodes, 1982-1983)
Rod Parker	....	script supervisor / executive story supervisor / ... (6 episodes, 1983-1986)
Tom Biener	....	executive script consultant / executive story consultant (5 episodes, 1983-1985)
Ron Landry	....	executive script consultant / executive story consultant (5 episodes, 1983-1985)
Gary H. Miller	....	executive story editor / story editor (5 episodes, 1983-1985)
Arthur Julian	....	executive story supervisor / executive script supervisor / ... (4 episodes, 1984-1986)
Gus Hornsby	....	story editor (4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Lorraine Sevre-Richmond	....	production associate (3 episodes, 1983-1985)
Tom Milo	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1984-1986)
Franklin Jones	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1985)
Bill Koshoway	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1985)
Kate McCallum	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1985)
Gwen McCracken	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1985)
Jeffrey M. Meyer	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1985)
Wendy Murphey	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1985)
Meredith Siler	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1985)
Adam Waynert	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1985)
Dick Woodka	....	technical director (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Alan Landsburg Productions
• Mort Lachman & Associates
• Reeves Entertainment Group

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1981) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Fremantle Media (2001-) (non-USA) (TV)
• MCA Television
• MCA/Universal Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Studios USA Television
• The Program Exchange (2006-) (USA) (TV) (syndication)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal TV
• VEI Entertainment (2006) (Canada) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Metromedia Square  videotaping location

Runtime:

30 min (137 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Metromedia Square - 5746 W. Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Alan Landsburg Productions

Trivia:

Tracey Gold was originally tapped to play Samantha, but at the last moment was replaced by Lara Jill Miller.

Goofs:

Continuity: The front door of the set has a brass mail slot, but exterior shots are of a door with no slot.

Quotes:

Katie: Dad, it's hard for Nell to stick to her diet when you're stuffing your face like that.
Chief: I'm not stuffing.
Nell: Right. He's eating for two in case he gets pregnant.
Chief: See what happens? You take away their trough and they get vicious?
Nell: It's no problem. I'm eating clean, lean, and healthy. After all, you are what you eat. Another helping of jackass, Chief?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Night of 100 Stars II (1985) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Gimme a Break

A Stunning tribune to Nell Carter

"Gimme A Break" was one of those shows that always had something going for itself and for one this was out of a pick of standard 80's family shows that hit a home run and so much more with the prime essential element of actress Nell Carter,who was also a accomplish Broadway singer/dancer who won a Tony award for her work in "Ain't Misbehavin" in 1978. The show "Gimme A Break" was based on a cop who moved his family from New York to California after his wife Margaret passed away and also became the chief of police in a small fictional California town who in turn had this housekeeper named Nell who was no only in charge of the household,but also was in charge of his three daughters too in which Nell was not only the mother to them,but she had some tough love around that too. For the six seasons that in ran on NBC-TV(1981-1987) in the eighties,this was one of those shows that was constantly in the top ten ratings during its run on the Peacock network. Though the sitcom was hardly groundbreaking for its time,the series earned Nell Carter two Emmy nominations for her work and in turn gave her an opportunity to sing and dance in some of the episodes occasionally.

The show itself was a launching pad for three young performers who would go on to be stars: Joey Lawrence,Matthew Lawrence(both of whom landed key roles on other TV sitcom series and also have recording careers),along with actress Telma Hopkins(of Tony Orlando and Dawn,and later on with Family Matters,and Half and Half),and in its final season Rosie O'Donnell(before she would break out in daytime television). The series was produced by Alan Landsburg(who was also crank out other sitcoms like Kate & Allie,and In Search Of with Leonard Nimoy). However,when the show went off the air in 1987,she returned to do several other series and also was a spokeswoman for Liberty Medical Insurance Company(who in turn spoke out about the effects of diabetes since she was a diabetic herself). However,Nell Carter is no longer with us(she passed away on January 23,2002 at the age of 54)but her presence with that series will always remained in our hearts since she was a entertainment legend. She will be truly missed.