"Gimme a Break" Production Guide

[hch]

Hey Everybody! I have here yet another great production order guide. This is the production guide for "Gimme a Break". Here are the original tape dates of all of the episodes. If there are any mistakes, please feel free to correct. Here we go! Enjoy!

NOTE: Production dates are in brackets, air dates are in parentheses

Season 1
[10/02/1981] Katie the Crook (29 Oct 1981)
[10/09/1981] A Good Man is Hard to Find (05 Nov 1981)
[10/16/1981] The Second Time Around (12 Nov 1981)
[10/23/1981] Do or Diet (26 Nov 1981)
[11/06/1981] Mom's Birthday (19 Nov 1981)
[11/13/1981] A Man in Nell's Room (03 Dec 1981)
[11/20/1981] Your Prisoner is Dead (10 Dec 1981)
[12/04/1981] Julie's Rejection (17 Dec 1981)
[12/11/1981] Julie's First Love (07 Jan 1982)
[12/18/1981] Nell's Ex (14 Jan 1982)
[01/08/1982] Katie the Cheat (21 Jan 1982) (John Hoyt's first show as Grandpa; also Pete Schrum's first show as Ed)
[01/15/1982] The Emergency (04 Feb 1982)
[01/22/1982] Nell Goes Home (11 Feb 1982)
[02/05/1982] Samantha Steals a Squad Car (18 Feb 1982)
[02/19/1982] Grandma Fools Around (25 Feb 1982) (Elizabeth Kerr plays Grandma in this episode)
[02/26/1982] Hot Muffins (11 Mar 1982)
[03/12/1982] Sam's Affair (18 Mar 1982)
[03/19/1982] The Robbery (25 Mar 1982)
[03/26/1982] An Unmarried Couple (01 Apr 1982)

Season 2
[08/13/1982] Grandpa's Visit (23 Oct 1982)
[08/20/1982] Nell Goes to Jail (02 Oct 1982)
[08/20/1982] Brother Ed and the Hooker (09 Oct 1982) (Jane Dulo now portrays Grandma)
[09/10/1982] Sam's Imaginary Friend (16 Oct 1982)
[10/15/1982] Sam Faces Death (04 Dec 1982)
[10/22/1982] Take My Baby, Please (30 Oct 1982)
[10/29/1982] Porko's (06 Nov 1982)
[11/05/1982] The Chief's Gay Evening (13 Nov 1982)
[11/12/1982] Katie Steals Julie's Jock (27 Nov 1982)
[11/19/1982] Nell Goes Door to Door (11 Dec 1982)
[12/03/1982] Love thy Neighbor (18 Dec 1982)
[12/10/1982] Love, Kidney (06 Jan 1983)
[12/17/1982] Greenlawn Street Blues (10 Mar 1983)
[12/23/1982] Julie Smokes (13 Jan 1983)
[01/07/1983] The Centerfold (1) (20 Jan 1983)
[01/14/1983] The Centerfold (2) (27 Jan 1983)
[01/21/1983] The Custody Suit (10 Feb 1983)
[02/04/1983] The Return of the Doo-Wop Girls (17 Feb 1983)
[02/11/1983] Eddie Gets Married (24 Feb 1983) (Ed Schrum's last appearance as Ed)
[02/18/1983] Grandpa Robs a Bank (03 Mar 1983)
[03/04/1983] Nell Gets Sick (05 May 1983) (Jane Dulo's last appearance as Grandma)
[03/11/1983] Nell and the Kid (28 Apr 1983)

Season 3
[08/09/1983] The Way to a Man's Heart (13 Oct 1983)
[08/16/1983] Joey (1) (27 Oct 1983) (Joey Lawrence's first show as Joey)
[08/23/1983] Katie's Commitment (20 Oct 1983)
[09/13/1983] The Groupie (29 Sep 1983)
[09/20/1983] Joey (2) (03 Nov 1983)
[09/27/1983] Grandpa's Rebellion (08 Dec 1983)
[10/11/1983] The Mayor (10 Nov 1983)
[10/18/1983] Nell's Friend (01 Dec 1983) (Telma Hopkins' first show as Addy)
[10/25/1983] Herbie (05 Jan 1984)
[11/08/1983] Melissa (17 Nov 1983)
[11/15/1983] James Returns (12 Jan 1984)
[11/22/1983] Samantha's Protest (19 Jan 1984)
[12/06/1983] A Kanisky Christmas (22 Dec 1983)
[12/13/1983] Valentine (09 Feb 1984)
[12/20/1983] Flashback (26 Jan 1984)
[01/10/1984] The Big Apple (1) (16 Feb 1984)
[01/17/1984] The Big Apple (2) (23 Feb 1984)
[01/24/1984] Knock Three Times (02 Feb 1984)
[02/07/1984] Katie's College (15 Mar 1984)
[02/14/1984] Class of '84 (03 May 1984)
[02/28/1984] Rodeo (08 Mar 1984)
[03/13/1984] The Center (19 Apr 1984)

Season 4
[07/31/1984] Nell's Birthday (13 Oct 1984) (No Dolph Sweet)
[08/06/1984] Daddy's Little Girl (17 Nov 1984)
[09/04/1984] Joey Goes to New Orleans (1) (29 Sep 1984) (No Dolph Sweet)
[09/04/1984] Joey Goes to New Orleans (2) (06 Oct 1984) (No Dolph Sweet)
[09/11/1984] Grandpa's Secret Life (20 Oct 1984) (No Dolph Sweet)
[09/18/1984] Sam's First Love (27 Oct 1984)
[09/25/1984] Who Dunnit? (03 Nov 1984)
[10/09/1984] Breakdance (10 Nov 1984)
[10/16/1984] Baby of the Family (08 Dec 1984)
[10/23/1984] Carl's Delicate Moment (24 Nov 1984)
[11/06/1984] TV or Not TV (15 Dec 1984)
[11/13/1984] The Answering Machine (12 Jan 1985)
[11/20/1984] Julie's Lie (01 Dec 1984) (Jonathan Silverman's first show)
[12/04/1984] The Spirit of Christmas (22 Dec 1984)
[12/11/1984] Grandpa's Will (05 Jan 1985)
[12/18/1984] The Gift (19 Jan 1985)
[01/08/1985] Alabamy Bound (1) (26 Jan 1985) (Rosetta LeNoire's first show)
[01/15/1985] Alabama Bound (2) (02 Feb 1985)
[01/22/1985] The Earthquake (09 Feb 1985)
[02/05/1985] Monkey See, Monkey Do (30 Mar 1985)
[02/12/1985] The Lookalike (16 Feb 1985)
[02/23/1985] Cat Story (23 Feb 1985)
[03/05/1985] Police Mamas (23 Mar 1985)
[03/12/1985] Friendship (04 May 1985)
[03/19/1985] Julie's Birthday (11 May 1985)

Season 5
[07/30/1985] Joey's Train (14 Sep 1985)
[08/06/1985] So Long, Jonathan (26 Oct 1985)
[08/13/1985] Ship of Fools (1) (21 Sep 1985)
[08/20/1985] Ship of Fools (2) (28 Sep 1985)
[08/27/1985] The Man From Zoron (05 Oct 1985)
[09/10/1985] Mama (02 Nov 1985)
[09/17/1985] Addy's Goodbye (19 Oct 1985)
[09/24/1985] Sam's Little Girl (09 Nov 1985)
[10/15/1985] Katie's Apartment (07 Dec 1985)
[10/22/1985] Nell's Gifted Child (30 Nov 1985)
[10/29/1985] Nell's New Car (23 Nov 1985)
[11/05/1985] The Elevator (16 Nov 1985) (100th episode)
[11/19/1985] Snippets (14 Dec 1985)
[11/26/1985] Second Chance (1) (04 Jan 1986)
[11/26/1985] Second Chance (2) (11 Jan 1986)
[12/10/1985] Pride and Prejudice (15 Feb 1986)
[12/17/1985] A Lesson For Nell (08 Feb 1986)
[01/14/1986] Bienvenido, Jonathan (18 Jan 1986)
[01/21/1986] The Gun (01 Feb 1986)
[02/11/1986] Family Reunion (22 Feb 1986)
[02/19/1986] Getting to Know You (29 Mar 1986)
[02/25/1986] Found Money (03 May 1986)
[03/04/1986] Katie's Korner (05 Apr 1986)
[03/11/1986] The Purse Snatcher (10 May 1986)

Season 6
[07/15/1986] Below Sea Level (01 Oct 1986) (Matthew Lawrence's first show)
[07/22/1986] Joey Meets Matthew (08 Oct 1986)
[07/29/1986] Nell Goes Back to New York (15 Oct 1986)
[08/19/1986] The Apartment (29 Oct 1986)
[08/26/1986] Sam Goes to College (24 Sep 1986)
[09/09/1986] Someday, My Prince (05 May 1987)
[09/16/1986] The Scam (03 Dec 1986)
[09/23/1986] Nell's Secret Admirer (07 Jan 1987) (Paul Sands' first taped show and Rosie O'Donnell's first taped show)
[10/07/1986] I Love New York (05 Nov 1986)
[10/14/1986] Nell the Boss (12 Nov 1986)
[10/21/1986] Harry the Hamster (19 Nov 1986)
[10/28/1986] Joey the Gambler (26 Nov 1986)
[11/11/1986] Christmas in New York (10 Dec 1986)
[11/18/1986] The Loan (14 Jan 1987)
[11/25/1986] Joey's First Crush (28 Jan 1987)
[12/09/1986] The Window (1) (21 Jan 1987)
[12/16/1986] The Window (2) (21 Jan 1987)
[01/13/1987] Joey's Teacher (04 Feb 1987) (Paul Sands' last show)
[01/20/1987] Joey's Hero (11 Feb 1987)
[02/03/1987] Joey the Gigolo (25 Feb 1987) (Matthew Lawrence's last taped show)
[02/10/1987] Parents' Week (1) (31 Mar 1987)
[02/24/1987] Parents' Week (2) (07 Apr 1987) (Lara Jill Miller's last show)
[03/03/1987] Save the Church (28 Apr 1987) (Joey Lawrence's last taped show)
[03/10/1987] Mama's Date (12 May 1987)

[greelywinger]

I've just been wondering about production dates for GAB, and if they were broadcast in the order they were filmed.
I'm curious how you compiled this list.

[hch]

A lot of research.

I looked up old script pages, library collections, publicity photographs, and even old newspaper articles to compile the taping dates.

[greelywinger]

Interesting to know that 2 episodes were aired on my birthday

Nell and the Kid (28 Apr 1983)
Save the Church (28 Apr 1987) (Joey Lawrence's last taped show)

Darryl

[Smartboy]

Originally Posted by greelywinger

Interesting to know that 2 episodes were aired on my birthday

Nell and the Kid (28 Apr 1983)
Save the Church (28 Apr 1987) (Joey Lawrence's last taped show)

Darryl

While we are on the topic of episodes that aired on peoples' birthday, I would like to mention an episode of "The Brady Bunch" that aired on the day that I turned one year old! It was from the first season and was titled "To Move or Not to Move". Just wanted to share!

[70s show watcher]

i actully managed to get tickets for what turned out to be the purse snatcher ep but the stuido was overbooked so i didnt get in on the bright side i still have my unused tickets

[Smartboy]

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

i actully managed to get tickets for what turned out to be the purse snatcher ep but the stuido was overbooked so i didnt get in on the bright side i still have my unused tickets

Did you have to pay for your tickets? If you did, I hope that the studio had to decency to refund your money!

[70s show watcher]

Originally Posted by Smartboy

Did you have to pay for your tickets? If you did, I hope that the studio had to decency to refund your money!

mo the tickets were free as a matter of fact all tv show tickets are free

[Smartboy]

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

mo the tickets were free as a matter of fact all tv show tickets are free

Thank you for the information!

[70s show watcher]

Originally Posted by Smartboy

Thank you for the information!

you are welcome

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

you are welcome

Yeah. You deserve props. I enjoy your posts.

[70s show watcher]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Yeah. You deserve props. I enjoy your posts.

thank you so much i enjoy reading you posts too

[Wildchats]

Awesome, I was born on August 16, 1982, 3 days after "Grandpa's Visit" filmed and 4 days before "Nell Goes To Jail"/ ""Brother Ed And The Hooker" filmed.


On August 16, 1983, Joey Pt 1 filmed, and that was on my 1st birthday!

[Smartboy]

Originally Posted by Wildchats

Awesome, I was born on August 16, 1982, 3 days after "Grandpa's Visit" filmed and 4 days before "Nell Goes To Jail"/ ""Brother Ed And The Hooker" filmed.


On August 16, 1983, Joey Pt 1 filmed, and that was on my 1st birthday!

While we are on the topic of things that happened on our 1st birthdays, the "Brady Bunch" episode "To Move or Not to Move" was broadcast on my first birthday!

[Kittykittykittycats]

A little late to the party. But I wonder when they actually taped on location at the 1984 World’s Fair. Right around the September soundstage shoots? I couldn’t find anything in newspaper archives. It’s one of my favorite episodes. wonder if the original pilot exists anywhere. The kid was a red headed boy. Thanks for posting these, wherever you may be.