Ep 10. Nell Goes Door to Door

Nell Goes Door to Door is the 10th episode in the second season of Gimme a Break! The American sitcom television series that aired from 1981 to 1987. The show is set in the fictional town of Glenlawn, California and follows the lives of the Kanisky family. The head of the family, Carl Kanisky, is a widowed police chief, who hires a live-in housekeeper, Nell Harper, to help him raise his three daughters: Katie, Julie, and Samantha.

In Nell Goes Door to Door, Nell is on a mission to collect signatures for a petition that opposes a proposed zoning change that will turn the neighborhood park into a commercial area. She enlists the help of the Kanisky girls and Tony, Carl's assistant, to help spread the word and gather support. However, the task proves to be more difficult than they anticipated as they encounter a range of reactions, from supportive to dismissive of their cause.

As Nell and the group go around the neighborhood, they meet various residents with different backgrounds and views, including a wealthy couple who are in support of the zoning change and a retired veteran who is strongly against it. While Nell and the girls try their best to persuade the neighbors, they also learn a lot about each other, and their responses to the neighbors they meet reflect more than just whether or not they care about the park being turned into a commercial area.

Meanwhile, Carl is dealing with his own stress as a police officer. He receives a threat from a criminal he put behind bars, who vows to get his revenge once he gets out of prison. Carl tries to hide his fears from the rest of the family, but his worries are compounded by the potential loss of the neighborhood park, which he deems as an important public space for the community.

At the end of the day, the group meets in Carl's office to review the results of their efforts. While they were not able to gather as many signatures as they hoped, they still managed to develop new bonds with their neighbors and vowed to keep fighting for their cause.

This episode explores important socio-political themes regarding the role of public spaces, the power of community organizing, and the value of neighborly interaction. The show uses humor and lightheartedness to convey these messages, which make it entertaining and informative. Furthermore, Nell Goes Door to Door also touches on the issues of family and personal conflict, which gives the show a sense of emotional depth. Therefore, it is a must-watch for those who enjoy sitcoms with meaningful themes and relatable characters.