| Genre: | Sitcom |
| Theme Music Composer: | Bob Christianson (first two seasons only) Jay Graydon |
| Opentheme: | "Gimme a Break" performed by Nell Carter |
| Composer: | Bob Christianson |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 6 |
| Num Episodes: | 137 |
| List Episodes: | List of Gimme a Break! episodes |
| Runtime: | 24–25 minutes |
| Network: | NBC |
Gimme a Break! is an American television sitcom created by Mort Lachman and Sy Rosen that aired on NBC for six seasons from October 29, 1981, to May 12, 1987. The series starred Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief (Dolph Sweet) and his three daughters.
The sitcom takes place in Glenlawn, a fictional suburb in California. Nellie Ruth "Nell" Harper (Nell Carter) agrees to look after the Kanisky household as a special favor to her dying friend Margaret Huffman Kanisky (played in flashback by Sharon Spelman), who was the wife of police chief Carl Kanisky (Dolph Sweet), serving as a parental figure to the chief's three teenaged daughters, Katie (Kari Michaelsen), Julie (Lauri Hendler), and Samantha (Lara Jill Miller). A foster son, Joey (Joey Lawrence), was added to the Kanisky household in season three.
Five episodes into the sixth and final season, the show changed locales from Glenlawn to New York City, when Nell, concerned for Joey's welfare after he moved there with his absentee father, traveled there to check on him. She subsequently assumed guardianship of Joey and his younger brother Matthew (played by Joey Lawrence's real-life brother Matthew Lawrence) at their father's request, and was forced to permanently relocate there after Chief Kanisky's father Stanley (John Hoyt) sold the family's Glenlawn home.
Over the six-year run, celebrities often appeared on the show, including singers Whitney Houston, Andy Gibb, Sammy Davis Jr., Ray Parker Jr., and The Pointer Sisters. More often than not, the guest singers would perform a song with Nell on the episodes. During the third season, Pat Sajak guest-starred as himself when Nell and her friend Addy (Telma Hopkins) were contestants on Wheel of Fortune. Other notable guest stars included Milton Berle, Danny Glover, Rue McClanahan, Tony Randall, Helen Hunt, Don Rickles, Gwen Verdon, Dennis Haysbert, Ernie Hudson, Gary Collins, and Elizabeth Berkley.
The episode "Cat Story" was performed and broadcast live on March 2, 1985, as a promotional gimmick, which the cast performed without major incident. An earlier episode (from the 1984–85 season), "Baby of the Family", ranked number 38 on TV Land's list of "The 100 Most Unexpected TV Moments"; it depicted Joey dressing and performing in blackface at Nell's church benefit, a plan hatched by Samantha to retaliate for Nell forbidding her to go on an unchaperoned camping trip.[1]
| Season | Time | Nielsen Ratings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday at 9:30–10:00 |
| ||
| Saturday at 9:00–9:30 (1982) Thursday at 9:00–9:30 (1983) |
| ||
| Thursday at 8:00–8:30 |
| ||
| Saturday at 8:30–9:00 (Episodes 1–9) Saturday at 9:00–9:30 (Episodes 10–25) | 14.2 rating/24 share, #41[2] | ||
| Saturday at 8:00–8:30 |
| ||
| Wednesday at 9:00–9:30 (Episodes 1, 3–15, 17–21) Wednesday at 9:30–10:00 (Episodes 2, 16, 22) Tuesday at 9:00–9:30 (Episodes 23–25) | 14.3 rating, #46[4] |
See main article: List of Gimme a Break! episodes.
The show was produced by Alan Landsburg Productions (renamed as Reeves Entertainment Group in 1985). The US syndication rights are held by NBCUniversal Television Distribution, the successor company to original syndicator MCA TV. FremantleMedia owns the international rights, as they own Thames Television, which acquired Reeves Entertainment Group in 1990. The creators of the show were Mort Lachman and Sy Rosen. The series was taped at Metromedia Square in Hollywood before a studio audience.
Over its run, the series used two different theme songs. The first was composed by Bob Christianson with lyrics by Bob Garrett and Marley Sims; two versions of this song were used, one for the first season and a new recording for the second. A new theme, with music by Jay Graydon and lyrics by Richard Page, was introduced in the third season and used for the remainder of the show's run. The new theme has similarities to the first but with a more positive attitude. Carter performed both themes.
Carter distanced herself from the show following its run. “I don't want to go to my grave being known as the girl from 'Gimme a Break,’” she told The New York Times in 1988. “That wasn't me; it was just a job.”[5]
The show received mixed reviews from critics when it premiered. Writing for the Washington Post, Tom Shales wrote an especially scathing review of the pilot episode. “I wish I could sue NBC for the grievous consternation, intestinal distress and aggravated low moaning I have suffered as a result of ‘Gimme a Break,’” Shales wrote, going on to criticize the show’s sex jokes and what he found to be the racial stereotypes embodied by Carter’s character. “If I thought television could get substantially worse than this, I am not sure I would have the courage or desire ever to turn the set on again,” Shales concluded.[6]
By contrast, the New York Times found the show promising, praising the performances of Carter and Sweet and the way the show balanced wisecracks with bits of seriousness. “The abrupt changes in tone are handled adroitly,” John J. O’Connor wrote. “Given some supportive scripts, Miss Carter and Mr. Sweet could insure a good run for this series.”[7]
The show has been in syndication since 1985. Reruns have also aired nationally on WWOR EMI Service and USA.[8] [9] [10] [11] U.S. distribution rights are owned by NBCUniversal Syndication Studios, successor in interest to previous syndicator MCA TV. Reruns of the series are a mainstay of many of Sinclair Broadcast Group's The CW, MeTV and MyNetworkTV stations, especially in low-traffic time periods, due to the low-cost barter setup of the now defunct The Program Exchange.
Antenna TV aired the show from January 2, 2018, until December 31, 2021. Cozi TV started airing the show from January 3, 2022, to December 2023.
Tubi acquired all seasons of the show on February 1, 2022, and it was available until January 31, 2024.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment released a three-disc DVD of the complete first season of Gimme a Break! on February 14, 2006, available in the United States only. The Complete Series is now available in the US.
Visual Entertainment (under license from FremantleMedia) released the first two seasons of Gimme a Break! on DVD in Canada in 2006–07. In 2009, VEI announced that they plan on releasing the entire series in a complete series box set in 2010.[12] VEI released Gimme a Break! The Complete Series on DVD in Canada on July 20, 2010.[13] As of 2013, these releases have been discontinued and are out of print.
Originally airing on La Cinq, the series is called Allô Nelly bobo (Hello Nelly bobo) in 1991. Later, as part of a block called Club Dorothée under the title Trois filles à la maison (Three Girls at Home) on TF1 in 1993.
Airing on Canale 5, the series is called La piccola grande Nell (The Little Big Nell).
Simply Media TV Ltd released the first and second series in the UK, although the series has never been broadcast on British television.
Nell Carter received two Emmy nominations as Best Actress in a Comedy Series.[14] and two Golden Globe nominations as Best Actress in a Television Series-Comedy or Musical.[15]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Nell Carter | ||
| Golden Globe Award | Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy | ||||
| Young Artist Award | Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series | Kari Michaelsen | |||
| 1983 | Young Artist Award | Lauri Hendler | |||
| Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Nell Carter | |||
| 1984 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy | |||
| Young Artist Award | Best Young Actress in a Television Comedy Series | Lauri Hendler | |||
| Best Young Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy Series | Joey Lawrence | ||||
| Best Young Supporting Actress in a Television Comedy Series | Lara Jill Miller | ||||
| 1985 | Young Artist Award | Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series | Joey Lawrence |