Getting By

Last updated
Getting By
Getting by cast.jpg
Cast
Genre Family sitcom
Created byWilliam Bickley
Michael Warren
Developed by Thomas L. Miller
Robert L. Boyett
Starring Cindy Williams
Telma Hopkins
Deon Richmond
Merlin Santana
Nicki Vannice
Ashleigh Blair Sterling
Theme music composer Jesse Frederick
Bennett Salvay
ComposersJesse Frederick
Bennett Salvay
Steven Chesne
Gary Boren
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes31
Production
Executive producersWilliam Bickley
Michael Warren
Thomas L. Miller
Robert L. Boyett
Ken Cinnamon
Karen Wengrod
Phil Doran
Camera setup Film; Multi-camera
Running time2224 minutes
Production companiesBickley-Warren Productions
Miller-Boyett Productions
Lorimar Television
(1993)
(season 1)
Warner Bros. Television
(1993-1994)
(season 2)
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseMarch 5 (1993-03-05) 
May 21, 1993 (1993-05-21)
Network NBC
ReleaseSeptember 21, 1993 (1993-09-21) 
June 18, 1994 (1994-06-18)

Getting By is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from March 5, 1993, until May 21, 1993, and on NBC from September 21, 1993, until June 18, 1994. The series was created by William Bickley and Michael Warren, who also served as executive producers with Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett. The final Miller-Boyett series to begin its run under parent studio Lorimar Television, Getting By was folded into Warner Bros. Television for its second season, following Warner Bros.' absorption of Lorimar.

Contents

The series was a part of ABC's TGIF lineup in its first season before switching to NBC for the second and final season.

Synopsis

The show was about two best friends and single mothers, one white and one black, who decide to split the mortgage on a new home in suburban Oak Park, Illinois and live there with their respective families. The women, widowed Dolores Dixon (Telma Hopkins) and Cathy Hale (Cindy Williams), whose husband ran off with another woman, were also co-workers, as they were employed as social workers for the Chicago Department of Social Services. Dolores had two sons, Marcus (Merlin Santana) and Darren (Deon Richmond). Cathy had two daughters, Nikki (Nicki Vannice) and Julie (Ashleigh Blair Sterling).

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
1 12March 5, 1993 (1993-03-05)May 21, 1993 (1993-05-21) ABC
2 19September 21, 1993 (1993-09-21)June 18, 1994 (1994-06-18) NBC

Season 1 (1993)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
11"Moving In"Richard CorrellWilliam Bickley & Michael WarrenMarch 5, 1993 (1993-03-05)21.7 [1]
22"Men Don't Dance"Judy AskinsPhil DoranMarch 12, 1993 (1993-03-12)20.9 [2]
33"Back to Nature"Joel ZwickMark FinkMarch 19, 1993 (1993-03-19)19.9 [3]
44"A Little Romance"Judy AskinsBarry O'Brien & Cheryl AluMarch 26, 1993 (1993-03-26)19.0 [4]
55"The Suit"Richard CorrellKaren Wengrod & Ken CinnamonApril 2, 1993 (1993-04-02)19.2 [5]
66"Shop 'till You Drop"Judy AskinsBarry O'Brien & Cheryl AluApril 9, 1993 (1993-04-09)16.4 [6]
77"My Brother's Keeper"Judy AskinsLinda & Michael TeverbaughApril 16, 1993 (1993-04-16)18.2 [7]
88"The Gospel Truth"Judy AskinsMike Teverbaugh & Linda TeverbaughApril 23, 1993 (1993-04-23)16.9 [8]
99"Give Peace a Chance"Joel ZwickGene BraunsteinApril 30, 1993 (1993-04-30)17.6 [9]
1010"The Love Connection"Joel ZwickScott Spencer GordenMay 7, 1993 (1993-05-07)15.8 [10]
1111"We Are Family, Not"Joel ZwickPhil DoranMay 14, 1993 (1993-05-14)13.7 [11]
1212"Anatomy of a Flight"Joel ZwickCheryl Alu & Barry O'BrienMay 21, 1993 (1993-05-21)15.6 [12]

Season 2 (1993–94)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
131"Turnabout Dance"UnknownUnknownSeptember 21, 1993 (1993-09-21)12.6 [13]
142"Letter to the President"UnknownUnknownSeptember 28, 1993 (1993-09-28)10.5 [14]
153"Faking the Grade"UnknownUnknownOctober 5, 1993 (1993-10-05)13.1 [15]
164"Old Car"UnknownUnknownOctober 12, 1993 (1993-10-12)13.5 [16]
175"Do the Fright Thing"Joel ZwickFred RubinOctober 19, 1993 (1993-10-19)13.1 [17]
186"Not With My Sister"UnknownUnknownNovember 2, 1993 (1993-11-02)10.7 [18]
197"Reach for the Stars"Joel ZwickDavid ChambersNovember 23, 1993 (1993-11-23)7.6 [19]
208"Pinball Wizard"UnknownUnknownDecember 7, 1993 (1993-12-07)8.0 [20]
219"The Pit Stop"Joel ZwickScott Spencer GordenDecember 14, 1993 (1993-12-14)9.3 [21]
2210"The Penthouse"Joel ZwickDavid ChambersDecember 21, 1993 (1993-12-21)10.0 [22]
2311"Sell It Like It Is"Joel ZwickFred RubinJanuary 8, 1994 (1994-01-08)9.6 [23]
2412"In the Driver's Seat"Joel ZwickBarry O'Brien & Cheryl AluJanuary 15, 1994 (1994-01-15)8.7 [24]
2513"A Life in the Theater"Joel ZwickDavid ChambersJanuary 22, 1994 (1994-01-22)6.3 [25]
2614"It Takes a Thief"Joel ZwickScott Spencer Gorden & Casey Maxwell ClairJanuary 29, 1994 (1994-01-29)9.3 [26]
2715"The Rich Guy"Joel ZwickBarry O'Brien & Cheryl AluFebruary 12, 1994 (1994-02-12)9.9 [27]
2816"Three Days of the Condo"Richard CorrellKevin LarkinMay 28, 1994 (1994-05-28)7.2 [28]
2917"Teacher's Pest"Joel ZwickFred RubinJune 4, 1994 (1994-06-04)6.3 [29]
3018"Just Say No"Joel ZwickEunetta T. BooneJune 11, 1994 (1994-06-11)5.7 [30]
3119"My Brilliant Career"Joel ZwickJack Lukes & David AnkrumJune 18, 1994 (1994-06-18)7.1 [31]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardResultCategoryRecipient
1994Nominated Young Artist Awards Youth Actress Leading Role in a Television SeriesAshleigh Sterling

References

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  2. Gable, Donna (March 17, 1993). "ABC improves with bench strength". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  3. Gable, Donna (March 24, 1993). "Waco standoff lifts CBS' '48 Hours'". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  4. Gable, Donna (March 31, 1993). "CBS continues its winning streak". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  5. Gable, Donna (April 7, 1993). "An Oscar to ABC for week's best ratings". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  6. Gable, Donna (April 14, 1993). "NCAA aside, the big winner is ABC's '20/20'". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  7. Donlon, Brian (April 21, 1993). "New shows find their niches". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  8. Donlon, Brian (April 28, 1993). "'Walker' kicks in for CBS". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
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  10. Donlon, Brian (May 12, 1993). "Sturdy 'Home' helps lift ABC". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  11. Gable, Donna (May 19, 1993). "'Cheers' nudges NBC to No. 1". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  12. Gable, Donna (May 26, 1993). "'Cheers' brings happy times to NBC". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  13. Gable, Donna (September 29, 1993). "'Dave's World,' 'Harts' help CBS to victory". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  14. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today . October 6, 1993. p. 3D.
  15. Gable, Donna (October 13, 1993). "New shows pick up steam in ABC win". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  16. Graham, Jefferson; Gable, Donna (October 20, 1993). "'Home Improvement' powers to No. 1". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  17. DeRosa, Robin (October 27, 1993). "World Series earns CBS a win". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  18. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today . November 10, 1993. p. 3D.
  19. DeRosa, Robin (December 1, 1993). "Thanksgiving week tie for NBC, CBS". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  20. DeRosa, Robin (December 15, 1993). "Midler's 'Gypsy' coming up roses for CBS". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  21. DeRosa, Robin (December 22, 1993). "ABC on top for 2nd week". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
  22. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today . December 29, 1993. p. 3D.
  23. DeRosa, Robin (January 12, 1994). "'Improvement' leads ABC charge". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
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  25. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today . January 26, 1994. p. 3D.
  26. DeRosa, Robin (February 2, 1994). "Super Bowl runs up NBC's score". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
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  28. DeRosa, Robin (June 1, 1994). "ABC's clean sweeps". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.
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  31. DeRosa, Robin (June 22, 1994). "95 million tune in O.J.'s televised chase". Life. USA Today . p. 3D.