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Getting By

{{short description|American sitcom}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox television

|image = Getting By (Miller-Boyett sitcom) logo.svg

|caption =

|genre = Family sitcom

|creator = William Bickley
Michael Warren

|developer = 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

|composer = Jesse Frederick
Bennett Salvay
Steven Chesne
Gary Boren

|country = United States

|language = English

|num_seasons = 2

|num_episodes = 31

|executive_producer = William Bickley
Michael Warren
Thomas L. Miller
Robert L. Boyett
Ken Cinnamon
Karen Wengrod
Phil Doran

|camera = Film; Multi-camera

|runtime = 22–24 minutes

|company = Bickley-Warren Productions
Miller-Boyett Productions
Lorimar Television
(1993)
(season 1)
Warner Bros. Television
(1993-1994)
(season 2)

|network = ABC

|first_aired = {{Start date|1993|03|05}}

|last_aired = {{End date|1993|05|21}}

|network2 = NBC

|first_aired2 = {{Start date|1993|09|21}}

|last_aired2 = {{End date|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.

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

File: Getting by cast.jpg

=Series overview=

{{Series overview

| color1 = #FF5F5F

| link1 = #Season 1 (1993)

| episodes1 = 12

| start1 = {{Start date|1993|03|05}}

| end1 = {{End date|1993|05|21}}

| network1 = ABC

| color2 = #0000FF

| link2 = #Season 2 (1993–94)

| episodes2 = 19

| start2 = {{Start date|1993|09|21}}

| end2 = {{End date|1994|06|18}}

| network2 = NBC

}}

=Season 1 (1993)=

{{Episode table

|background = #FF5F5F

|total_width = 75

|overall = 5

|season = 6

|title = 18

|director = 27

|writer = 30

|airdate = 14

|viewers = 9

|episodes =

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 1

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = Moving In

| DirectedBy = Richard Correll

| WrittenBy = William Bickley & Michael Warren

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|03|05}}

| Viewers = 21.7{{cite news|title=CBS holds steady at No. 1|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=March 10, 1993|author=Gable, Donna}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FF5F5F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 2

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = Men Don't Dance

| DirectedBy = Judy Askins

| WrittenBy = Phil Doran

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|03|12}}

| Viewers = 20.9{{cite news|title=ABC improves with bench strength|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=March 17, 1993|author=Gable, Donna}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FF5F5F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 3

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = Back to Nature

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Mark Fink

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|03|19}}

| Viewers = 19.9{{cite news|title=Waco standoff lifts CBS' '48 Hours'|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=March 24, 1993|author=Gable, Donna}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FF5F5F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 4

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = A Little Romance

| DirectedBy = Judy Askins

| WrittenBy = Barry O'Brien & Cheryl Alu

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|03|26}}

| Viewers = 19.0{{cite news|title=CBS continues its winning streak|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=March 31, 1993|author=Gable, Donna}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FF5F5F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 5

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = The Suit

| DirectedBy = Richard Correll

| WrittenBy = Karen Wengrod & Ken Cinnamon

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|04|02}}

| Viewers = 19.2{{cite news|title=An Oscar to ABC for week's best ratings|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=April 7, 1993|author=Gable, Donna}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FF5F5F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 6

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = Shop 'till You Drop

| DirectedBy = Judy Askins

| WrittenBy = Barry O'Brien & Cheryl Alu

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|04|09}}

| Viewers = 16.4{{cite news|title=NCAA aside, the big winner is ABC's '20/20'|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=April 14, 1993|author=Gable, Donna}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FF5F5F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 7

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Title = My Brother's Keeper

| DirectedBy = Judy Askins

| WrittenBy = Linda & Michael Teverbaugh

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|04|16}}

| Viewers = 18.2{{cite news|title=New shows find their niches|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=April 21, 1993|author=Donlon, Brian}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FF5F5F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 8

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Title = The Gospel Truth

| DirectedBy = Judy Askins

| WrittenBy = Mike Teverbaugh & Linda Teverbaugh

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|04|23}}

| Viewers = 16.9{{cite news|title='Walker' kicks in for CBS|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=April 28, 1993|author=Donlon, Brian}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FF5F5F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 9

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Title = Give Peace a Chance

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Gene Braunstein

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|04|30}}

| Viewers = 17.6{{cite news|title='Fried Green Tomatoes' gives NBC sizzle|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=May 5, 1993|author=Gable, Donna}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FF5F5F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 10

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Title = The Love Connection

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Scott Spencer Gorden

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|05|07}}

| Viewers = 15.8{{cite news|title=Sturdy 'Home' helps lift ABC|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=May 12, 1993|author=Donlon, Brian}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FF5F5F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 11

| EpisodeNumber2 = 11

| Title = We Are Family, Not

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Phil Doran

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|05|14}}

| Viewers = 13.7{{cite news|title='Cheers' nudges NBC to No. 1|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=May 19, 1993|author=Gable, Donna}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FF5F5F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 12

| EpisodeNumber2 = 12

| Title = Anatomy of a Flight

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Cheryl Alu & Barry O'Brien

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|05|21}}

| Viewers = 15.6{{cite news|title='Cheers' brings happy times to NBC|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=May 26, 1993|author=Gable, Donna}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FF5F5F

}}

}}

=Season 2 (1993–94)=

{{Episode table

|background = #0000FF

|total_width = 75

|overall = 5

|season = 6

|title = 18

|director = 27

|writer = 30

|airdate = 14

|viewers = 9

|episodes =

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 13

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = Turnabout Dance

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|09|21}}

| Viewers = 12.6{{cite news|title='Dave's World,' 'Harts' help CBS to victory|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=September 29, 1993|author=Gable, Donna}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 14

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = Letter to the President

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|09|28}}

| Viewers = 10.5{{cite news|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=October 6, 1993}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 15

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = Faking the Grade

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|10|05}}

| Viewers = 13.1{{cite news|title=New shows pick up steam in ABC win|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=October 13, 1993|author=Gable, Donna}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 16

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = Old Car

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|10|12}}

| Viewers = 13.5{{cite news|title='Home Improvement' powers to No. 1|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=October 20, 1993|author1=Graham, Jefferson|author2=Gable, Donna}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 17

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = Do the Fright Thing

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Fred Rubin

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|10|19}}

| Viewers = 13.1{{cite news|title=World Series earns CBS a win|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=October 27, 1993|author=DeRosa, Robin}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 18

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = Not With My Sister

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|11|02}}

| Viewers = 10.7{{cite news|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=November 10, 1993}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 19

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Title = Reach for the Stars

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = David Chambers

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|11|23}}

| Viewers = 7.6{{cite news|title=Thanksgiving week tie for NBC, CBS|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=December 1, 1993|author=DeRosa, Robin}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 20

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Title = Pinball Wizard

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy =

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|12|07}}

| Viewers = 8.0{{cite news|title=Midler's 'Gypsy' coming up roses for CBS|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=December 15, 1993|author=DeRosa, Robin}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 21

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Title = The Pit Stop

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Scott Spencer Gorden

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|12|14}}

| Viewers = 9.3{{cite news|title=ABC on top for 2nd week|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=December 22, 1993|author=DeRosa, Robin}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 22

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Title = The Penthouse

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = David Chambers

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1993|12|21}}

| Viewers = 10.0{{cite news|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=December 29, 1993}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 23

| EpisodeNumber2 = 11

| Title = Sell It Like It Is

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Fred Rubin

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|01|08}}

| Viewers = 9.6{{cite news|title='Improvement' leads ABC charge|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=January 12, 1994|author=DeRosa, Robin}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 24

| EpisodeNumber2 = 12

| Title = In the Driver's Seat

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Barry O'Brien & Cheryl Alu

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|01|15}}

| Viewers = 8.7{{cite news|title='Columbo' on the case for ABC|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=January 19, 1994|author=DeRosa, Robin}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 25

| EpisodeNumber2 = 13

| Title = A Life in the Theater

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = David Chambers

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|01|22}}

| Viewers = 6.3{{cite news|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=January 26, 1994}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 26

| EpisodeNumber2 = 14

| Title = It Takes a Thief

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Scott Spencer Gorden & Casey Maxwell Clair

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|01|29}}

| Viewers = 9.3{{cite news|title=Super Bowl runs up NBC's score|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=February 2, 1994|author=DeRosa, Robin}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 27

| EpisodeNumber2 = 15

| Title = The Rich Guy

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Barry O'Brien & Cheryl Alu

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|02|12}}

| Viewers = 9.9{{cite news|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=February 16, 1994}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 28

| EpisodeNumber2 = 16

| Title = Three Days of the Condo

| DirectedBy = Richard Correll

| WrittenBy = Kevin Larkin

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|05|28}}

| Viewers = 7.2{{cite news|title=ABC's clean sweeps|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=June 1, 1994|author=DeRosa, Robin}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 29

| EpisodeNumber2 = 17

| Title = Teacher's Pest

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Fred Rubin

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|06|04}}

| Viewers = 6.3{{cite news|title=CBS newsmag grabs viewers' 'Eyes'|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=June 8, 1994|author=Gable, Donna}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 30

| EpisodeNumber2 = 18

| Title = Just Say No

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Eunetta T. Boone

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|06|11}}

| Viewers = 5.7{{cite news|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=June 15, 1994}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 31

| EpisodeNumber2 = 19

| Title = My Brilliant Career

| DirectedBy = Joel Zwick

| WrittenBy = Jack Lukes & David Ankrum

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1994|06|18}}

| Viewers = 7.1{{cite news|title=95 million tune in O.J.'s televised chase|department=Life|work=USA Today|page=3D|date=June 22, 1994|author=DeRosa, Robin}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0000FF

}}

}}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
Year

! Award

! Result

! Category

! Recipient

1994NominatedYoung Artist AwardsYouth Actress Leading Role in a Television SeriesAshleigh Sterling

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{IMDb title|id=0106009}}
  • {{epguides|id=GettingBy}}

{{TGIF (ABC)}}

{{MillerBoyett}}

Category:1993 American television series debuts

Category:1994 American television series endings

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios

Category:TGIF (TV programming block)

Category:American television series revived after cancellation

Category:Television shows set in Cook County, Illinois

Category:1990s American black sitcoms

Category:American Broadcasting Company sitcoms

Category:NBC sitcoms

Category:1990s American multi-camera sitcoms