Complete series cast summary: | |||
Nell Carter | ... |
Nellie Ruth 'Nell' Harper
(137 episodes, 1981-1987)
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Lara Jill Miller | ... |
Samantha 'Sam' Kanisky
/ ...
(119 episodes, 1981-1987)
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Lauri Hendler | ... |
Julie Kanisky
/ ...
(114 episodes, 1981-1986)
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Kari Michaelsen | ... |
Katie Kanisky
(111 episodes, 1981-1986)
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Dolph Sweet | ... |
Chief Carl Kanisky
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(88 episodes, 1981-1985)
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John Hoyt | ... |
Grandpa Stanley Kanisky
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(82 episodes, 1982-1987)
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Joey Lawrence | ... |
Joey Donovan
(77 episodes, 1983-1987)
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Telma Hopkins | ... |
Addy Wilson
(68 episodes, 1983-1987)
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Howard Morton | ... |
Officer Ralph Simpson
/ ...
(49 episodes, 1981-1986)
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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. Written by Anonymous
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.