Gimme a Break!
Carl Kanisky is chief of police in Glenlawn, California. After the death of his wife, Margaret, he asks her friend, Nell Harper, to come in to keep house and take care of his children, Katie, Julie, and Samantha, in short, be like a mother to them. Later, Carl's father, Stanley, moves in. Around the same time, Nell takes in young Joey Donovan as her foster son.
- 1981-1987
- 6 seasons
- NBC
- Comedy
- TV-G
Carl Kanisky is chief of police in Glenlawn, California. After the death of his wife, Margaret, he asks her friend, Nell Harper, to come in to keep house and take care of his children, Katie, Julie, and Samantha, in short, be like a mother to them. Later, Carl's father, Stanley, moves in. Around the same time, Nell takes in young Joey Donovan as her foster son.
Season 3 Episode Guide
22 Episodes 1983 - 1984
Episode 1
The Groupie
Thu, Sep 29, 1983
Julie wants to meet her favorite singer, Andy Gibb, who is doing a recording session in town.
Episode 2
The Way to a Man's Heart
Thu, Oct 13, 1983
Nell is attracted to a man in her diet group.
Episode 3
Katie's Commitment
Thu, Oct 20, 1983
Nell and the Chief worry when they see Katie going out with a 34-year-old college professor.
Episode 4
Joey: Part 1
Thu, Oct 27, 1983
Officer Simpson catches Joey Donovan, an abandoned 7-year-old boy, trying to bilk people out of their money.
Episode 5
Joey: Part 2
Thu, Nov 3, 1983
When the social worker comes to pick up Joey, Nell tells her he ran away.
Episode 6
The Mayor
Thu, Nov 10, 1983
The new mayor of Glenlawn takes an interest in Nell.
Episode 7
Melissa
Thu, Nov 17, 1983
Nell sets the Chief up with a woman who, unknown to her, is a male-to-female transsexual.
Episode 8
Nell's Friend
Thu, Dec 1, 1983
Nell's friend (and sometimes rival) Addy Wilson, a Phi Beta Kappa, comes to town.
Episode 9
Grandpa's Rebellion
Thu, Dec 8, 1983
Nell and the Kaniskys try to persuade recently-widowed Grandpa to come live with them.
Episode 10
A Kanisky Christmas
Thu, Dec 22, 1983
Nell's plans to give Joey a Christmas with the family meet with resistance: they've all made plans.
Episode 11
Herbie
Thu, Jan 5, 1984
Samantha believes that the world is coming to an end.
Episode 12
James Returns
Thu, Jan 12, 1984
Upset because her ex has remarried, Nell goes out with the girls and runs into the other lover of her life.
Episode 13
Samantha's Protest
Thu, Jan 19, 1984
The Chief puts his whole family (and Nell) in the lock-up after they join Samantha in protesting the planned destruction of an old Spanish mission.
Episode 14
Flashback
Thu, Jan 26, 1984
Nell recalls how she met the girls' mother, Margaret Kanisky, and how she gave up a singing career to take care of them when Margaret revealed that she was terminally ill.
Episode 15
Knock Three Times
Thu, Feb 2, 1984
Nell undergoes hypnosis to recall the location of a missing ring, but the side effects are unexpected.
Episode 16
Valentine
Thu, Feb 9, 1984
Nell arranges Valentine's Day dates for the family, all of which end in disaster.
Episode 17
The Big Apple: Part 1
Thu, Feb 16, 1984
Nell and Addy win a trip to New York City on "Wheel of Fortune."
Episode 18
The Big Apple: Part 2
Thu, Feb 23, 1984
When Nell and Addy arrive in New York City, they take a carry-on bag from a man at the airport they think belongs to Nell. It actually belongs to the man from whom they stole it and the contents get them in a lot of trouble.
Episode 19
Rodeo
Thu, Mar 8, 1984
After getting caught in the rain with Joey at the rodeo, Grandpa is hospitalized with severe pneumonia.
Episode 20
Katie's College
Thu, Mar 15, 1984
Nell is upset when she learns that Katie would rather open a business than go to college.
Episode 21
The Center
Thu, Apr 19, 1984
Grandpa attends a dance at a senior citizen's center.
Episode 22
Class of '84
Thu, May 3, 1984
The final tests stand in the way of Nell and Katie each receiving their high school diplomas.