Series regulars or semi-regulars in 'Gimme A Break' from 1970-1982:
- Lara Jill Miller as Samantha Kanisky (1981-1987)
- Nell Carter as Nellie Ruth Harper (1981-1987)
- Kari Michaelsen as Katie Kanisky (1981-1986)
- Lauri Hendler as Julie Kanisky (1981-1986)
- Dolph Sweet as Chief Carl Kanisky (1981-1985)
- John Hoyt as Grandpa Stanley Kanisky (1982-1987)
1970-1982 Episode Guide for 'Gimme A Break':
(Episodes with dates prior to 1970 aired as reruns.)
Season 1, episode 1
W: Sy Rosen, Mort Lachman D: Howard Storm
With Howard Morton (Officer Simpson), Mike Darnell (George).
Series premiere. A widowed police chief hires a no-nonsense woman to raise his chlidren and run his home. In the opening episode Officer Simpson arrives at the house with Katie, who was picked up for shoplifting, which results in the chief ordering Katie to move out.
Season 1, episode 2
W: Ted Bergman D: Will Mackenzie
With Harrison Page (Bob), Ray Vitte (Sgt. Ken Taft), Will Hunt (Drunkard), Ralph Wilcox (Ray), Alvernette Jimenez (Angie).
Nell is tired of striking out on the dating scene, so the Chief sets her up with one of his officers.
Season 1, episode 3
W: Coleman Mitchell, Geoffrey Neigher D: Howard Storm
With Rue McClanahan (Marian).
The Chief is reunited with a woman he knew when they were both high school students -- when she runs into his police car.
Season 1, episode 4
W: John Markus D: Will Mackenzie
With Michael A. Salcido (Maitre'd), Hazel Shermet (Rita), Richard Beauchamp (Raoul).
Nell, the Chief and the girls try to take their minds off the fact that today would have been the girls' mother's birthday.
Season 1, episode 5
W: Chip Keyes, Doug Keyes D: Linda Day
With George Memmoli (New Member), Nora Boland (Edna), Robert Miller Driscoll (Mr. Meyer), Mary Jo Catlett (Betty).
Nell and the Chief, who have both struggled with weight problems for years, try not to think about food.
Season 1, episode 6
W: Booker Bradshaw, J. Stanford Parker D: Herbert Kenwith
With Tony Battell (Delivery Man), Danny Glover (Bill), Alvernette Jimenez (Angie).
Nell quits her job and moves out of the house when she argues with the Chief over inviting her boyfriend to stay the night.
Season 1, episode 7
W: Chip Keyes, Erik Tarloff, Doug Keyes D: Will Mackenzie
With Jay Johnson (Priest), Lou Cutell (Druggist), Alan Stock (Robber), Howard Platt (Gus Lambert).
The Chief is caught in a standoff at a drug store and, for the first time in his career, is forced to shoot and kill the holdup man.
Season 1, episode 8
W: Ted Bergman D: Dick Harwood
With Julie Anne Haddock (Silver Slipper President), Kelly Ann Conn (Silver Slipper), Mallie Jackson (Babs Pasternak).
Katie sponsors Julie for membership in the Silver Slippers, an exclusive club to which she belongs.
Season 1, episode 9
W: Gene Perret D: Linda Day
With Loren Lester (Arnie).
Julie falls in love with Arnie, a boy she met at a video arcade.
Season 1, episode 10
W: Kathy Joseph D: Linda Day
With Ben Powers (Tony), Jay Johnson (Ventriloquist).
Nell's ex-husband Tony, a singer who had a modest hit in the mid-1960s, returns to audition for a gig on a TV show.
Season 1, episode 11
W: Jerry Ross D: Will Mackenzie
With Peter Schrum (Uncle Ed Kanisky), Elvia Allman (Grandma Kanisky).
The Chief hopes Katie will be the first member of the Kanisky family to go to college, but Katie doesn't believe she can do well on the entrance exam so she asks Julie to take the test for her.
Season 1, episode 12
W: Doug Keyes, Chip Keyes D: Linda Day
With Hazel Shermet (Mrs. Rhine), James Mendenhall (Doctor), Jack Carter (Corelli), Liz Sheridan (Nurse Whales).
Katie is hospitalized, and the reason for it shocks Nell and the Chief when they find out that her problem is complications from a birth control device.
Season 1, episode 13
W: Booker Bradshaw, J. Stanford Parker D: Will Mackenzie
With Don Sherman (Cab Driver), Johnny Brown (Reverend Digby), Harrison Page (Robert), Robyn Hastings (Marie), Hank Rolike (Reverend Harper), Hilda Haynes (Emma Harper).
Nell goes back to Alabama when she learns her father is dying.
Season 1, episode 14
W: Ted Bergman D: Tony Singletary
With Will Hunt (Bill Larkin), Don Sherman (Plumber), Phil Rubenstein (Captain Luchesi).
In order to get attention from Nell and the Chief, Samantha runs off with a squad car.
Season 1, episode 15
W: Chip Keyes, Doug Keyes D: Tony Singletary
With Peter Schrum (Uncle Ed Kanisky), Elizabeth Kerr (Grandma Mildred Kanisky).
On their 55th wedding anniversary, Grandpa Kanisky discovers a shocking revelation about Grandma when he goes through their old love letters.
Season 1, episode 16
W: Coleman Mitchell, Geoffrey Neigher, Mort Lachman, Sy Rosen D: Will Mackenzie
With Alexa Kenin (C.C.), Phil Rubenstein (Philly), Michael DeLano (Vince), Crystal Bernard (Kelly), Bonnie Urseth (Doris).
Katie's band has an opportunity for a gig in a Hollywood nightclub.
Season 1, episode 17
W: Chip Keyes, Doug Keyes D: Jim Drake
With John P. Navin Jr. (Scotty Sherman).
Samantha believes that an innocent kiss from a boy has made her pregnant, but no one will clear up the situation for her.
Season 1, episode 18
W: Ted Bergman D: Dick Harwood
With Harrison Page (Hamilton Storm), Dana Gladstone (Burglar #1), Madison Arnold (Burglar #2), Mark Harrison (Patrolman #1), Merlin Marston (Patrolman #2), Jeffrey Wheat (Cameraman).
Burglars break into the house while the Chief and the girls are away at an award ceremony and Nell is out with a friend. When they discover what has happened, the Chief is unable to handle the situation but Nell saves the day.
Season 1, episode 19
W: Doug Keyes, Chip Keyes D: Will Mackenzie
With Peter Schrum (Uncle Ed Kanisky), Helen Hunt (Valerie), Paul Regina (Jonathan), Jay Johnson (Rev. Cunningham).
Katie's friend Valerie is pregnant, and her boyfriend is unsure about marrying her. Nell counsels Valerie as she prepares to give birth.
October 2, 1982: Nell Goes To Jail
Season 2, episode 1
W: J. Stanford Parker D: Jim Drake
With Harrison Page (Hamilton Storm), Don Sherman (Installer), Renny Temple (Cameraman), Jack Carter (Customer), Jack Fletcher (Mr. Swackhammer).
When the Kaniskys' phone service is mistakenly cut off for non-payment, Nell clashes with the service representative at the phone company.
Season 2, episode 2
W: Ted Bergman D: John Pasquin
With Peter Schrum (Uncle Ed Kanisky), Arlene Golonka (Maxine), Jane Dulo (Grandma Mildred Kanisky), Howard Morton (Officer Simpson).
The Chief doesn't approve when his brother has a date with a woman who used to be a prostitute.
Season 2, episode 3
W: Erik Tarloff D: Jim Drake
With Jane Dulo (Grandma Mildred Kanisky), Thomas Byrd (Dave), Michael O'Leary (Todd).
Sam causes a stir in the household who she invents an imaginary friend.
Season 2, episode 4
W: Chet Dowling, Sandy Krinski D: Jim Drake
With Peter Schrum (Uncle Ed Kanisky), Florence Halop (Mrs. Falkenberg).
Grandpa Kanisky causes commotion when he stays over at the house.
Season 2, episode 5
W: Ted Bergman D: Jim Drake
With Bonnie Urseth (Valerie), Lisa Antille (Missy), Fred Franklyn (Charles Foster).
A friend of Katie's looks to the Kaniskys for help in supporting her baby boy, otherwise she will give him up for adoption.
Season 2, episode 6
W: Doug Keyes D: Jim Drake
With Dennis Burkley (Dr. Avery), George Memmoli (Phil), Lewis Arquette (Kramer), Marianne Muellerleile (Betty), Cynthia Szigeti (Amy).
The head of the PORKO weight loss group is mocked for gaining back the weight he lost, and he decides to kill himself by jumping from his hotel room window.
Season 2, episode 7
W: Doug Keyes D: Linda Day
With Frank Bonner (Officer Baxter), Eugene Roche (Officer Jerry).
During a stakeout a police officer admits his homosexuality to the Chief, who is shocked by the revelation.
Season 2, episode 8
W: Ted Bergman D: Jim Drake
With Scott Strader (Steve).
Julie develops a hopeless crush on a high school football star who only has eyes for Katie.
Season 2, episode 9
W: Chet Dowling D: Jim Drake
With Harrison Page (Hamilton Storm), Peter Schrum (Uncle Ed Kanisky), Madison Mason (News Anchor), Howard Morton (Officer Simpson), Jane Dulo (Grandma Mildred Kanisky).
While Nell is away at a funeral, Officer Simpson accidentally shoots the Chief in the hand. The injuries are minor, but nonetheless Samantha worries that he's going to die.
Season 2, episode 10
W: Tom Walla, Dave Wollert D: Linda Day
With Richard Paul (Stanley Nichols), Victoria Carroll (Gale), Jack Fletcher (Mr. Swackhammer), Alvernette Jimenez (Angie), Howard Morton (Officer Simpson).
Nell gets a job selling vacuum cleaners door to door, finding out too late about the shoddy quality of the product.
Season 2, episode 11
W: Ted Bergman D: Jim Drake
With Alice Ghostley (Mrs. Falconberg), William Larson (Judge), Howard Morton (Officer Simpson).
Nell takes a neighbor to court after the woman's annoying dog bites her.