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The Worst Episodes of Gimme a Break!

Every episode of Gimme a Break! ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Gimme a Break!!

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Gimme a Break! is an American sitcom which aired on NBC for six seasons, October 29, 1981, until May 12, 1987. The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief and

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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Gimme a Break! Season 3 Episode 21 - The Center
    5.1/10(32 votes)

    #1 - The Center

    S3:E21

    Nell decides to take Grandpa to the senior citizen Center to have some time to spend with people his own age. While there, the seniors find out that they have to share their space with the youth center since it had just burned down. The director has an arguement with her new love interest, and it is up to one of the teens to help her and her new crush get back together to make his own crush see that he is a man who is full of love. At the dance that the two groups put together, the director and her crush reunite after being locked and handcuffed in a closet.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Gimme a Break! Season 5 Episode 24 - The Purse Snatcher
    5.2/10(27 votes)

    #2 - The Purse Snatcher

    S5:E24

    As she is at a Greek restaraunt with her freinds, Nell's purse is stolen, which upsets everyone. However, the two Grek waiters have their own plan of getting the purse back for her.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Gimme a Break! Season 3 Episode 4 - Joey (1)
    5.8/10(29 votes)

    #3 - Joey (1)

    S3:E4

    Katie practices her jazz routine to ""Maniac"" for a show that will be taking pace soon in Glenawn. As the family is getting ready, rehearsing for the show, a boy named Joey comes by collecting for Jerry's kids. The family falls for his act, and as he leaves, Simpson says he is a con artist. Joey Donova is his name, and his Uncle Jerry dropped him off and left him in Glenlawn, because his dad Tim is at sea. The scial worker tells the cheif that Joey will stay with the family over the weekend and will be placed in a foster home shortly. Nell then looses control of Joey, and he escapes, taking her money, and goes to the bus station. However, Nell finds him, drags him home, and doesnt know what she is going to do with him.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Rod Parker

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  4. Gimme a Break! Season 5 Episode 4 - The Man From Zoron
    6.1/10(30 votes)

    #4 - The Man From Zoron

    S5:E4

    Joey is saved by a man from being hit by a bus, and when the man tells his family that he is from another planet, everyone but Nell believes him. The man says he is from Zoron, and that he doesnt have a last name, and is known as ""cute"". In the end, the man leaves, and the family still beleives he is from another planet.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Gimme a Break! Season 6 Episode 19 - Joey's Hero
    6.2/10(20 votes)

    #5 - Joey's Hero

    S6:E19

    When Joey's favorite television star ""Captain Jerk"", is hospitalized after swallowing a whistle, it is up to Nell to give him a blood transfusion since she has the same type of blod as him. However, as she goes to his hospital room to meet him, she finds out that he is predjudiced as she heards him talking to his co-stars about how much he hates blacks and how he organizes a group of people who are for a white society. She realizes that she must tell Joey the truth, that his favorite telvison star doesn't favor blacks. In the end, Capatain Jerk tells Nell to be on the show, but swallows his whistle again when he sees she is black. He gives her money, and tells her to not tell anyone she is black and gave him blood, which makes hm partially black as well. Joey hears this, and depite not believing Nell before, he finally knows that his hero is predjuduce and he and Nell leave the hospital knowing that Captain Jerk is nothing but one.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Gimme a Break! Season 6 Episode 18 - Joey's Teacher
    6.3/10(20 votes)

    #6 - Joey's Teacher

    S6:E18

    Joey is upset because his teacher, Mr. Gronomeir keeps hating him. When Nell invites him to the house to talk about Joey, he trips on Maggies skateboard, and decides to sue, and fakes that he has serious pains. However, he is on his way to spin the big wheel for fast cash on television, and when Nell turns on the television to see him spin the wheel, he wins the big jackpot, and says that he is going to buy an island in the Caribean, and will never have to look at another kid again. Nell is outraged by his act of foolishness.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Gimme a Break! Season 5 Episode 15 - Second Chance (2)
    6.4/10(18 votes)

    #7 - Second Chance (2)

    S5:E15

    The ex-con is sad that Gary hated the song, and decides that singing is not the career for him. Nell then appears on Gary Collins' Hour Maganzine Show, and decides to go back to college afterall.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Gimme a Break! Season 2 Episode 21 - Nell and the Kid
    6.5/10(37 votes)

    #8 - Nell and the Kid

    S2:E21

    While at ""Max's Delacatesan"", Nell and Max see a girl shoplifting. Nell saves her from being arrested, telling Max she is taking her home. Nell finds out she has nowhere to go since her parents left her and her grandmother had recently died. When the Chief finds this out he is ready to arrest her, but she agrees to live with Max and help him out at the store. At first, the two don't get along so well, but they accept that each other has to get by even though there are people in their life that are no longer around.

    Director:Oz Scott
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Gimme a Break! Season 3 Episode 22 - Class of '84
    6.5/10(27 votes)

    #9 - Class of '84

    S3:E22

    Nell helps write a book report for a straight-A student who has several children to take care of, and is aways exhausted in class. At her graduation, the man she wrote the report for says he owes it all to Nell, and he cheated, ad the two loose their diplomas. As this is going on, Addy has chanel 3 do an interview on Nell, and she admits she cheated anddidnt graduate. However, Nell is givenher diploma, since she successfully passed all of her classes, and the man gets his as well, who passes an oral exam, and gets a surprise from his wife that she is pregnant again.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Gimme a Break! Season 5 Episode 11 - Nell's Gifted Child
    6.5/10(27 votes)

    #10 - Nell's Gifted Child

    S5:E11

    Nel finds out that Joey is a gifted child, and should take a test to see what grade he should be placed into. When Joey tells her that the 4th grade is fine, and that he just wants to play baseball, she insists that he take the test, and gives him several instruments to play to see which one suites him best, the piano being the top. In the end, Joey runs off to the park, and Nell knows he is there when she finds out he wasn't at the school to take the test. She decides to let Joey stay in the 4th grade because a nine year old is supposed to have fun, and not work their tail off.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Gimme a Break! Season 6 Episode 12 - Christmas in New York
    6.5/10(27 votes)

    #11 - Christmas in New York

    S6:E12

    Nell decides to buy a Christmas tree, as does Addy, who both know that it costs too much for one in New York. As the gang begins to celebrate Christmas New York style, Joey tells Matthew that there is no such thing as Santra Claus, and Nell blames Marty for the whole thing. In the end, Nell realizes that Marty always didn't believe in Santa Claus because he never got the toy train he saw in a store window when he was a child. In the end, Nell invites him to Christmas dinner, and on Christmas morning, he is surprised to see the toy train he has always wanted, which both Addy and Nell say they didn't get for him. Thus, proving to both Joey and Matthew that there is a Santa Claus afterall.

    Director:Linda Day
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Gimme a Break! Season 2 Episode 2 - Brother Ed and the Hooker
    6.6/10(34 votes)

    #12 - Brother Ed and the Hooker

    S2:E2

    At the bowling alley, the Cheif meets up with Maxine, a prostitute who is used to nail bad cops. When Ed meets Carl at the bowling alley, he introduces him to Maxine and the two hit it off. When the Cheif finds out that Ed and Maxine moved in together, he tells Ed that he will not have his brother living with an ex-prostitute since she has decided to retire from the business. In the end, Ed stands up for himself and Carl accepts his brother and Maxine living together.

    Director:John Pasquin
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Gimme a Break! Season 2 Episode 14 - The Centerfold (1)
    6.6/10(38 votes)

    #13 - The Centerfold (1)

    S2:E14

    When Mr. Swackhammer shows up to inform the Cheif about the female officer who posed nude, he rushes into work and tells her she is fired. Once the town and the country get a hold of what happened, they are against what the Cheif did. Even the girls and Nell don't like how he fired the officer. The police station begins to be mobbed by angry women who picket and are forced to leave, and Simpsons mother shows up and hits the Cheif with her pocket book. If that wasn't enough, Hamilton Storm shows up to do a cover story on how unfair the Cheif is, just as a mad bomber shows up and is about to blow up the whole place.

    Director:Jim Drake
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Gimme a Break! Season 3 Episode 5 - Joey (2)
    6.6/10(32 votes)

    #14 - Joey (2)

    S3:E5

    Joey goes on a hunger strike and says he is not going to an orphanage. Nell then lies to Joey and tells him that she made a friend of a man whose window she broke years ago when she was a child. Joey beleives her, and knows Nell is not a lier, like many adults he knows are. Nell then tells the Cheif he owes her, and she deserves to take Joey in as her foster child. The Chief objects, but Joey tells him he is right, and even himself wouldnt want him as a foster child. The Cheif's feelings change, and Joey is accepted into the family as their foster child

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Rod Parker

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  15. Gimme a Break! Season 4 Episode 8 - Daddy's Little Girl
    6.6/10(24 votes)

    #15 - Daddy's Little Girl

    S4:E8

    While at Skipper Dwayne's for dinner, Addy finds out her car is being towed away as Nell is approached by a sleezeball who wants to go out with her. A man at a neaby table tells him to leave her alone and she is swept away by him. When he drops by the house while Addy is there, she is shocked to see that he is her long-lost father who left her mother when she was younger. Addy doesn't want Nell to date him after what he did to her mother and her when she was 8 years old. In the end, Nell takes Addy to dinner and her father is there as Nell sings ""People"" as Addy decides to give her father another chance.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Gimme a Break! Season 5 Episode 13 - Snippets
    6.6/10(22 votes)

    #16 - Snippets

    S5:E13

    Nell and the gang decorate the Christmas tree as Joey pretends that he is sick, but wants to help out as well. During the Christmas gathering, the family recalls events from the past. In the end, Joey tells Nell that he was only pretending to be sick because he didn't have enough money to buy her a Christmas present, but she tells him it doesn't matter.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Gimme a Break! Season 2 Episode 15 - The Centerfold (2)
    6.7/10(38 votes)

    #17 - The Centerfold (2)

    S2:E15

    The man who has a bomb strapped to him tells Simpson he knows him from some place. He realizes that he's seen him before at the singles bar. They both talk about how they can never pick up women, and how Simpson likes a woman officer but he can't have the courage to tell her. The man decides at the last second to stop the bomb and tells Simpson he will look him up when he is done his time in jail. Simpson then confesses to the Cheif that he sent a picture of the officer from the Christmas party to the magazine and that is why they chose her to model in it. The Cheif decides to take back his compliment of telling Simpson he is a hero. The Mayor of Glenlawn who is about to be re-elected tells the Cheif to re-hire the officer or else he will fire him. The Cheif decides to go to a live telecast taping with the Mayor and decides to hire the officer back. Simpson finally has the courage to tell the officer he likes her and she decides to go out with him.

    Director:Jim Drake
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Gimme a Break! Season 6 Episode 10 - Joey the Gambler
    6.7/10(22 votes)

    #18 - Joey the Gambler

    S6:E10

    Joey begins to run ilegal gambling tickets from the staff at El Gatspacio, and Nell is horrified when she finds out he was picked up for running them.After Nell brings Joey home, she tries to teach him that gambling is wrong. When her lecture doesn't work, she finally confides in Marty, who uses the game ""Candyland"", as an example that it is wrong for Joey to gamble, bets Joey all their money, and in the end wins, teaching Joey a lesson that it is very wrong for people to gamble their money that they worked so hard to get in the first place.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Gimme a Break! Season 6 Episode 24 - Someday, My Prince . . .
    6.7/10(19 votes)

    #19 - Someday, My Prince . . .

    S6:E24

    Nell is wooed by an African man who invented chocolate chip cookies in his African country. She is given a necklace by him, and is given a proposal to be his wife. She tells Addy that they should all move to Africa if she decides to accept his proosal, but in the end she declines it, when he tells her his mother wants him to marry a pure woman who hasnt had sex before. She is however, mad that she gave back the expensive necklace that she was given by him.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Gimme a Break! Season 1 Episode 10 - Nell's Ex
    6.8/10(37 votes)

    #20 - Nell's Ex

    S1:E10

    Nell's finds out that her ex-husband Tony is in town and wants to meet with her. At the house, he tells her that he is going to be on the Merv Griffith show and needs $1,000. Nell agrees to give him the money and lies to the Cheif, telling him she needs $500 for her Aunt to have an operation. The Cheif gives her the money, even if he knows that Tony is going to blow it and not get his big break on the Merv Griffith show. Sure enough, when he auditions on the show, he is told to get off, since they already have enough singers like him.

    Director:Linda Day
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Gimme a Break! Season 2 Episode 4 - Grandpa's Visit
    6.8/10(26 votes)

    #21 - Grandpa's Visit

    S2:E4

    When Grandma leaves to go see her sick sister who is about to have an operation, Grandpa is sent to live with the family for a few days. When he shows up he is nothing but trouble, as he wakes up in the middle of the night, bangs a bag of ice cubes on the counter to crush them, causes the garbage disposal to go insane, spies in on a neighbor's backside, and makes Nells puzzle fall the floor, only to vaccuum it up and wake everyone up. Nell gets mad and tells Grandpa that he is causing nothing but noise. When the Cheif tells him to stop doing the things he is doing, Grandpa leaves and goes to the mortuary. In the end, Nell shows up and tells Grandpa to come home and that she was sorry for acting the way she did to him.

    Director:Jim Drake
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Gimme a Break! Season 2 Episode 10 - Nell Goes Door to Door
    6.8/10(28 votes)

    #22 - Nell Goes Door to Door

    S2:E10

    Angie tells Nell that she is going on a trip to Mexico with the money she made by selling vaccums. She urges Nell to attend a gathering where the operator of the sales talks about how rich everyone is getting off of the product. Nell then has a party at the house and invites people to it and demonstrates the amazo vac. However, it does not work the way she intended it to, and goes back to another meeting and tells everyone that the salesman is a fake after doing research on him.

    Director:Linda Day
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Gimme a Break! Season 5 Episode 5 - Addy's Goodbye
    6.8/10(30 votes)

    #23 - Addy's Goodbye

    S5:E5

    Nell finds out Addy was given a teaching job as the a Dean at Columbia University by a professor she despises and thinks is tricky. Nell and Addy get into a fight at her goodbye party, and Nell does not want to say goodbye to her. However, in the end, she decides it's the best thing to do. She goes to Addy's apartment to say her goodbyes, but when she gets there she finds Addy unpacking, only to hear that the profssor is tricky and selfish, and was only pulling her legs about getting the job on New York.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Gimme a Break! Season 5 Episode 16 - Bienvenido, Jonathan
    6.8/10(24 votes)

    #24 - Bienvenido, Jonathan

    S5:E16

    Jonathan returns home, giving attention to everyone accept Julie, who beleives that Jonathan doesn't love her anymore. In the end, Jonathan tells Nell that he knows that Archaeology is not the career for him and that he rushed into things by marrying Julie and getting her pregnant. He tells her he was not at work when they called to talk to him, and instead he was in Bakersfield, looking at a chalk factory that he hopes that he and Julie will soon run in the near future. Nell tells him that Julie needs him, and he should tell his problems to her instead. He finally tells Julie his problems, and tells her that they will be great parents soon when their baby is born.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Gimme a Break! Season 2 Episode 22 - Nell Gets Sick
    6.9/10(29 votes)

    #25 - Nell Gets Sick

    S2:E22

    When Nell is sick at home and the Chief going off to Los Angeles for a meeting, he calls his mother to help out around the house. She shuns away Katies new boyfriend since he has pink hair, puts garlic on everyone because she doesn't want them to catch Nells sickness, and feeds the family lamb with goats intestines. Fed up by this, everyone forces Samantha to go to Grandpa and tell him to beg Grandma to return home and she falls head over heels for him.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"The Center" is the worst rated episode of "Gimme a Break!". It scored 5.1/10 based on 32 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/19/1984. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Purse Snatcher".