GIMME A
BREAK!
Episode
Guide
by Matthew
Anscher
Work Began
7/21/1998
Series Created by Mort Lachman and Sy Rosen
Format: Situation Comedy
Length: 30 Minutes
First Network Broadcast: October 29, 1981
Last Network Broadcast: May 12, 1987
Television Network: NBC
Off-Network Distributor: MCA-TV (holdings now owned by Program Exchange)
First Year of Off-Network Syndication: 1985
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Cast of Characters:
Nellie Ruth (Nell)
Harper............................................Nell
Carter
Chief Carl Kanisky (Seasons
1-4)..................................Dolph Sweet
Katie Kanisky (Seasons
1-5)........................................Kari
Michaelsen
Julie Kanisky (later Maxwell) (Seasons
1-5)......................Lauri Hendler
Samantha (Sam)
Kanisky............................................Lara Jill
Miller
Recurring Characters:
Grandpa Stanley
Kanisky...........................................John
Hoyt
Grandma Mildred Kanisky (Episode
11)..........................???
Grandma Mildred Kanisky (Episode
15)..........................Elizabeth Kerr
Grandma Mildred Kanisky (Season 2).............................Jane
Dulo
Uncle Ed Kanisky (Seasons
1-2)...................................Pete Schrum
Officer Ralph Simpson (Seasons
1-5).............................Howard Morton
Angie (Seasons
1-4).................................................Alvernette
Jimenez (later Kamelle)
Joey Donovan (Seasons
3-6).......................................Joey Lawrence
Adelaide (Addy) Wilson (Seasons
3-6)...........................Telma Hopkins
Jonathan Maxwell (Seasons
4-5)...................................Jonathan Silverman
Matthew Donovan (Season
6)......................................Matthew Lawrence
Maggie O'Brien (Season
6).........................................Rosie O'Donnell
Maybelle Harper (Season
6)........................................Rosetta LeNoire
Marty (aka Esteban) (Season
6)....................................Paul Sand
Plot:
This was a series about a portly black woman who, in compliance with the
wish of her
dying friend Margaret Kanisky (née Hoffman) gave up a singing career
to be housekeeper
to a widowed police chief and surrogate mother to his three teenage
daughters. In
1983, Uncle Ed got married to Maxine, a hooker-cum-police snitch, and
disappeared without
any explanation, and Nell took in seven-year-old Joey Donovan as her foster
son,
and Grandpa Kanisky moved in following Grandma's death. In 1984, Katie
graduated
from high school and opened a clothing boutique with a friend. In 1985,
Julie married inept
pizza deliverer Jonathan Maxwell, Katie got her own apartment nearby, the
Chief suddenly
passed away, and Julie became pregnant. In 1986, Addy, Nell's best friend,
got a
job at a major university in New York City, and Nell, Joey, and Grandpa
moved there
with her. Katie got a job in San Francisco after her boutique went out of
business,
Julie and Jonathan moved to San Jose with their newborn daughter, Nell,
Samantha
enrolled at Littlefield College in New Jersey, and Joey finally met his
five-year-old little
brother, Matthew, and Nell's mother moved to New York as well.
Notes:
I do have every episode of the series on tape, but it is from USA Network,
and they
are not very well-edited. If I could find original NBC broadcasts of the
show on
tape, that would be helpful.
When the show premiered on NBC in the fall of 1981, there were some
complaints from
critics about Nell being a housekeeper for a white family, and it didn't
make the
Top 25 in the seasonal Nielsen ratings [the only NBC shows that did were
Real People
(21), The Facts of Life
(Tie for 24), and Little House on the Prairie
(Tie for 24)]. It was successful enough, thought network executives, to
renew the
show for a second season, and things went smoothly until tragedy struck the
cast
with Dolph Sweet's death on May 8, 1985. Rather than have the Chief, his
character,
played by another actor, the Chief died on the show. The ratings started to
slip from its
usual place that season (don't ask me what that was), and the network was
so worried
about that, and what they felt was a decline in the quality of the writing,
that
Executive Producer Hal Cooper was told by NBC executives to either end
production of the series
or make major changes. They decided to change the show by putting Nell,
Addy, Joey
and Grandpa in New York and introducing new characters to the show, most
notable
of which is Maggie O'Brien, played by Rosie O'Donnell, a young comedienne
who had been
spotted by NBC executives on Star Search
(Nell Carter later claimed it was her idea to put Rosie on the show). The
changes didn't help the ratings any, nor did two different time slots that
season,
and the show quietly ended its network run in the spring of 1987.
In a February 1983 poll, the show was the 3rd most popular among nonwhite
viewers,
behind Dynasty
andThe A-Team
and ahead of The Jeffersons
and Dallas
.
Credits Code:
AD: Airdate
PC: Production Code
EA: Episode Number as aired
GS: Guest Stars
RC: Recurring Characters
N: Notes
Production Codes
The 3-digit production code for the series has the season number followed
by the episode
number in order of production (for example, the seventh episode of the
first season
would be 107 and the fifteenth episode of the fourth season would be 415).
Episodes in this guide are sorted in order of original airdate.
Episodes whose titles are in bold text are Matthew's recommendations.
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Season One
(1981-1982)
(19 Episodes)
(October 29, 1981--April 1,
1982)
Time Slot:
Thursday, 9:30 P.M.
Follows:
Diff'rent Strokes
Followed by:
Hill Street Blues
Airing Opposite:
ABC
: Taxi
CBS
: Knots Landing
Production Crew:
Executive Producer: Mort Lachman
Producers: Coleman Mitchell and Geoffrey Neigher
Executive Story Editor: Ted Bergman
Story Editors: Chip Keyes and Doug Keyes
Associate Producer: Michael Mount
(101-104)
; Brigit Jensen-Drake
(105-119)
Assistant Directors: Phil Ramuno, Pat Fischer
Stage Managers: Yukiko Tokunaga, John Sgueglia, C. Rallen
Vinson
Production Associates: Peggy Geary, Laurie E. Gilbert, Charlotte
McDaniel
Casting: Randy Stone
Lighting Directors: Gary Scott, Chris Roberts
Art Director: Don Roberts
Videotape Editor: Harold McKenzie
Audio: Robert Houston, Ken Turner
Technical Directors: Dick Woodka, Vince Mack
Unit Manager: Douglas Wellman
Costumes: Adella Farmar
Make-Up: Billie Jordan
Hair Stylist: Lawrence Woodard
Property Master: Rob Murdock
Assistant to the Executive Producer: Michael Mount
Executive in Charge of Production: Howard Lipstone
Theme Song: "Gimme a Break,"
Music by Bob Christianson
; Lyrics by Bob Garrett
and Marley Sims
Videotaped at Metromedia, Stage 6, in Hollywood, California
Production Company: Mort Lachman and Associates in association with
Reeves Entertainment Group, A Reeves
Communications Company; Alan Landsburg Productions
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"Katie the Crook"
AD: 10/29/1981
PC: 101
EA: 1
Written by Sy Rosen and Mort Lachman
Directed by Howard Storm
The Chief comes back from a hard day at work to a hard night at home;
Samantha sustains
a black eye, Julie is caught kissing a boy, and Katie is caught
shoplifting. Katie's
answer to the Chief's question "What would your mother do if she knew about
this?"
hurts his feelings and gets her thrown out of the house, but Nell tries to
convince
both of them not to let this affect their relationship.
GS: Mike Darnell as George
RC: Officer Simpson
N: The original TV Guide listing for this episode is inaccurate. The Chief
is described
as a police captain, the role of Julie is credited to "Laura Jill Miller,"
and the
role of Samantha to "Julie Hendler."
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"A Good Man is Hard to Find"
AD: 11/5/1981
PC: 102
EA: 2
Directed by Will MacKenzie
When Nell doesn't find a male companion at a bar with her friend Angie, who
does,
the Chief sets her up with one of his officers, who is doing it for his own
personal
gain.
GS: Ray Vitte as Ken
RC: Angie
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"The Second Time Around"
AD:11/12/1981
PC: 103
EA: 3
Directed by Howard Storm
The Chief is reacquainted with a high school sweetheart who runs into his
squad car,
and the two of them become romantically involved. However, Samantha, not
wanting
a stepmother, worries that the Chief will marry her.
GS: Rue McClanahan as Marian
N: McClanahan also appeared in the 1984 episode "Grandpa's Secret Life" as
a different
character.
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"Mom's Birthday"
AD: 11/19/1981
PC: 105
EA: 4
Written by John Markus
Directed by Will Mackenzie
The Chief and the girls try to forget the birthday of the late Mrs.
Kanisky, but Nell
wants them to remember it. Unfortunately, it is easier said than done
considering
that the family is still shaken by her death.
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"Do or Diet"
AD: 11/26/1981
PC: 104
EA: 5
Written by Chip Keyes and Doug Keyes
Directed by Linda Day
Nell tries, unsuccessfully, to get the Chief into her diet group, PORKO,
but when
he suffers a gas attack, Nell puts him on a diet. The two of them discover
how hard
dieting really is.
GS: Mary Jo Catlett as Betty; George Memmoli as the new member
N: Another actress played the role of Betty in a later episode. Nell and
the group
recite "The PORKO Motto" and sing "The PORKO Anthem."
Here is "The PORKO Motto":
Candies, cakes, and salted nuts
Show up on our thighs and butts.
Fat, obese, tubby, jumbo,
We don't want to look like Dumbo.
Here are the lyrics to "The PORKO Anthem":
You're a disgusting fatso.
Your belly is much too big.
No one can even stand the sight of you,
You look like Porky Pig.
You stand around and look bad.
Your kitchen needs a full-time guard.
But PORKO will help you lose that weight
You big disgusting tub of lard.
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"A Man in Nell's Room"
AD:12/3/1981
PC: 106
EA: 6
Written by Booker Bradshaw and J. Stanford Parker
Directed by Herbert Kenwith
When Nell takes her date into her room, she and the Chief end up having an
argument,
and Nell quits and moves in with Angie. The Chief tries to run the house
without
Nell.
GS: Danny Glover as Bill
RC: Angie
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"Your Prisoner is Dead"
AD: 12/10/1981
PC: 107
EA: 7
Teleplay by Chip Keyes and Doug Keyes
Story by Erik Tarloff
Directed by Will Mackenzie
In the drug store, the Chief is forced to shoot an armed robber. When the
prisoner
dies, he is in deep guilt and sees a Priest to talk about his problems.
GS: Jay Johnson as Priest
N: The Priest in this episode later appeared in the episode "An Unmarried
Couple."
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"Julie's Rejection"
AD: 12/17/1981
PC: 108
EA: 8
Written by Ted Bergman
Directed by Dick Harwood
Julie tries to get into Katie's private group, but Nell and Katie must show
her the
tricks of the trade.
GS: Julie Anne Haddock as Club President
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"Julie's First Love"
AD: 1/7/1982
PC:109
EA: 9
Written by Gene Perret
Directed by Linda Day
After being grounded by the Chief, Julie falls in love with a boy at the
video arcade.
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"Nell's Ex"
AD: 1/14/1982
PC: 110
EA: 10
Written by Kathy Joseph
Directed by Linda Day
Nell's ex-husband, Tony, returns. He asks his ex-wife for $1000 while he is
looking
for his big break on The Merv Griffin Show
.
GS: Ben Powers as Tony; Jay Johnson as Ventriloquist
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"Katie the Cheat"
AD: 1/21/1982
PC: 111
EA: 11
Written by Jerry Ross
Directed by Will Mackenzie
Katie must take her final exam. Since the Chief has his heart set on her
the first
member of the Kanisky family to go to college, she asks Julie to take the
test for
her so not to disappoint him.
RC: Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Ed
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"The Emergency"
AD: 2/4/1982
PC: 112
EA: 12
Written by Chip Keyes and Doug Keyes
Directed by Linda Day
Katie is taken to the hospital for a severe internal pain, which is later
found out
to be a complication with a Intrauterine Device (IUD), which is a
potentially dangerous
form of birth control. The Chief is furious when he finds out.
GS: Liz Sheridan as Nurse
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"Nell Goes Home"
AD: 2/11/1982
PC: 113
EA: 13
Written by Booker Bradshaw and J. Stanford Parker
Directed by Will Mackenzie
Nell goes home to Alabama when her father suffers a heart attack, hoping to
make peace
with him before it is too late.
N: Nell's sister was originally called Brenda, while in this episode, she
is called
Marie. In later episodes she is named Loretta, and their mother, Emma,
would be renamed
Maybelle. In the first episode, Nell said that her father was already dead.
Nell
sings "Amazing Grace" at her father's funeral.
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"Samantha Steals a Squad Car"
AD: 2/18/1982
PC: 114
EA: 14
Directed by Tony Singletary
While the Chief and Nell are having an argument, Samantha comes to them
with her own
problems. When no one will listen, she uses a racial epithet to get their
attention
and runs off with the Chief's squad car.
RC: Officer Simpson
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"Grandma Fools Around"
AD: 2/25/1982
PC: 115
EA: 15
Written by Chip Keyes and Doug Keyes
Directed by Tony Singletary
On their 55th wedding anniversary, Grandpa finds a letter that suggests
Grandma was
unfaithful to him during the war, and he asks for a divorce. Of course,
it's up to
Nell to keep them together.
RC: Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Ed
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"Hot Muffins"
AD: 3/11/1982
PC: 116
EA: 16
Teleplay by Coleman Mitchell and Geoffrey Neigher
Story by Mort Lachman, Sy Rosen, Coleman Mitchell, and Geoffrey Neigher
Directed by Will MacKenzie
Thanks to the help of Nell, Katie's band is offered a gig in Los Angeles
after their
successful performance in Glenlawn.
GS: Crystal Bernard as Kelly; Bonnie Urseth as Doris
N: Urseth later appeared on the show twice as two different characters.
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"Sam's Affair"
AD: 3/18/1982
PC: 117
EA: 17
Written by Chip Keyes and Doug Keyes
Directed by Jim Drake
After kissing a boy on her baseball team, Samantha thinks that she is
pregnant, but
nobody will confirm for her that she can or cannot get pregnant that way.
GS: John P. Navin, Jr. as Scotty
RC: Grandpa
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"The Robbery"
AD: 3/25/1982
PC: 118
EA: 18
Written by Ted Bergman
Directed by Dick Harwood
While the Chief and the girls are at an awards ceremony and Nell is at a
strip club,
the Kanisky house is robbed. However, everyone comes back while the robbery
is taking
place.
GS: Dana Gladstone as First Burglar; Madison Arnold as Second Burglar; Mark
Harrison
as First Patrolman; Merlin Marston as Second Patrolman; Harrison Page as
Hamilton
Storm; Jeffrey Wheat as Cameraman
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"An Unmarried Couple"
AD: 4/1/1982
PC: 119
EA: 19
Directed by Will Mackenzie
Katie's unmarried, pregnant friend comes to stay at the house, and Nell
tries to convince
her and her boyfriend to get married before the baby is born.
GS: Helen Hunt as Valerie; Paul Regina as Jonathan; Jay Johnson as Priest
RC: Grandpa, Uncle Ed
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Season Two (1982-1983)
(22 Episodes)
(October 2, 1982--May 5,
1983)
Time Slot:
10/2/1982--12/25/1982: Saturday, 9:00 P.M.
Follows:
Silver Spoons
Followed by:
Love Sidney
Airing Opposite:
ABC
: The Love Boat
CBS
: The CBS Saturday Movie
1/6/1983--5/5/1983: Thursday, 9:00 P.M.
Follows:
Fame
Followed by:
Cheers
Airing Opposite
ABC
: Too Close For Comfort
CBS
: Simon and Simon
Production Crew:
Executive Producer: Mort Lachman
Producers: Coleman Mitchell and Geoffrey Neigher
Executive Story Editors: Sandy Krinski and Chet Dowling
Story Editors: Chip Keyes, Doug Keyes, Booker Bradshaw, and J.
Stanford Parker
Creative Consultant: Sy Rosen
Associate Producer: Gayle S. Maffeo
(201--202)
;
Michael Mount
(203-212)
, Jan Siegelman
(213-223)
Stage Managers: Peter Barth, Yukiko Tokunaga
,
Production Associate: Cindy Brisker
Art Director: Peter Clemens
Unit Manager: Jim Gaston
Lighting Director: Chris Roberts
Technical Director: Dick Woodka
Costumes: Betty Pecha Madden
Make-Up: Billie Jordan
Hair Stylist: Mary Guerrero
Property Master: Rob Murdock
Assistant to the Executive Producer: Michael Mount
Executive in Charge of Production: Howard Lipstone
Theme Song: "Gimme a Break,"
Music by Bob Christianson
; Lyrics by Bob Garrett
and Marley Sims
Videotaped at Metromedia, Stage 6, in Hollywood, California
Production Company: Mort Lachman and Associates in association with
Reeves Entertainment Group, A Reeves
Communications Company; Alan Landsburg Productions
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"Nell Goes to Jail"
AD: 10/1/1982
PC: 202
EA: 20
Written by J. Stanford Parker
Directed by Jim Drake
When Nell's telephone service is erroneously disconnected, she takes her
complaint
to the phone company. Since they confuse her with a Chinese woman who
hasn't paid
her bills, she goes public with the whole thing.
GS: Jack Carter as Telephone Installer; Harrison Page as Hamilton Storm;
Jack Fletcher
as Mr. Swackhammer
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"Brother Ed and the Hooker"
AD: 10/9/1982
PC: 203
EA: 21
Written by Ted Bergman
Directed by John Pasquin
Uncle Ed goes bowling, where he falls in love with Maxine, a former
prostitute who
is helping the Glenlawn police bust a crooked cop. The Chief, however, is
not happy
with the situation.
GS: Arlene Golonka as Maxine
RC: Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Ed, Officer Simpson
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"Sam's Imaginary Friend"
AD: 10/16/1982
PC: 204
EA: 22
Written by Erik Tarloff
Directed by Jim Drake
The family wants to convince Samantha that her imaginary friend, Debbie Jo,
does not
exist. Her inability to let go may ruin her relationship with her father
and her
sisters.
RC: Grandpa, Grandma
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"Grandpa's Visit"
AD: 10/23/1982
PC: 201
EA: 23
Written by Chet Dowling and Sandy Krinski
Directed by Jim Drake
Grandpa comes to stay at the house while Grandma is away. He is looked at
as a nuisance
by the family, so the Chief decides to lay down a few ground rules.
RC: Grandpa, Uncle Ed
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"Take My Baby, Please"
AD: 10/30/1982
PC: 207
EA: 24
Written by Ted Bergman
Directed by Jim Drake
Katie's friend, Valerie, and her baby, David, come to the Kanisky house
with the news
that she has left Jonathan and that she is considering putting the baby up
for adoption
because she has no way of supporting him, but Nell helps her find a job.
GS: Bonnie Urseth as Valerie
N: The role of Valerie was played by Helen Hunt in the episode "An
Unmarried Couple."
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"Porko's"
AD:11/6/1982
PC: 208
EA:25
Written by Chip Keyes and Doug Keyes
Directed by Jim Drake
After gaining back all the weight he had lost, Dr. George Avery, the
founder of the
diet group PORKO contemplates suicide, but it's up to Nell and the other
members
of the diet group to save him. Unfortunately, they get stuck in the
elevator trying
to get to Dr. Avery's 13th floor hotel room, from which he plans to jump.
GS: Dennis Burkley as Dr. George Avery; George Memmoli as Phil; Robin Bach
as Man
pushed out of elevator
N: Kari Michaelsen does not appear in this episode.
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"The Chief's Gay Evening"
AD: 11/13/1982
PC: 209
EA: 26
Teleplay by Chip Keyes & Doug Keyes
Story by Elliot Stern and Michael Mount
Directed by Linda Day
The Chief and two of his officers go on a stakeout to find an attacker who
preys on
women at the laundromat. One of the officers, Officer Jerry, poses as a
woman to
catch the crook. When the Chief follows up his remarks about transvestites
as "weirdos"
with an insensitive joke about homosexuals, the second officer, Officer
Jerry, reveals
that he did not like the joke because he is gay himself, which forces the
Chief to
confront his prejudices against gay people.
GS: Frank Bonner as Officer Baxter; Eugene Roche as Officer Jerry
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"Katie Steals Julie's Jock"
AD: 11/27/1982
PC: 210
EA: 27
Teleplay by Ted Bergman
Story by Fred Raker
Directed by Jim Drake
Julie is in an uproar when Katie steals her handsome boyfriend. The two of
them are
at each other's throats, but then Katie learns that he was using Julie to
get to
her and blows him off.
GS: Scott Strader as Steve
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"Sam Faces Death"
AD: 12/4/1982
PC: 206
EA: 28
Teleplay by Chet Dowling
Story by Ted Bergman
Directed by Jim Drake
When the Chief suffers an accidental gunshot wound, Samantha is terrified
that he
may die, but he tries to convince her that it is not going to happen. Only
Grandpa
can console her.
GS: Harrison Page as Hamilton Storm, Madison Mason as Channel 6 News Anchor
RC: Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Ed, Officer Simpson
N: This is the smallest part Nell Carter has in any of the episodes. She
only appears
in the final scene.
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"Nell Goes Door to Door"
AD: 12/11/1982
PC: 211
EA: 29
Teleplay by Tom Walla and Dave Wollert
Story by Ron Roman
Directed by Linda Day
Angie takes Nell to a meeting that helped her earn $250 by selling the
"Amaze-o-Vac"
vacuum cleaner, but Nell finds out too late that the product really, well,
sucks.
She learns that Angie got her money by recruiting investors, so she decides
to confront
Stanley Nichols, the man behind this, with proof that he's a crook.
GS: Richard Paul as Stanley Nichols, Victoria Carroll as Gale, Jack
Fletcher as Mr.
Swackhammer, Robin Bach as Man with Hairpiece, Hazel Shermet as Woman at
Party
RC: Grandpa, Officer Simpson, Angie
N: Dolph Sweet, Kari Michaelsen, and Lauri Hendler do not appear in this
episode.
The investors sing "The Amaze-o-Vac Anthem" to the tune of "America the
Beautiful."
Here are the lyrics:
O beautiful Amaze-o-Vac
You make the bucks roll in.
It doesn't hurt to suck up dirt
And get as rich as sin.
Amaze-o-Vac, Amaze-o-Vac,
You make the bucks roll in.
It doesn't hurt to suck up dirt
And get as rich as sin.
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"Love Thy Neighbor"
AD: 12/18/1982
PC: 212
EA: 30
Written by Ted Bergman
Directed by Jim Drake
Nell can't sleep at night because of the dog next door barking. She decides
to take
the dog's owner, Mrs. Falconberg, to court to get the dog silenced, but
when the
Judge says that if she follows through, the dog will be put to sleep, she
begins
to change her tune.
GS: Alice Ghostley as Mrs. Falconberg, William Larson as Judge
RC: Simpson
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"Love, Kidney"
AD: 1/6/1983
PC: 213
EA: 31
Written by Booker Bradshaw
Directed by Linda Day
Uncle Ed suffers from kidney failure while playing the accordion at dinner
with the
Kaniskys, attributed by the doctor to diabetes, high blood pressure, and
living his
life "like a total jackass." He will survive, but he'll need a kidney from
the Chief,
which he agrees to give his ailing brother.
GS: Sumant as Dr. Singh
RC: Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Ed
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"Julie Smokes"
AD: 1/13/1983
PC: 215
EA: 32
Teleplay by Larry Rhine, Ed Jurist, Sandy Krinski, and Chet Dowling
Story by Lesa Kite and Cindy Begel
Directed by Jim Drake
The Chief finds a cigarette butt in his sock, and comes to the conclusion
that one
of the girls is smoking. All of the girls deny it, but after he apologizes
to Julie
for ransacking her room, she smokes a cigarette. The Chief finds out about
it and
is, as expected, very angry. Julie goes to live with Grandma and Grandpa,
but Nell convinces
the Chief to try and make things right again.
RC: Grandpa, Grandma
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"The Centerfold (Part 1)"
AD: 1/20/1983
PC: 216
EA: 33
Written by Ted Bergman
Directed by Jim Drake
The Chief is informed by Mr. Swackhammer that a female officer has posed
nude for
a magazine. That morning, he fires the officer, and a nationwide scandal
results.
All this leads to a bomb threat.
GS: Jack Fletcher as Mr. Swackhammer; Harrison Page as Hamilton Storm
RC: Grandpa, Officer Simpson
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"The Centerfold (Part 2)"
AD: 1/27/1983
PC: 217
EA: 34
Written by Ted Bergman
Directed by Jim Drake
A mad bomber threatens to blow up the police station over the centerfold
scandal,
but Simpson talks him out of it. Meanwhile, the Mayor forces the Chief to
rehire
the fired officer, but he still refuses.
GS: Donnely Rhoades as the Mayor
RC: Officer Simpson
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"The Custody Suit"
AD: 2/10/1983
PC: 218
EA: 35
Teleplay by Coleman Mitchell & Geoffrey Neigher
Story by Kevin Hartigan
Directed by Linda Day
On the Chief's birthday, his sister-in-law Blanche makes a surprise visit
to check
on the girls. Then she announces she wants custody of them after seeing
what she
thought was an "indecent act" between Nell and the Chief (she was really
performing
the Heimlich maneuver on him because he was choking on a sandwich), but
Nell thinks the fact
that she is black is what really upsets her.
GS: Gretchen Wyler as Aunt Blanche; Allan Rich as Judge; Alan Oppenheimer
as Mr. Daniels
RC: Grandpa, Uncle Ed
N: Everybody sings "Happy Birthday to You" to the Chief at his birthday
party.
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"The Return of the Doo-Wop Girls"
AD: 2/17/1983
PC: 219
EA: 36
Written by J. Stanford Parker
Directed by Jim Drake
Nell tells the girls the story of a doo-wop group of which she was a
member, but was
dumped because of her weight in a cruel practical joke. The other girls
from the
group come to visit Nell with a surprise.
GS: Anita Pointer, June Pointer, and Ruth Pointer as the Doo-Wop Girls
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"Eddie Gets Married"
AD: 2/24/1983
PC: 220
EA: 37
Written by Chet Dowling and Sandy Krinski
Directed by Oz Scott
At dinner with the family, Uncle Ed proposes to his girlfriend Maxine.
However, on
the day of the wedding, the two of them have second thoughts about it.
GS: Arlene Golonka as Maxine, Robin Bach as Caterer, Allan Rich as Judge
RC: Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Ed
N: Last episode with Pete Schrum. No mention of Uncle Ed's whereabouts are
ever given.
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"Grandpa Robs a Bank"
AD: 3/3/1983
PC: 221
EA: 38
Written by Larry Rhine
Directed by Tony Singletary
Grandpa and Grandma's apartment building is going condo, so Nell takes
Grandpa to
get a loan at the bank, which he does not get. Afterwards, he is mistaken
for a bank
robber when he goes into his jacket to get his hearing aid, which they
think is a
gun.
RC: Grandpa, Grandma, Officer Simpson
N: This is the first time Howard Morton receives billing in the opening
credits.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Greenlawn Street Blues"
AD: 3/10/1983
PC: 214
EA: 39
Teleplay by Ed Jurist & Larry Rhine
Story by Ron Roman
Directed by Jim Drake
Samantha witnesses several interweaving cases at the police station; Mr.
Swackhammer's
stolen toilet, a woman made pregnant by her dentist; and a 2-year-old child
kidnapped
by a mentally handicapped girl.
GS: Marcia Wallace as Secretary; Jack Fletcher as Mr. Swackhammer; Bonnie
Urseth as
Pregnant Woman
RC: Officer Simpson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Nell and the Kid"
AD: 4/28/1983
PC: 223
EA: 40
Written by Ted Bergman
Directed by Oz Scott
While Nell is at Max's deli, she sees an orphan girl stealing items and
takes her
home to try and set things straight. When Max, the deli owner, comes by the
house,
he reluctantly agrees to take her in.
GS: Don Rickles as Max
N: Samantha's only scene in this episode was cut in syndication.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Nell Gets Sick"
AD: 5/5/1983
PC: 222
EA: 41
Written by Mike Miller
Directed by John Bowab
When Nell comes down with a fever, Grandma moves in temporarily to do work
around
the house. However, the girls want her to go back to Grandpa after ruining
their
lives.
RC: Grandpa, Grandma
N: Last episode with Jane Dulo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Oddly, there is no episode with the production code "205." It may have been
taped
but not aired.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Season Three (1983-1984)
(22 Episodes)
(September 29, 1983--May 3, 1984)
Time Slot:
Thursday, 8:00 P.M.
Follows:
Local Programming
Followed by:
Mama's Family
(9/29/1983-12/22/1983)
Family Ties
(1/5/1984-5/3/1984)
Airing Opposite:
ABC
: Trauma Center
(9/29/1983-10/27/1983)
??? (11/3/1983-12/8/1983)
Automan
(12/15/83-1/??/84)
??? (1/??/1984-5/3/1984)
CBS
: Magnum, P.I.
Production Crew:
Executive Producers: Hal Cooper and Rod Parker; Mort Lachman
Producer: Arthur Julian
Directed by Hal Cooper
(except where noted otherwise)
Script Supervisor: Rod Parker
Executive Script Consultants: Ron Landry
and Tom Biener
Story Editors: Gary H. Miller, Gina Goldman
Associate Producer: Terri Guarnieri
Associate Director: Patrick Maloney
Stage Managers: Jeff Meyer, Madison Cole
Production Assistant: Lorraine Sevre Kenney
Art Directors: C. Murawski, Chris Idoine
Casting: Randy Stone
Videotape Editor: Kelly Sandefur
Technical Director: Len Uslaner
Lighting Director: Chris Roberts
Audio: Sam Mollaun
Costume Designer: Palmer Brown
Costume Assistant to Nell Carter: Janice Gordon
Make Up: Billie Jordan, Sue Carey
Property Masters: Larry Buck, Ed Beceril
Assistants to the Producers: Meredith Baker, Rob Kaplan, Michael
Martin, Gwen McCracken, Tom Milo, Barbara Rogers
Executive in Charge of Production: Howard Lipstone
Theme Song: "Ready for Anything,"
Music by Jay Graydon
; Lyrics by Richard Page
Post-Production Facilities: Astin-Zappia
Videotaped at Metromedia, Stage 6, in Hollywood, California
Production Company: Mort Lachman and Associates in association with
Reeves Entertainment Group, A Reeves
Communications Company; Alan Landsburg Productions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Groupie"
AD: 9/29/1983
PC: 304
EA: 42
Written by Gary H. Miller
Nell reluctantly tells Julie where singer Andy Gibb is recording a song in
Glenlawn,
and she goes out to the studio to meet him, ending up sleeping outside all night.
However, the Chief finds out about this and, not surprisingly, becomes very
angry.
GS: Andy Gibb as Himself
RC: Officer Simpson
N: Nell and Andy sing "Up Where We Belong."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Way to a Man's Heart"
AD: 10/13/1983
PC: 301
EA: 43
Written by Gina Goldman
Nell is attracted to James, a former member of her new diet group, Weight
Winners,
who still shows up at meetings to see how everyone else is doing. However,
Nell thinks
that he is attracted to a thin, young trainer, and becomes so depressed
that she
almost destroys her diet.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Katie's Commitment"
AD: 10/20/1983
PC: 303
EA: 44
Katie is afraid to tell the Chief that she is dating a 35-year-old college
professor.
N: Nell and the Chief sing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
"Joey (Part 1)"
AD: 10/27/1983
PC: 302
EA: 45
Joey Donovan, a six-year-old boy, comes to the Kanisky house trying to
raise money
for his "sick brother," who he claims is one of Jerry's kids. Officer
Simpson later
identifies him to be the kid in a fund raising scam.
RC: Joey, Officer Simpson
N: Nell and the Chief rehearse a duet of "Me and my Shadow."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Joey (Part 2)"
AD: 11/3/1983
PC: 305
EA: 46
Teleplay by Rod Parker & Arthur Julian
Story by Rod Parker, Hal Cooper, and Arthur Julian
Joey, the young boy who steals Nell's heart, tries to get the Chief to let
him stay
with the family.
RC: Joey
N: Nell and Joey do a duet of "Me and my Shadow."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Mayor"
AD: 11/10/1983
RC: 307
EA: 47
The new Mayor of Glenlawn has dinner with the Chief, where he immediately
realizes
he has feelings for Nell, who doesn't like him.
GS: George Kirby as the Mayor
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Melissa"
AD: 11/17/1983
PC: 310
EA: 48
Written by Arthur Julian
The Chief is to be awarded Glenlawn's man of the year, but Nell says it
won't be complete
unless he has a beautiful woman by his side at the affair. While renting a
tuxedo,
the Chief is attracted to the sales clerk, Melissa, by their love of
baseball. Then, Officer Simpson comes to that store and identifies her as
his old karate instructor,
who has just had a sex change operation.
GS: Victoria Carroll as Melissa
RC: Grandpa, Joey, Officer Simpson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Nell's Friend"
AD: 12/1/1983
PC: 308
EA: 49
Nell's best friend from Alabama, Addy Wilson, returns. However, Nell feels
resentful
of her because of her image as a self-proclaimed "modern black woman,"
which she
thinks Addy is prosletyzing, making her feel inferior.
RC: Officer Simpson, Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Grandpa's Rebellion"
AD: 12/8/1983
PC: 306
EA: 50
Grandpa returns home from a trip to Poland he took after Grandma's death to
find all
his furniture moved into the Kanisky house; the Chief wants him to live
with the
family.
RC: Grandpa, Joey
N: Nell and the girls sing "Hello, Grandpa" in Polish, to the tune of "Hello, Dolly."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"A Kanisky Christmas"
AD: 12/22/1983
PC: 313
EA: 51
Nell wants the family to spend Christmas together, but everybody in the
family has
made their own plans, which saddens her because this is Joey's first
Christmas with
the family.
RC: Grandpa, Joey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Herbie"
AD: 1/5/1984
PC: 309
EA: 52
After an earthquake, Samantha is convinced by her friend, Herbie (not seen
on screen),
that life is meaningless because "we're all going to die." It is up to Nell
to shake
her out of her sense of paranoia.
RC: Joey
N: Nell sings "His Eye is on the Sparrow" to Samantha.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"James Returns"
AD: 1/12/1984
PC: 311
EA: 53
James, the man to whom Nell was attracted in "The Way to a Man's Heart,"
returns to
tell her that he is now separated from his wife, and wants to start anew
with Nell.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Samantha's Protest"
AD: 1/19/1984
PC: 312
EA: 54
Samantha demonstrates against the planned demolition of a historic site,
which the
police plan to break up. When she refuses to leave the protesters, Nell and
the rest
of the family join her, forcing the Chief to choose between his family and
his job.
RC: Grandpa, Joey, Officer Simpson
N: The protestors sing "Guantamera."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Flashback"
AD: 1/26/1984
PC: 315
EA: 55
Nell tells the girls the story of how she met their late mother, Margaret.
It begins
in 1973 in Chicago when they spend two nights together when their planes
are delayed.
Then a year later, Margaret sees Nell in concert near Glenlawn, and when
she quits
after being harassed by the club owner, she stays with them, where she
learns that Margaret
is dying, and gives up a gig in Bakersfield to take care of the children.
GS: Sharon Spelman as Margaret; Theodore Wilson as Club Owner
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Knock Three Times"
AD: 2/2/1984
PC: 318
EA: 56
Nell is looking for the engagement ring that the Chief gave to his wife to
give to
Katie for her high school graduation, but she cannot find it. She
reluctantly agrees
to see a hypnotist to help her with it, but not only does she remember
where she
put the ring, but she reveals some secrets the girls asked her to keep.
RC: Officer Simpson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Valentine"
AD: 2/9/1984
PC: 314
EA: 57
On Valentine's Day, Nell gives romantic advice to the Chief, Katie, Julie,
Samantha,
Grandpa, and Simpson, and all Nell's advice backfires. She must reconcile
these couples
before her reputation as a matchmaker is lost forever.
RC: Grandpa, Simpson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Big Apple (Part 1)"
AD: 2/16/1984
PC: 316
EA: 58
Nell and Addy go to New York after winning a trip there on Wheel of
Fortune
. The Chief, however, tries to warn the two of them that New York is
dangerous. Their
trip starts out okay, except that one of their bags is stolen, and they
find it with
a man at the airport and take it while he's not looking. At the hotel, Nell
discovers a gun, a pair of boxer shorts, and some drugs in the suitcase,
meaning they obviously
stole the wrong one.
GS: Pat Sajak as Himself; Vanna White as Herself; Edward Koch as Himself
RC: Grandpa, Addy
N: Nell sings "On Broadway."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Big Apple (Part 2)"
AD: 2/23/1984
PC: 317
EA: 59
Nell and Addy worry that the man whose suitcase they took will try to find
them and
hurt them, so they call the Chief for assistance. He says he will tell a
policeman
friend of his about it and that he will come up to New York, but he gets
delayed
three times. Meanwhile, their attempts to get rid of the bag prove
unsuccessful.
GS: Tony Randall as Himself; Nedra Volz as Maid
RC: Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Rodeo"
AD: 3/8/1984
PC: 321
EA: 60
Written by Arthur Julian
Although Grandpa is suffering from a cold, he takes Joey to the rodeo
because nobody
else can. When it is canceled because of rain, he is hospitalized with
pneumonia
from which he could die. Joey is worried about it, hoping that Grandpa
hasn't lost
his strength.
GS: Liz Torres as Nurse #2
RC: Grandpa, Joey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Katie's College"
AD: 3/15/1984
PC: 319
EA: 61
Written by Gary H. Miller
Nell is furious when she learns that Katie would rather open her own
business than
go to college, and she threatens her friendship with Addy by asking her to
use her
influence to get Katie enrolled at Glenlawn Community College.
GS: Whitney Houston as Rita
RC: Grandpa, Joey, Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Center"
AD: 4/19/1984
PC: 322
EA: 62
Written by Jeff Franklin
Directed by John Bowab
The senior center must share its facilities with the youth center when that
one burns
down. The kids from the youth center try to get an elderly couple back
together after
a disagreement.
GS: Gwen Verdon as A; Ray Walston as B;
RC: Grandpa
N: This was to be the pilot for a spin-off series.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Class of '84"
AD: 5/3/1984
PC: 320
EA: 63
Written by Ron Bloomberg
Nell fails a final exam which will keep her from graduating from high
school, so she
asks for some help in retaking it, meaning she wants someone else to take
the test
for her.
RC: Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Season Four (1984-1985)
(25 Episodes)
(September 29, 1984--May 11, 1985)
Time Slot:
9/29/1984--11/24/1984: Saturday, 8:30 P.M.
Follows:
Diff'rent Strokes
Followed by:
Partners in Crime
Airing Opposite:
ABC
: T.J. Hooker
CBS
:Airwolf
12/1/84--5/11/1985: Saturday, 9:00 P.M.
Follows:
???,
Followed by:
Spencer
(12/1/1984-1/12/1985)
It's Your Move
(1/19/1985-2/23/1985)
??? (3/2/1985-5/11/1985)
Airing Opposite:
ABC
:The Love Boat
CBS
: Airwolf
Production Crew:
Executive Producers: Hal Cooper and Rod Parker; Mort Lachman
Producer: Arthur Julian
Directed by Hal Cooper
Executive Story Supervisors: Rod Parker and Arthur Julian
Executive Story Consultants: Tom Biener and Ron Landry
Executive Story Editor: Gary H. Miller
Story Editor: Gus Hornsby
Associate Producer: Terri Guarnieri
Stage Managers: Jeff Meyer, Tom Milo
Production Assistant: Lorraine Sevre Kenney
Art Directors: C. Murawski, Chris Idoine
Casting: Randy Stone
Videotape Editor: Harold McKenzie
Technical Director: Robert A. Bowen
Lighting Director: Chris Roberts
Audio: Sam Mollaun
Unit Manager: Patty Gary
Costume Designer: Palmer Broun
Nell Carter's Costumes: Shawna McGee
Nell Carter's Hair: Pamela Huggins
Property Masters: Larry Buck, Ed Beceril
Assistants to the Producers: Franklin Jones, Bill Koshoway, Kate
McCallum, Gwen McCracken, Wendy Murphey, Meredith
Siler, Adam Waynert
Publicity: Jane Lipstone
Executive in Charge of Production: Howard Lipstone
Theme Song: "Ready For Anything,"
Music by Jay Graydon
; Lyrics by Richard Page
Post-Production Facilities: Altavideo
Videotaped at Metromedia, Stage 6, in Hollywood, California
Production Company: Mort Lachman and Associates in association with
Reeves Entertainment Group, A Reeves
Communications Company; Alan Landsburg Productions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"New Orleans, aka Joey Goes to New Orleans (Part 1)"
AD: 9/29/1984
PC: 403
EA: 64
Written by Arthur Julian
Nell and Joey travel to New Orleans, where Nell meets her old flame Charlie
Johnson
and Joey sees a man he thinks is his father.
RC: Joey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"New Orleans, aka Joey Goes to New Orleans (Part 2)"
AD: 10/6/1984
PC: 404
EA: 65
Written by Arthur Julian
Nell sees Joey and his father spending time together and worries that she
will lose
him.
RC: Joey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Nell's Birthday"
AD: 10/13/1984
PC: 401
EA: 66
Written by Mady Julian
It is Nell's 33rd birthday, about which she is depressed. She changes her
tune, however,
when she finds a mistake on her birth certificate that may make her only 32
years
old.
GS: Mykel T. Williamson as Waiter
RC: Officer Simpson, Addy
N: Dolph Sweet and Lauri Hendler do not appear in this episode.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Grandpa's Secret Life"
AD: 10/20/1984
PC: 405
EA: 67
Written by Ron Bloomberg
A 94-year-old Polish man, whose daughter may have had an affair with
Grandpa while
emigrating from Poland to America, finds him and orders the two of them to
get married.
GS: Milton Berle as Leopold; Rue McClanahan as Katrina
RC: Grandpa
N: McClanahan played a different role in the 1981 episode "The Second Time
Around."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Sam's First Love"
AD: 10/27/1984
PC: 406
EA: 68
Written by Ron Landry and Tom Biener
Samantha's boyfriend steals her heart, and then takes advantage of her and
the entire
Kanisky family.
RC: Grandpa
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Who Dunnit?"
AD: 11/3/1984
PC: 407
EA: 69
Written by Mady Julian
On her way to a CPR class, Nell gets caught behind a slow driver. She gets
out to
complain and finds a jogger who has just collapsed. The person in the car
ahead of
her, singer Ray Parker, Jr., also knows CPR, but the two of them dispute
the techniques
of the two-man CPR, and he dies. However, it was later proven that he died
of a heart
attack; CPR could not have saved him. Nell and Ray decide to have a benefit
for the
man's widow, but their attitude changes when he was later proven to be
Eddie the
Enforcer, a vicious gangster. His mob acquaintances insist that the show
goes on, and it does.
GS: Ray Parker, Jr. as Himself, Cliff Norton as Mr. Brown
RC: Addy, Officer Simpson
N: Nell and Ray sing "Heaven Knows" together, and Nell sings "On the Sunny
Side of
the Street" solo. This is the only episode that never aired in the reruns
on USA
Network.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Breakdance"
AD: 11/10/1984
PC: 408
EA: 70
Written by Arthur Julian
Joey is secretly raising money for Katie's boutique by break dancing at the
beach.
Katie applied for a loan and did not get it, but she is afraid to ask Nell
for the
money because she would, literally, pawn everything she owned to give her
the money.
GS: Bumper Robinson as A
RC: Joey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Daddy's Little Girl"
AD: 11/17/1984
PC: 402
EA: 71
Written by Rob Kaplan
Nell meets a man who later turns out to be Addy's long-lost father.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Carl's Delicate Moment"
AD: 11/24/1984
PC: 410
EA: 72
Written by Tom Biener and Ron Landry
The Chief refuses to give a female officer a promotion, and after
accidentally tearing
her uniform, he is accused of sexual harassment.
RC: Joey, Officer Simpson, Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Julie's Lie"
AD: 12/1/1984
PC: 413
EA: 73
Written by Mady Julian
Nell learns that Julie is going on a ski trip with her boyfriend, Jonathan,
so she
and Addy go up to the same resort to catch her.
GS: Jonathan Silverman as Jonathan
RC: Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Baby of the Family"
AD: 12/8/1984
PC: 409
EA: 74
Written by Gary H. Miller
When Nell forbids Samantha to go on a camping trip with a boy, she gets
revenge by
having Joey do an impersonation of Al Jolson in blackface--at Nell's
predominantly
black church.
RC: Joey, Addy
N: Nell sings "How Great Thou Art" with the choir. Joey sings "Toot, Toot,
Tootsie,
Goodbye" in his Al Jolson impersonation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"TV or Not TV"
AD: 12/15/1984
PC: 411
EA: 75
Written by Ron Bloomberg
Inspired by the story of a what a New England town did for a month, Nell
convinces
the family to give up watching television for one night.
RC: Grandpa, Joey, Officer Simpson, Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Spirit of Christmas"
AD: 12/22/1984
PC: 414
EA: 76
Written by Ron Bloomberg
Nell and Addy are attracted to the same man at Christmas.
GS: Harrison Page as A.
RC: Addy
N: Harrison Page played TV reporter Hamilton Storm occasionally during the
1982-83
season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Grandpa's Will"
AD: 1/5/1985
PC: 415
EA: 77
Written by Arthur Julian
Grandpa refuses to consult a lawyer about writing his will. He eventually
reveals
to Nell that he has no earthly possessions to leave his family.
RC: Grandpa, Joey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Answering Machine"
AD: 1/12/1985
PC: 412
EA: 78
Written by Phil Mishkin
Nell believes that her boyfriend is on a business trip with another woman,
and calls
him to end their relationship. When she learns that it is not true, she,
Joey, and
Samantha try to get into his apartment and erase the message.
RC: Grandpa, Joey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Gift"
AD: 1/19/1985
PC: 416
EA: 79
Written by Mady Julian
Nell is afraid to go out in public again after her purse is stolen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Alabamy Bound, aka Alabama Bound (Part 1)"
AD: 1/26/1985
PC: 417
EA: 80
Written by Arthur Julian and Mady Julian
Nell travels with Addy and Joey to Alabama for her sister Loretta's
wedding. There,
she learns that there are plans for their mother to live with Nell in
Glenlawn.
GS: Lynne Thigpen as Loretta; Rosetta LeNoire as Mama Maybelle
RC: Joey, Addy
N: In the 1982 episode "Nell Goes Home," Nell's sister was named Marie and
was already
married, and her mother was named Emma. Nell, Addy, and Loretta sing a
medley of
"Soldier Boy," "He's No Rebel," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Stop in the Name of
Love,"
"Charlie Brown," and "Heat Wave."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Alabamy Bound, aka Alabama Bound (Part 2)"
AD: 2/2/1985
PC: 418
EA: 81
Written by Arthur Julian and Mady Julian
Nell is not happy with the arrangement of Mama Maybelle living with her in
Glenlawn,
and neither is she, but Loretta and her new husband are moving to Colorado
and want
to start their lives anew without her.
GS: Lynne Thigpen as Loretta; Rosetta LeNoire as Mama Maybelle
RC: Joey, Addy
N: Nell sings "Happy Days are Here Again" in this episode.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Earthquake"
AD: 2/9/1985
PC: 419
EA: 82
Written by Rod Parker
Nell goes to the library to clear up a confusion over an overdue book, and
an earthquake
occurs, trapping her inside with a deaf woman who can only read lips in
Spanish,
a language which Nell does not speak.
RC: Joey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Monkey See, Monkey Do"
AD: 2/16/1985
PC: 420
EA: 83
Written by Gary H. Miller
The Chief tries to set down some house rules, causing Katie to move out of
the house.
Then, he says things to upset other members of the family, who soon join
her.
RC: Grandpa, Joey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Lookalike"
AD: 2/23/1985
PC: 421
EA: 84
Written by Ron Landry and Tom Biener
Nell and Addy have booked Sammy Davis, Jr. for their Congress of Determined
Women
benefit, albeit for the wrong date. However, they find an exact lookalike at the
garage where Angie works. However, he refuses to perform.
GS: Sammy Davis, Jr. as Himself and Melvin
RC: Officer Simpson, Addy, Angie
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Cat Story"
AD: 3/2/1985
PC: 422
EA: 85
Written by Ron Landry and Tom Biener
During a terrible thunderstorm, Simpson goes out of the house in an attempt
to rescue
the police cat, Sherlock, but ends up missing, and is presumed to have
drowned in
the river. In his files, an envelope is found which dictates that his life
savings,
of $5000, are bequeathed to Nell.
RC: Grandpa, Joey, Officer Simpson, Addy
N: This episode was aired live over NBC because the original tapes were
lost. For
some reason, Nell Carter's curtain call is missing from the syndicated
version of
this episode. I do not know if it was present when it aired over network TV
for the
first time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Police Mamas"
AD: 3/9/1985
PC: 423
EA: 86
Written by Gary H. Miller and Ron Bloomberg
When the entire police force is hospitalized with food poisoning, Nell and
Addy are
made into official police deputies, spoiling their plans to see The
King and I
at Glenlawn community theater. One of the cases they must handle is what
may be a
robbery at the Kanisky house.
GS: Frank Bonner as Deadbeat Husband
RC: Grandpa, Joey, Addy, Officer Simpson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Friendship"
AD: 5/4/1985
PC: 424
EA: 87
Written by Arthur Julian
Angry at Addy for not calling her in over a week, Nell ends her friendship
with her
and makes Angie her new best friend.
RC: Addy, Angie
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Julie's Birthday"
AD: 5/11/1985
PC: 425
EA: 88
Written by Arthur Julian
Julie breaks up with Jonathan on her 18th birthday, but Nell tries to get
them to
reconcile, and they end up getting married.
RC: Addy, Jonathan
N: Last episode with Dolph Sweet. He died from cancer on May 8, 1985, three
days before
this episode aired. His funeral was held at St. Bridget of Sweden Church in
Van Nuys,
California the day of this episode's airing; Nell Carter delivered the
eulogy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Season Five (1985-1986)
(24 Episodes)
(September 14, 1985--May 10, 1986)
Time Slot:
Saturday, 8:00 P.M.
Follows:
Local Programming
Followed by:
The Facts of Life
Airing Opposite:
ABC
: Hollywood Beat
(9/21/1985-11/23/1985)
??? (11/30/1985-5/10/1986)
CBS
: Airwolf
Production Crew:
Executive Producers: Hal Cooper and Rod Parker; Mort Lachman
Producer: Arthur Julian
Associate Producer: Terri Guarnieri
Directed by Hal Cooper
Theme Song: "Ready For Anything,"
Music by Jay Graydon
; Lyrics by Richard Page
Videotaped at Metromedia, Stage 6, in Hollywood, California
Production Company: Mort Lachman and Associates in association with
Reeves Entertainment Group, A Reeves
Communications Company
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Joey's Train"
AD: 9/14/1985
PC: 501
EA: 89
Written by Mady Julian
It has been three months since the Chief's death. The family is still
mourning his
loss, and they are appalled when Jonathan suggests moving with Julie into
his old
bedroom. Meanwhile, Joey receives part of a train set which the Chief
bought for
him for his birthday, bringing back memories of him as he plays it in the
Chief's bedroom.
RC: Grandpa, Joey, Officer Simpson, Addy, Jonathan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Ship of Fools (Part 1)"
AD: 9/21/1985
PC: 503
EA: 90
Written by Terry Hart
Nell reluctantly agrees to perform on her ex-husband's ship, where she
learns that
he has dumped his second wife, who was much younger than Nell.
RC: Addy, Joey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Ship of Fools (Part 2)"
AD: 9/28/1985
PC: 504
EA: 91
Written by Terry Hart
Nell learns that her ex-husband Tony has a new girlfriend--a friend Joey
made on board
the ship.
RC: Joey, Addy
N: Nell sings "Ain't Misbehavin'" in this episode. Coincidentially (or
not), she won
a Tony for the Broadway production of the musical of the same name and an
Emmy for
the 1982 NBC-TV production.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Man From Zoron"
AD: 10/5/1985
PC: 505
EA: 92
Teleplay by Pamela Norris
Story by Terry Hart and Mady Julian
Nell is the only one who thinks that the man who saved Joey from being hit
by a bus
is crazy when he says that he is from another planet.
GS: Ken Berry as Cute Dave
RC: Joey, Officer Simpson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Addy's Goodbye"
AD: 10/19/1985
PC: 507
EA: 93
Written by Mady Julian
Nell feels resentful of Addy's departure when she takes a teaching job in
New York
and refuses to say goodbye to her. After the goodbye party the family threw
for her,
she regrets it and goes to her apartment to say goodbye, only to learn that
she is
not leaving after all.
RC: Grandpa, Joey, Officer Simpson, Addy
N: Nell and Addy sing "The Mickey Mouse Club March" at the goodbye party;
Nell sings
"Am I Blue" solo on the piano.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"So Long, Jonathan"
AD: 10/26/1985
PC: 502
EA: 94
Written by Mady Julian
Julie does not want Jonathan to leave on an archaeological dig in Mexico,
so she decides
to join the Navy. She fails the physical because she is pregnant.
RC: Jonathan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Mama"
AD: 11/2/1985
PC: 506
EA: 95
Written by Arthur Julian
Mama Maybelle comes to Glenlawn to have a cataract operation, after which
she will
have to have bandages over her eyes and it is unknown whether the operation
worked.
She is scared that she will never see again.
GS: Rosetta LeNoire as Mama Maybelle
RC: Grandpa, Joey, Addy
N: An interesting note: Mama said in this episode, "If I go blind, at least
I won't
have to watch Punky Brewster
." The writers of that show got even with a fat joke in their 1985
Christmas episode
in which an announcer says "Now on sale at the video store: Nell Carter's
Workout."
They obviously turned it off in outrage before Mama said "I actually
like
watching Punky Brewster
; she is a cute little girl."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sam's Little Girl"
AD: 11/9/1985
PC: 508
EA: 96
Written by Joan Brooker and Nancy Eddo
Samantha shirks the responsibilities of being a big sister to an
underprivileged child,
leaving them to Nell.
GS: Ebonie Smith as Pam
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Elevator"
AD: 11/16/1985
PC: 512
EA: 97
Written by Arthur Julian
Nell and Addy are trapped in separate elevators, where they reminisce about
their
childhood.
RC:Addy
N: Although this is only the 97th episode aired, it is the 100th episode
produced.
The cast celebrated with a cake with 100 candles on it, which they brought
out on
stage at the end of the episode after Nell Carter announced that the
audience had
witnessed the 100th performance of the show. Carter and Kari Michaelsen
blew out the candles
during the ending credits.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Nell's New Car"
AD: 11/23/1985
PC: 511
EA: 98
Written by Joan Brooker and Nancy Eddo
After her car breaks down, Nell buys Addy's old car, which breaks down,
threatening
their friendship.
RC: Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Nell's Gifted Child"
AD: 11/30/1985
PC: 510
EA: 99
Written by Julie Fleischer and Jeff Davis
When Nell learns that Joey is a gifted child, she tries to get him to do
more intellectual
activities than play baseball, which he wants to do.
RC: Joey, Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Katie's Apartment"
AD: 12/7/1985
PC: 509
EA: 100
Written by Susan Beavers
Nell is worried when she learns that Katie is dating a married man.
RC: Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Snippets"
AD: 12/14/1985
PC: 513
EA: 101
Teleplay by Arthur Julian
Story by Hal Cooper and Arthur Julian
Nell and company celebrate Christmas with Joey pretending to be sick to
avoid going
Christmas shopping with Nell, Julie receiving an ancient skull from
Jonathan (which
was supposed to be sapphire earrings), and remembering moments from past
episodes.
RC: Grandpa, Joey, Officer Simpson, Addy, Jonathan
N: This episode uses clips from "Joey (Part 1)" (1983), "Valentine" (1984),
"Alabamy
Bound (Part 1)" (1985), and "Nell's Friend" (1983).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Second Chance (Part 1)"
AD: 1/4/1986
PC: 514
EA: 102
Teleplay by Terry Hart
Story by Rob Kaplan
Nell sings with a band lead by an ex-convict at Skipper Dwayne's House of
Halibut,
which is no big deal until she learns that Gary Collins is in the audience,
and he
tries to get them on his Hour Magazine
show.
GS: Gary Collins as Himself
RC: Officer Simpson, Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Second Chance (Part 2)"
AD: 1/11/1986
PC: 515
EA: 103
Written by Mady Julian
Nell tries to tell the band Second Chance that they are not very good, but
is afraid
to because she has learned the lead singer went to jail for killing a music
critic.
However, Gary Collins offers her a solo gig on Hour Magazine
, so she quits college to pursue her career, thinking she has finally
gotten her big
break in singing.
GS: Gary Collins as Himself
RC: Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Bienvenido, Jonathan"
AD: 1/18/1986
RC: 518
EA: 104
Jonathan seems to be a different person to Julie after returning home from
the archaeological
dig in Mexico, worrying Julie.
RC: Jonathan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Gun"
AD: 2/1/1986
RC: 519
EA: 105
Written by Arthur Julian
Nell is accidentally shot in the foot by Joey with the Chief's gun, which
he finds
in Nell's drawers. Mama Maybelle visits to help Nell recover.
GS: Rosetta LeNoire as Mama Maybelle
RC: Joey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"A Lesson For Nell"
AD: 2/8/1986
PC: 517
EA: 106
Written by Robin Pennington
It is Valentine's Day. Fearing that he will be hurt, Nell tries to stop a
relationship
between Grandpa and a younger woman who dumped six men in three months,
including
Simpson.
RC: Grandpa, Joey, Officer Simpson, Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Pride and Prejudice"
AD: 2/15/1986
PC: 516
EA: 107
Nell applies for a secretary job for which she is qualified but does not
get. She
believes that racism is the reason she was not hired, so she sends Addy to
apply
for the same job and gets the same response. They confirm that racism was
why neither
of them were hired for the job.
RC: Officer Simpson, Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Family Reunion"
AD: 2/22/1986
PC: 520
EA: 108
Written by Joan Brooker and Nancy Eddo
Nell's sister Loretta comes over to stay when her marriage is on the rocks.
Mama Maybelle
comes over as well to get her to reconcile.
GS: Lynne Thigpen as Loretta; Rosetta LeNoire as Mama Maybelle
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Getting to Know You"
AD: 3/29/1986
PC: 521
EA: 109
Teleplay by Mady Julian
Story by Terry Hart and Mady Julian
Officer Simpson leaves his cousin's many, many adopted children with Nell
on the same
night that she is looking for a house. However Nell is having a man at the
house
who does not like children.
RC: Joey, Officer Simpson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Katie's Korner"
AD: 4/5/1986
PC: 523
EA: 110
Written by Mady Julian
After Katie loses her boyfriend and her business in the same week, Nell
worries that
she may commit suicide.
RC: Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Found Money"
AD: 5/3/1986
PC: 522
EA: 111
Written by Terry Hart
Nell inherits a great deal of money from her grandmother, which she urges
the family
to go out and spend.
RC: Grandpa, Joey, Addy, Officer Simpson, Jonathan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Purse Snatcher"
AD: 5/10/1986
PC: 524
EA: 112
Written by Arthur Julian
Nell's purse is stolen at a Greek Restaurant, where the two inept waiters
have a plan.
RC: Addy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Season Six (1986-1987)
(24 Episodes)
(September 24, 1986-May 12, 1987)
Time Slot
:
9/24/1986--3/25/1987: Wednesday, 9:00 P.M.
Follows:
Highway to Heaven
Followed by:
You Again?
(9/24/1986-1/7/1987)
The Tortellis
(1/7/1987-3/25/1987)
Airing Opposite:
ABC
: Dynasty
CBS
: Magnum, P.I.
3/31/1987--5/12/1987: Tuesday, 9:00 P.M.
Follows:
Matlock
Followed by:
Easy Street
(3/31/1987-4/21/1987),
??? (4/28/1987-5/12/1987)
Airing Opposite:
ABC
: Moonlighting
CBS
:The CBS Tuesday Movie
Production Crew:
Executive Producers: Hal Cooper and Rod Parker; Mort Lachman
Producer: Arthur Julian
Associate Producer: Marcia Govons
Theme Song: "Ready For Anything,"
Music by Jay Graydon
; Lyrics by Richard Page
Videotaped at Fox Television Center (formerly Metromedia), Stage 6, in
Hollywood,
California
Production Company: Mort Lachman and Associates [and H.R.
Productions, Ltd. (Episode 610-624)]
in association with Reeves Entertainment Group, A Reeves Communications
Company
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Sam Goes to College"
AD: 9/24/1986
PC: 605
EA: 113
Directed by Patrick Maloney
As Samantha gets ready to go to college in New Jersey, Katie prepares for
her new
job in San Francisco, and Julie and Jonathan prepare to move to San Jose
with Nell,
their new baby, the older Nell and the girls look back their lives in the
house using
clips from past episodes.
RC: Joey, Officer Simpson, Addy, Jonathan
N: A one-hour episode. Last episode with Kari Michaelsen, Lauri Hendler,
Howard Morton,
and Jonathan Silverman. Samantha becomes a recurring character after this
episode.
Shows from which clips are used are: "Sam's Affair" (1982),
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Below Sea Level"
AD: 10/1/1986
PC: 601
EA: 114
Directed by Hal Cooper
After Nell and Joey take Samantha to college, they go to visit Addy at her
new apartment
in New York, where Joey's father, Tim, shows up to introduce him to his
five-year-old
little brother, Matthew.
GS: Patrick Collins as Tim Donovan
RC: Addy, Joey, Matthew, Samantha
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Joey Meets Matthew"
AD: 10/8/1986
PC: 602
EA: 115
Directed by Hal Cooper
Joey and Matthew hit it off immediately, but Nell worries that they would
rather live
with their father than with her.
GS: Patrick Collins as Tim Donovan
RC: Addy, Joey, Matthew
N: Part two of "Below Sea Level"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Nell Goes Back to New York"
AD: 10/15/1986
PC: 603
EA: 116
Directed by Hal Cooper
Tim has the opportunity to go back to sea, and decides to let Nell take
care of Joey
and Matthew.
GS: Patrick Collins as Tim Donovan; Rick Fitts as Addy's Date
RC: Addy, Joey, Grandpa, Matthew
N: Part three of "Below Sea Level"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Apartment"
AD: 10/22/1986
PC: 604
EA: 117
Directed by Hal Cooper
After having moved to New York, Nell, without consulting Addy, rents a new
apartment
in Greenwich Village, and applies for a job with McDillon and Loud Publishing Company.
RC: Addy, Joey, Marty
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Someday, My Prince..."
AD: 10/29/1986
PC: 606
EA: 118
Directed by Patrick Maloney
Nell is wooed by an African cookie tycoon, who may ask her to be his wife.
GS: Ernie Hudson as A
RC: Addy, Joey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"I Love New York"
AD: 11/5/1986
PC: 609
EA: 119
Directed by Hal Cooper
Nell feels that she does not fit into New York and that she would be
happier back
in California.
GS: Addy, Joey, Mama Maybelle
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Nell the Boss"
AD: 11/12/1986
PC: 610
EA: 120
Directed by Rob Dames
Nell's reading assistant is fired. The teachers at the university where
Addy works
are on strike, resulting in her being laid off. Taking Marty's suggestion,
she hires
Addy to fill the position, but being unable to take the stress of reading
manuscripts
more quickly than she is capable of doing, she is fired. Addy refuses to
speak to Nell
for this.
GS: Mark L. Taylor as Mr. Broderick
RC: Addy, Joey, Matthew, Grandpa, Maggie, Marty
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Harry the Hamster"
AD: 11/19/1986
PC: 611
EA: 121
Directed by Phil Ramuno
Joey is taking care of the class hamster. Nell and Addy decide to make him
the mascot
of an animal rights group. The night before they meet, the hamster dies
from licking
rancid salad oil off his exercise wheel, which was squeaking.
RC: Addy, Joey, Matthew
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Joey the Gambler"
AD: 11/26/1986
PC: 612
EA: 122
Directed by Patrick Maloney
Marty's gambling habits rub off on Joey, resulting in his arrest. Now,
Marty has to
convince him that gambling is wrong.
RC: Addy, Joey, Matthew, Maggie, Mama Maybelle, Marty
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Scam"
AD: 12/3/1986
PC: 607
EA: 123
Directed by Jules Lichtman
Nell is warned that a man is lurking around the bank looking for suckers to
trap in
his scheme. The man who warns him is the scam artist, and Nell is one of
his suckers.
RC: Addy, Mama Maybelle
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Christmas in New York"
AD: 12/10/1986
PC: 613
EA: 124
Directed by Linda Day
At Christmas, Nell is angry at Marty for telling Matthew that there is no
such thing
as Santa Claus.
RC: Addy, Joey, Matthew, Maggie, Marty, Samantha
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Nell's Secret Admirer"
AD: 1/7/1987
PC: 608
EA: 125
Directed by Jules Lichtman
A man who was a secret admirer of Nell in high school comes to New York to
pay her
a visit.
RC: Addy, Marty
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Loan"
AD: 1/14/1987
PC: 614
EA: 126
Directed by Tony Singletary
After loaning Addy $300 to buy a dress, everybody counts on Nell to loan
them money.
RC: Addy, Maggie, Mama Maybelle
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"The Window"
AD: 1/21/1987
PC: 616/617
EA: 127/128
Directed by Hal Cooper and Phil Ramuno
Nell gets a promotion at work, and feels that she's spending less time with
Joey and
Matthew. While trying to help Matthew get something from outside, she gets
stuck
out of the window.
RC: Addy, Joey, Matthew, Maggie
N: Although considered two episodes, it was originally aired in a one-hour
time period
on NBC.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Joey's First Crush"
AD: 1/28/1987
PC: 615
EA: 129
Directed by Linda Day
At a surprise birthday party for him, Maggie tries to convince her husband,
B.J.,
not to move back to Georgia and start a Bed and Breakfast. However, Nell's
rendition
of "Georgia on My Mind" makes him long to go back there. Meanwhile, Joey
tells B.J.
that he has a crush on Maggie.
GS: Blake Clark as B.J. O'Brien
RC: Addy, Joey, Maggie
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Joey's Teacher"
AD: 2/4/1987
PC: 618
EA: 130
Written by Pam Veasey
Directed by Patrick Maloney
Joey's teacher sues Nell after being injured at her apartment by Joey's
skateboard.
GS: Blake Clark as B.J. O'Brien, Patrick Cronin as Mr. Gronimeyer, Meredith
Baker
as Delivery Woman, Fred Holliday as Lottery Host
RC: Addy, Joey, Matthew, Maggie, Marty
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Joey's Hero"
AD: 2/11/1987
PC: 619
EA: 131
Directed by Hal Cooper
Joey's favorite TV star, Captain Jerk, host of the children's television
program Jerks in Space
, which features him, a chicken, and an egg flying through space, is
hospitalized
after swallowing a "space whistle" and requires a blood transfusion. Nell,
having
the same blood type as him, allows them to use her blood for the
transfusion, and
everybody considers her a hero for that. However, she is not so thrilled to
learn that Captain
Jerk is the leader of a white supremacist group, Americans for a White
America. Trying
to break the news to Joey is hard for her.
GS: Paul Williams as Captain Jerk
RC: Addy, Joey, Mama Maybelle
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Joey the Gigolo"
AD: 2/25/1987
PC: 620
EA: 132
Directed by Patrick Maloney
Joey becomes infatuated with Nell's boss's daughter after meeting her at a
dinner
at the apartment. Unfortunately, this puts him in a position to choose
between whether
she or his brother is more important to him.
GS: Art LaFleur as Mr. MacDillon; Mark L. Taylor as Mr. Broderick
RC: Addy, Joey, Matthew, Samantha
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Parents' Week (Part 1)"
AD: 3/31/1987
PC: 621
EA: 133
Directed by Hal Cooper
Nell is hurt when Samantha does not invite her to parents' week at
Littlefield College,
but she goes anyway. She learns that Samantha is planning to quit college
and marry
her boyfriend, an aspiring writer.
GS: Joseph Maher as Professor Dudley
RC: Addy, Samantha
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Parents' Week (Part 2)"
AD: 4/7/1987
PC: 622
EA: 134
Directed by Hal Cooper
Nell convinces Samantha to stay in school, and she convinces another
student to stand
up to his father and get his book published.
GS: Joseph Maher as Professor Dudley
RC: Addy, Samantha, Mama Maybelle
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Save the Church"
AD: 4/28/1987
PC: 623
EA: 135
Directed by Tony Singletary
Nell, Joey, and Mama Maybelle return to Alabama to halt the destruction of
the church
where her father preached.
RC: Joey, Mama Maybelle
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
"Mama's Date"
AD: 5/12/1987
PC: 624
EA: 136
Directed by Phil Ramuno
Mama Maybelle's old friend returns, and Nell believed that they may have
been involved
with one another before she married her father.
RC: Addy, Mama Maybelle
N: Final NBC broadcast. There were no summer reruns.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Episodes in Order of Production
Season 1
1. Katie the Crook
2. A Good Man is Hard to Find
3. The Second Time Around
4. Do or Diet
5. Mom's Birthday
6. A Man in Nell's Room
7. Your Prisoner is Dead
8. Julie's Rejection
9. Julie's First Love
10. Nell's Ex
11. Katie the Cheat
12. The Emergency
13. Nell Goes Home
14. Samantha Steals a Squad Car
15. Grandma Fools Around
16. Hot Muffins
17. Sam's Affair
18. The Robbery
19. An Unmarried Couple
Season 2
20. Grandpa's Visit
21. Nell Goes to Jail
22. Brother Ed and the Hooker
23. Sam's Imaginary Friend
24. Sam Faces Death
25. Take My Baby, Please
26. Porko's
27. The Chief's Gay Evening
28. Katie Steals Julie's Jock
29. Nell Goes Door to Door
30. Love thy Neighbor
31. Love, Kidney
32. Greenlawn Street Blues
33. Julie Smokes
34. The Centerfold (Part 1)
35. The Centerfold (Part 2)
36. The Custody Suit
37. The Return of the Doo-Wop Girls
38. Eddie Gets Married
39. Grandpa Robs a Bank
40. Nell Gets Sick
41. Nell and the Kid
Season 3
42. The Way to a Man's Heart
43. Joey (Part 1)
44. Katie's Commitment
45. The Groupie
46. Joey (Part 2)
47. Grandpa's Rebellion
48. The Mayor
49. Nell's Friend
50. Herbie
51. Melissa
52. James Returns
53. Samantha's Protest
54. A Kanisky Christmas
55. Valentine
56. Flashback
57. The Big Apple (Part 1)
58. The Big Apple (Part 2)
59. Knock Three Times
60. Katie's College
61. Class of '84
62. Rodeo
63. The Center
Season 4
64. Nell's Birthday
65. Daddy's Little Girl
66. New Orleans, aka Joey Goes to New Orleans (Part 1)
67. New Orleans, aka Joey Goes to New Orleans (Part 2)
68. Grandpa's Secret Life
69. Sam's First Love
70. Who Dunnit?
71. Breakdance
72. Baby of the Family
73. Carl's Delicate Moment
74. TV or Not TV
75. The Answering Machine
76. Julie's Lie
77. The Spirit of Christmas
78. Grandpa's Will
79. The Gift
80. Alabamy Bound, aka Alabama Bound (Part 1)
81. Alabama Bound, aka Alabama Bound (Part 2)
82. The Earthquake
83. Monkey See, Monkey Do
84. The Lookalike
85. Cat Story
86. Police Mamas
87. Friendship
88. Julie's Birthday
Season 5
89. Joey's Train
90. So Long, Jonathan
91. Ship of Fools (Part 1)
92. Ship of Fools (Part 2)
93. The Man From Zoron
94. Mama
95 Addy's Goodbye
96. Sam's Little Girl
97. Nell's Gifted Child
98. Nell's New Car
99. Katie's Apartment
100. The Elevator
101. Snippets
102. Second Chance (Part 1)
103. Second Chance (Part 2)
104. Pride and Prejudice
105. A Lesson For Nell
106. Bienvenido, Jonathan
107. The Gun
108. Family Reunion
109. Getting to Know You
110. Found Money
111. Katie's Korner
112. The Purse Snatcher
Season 6
113. Below Sea Level
114. Joey Meets Matthew
115. Nell Goes Back to New York
116. The Apartment
117. Sam Goes to College
118. Someday, My Prince
119. The Scam
120. Nell's Secret Admirer
121. I Love New York
122. Nell the Boss
123. Harry the Hamster
124. Joey the Gambler
125. Christmas in New York
126. The Loan
127. Joey's First Crush
128. The Window (First Half)
129. The Window (Second Half)
130. Joey's Teacher
131. Joey's Hero
132. Joey the Gigolo
133. Parents' Week (Part 1)
134. Parents' Week (Part 2)
135. Save the Church
136. Mama's Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Episodes in Alphabetical Order
Addy's Goodbye
(1985)
Alabamy Bound, aka Alabama Bound (Part 1)
(1985)
Alabamy Bound, aka Alabama Bound (Part 2)
(1985)
Answering Machine, The
(1985)
Apartment, The
(1985)
Baby of the Family
(#74, December 8, 1984)
Below Sea Level
(#114, October 1, 1986)
Bienvenido, Jonathan
(1986)
Big Apple, The (Part 1)
(1984)
Big Apple, The (Part 2)
(1984)
Breakdance
(1984)
Brother Ed and the Hooker
(#21, October 9, 1982)
Carl's Delicate Moment
(1984)
Cat Story
(March 2, 1985)
Center, The
(1984)
Centerfold, The (Part 1)
(1983)
Centerfold, The (Part 2)
(1983)
Chief's Gay Evening, The
(#26, November 13, 1982)
Christmas in New York
(1986)
Class of '84
(1984)
Custody Suit, The
(1983)
Daddy's Little Girl
(1984)
Do or Diet
(#5, November 26, 1981)
Earthquake, The
(1985)
Eddie Gets Married
(1983)
Elevator, The
(1985)
Emergency, The
(1982)
Family Reunion
(1986)
Flashback
(1984)
Found Money
(1986)
Friendship
(#87, May 4, 1985)
Getting to Know You
(1986)
Gift, The
(1985)
Good Man is Hard to Find, A
(#2, November 5, 1981)
Grandma Fools Around
(1982)
Grandpa Robs a Bank
(1983)
Grandpa's Rebellion
(1983)
Grandpa's Secret Life
(1984)
Grandpa's Visit
(1982)
Grandpa's Will
(1985)
Greenlawn Street Blues
(1983)
Groupie, The
(#42, September 29, 1983)
Gun, The
(1986)
Harry the Hamster
(1986)
Herbie
(1984)
Hot Muffins
(#16, March 11, 1982)
I Love New York
(1986)
James Returns
(1984)
Joey (Part 1)
(1983)
Joey (Part 2)
(1983)
Joey Meets Matthew
(1986)
Joey the Gambler
(1986)
Joey the Gigolo
(1987)
Joey's First Crush
(1987)
Joey's Hero
(1987)
Joey's Teacher
(1987)
Joey's Train
(#89, September 14, 1985)
Julie Smokes
(#32, January 13, 1983)
Julie's Birthday
(#88, May 11, 1985)
Julie's First Love
(1982)
Julie's Lie
(1984)
Julie's Rejection
(1981)
Kanisky Christmas, A
(1983)
Katie Steals Julie's Jock
(#27 November 27, 1982)
Katie the Cheat
(1982)
Katie the Crook
(#1, October 29, 1981)
Katie's Apartment
(#100, December 7, 1985)
Katie's College
(1984)
Katie's Commitment
(1983)
Katie's Korner
(1986)
Knock Three Times
(1984)
Lesson For Nell, A
(1986)
Loan, The
(1986)
Lookalike, The
(1985)
Love thy Neighbor
(#30, December 18, 1982)
Love, Kidney
(#31, January 6, 1983)
Mama
(1985)
Mama's Date
(#136, May 12, 1987)
Man From Zoron, The
(1985)
Man in Nell's Room, A
(#6, December 3, 1981)
Mayor, The
(1983)
Melissa
(1983)
Mom's Birthday
(#4, November 19, 1981)
Monkey See, Monkey Do
(#83, February 16, 1985)
Nell and the Kid
(#40, April 28, 1983)
Nell Gets Sick
(#41, May 5, 1983)
Nell Goes Back to New York
(1986)
Nell Goes Door to Door
(#29, December 11, 1982)
Nell Goes Home
(1982)
Nell Goes to Jail
(#20, October 2, 1982)
Nell the Boss
(1985)
Nell's Birthday
(1984)
Nell's Ex
(1982)
Nell's Friend
(1983)
Nell's Gifted Child
(1985)
Nell's New Car
(1985)
Nell's Secret Admirer
(1986)
New Orleans, aka Joey Goes to New Orleans (Part 1)
(1984)
New Orleans, aka Joey Goes to New Orleans (Part 2)
(1984)
Parents' Week (Part 1)
(1987)
Parents' Week (Part 2)
(1987)
Police Mamas
(1985)
Porko's
(#25, November 6, 1982)
Pride and Prejudice
(1986)
Purse Snatcher, The
(1986)
Return of the Doo-Wop Girls, The
(1983)
Robbery, The
(#18, March 25, 1982)
Rodeo
(#60, 3/8/1984)
Sam Faces Death
(#28, December 4, 1982)
Sam Goes to College
(#113, September 24, 1986)
Sam's Affair
(#17, March 18, 1982)
Sam's First Love
(1984)
Sam's Imaginary Friend
(1982)
Sam's Little Girl
(1985)
Samantha Steals a Squad Car
(1982)
Samantha's Protest
(1984)
Save the Church
(#135, April 28, 1987)
Scam, The
(1986)
Second Chance (Part 1)
(1986)
Second Chance (Part 2)
(1986)
Second Time Around, The
(#3, November 12, 1981)
Ship of Fools (Part 1)
(1985)
Ship of Fools (Part 2)
(1985)
Snippets
(#101, 12/141985)
So Long, Jonathan
(1985)
Someday, My Prince...
(1986)
Spirit of Christmas, The
(1984)
Take My Baby, Please
(1982)
TV or Not TV
(1984)
Unmarried Couple, An
(#19, April 1, 1982)
Valentine
(1984)
Way to a Man's Heart, The
(1983)
Who Dunnit?
(#69, November 3, 1984)
Window, The (First Half)
(1987)
Window, The (Second Half)
(1987)
Your Prisoner is Dead
(#7, December 10, 1981)
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-----------------------------------------
Episodes by Director
John Bowab
(other series include Soap, Facts of Life, Benson, It's a Living
(aka Making a Living), Too Close for Comfort,
and Who's the Boss
)
1. Nell Gets Sick
2. The Center
Hal Cooper
(other series include Hazel, I Dream of Jeannie, Gidget, Love,
American Style, Maude, Sanford and Son,The Mary
Tyler Moore Show,
and Empty Nest
)
1. The Way to a Man's Heart
2. Joey (Part 1)
3. Katie's Commitment
4. The Groupie
5. Joey (Part 2)
6. Grandpa's Rebellion
7. The Mayor
8. Nell's Friend
9. Herbie
10. Melissa
11. James Returns
12. Samantha's Protest
13. A Kanisky Christmas
14. Valentine
15. Flashback
16. The Big Apple (Part 1)
17. The Big Apple (Part 2)
18. Knock Three Times
19. Katie's College
20. Class of '84
21. Rodeo
22. Nell's Birthday
23. Daddy's Little Girl
24. New Orleans, aka Joey Goes to New Orleans (Part 1)
25. New Orleans, aka Joey Goes to New Orleans (Part 2)
26. Grandpa's Secret Life
27. Sam's First Love
28. Who Dunnit?
29. Breakdance
30. Baby of the Family
31. Carl's Delicate Moment
32. TV or Not TV
33. The Answering Machine
34. Julie's Lie
35. The Spirit of Christmas
36. Grandpa's Will
37. The Gift
38. Alabamy Bound, aka Alabama Bound (Part 1)
39. Alabama Bound, aka Alabama Bound (Part 2)
40. The Earthquake
41. Monkey See, Monkey Do
42. The Lookalike
43. Cat Story
44. Police Mamas
45. Friendship
46. Julie's Birthday
47. Joey's Train
48. So Long, Jonathan
49. Ship of Fools (Part 1)
50. Ship of Fools (Part 2)
51. The Man From Zoron
52. Mama
53. Addy's Goodbye
54. Sam's Little Girl
55. Nell's Gifted Child
56. Nell's New Car
57. Katie's Apartment
58. The Elevator
59. Snippets
60. Second Chance (Part 1)
61. Second Chance (Part 2)
62. Pride and Prejudice
63. A Lesson For Nell
64. Bienvenido, Jonathan
65. The Gun
66. Family Reunion
67. Getting to Know You
68. Found Money
69. Katie's Korner
70. The Purse Snatcher
71. Below Sea Level
72. Joey Meets Matthew
73. Nell Goes Back to New York
74. The Apartment
75. I Love New York
76. The Window
(co-directed with Phil Ramuno)
77. Joey's Hero
78. Parents' Week (Part 1)
79. Parents' Week (Part 2)
Rob Dames
1. Nell the Boss
Linda Day
(other shows include Benson, Alice, Too Close for Comfort, WKRP in
Cincinatti, Facts of Life, Diff'rent Strokes, St. Elsewhere, Newhart
and Who's the Boss
)
1. Do or Diet
2. Julie's First Love
3. Nell's Ex
4. The Emergency
5. The Chief's Gay Evening
6. Nell Goes Door to Door
7. Love, Kidney
8. The Custody Suit
9. Christmas in New York
10. Joey's First Crush
Jim Drake
(other shows include Alice, Buffalo Bill, Newhart, Who's the Boss,
Night Court, The Golden Girls, Dave's World,
and Living Single
)
1. Sam's Affair
2. Grandpa's Visit
3. Nell Goes to Jail
4. Sam's Imaginary Friend
5. Sam Faces Death
6. Take My Baby, Please
7. Porko's
8. Katie Steals Julie's Jock
9. Love Thy Neighbor
10. Julie Smokes
11. The Centerfold (Part 1)
12. The Centerfold (Part 2)
13. The Return of the Doo-Wop Girls
14. Greenlawn Street Blues
Dick Harwood
(other shows include The Incredible Hulk
and The Misadventures of Sherriff Lobo
)
1. Julie's Rejection
2. The Robbery
Herbert Kenwith
(other series include Diff'rent Strokes, The Mary Tyler Moore Show,
Too Close for Comfort,
and Bosom Buddies
)
1. A Man in Nell's Room
Jules Lichtman
(other series include Charles in Charge, It's a Living,
and Amen
)
1. The Scam
2. Nell's Secret Admirer
Will Mackenzie
(other series include Family Ties, Newhart, The Bob Newhart Show,
Too Close for Comfort, Taxi, WKRP in Cincinatti, Bosom Buddies,
and Scarecrow & Mrs. King
)
1. A Good Man is Hard to Find
2. Mom's Birthday
3. Your Prisoner is Dead
4. Katie the Cheat
5. Nell Goes Home
6. Hot Muffins
7. An Unmarried Couple
Patrick Maloney
(other series include My Two Dads
and Unhappily Ever After
)
1. Sam Goes to College
2. Someday, My Prince...
3. Joey the Gambler
4. Joey's Teacher
5. Joey the Gigolo
John Pasquin
(other series include Family Ties, Alice, Growing Pains
and Newhart
, husband of actress JoBeth Williams)
1. Brother Ed and the Hooker
Phil Ramuno
(other series include Charles in Charge, The Ted Knight Show
(formerly Too Close for Comfort
), 9 to 5,
and Grace Under Fire
)
1. Harry the Hamster
2. The Window
(co-directed with Hal Cooper)
3. Mama's Date
Oz Scott
(other series include The Jeffersons, Alice, Hill Street Blues,
Scarecrow & Mrs. King, 227, Fame,
and The Cosby Show
)
1. Eddie Gets Married
2. Nell and the Kid
Tony Singletary
(other series inlcude What's Happening Now, Benson, One Day at a
Time, The Jeffersons, Charles in Charge, Silver Spoons, 227, Diff'rent
Strokes, The Cosby Show, Mr. Belvedere,
and Head of the Class)
1. Samantha Steals a Squad Car
2. Grandma Fools Around
3. Grandpa Robs a Bank
4. The Loan
5. Save the Church
Howard Storm
(other series include Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley,
Angie, Rhoda, Too Close for Comfort, Taxi, Perfect Strangers, Mr.
Belvedere, Full House,
and ALF)
1. Katie the Crook
2. The Second Time Around
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
1998-1999, by Matthew Anscher. Feel free to distribute this to your
friends, but tell
them where you got it, and tell me about it first.
ansch002@acpub.duke.edu