TV Flash On air
Red carpet heat. Streaming secrets. The shows that made history. Tonight’s desk · Wed, Oct 14, 2026
Hot

Gimme a Break!

Season 1

19 listed hours · 1981–1987 · NBC

← All seasons · Show package

From the desk

How this season is filed

Filed by Julian Hart · The Binge Brief

Nell Carter is the show: a voice that can split a studio wall, a housekeeper who becomes the family's actual center of gravity, and musical breaks that refuse to be cute. Black woman lead multi-cam in a police chief's house, found-family warmth with real steel. Carter's presence is the plot; everything else orbits.

TV Flash files Season 1 of Gimme a Break! (1981–1987) on NBC as the first listed season of 6 — 19 listed hours, 1981-10-29–1982-04-01 from “Katie the Crook” (S01E01) to “An Unmarried Couple” (S01E19). Titles, dates, and synopses on file — no invented recaps.

Desk essentials in this season

  1. S01E01 Katie the Crook

    Katie the Crook is Carter's presence as the plot: housekeeper who becomes gravity, musical breaks that refuse cute, found family with steel.

  1. S01E01

    Katie the Crook

    Katie the Crook — Season 1, Episode 1 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1981-10-29. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  2. S01E02

    A Good Man is Hard to Find

    A Good Man is Hard to Find — Season 1, Episode 2 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1981-11-05. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  3. S01E03

    The Second Time Around

    The Second Time Around — Season 1, Episode 3 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1981-11-12. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  4. S01E04

    Mom's Birthday

    Mom's Birthday — Season 1, Episode 4 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1981-11-19. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  5. S01E05

    Do or Diet

    Do or Diet — Season 1, Episode 5 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1981-11-26. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  6. S01E06

    A Man in Nell's Room

    A Man in Nell's Room — Season 1, Episode 6 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1981-12-03. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  7. S01E07

    Your Prisoner is Dead

    Your Prisoner is Dead — Season 1, Episode 7 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1981-12-10. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  8. S01E08

    Julie's Rejection

    Julie's Rejection — Season 1, Episode 8 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1981-12-17. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  9. S01E09

    Julie's First Love

    Julie's First Love — Season 1, Episode 9 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1982-01-07. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  10. S01E10

    Nell's Ex

    Nell's Ex — Season 1, Episode 10 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1982-01-14. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  11. S01E11

    Katie the Cheat

    Katie the Cheat — Season 1, Episode 11 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1982-01-21. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  12. S01E12

    The Emergency

    The Emergency — Season 1, Episode 12 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1982-02-04. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  13. S01E13

    Nell Goes Home

    Nell Goes Home — Season 1, Episode 13 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1982-02-11. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  14. S01E14

    Samantha Steals a Squad Car

    Samantha Steals a Squad Car — Season 1, Episode 14 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1982-02-18. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  15. S01E15

    Grandma Fools Around

    Grandma Fools Around — Season 1, Episode 15 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1982-02-25. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  16. S01E16

    Hot Muffins

    Hot Muffins — Season 1, Episode 16 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1982-03-11. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  17. S01E17

    Sam's Affair

    Sam's Affair — Season 1, Episode 17 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1982-03-18. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  18. S01E18

    The Robbery

    The Robbery — Season 1, Episode 18 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1982-03-25. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  19. S01E19

    An Unmarried Couple

    An Unmarried Couple — Season 1, Episode 19 of Gimme a Break!. Aired 1982-04-01. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

More from the 1980s.