"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 Michaelsen	...	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
Mort Lachman		(137 episodes, 1981-1987)
Sy Rosen		(137 episodes, 1981-1987)
Arthur Julian		(28 episodes, 1983-1987)
Mady Julian		(20 episodes, 1984-1987)
Ted Bergman		(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)
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 (137 episodes, 1981-1987)
Hal Cooper	....	executive producer (96 episodes, 1983-1987)
Arthur Julian	....	producer (96 episodes, 1983-1987)
Rod Parker	....	executive producer (96 episodes, 1983-1987)
Coleman Mitchell	....	producer (41 episodes, 1981-1983)
Geoffrey Neigher	....	producer (41 episodes, 1981-1983)
Marica Govons	....	associate producer (25 episodes, 1986-1987)
Terri Guarnieri	....	associate producer / coordinating producer (10 episodes, 1983-1986)
Jan Siegelman	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1982-1983)
Michael Mount	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1981)
Brigit Jensen	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Original Music by
Bob Christianson		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Michael Weitzman		(25 episodes, 1986-1987)
Harold McKenzie		(11 episodes, 1981-1986)
Larry Harris		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Casting by
Randy Stone		(137 episodes, 1981-1987)

Series Art Direction by
Chris Idoine		(96 episodes, 1983-1987)
Chuck Murawski		(9 episodes, 1983-1986)
Don Roberts		(3 episodes, 1981-1982)
Peter Clemens		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Costume Design by
Palmer Brown		(118 episodes, 1982-1987)
Adella Farmar		(3 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Makeup Department
Maria Valdivia	....	hair stylist (95 episodes, 1983-1987)
June Josef	....	makeup artist (33 episodes, 1984-1987)
Jaren Millard	....	makeup artist / hair stylist (32 episodes, 1984-1987)
Billie Jordan	....	makeup artist (6 episodes, 1981-1983)
Mary Guerrero	....	hair stylist (4 episodes, 1982-1984)
Lawrence Woodard	....	hair stylist (3 episodes, 1981-1982)
Linda Cowan	....	makeup artist / makeup artist: Miss Carter (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Pamela Huggins	....	hair stylist: Nell Carter / hair stylist: Miss Carter (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Sue Cary Mayer	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Production Management
Douglas Wellman	....	unit manager (19 episodes, 1981-1982)
Howard Lipstone	....	executive in charge of production (12 episodes, 1981-1985)
Patty Gary Cox	....	unit manager (6 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jim Gaston	....	unit manager (4 episodes, 1982-1984)
Kevin E. Fortson	....	unit manager (2 episodes, 1986)
Debbie Elbin	....	unit production manager: NY (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Patrick Maloney	....	associate director (96 episodes, 1983-1987)
Phil Ramuno	....	associate director (5 episodes, 1981-1983)

Series Art Department
Scott Herbertson	....	assistant art director (25 episodes, 1986-1987)
Milt Sport	....	key prop / key props (25 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bill Wall	....	property master (25 episodes, 1986-1987)
Ed Beceril	....	property master / properties (5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Larry Buck	....	property master / properties (5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Robert Murdock	....	property master (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
George Sayeg	....	property master / property (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Steven Bemiller	....	property / property master (2 episodes, 1985)

Series Sound Department
Sam Mallaun	....	audio (33 episodes, 1983-1987)
Ken Turner	....	audio (5 episodes, 1981-1983)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Roberts	....	lighting director (137 episodes, 1981-1987)
Gary W. Scott	....	lighting director (2 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elizabeth Bass	....	assistant costume designer (25 episodes, 1986-1987)
Janice Gordon	....	costume assistant: Miss Carter / costumes: Miss Carter (2 episodes, 1984)
James Hopkins	....	costumes: Miss Carter (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Shawna McGee	....	costumes: Nell Carter (2 episodes, 1985)
Jefferson Beeker	....	costumes: Miss Carter (unknown episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Music Department
Jay Graydon	....	composer: theme music (96 episodes, 1983-1987)
Bob Christianson	....	composer: theme music (41 episodes, 1981-1983)
Bob Garrett	....	lyricist: theme music (41 episodes, 1981-1983)
Marley Sims	....	lyricist: theme music (41 episodes, 1981-1983)

Series Other crew
Lorraine Sevre-Richmond	....	production associate (96 episodes, 1983-1987)
Terry Hart	....	creative consultant (49 episodes, 1985-1987)
Franco Bario	....	production coordinator / production assistant (45 episodes, 1985-1987)
Rod Parker	....	executive script supervisor / script supervisor / ... (35 episodes, 1983-1987)
Jeff Meyer	....	stage manager (34 episodes, 1983-1987)
Arthur Julian	....	executive script supervisor / executive story supervisor / ... (33 episodes, 1984-1987)
Michael Mount	....	production executive / assistant to the executive producer (31 episodes, 1982-1983)
Robert A. Bowen	....	technical director (29 episodes, 1984-1987)
Mady Julian	....	story editor (29 episodes, 1985-1987)
Denise Fleissner Barta	....	assistant to producers (25 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jody Margolin Hahn	....	assistant to producers / assistant to producer (25 episodes, 1986-1987)
Sean Mulcahy	....	stage manager (25 episodes, 1986-1987)
Tom Milo	....	stage manager / assistant to producers (7 episodes, 1984-1986)
Tom Biener	....	executive script consultant / executive story consultant (6 episodes, 1983-1985)
Ron Landry	....	executive script consultant / executive story consultant (6 episodes, 1983-1985)
Gary H. Miller	....	executive story editor / story editor (6 episodes, 1983-1985)
Yukiko Tokunaga	....	stage manager (5 episodes, 1981-1983)
Gus Hornsby	....	story editor (5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Ted Bergman	....	executive story consultant (4 episodes, 1981-1982)
Chip Keyes	....	story editor (4 episodes, 1981-1982)
Doug Keyes	....	story editor (4 episodes, 1981-1982)
Booker Bradshaw	....	story editor (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Chet Dowling	....	executive story editor / executive story consultant (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Sandy Krinski	....	executive story editor / executive story consultant (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
J. Stanford Parker	....	story editor (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Sy Rosen	....	creative consultant (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Meredith Siler	....	assistant to producers / production coordinator (4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Peggy Geary	....	production associate (3 episodes, 1981-1982)
Dick Woodka	....	technical director (3 episodes, 1982-1985)
Vince Mack	....	technical director (3 episodes, 1982-1984)
Ed Jurist	....	executive script consultant (3 episodes, 1983)
Larry Rhine	....	executive script consultant (3 episodes, 1983)
Gwen McCracken	....	assistant to producers (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
John Sgueglia	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1981-1982)
Peter Barth	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Cindy Brisker	....	production associate (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Len Uslaner	....	technical director (2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Elvin Ivory	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1984)
Franklin Jones	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1985)
Bill Koshoway	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1985)
Kate McCallum	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1985)
Wendy Murphey	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1985)
Adam Waynert	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1985)

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

Also Known As:

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 Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Alan Landsburg Productions

Trivia:

A running gag throughout the series involved the Kaniskys' goldfish, Gertrude. The fish died in the first episode only to keep coming back in subsequent episodes.

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

Chief:Joey, this is your brother Matt.
Nell:He said that he always wanted a dog.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Diff'rent Strokes' (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Sing A Song

Warm, funny 80s sitcom.

Gimme A Break was in the sitcom line-up, on NBC in the 80s. NBC had many quality sitcoms on the air in the 80s, such as Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts Of Life, Silver Spoons, etc. Gimme A Break, was certainly in the same league as any of NBC's other popular comedy shows. It was warm, funny, and presented many contemporary topics that modern families struggle with, such as teen sex, drugs, alcoholism, dating, etc.

Nell Carter played the main character, Nell Harper. On the show, Nell often got to display her considerable singing and dancing talents. This made the show quite entertaining overall. And Nell held this show together, with her no nonsense brand of comic delivery. She had a feisty charm, that made her shine above the rest of the cast. Her co-star Dolph Sweet (who played the family patriarch, Carl Kominski), was lackluster by comparison. Only Thelma Hopkins, as Nell's best friend Addy Wilson, had nearly as much comedic talent as Nell. If you like 80s sitcoms, I'd highly recommend watching Gimme A Break on DVD.