They took an old formula and made it fresh again. A white police chief in a house filled with women, all led by his sassy black housekeeper. America loved Gimme a Break!, the show that saved NBC and paved the way for future smash-hit Peacock Network sitcoms like Family Ties and The Cosby Show.

But as this plump-with-drama E! True Hollywood Story reveals, not everything was fun and giggles behind the scenes. Star Nell Carter suffered from sometimes-crippling eating and drug disorders, though she always managed to pull out a great performance.

Watch and learn as the cast of young girls blossomed into women and how they and the show coped with the death of their TV father. Also see how the one-time hit flailed in desperation in its later years, adding younger cast members and firing others, all before moving to New York in a final attempt to stay fresh.

And learn about Carter's personal battles with addiction, her generosity of money and spirit and how she battled with sheer will through several debilitating illnesses.

But first, see how much you know about the sitcom family that wasn't afraid to tackle serious issues--or go for one more cornball joke.