Product Details

• Actors: Nell Carter, Kari Michaelson, Dolph Sweet, Lauri Hendler, Lara Jill Miller
• Directors: Dick Harwood, Herbert Kenwith, Howard Storm, Jim Drake, Linda Day
• Writers: Booker Bradshaw
• Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: February 14, 2006
• Run Time: 467 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000CELOW2
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,014 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #3 in

  Movies & TV > Comedy > Television > Gimme a Break!

• For more information about "Gimme a Break - Season One" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Actress-singer Nell Carter provided the heart and soul for this much-loved NBC family series (1981-1987) about a black woman who cares for a white police chief's daughters after the death of their mother. Though some of the show's humor was derived from jibes about Ms. Carter's size and the clash of parenting styles between the no-nonsense Chief (stage veteran Dolph Sweet) and Carter's warm, sassy Nell Harper, Gimme a Break also addressed more serious and emotional subjects with surprising warmth and drama. The debut episode, "Katie the Crook" (which is featured on this three-disc set, along with the other 18 episodes from the 1981-82 season), does a fine job of touching on the tougher issues, as the Chief's three daughters (Kari Michaelson, Lauri Hendler, and Lara Jill Miller) each react to the mother's untimely passing in realistic manners. Other episodes in the first season offer a good blend of humor and pathos, including "Mom's Birthday" (in which Nell allows the family to celebrate their mother through home movies), "The Emergency" (a rare TV storyline about teen birth control), "Your Prisoner Is Dead" (the Chief is traumatized after killing a drugstore burglar, and considers retirement), and "Nell Goes Home" (Nell is rejected by her ailing father during a trip to Alabama). Much of the credit for the show should go to the cast, especially Ms. Carter and Sweet (both who have since passed away), though veteran character actor John Hoyt deserves mention as the family's grandfather; their enthusiasm for and skill behind the roles is undoubtedly a large reason why Gimme a Break still enjoys a following. The first-season set includes a preview of the show's second season (the episode "Nell Goes to Jail"), as well as episodes from Charles in Charge and Kate and Allie, two other popular family sitcoms from the '80s. A 30-minute featurette on '80s TV (the same one featured on the Charles in Charge first-season set) rounds out this fan-pleasing set. -- Paul Gaita

Product Description

Nell Carter shines as Nellie Ruth "Nell" Harper, the role that twice earned her Emmy(r) and Golden Globe Award nominations, and helped redefine the meaning of "family." Available for the first time ever on DVD, Gimme a Break! is the funny, hip and sometimes poignant portrayal of the Kanisky family: widowed Police Chief Carl; his three daughters Katie, Julie and Samantha; and their unflappable housekeeper-turned-surrogate mother (Carter). This 3-disc set includes all 19 episodes from Season One, as well as a preview from Season Two, bonus episodes from the smash-hit sitcoms Kate and Allie and Charles in Charge, and a special featurette that takes a look back at other great TV shows of the eighties. Featuring renowned guest stars such as Danny Glover, Rue McClanahan and Helen Hunt, Gimme a Break! is the beloved sitcom that delivers both love and laughs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 19 EPISODES FROM 1981 - 1982 NBC SEASON ONE, January 6, 2006

By	J. Abercrombi - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

"Gimme A Break" revolves around Nell Harper (played by the late and very great Nell Carter) who moves in with Chief Charles Kanisky (played by the late Dolph Sweet) to help take care of his house and family after his wife passes away. Your entire family will enjoy this NBC sitcom because it is wholesome, realistic, entertaining, and very funny!

The Season One DVD Set includes 19 episodes from the 1981 - 1982 season.

Here's ALL the episodes that will be included with the Season One DVD Set (with the original air dates):

Katie the Crook (10/29/1981)
In the pilot, youngest daughter Sam comes home with a black eye, and Nell gives her a few lessons on how to fight. Julie and a friend are studying where babies come from, and as the Chief comes home, he walks into the kitchen to find the two kissing. Simpson arrives at the house with Katie, who was picked up for stealing, but was not arrested. Katie has been acting out since the death of her mom.

A Good Man is Hard to Find (11/5/1981)
Nell and Angie go to a bar to pick up men. However, Nell gets sad that she isn't sought after. She then goes home and the Chief decides to fix her up with one of his officers. What he doesn't know is that the officer is just doing the Chief a favor so he can get a better promotion. The Chief throws the man out and tells Nell what happened when she comes out all dolled up. Nell realizes he wasn't interested in her because she is overweight.

The Second Time Around (11/12/1981)
A woman hits the Chief's police car, because her contact lens came out . When she meets the Chief to tell him how sorry she was for smashing into his car, she realizes the two went to school together. The two hit it off, and begin seeing each other, and Samantha is sad because she doesn't want a step-mother. In the end, when Marion tries to seduce with the Chief, he rushes out of her apartment.

Mom's Birthday (11/19/1981)
A woman with a gift for Margaret on her birthday shows up. When the Chief comes home, he is sad because it's Margaret's birthday. He decides to take the family out to dinner. Nell decides to get out the family's home movies with the Chief objecting after first but then relenting.

Do or Diet (11/26/1981)
Nell decides to hold her PORKO'S weight-loss meeting at the house, and when she gets on the scale she gets upset that she gained two pounds. When the Chief comes home he is disgraced by the group and has a bad case of indigestion, forcing him to stay on vegetables for the next three weeks. Once Nell and the Chief begin their diet, the Chief insists on sampling her lasagna, and then they go on an eating binge.

A Man in Nell's Room (12/3/1981)
When the Chief finds a man in Nell's room, he tells her he doesn't want her fooling around with guys under his roof. Nell decides to quit, and moves in with Angie for one night. In the end, Nell gets tired of Angie and decides to come home, and is warmly greeted by the family.

Your Prisoner is Dead (12/10/1981)
The Chief witnesses a robber hold up a pharmacy. When the robber turns his gun on him, the chief shoots him in self-defense. However, when he finds out that his prisoner has died, he thinks seriously of retiring. Nell helps him get over his insecurity and go back to work.

Julie's Rejection (12/17/1981)
Julie wants to join Katie's club, and gets help from Nell and Katie on how to be cook. When she shows up to Katie's group of friends, she is nervous and screws up when they ask her questions about past experiences.

Julie's First Love (1/7/1982)
Julie goes off to the arcade after having no luck at finding a date to the Junior prom. She meets a worker there who is into computers named Arnold and she asks him to the prom which he accepts. However, the Chief is mad that Julie returns home late and grounds her, not wanting to hear her side of the story.

Nell's Ex (1/14/1982)
Nell's finds out that her ex-husband Tony is in town and wants to see her. At the house, he tells her that he is going to be on the Merv Griffith show and needs $1,000. Nell agrees to give him the money and lies to the Chief, telling him she needs $500 for her Aunt. The Chief gives her the money, even if he knows that Tony is going to blow it and not get his big break.

Katie the Cheat (1/21/1982)
The Chief is counting on Katie to do real good on her final exam, but she gets Julie to take it for her. The family is shocked to hear what has happened, when she declines the money she receives for her college education.

The Emergency (2/4/1982)
Katie comes home with a bad stomach pain and Nell rushes her to the hospital room. Once there, she meets a pushy receptionist and seeks a doctor to see Katie. The doctor tells Nell that Katie was using an IUD (Inter-Uterinary Device) as a form of birth control and will be okay. She is shocked to hear the news and so is the Chief. The Chief leaves the hospital disgusted, but returns and goes to see Katie.

Nell Goes Home (2/11/1982)
As the Chief is getting ready to leave for an assignment in New York, Samantha is mad that she can't go fishing with a male friend. After he leaves, Nell gets a call from her mother telling her that her father had a heart attack. Nell takes Samantha back home to Alabama to visit her family. At her house, Nell is told by her mother that her father doesn't want to see her. However, Samantha is sad for the way she treated the Chief because he wouldn't let her go fishing. Note: Nel's mom is played by Hilda Haynes who is not the same actress who played her mom in subsequent seasons (Rosetta LeNoire).

Samantha Steals a Squad Car (2/18/1982)
As the Chief is preparing a speech at an awards banquet, Nell sits on his cap, which ticks him off. Meanwhile, Samantha comes home, complaining that a girl called her a mean name, but Nell and the Chief are too busy arguing. To get their attention, Sam yells a bigoted term to Nell. This gets the Chief's who goes on a rampage. Sam then locks herself in the bathroom and escapes through the bathroom window, steals her fathers squad car, and takes off to the police station.

Grandma Fools Around (2/25/1982)
The family gets ready for Grandma and Grandpa's 55th anniversary at the house. Meanwhile, back at their house, Grandma and Grandpa are reminiscing over old photos and love letters that Grandpa sent her during World War 2. When Grandpa reads one of them, he finds out it wasn't his, and he threatens to leave Grandma and wants a divorce. Of course Nell helps smooth things over with one of her famous talks.

Hot Muffins (3/11/1982)
Katie's band is a big success in Glenlawn as they perform at amateur night. A big producer spots the group, and offers them a job. Katie decides at first she wants to go. However, Nell lets her see deep inside that all she wants to be is a star, and she finally decides to stay behind with her family, as her group goes off to see if they can make a success with their career.

Sam's Affair (3/18/1982)
Samantha and her friend Scottie from her baseball team decide to sit on the couch and watch some television. As they are intimidated by a love story, they talk about kissing, and they decide to try it. Finally Nell decides to teach Sam the facts of life because of some misinformation that her father told her (kissing will get her pregnant).

The Robbery (3/25/1982)
The Kaniskys come home to find burglars in their home. And when Nell returns she tricks the burglars by saying there are jewels in the closet. When the reporter shows up, Nell and the girls try to make the chief look good, even though he was tied up by the robbers.

An Unmarried Couple (4/1/1982)
Katie's friend Valerie shows up at the house, unwed, pregnant, and due any day. She tells Katie that her boyfriend Jonathan had a fight with her and the two broke up and she has nowhere to go. Valerie is welcome to stay with the family, however, once the Chief finds out she is pregnant and split with her boyfriend, he does not tolerate this.

I am so excited that "Gimme A Break" will finally find a home on DVD. This is a classic 80's sitcom. So, sit back and relax and give yourself a break to watch this excellent Nell Carter sitcom!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally!, December 6, 2005

By	MobyDee "Dee" (Florida) - See all my reviews

I am so glad that Universal is finally releasing "Gimme a Break"! I don't understand y it says just "season one" instead of "Complete First Season" like "Charles is Charge" says,which is another Universal release?! Some extras announced for "GaB" are: Bonus episode of "GaB" from season 2, episode of "Charles in Charge", & an epiosode of "Kate & Allie". Also an 80's retrospective: "the great 80's TV Flashback". I would have preferred some bloopers or new interviews with the surviving cast members. But I will be so glad to get it on DVD since no channel is currently running this funny show!! 5 Stars for the show, 4 for the DVD set & it's bonus features!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great TV Show to Own on DVD, February 17, 2006

By	Andy Eckles - See all my reviews

I hadn't seen this show since it originally aired, but it was always one of my favorites. Nell Carter is the shining star of this show - the rest of the cast simply acts off of her. I had forgotten that this show more often than not was a comedrama. Not a typical sitcom of today's standards. Sitcoms back then dealt with such serious issues and the tone was often very un-funny, but then here comes Nell with one of her great one-liners. Not quite as great as I remember it being, but still a nice show to own.