"Charles in Charge" (1984) TV series 1984-1990

Director:

Bonnie Franklin

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

3 October 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

Charles, a college student, moves in with the Powell family as the housekeeper, baby-sitter, and friend to the children...

Plot Keywords:

College Student | Best Friend | Teenager | New Jersey | Dating

Awards:

2 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Scott Baio	...	Charles (126 episodes, 1984-1990)
Willie Aames	...	Buddy Lembeck (126 episodes, 1984-1990)
Nicole Eggert	...	Jamie Powell (104 episodes, 1987-1990)
Josie Davis	...	Sarah Powell (104 episodes, 1987-1990)
Alexander Polinsky	...	Adam Powell (104 episodes, 1987-1990)
James T. Callahan	...	Walter Powell (104 episodes, 1987-1990)
Ellen Travolta	...	Lillian (70 episodes, 1987-1990)

Runtime:

30 min (126 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Al Burton Productions

Trivia:

Ellen Travolta, who plays Charles's mother Lillian, previously played Charles "Chachi" Arcola's mother in "Happy Days" (1974) and "Joanie Loves Chachi" (1982). Both Charleses were played by Scott Baio.

Quotes:

Adam Powell: Who would put wax on beans?
Charles: So they slide down your throat without skid marks.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Full House: Danny in Charge (#4.12)" (1990)

It was better on network television!

I hate to say this but I preferred the first family, the Pembrokes to the Powells, but beggars can't be choosers. I remember when the show first aired on CBS television. Again after a year, the show had a large following but there was not enough room in the prime time schedule for an average sitcom in the age of Cosby Show's success. If you think about, Charles In Charge paralleled Mama's Family on NBC which attracted probably not the kind of audience that the network wanted for their demographics. Like Charles in Charge, Mama's Family was cancelled after 2 seasons. It resurfaced over a year later on Saturday evening television in something called syndication. The same for Charles in Charge, there was the audience for the comedy. Unlike Mama's Family, Charles in Charge replaced an entire family. The Powells were prettier than the Pembrokes but I liked the first family better. Sandra Kerns who played Mrs. Powell disappeared even though her name and face were in the credits, she left sometime during the production to raise her own family sadly. We never caught much of her again. It was more about Skippy, Charles, and the new kids. So I still watched the episodes but I thought the show got weaker with Ellen Travolta playing Charles' mother. James Callahan's role as the grandfather got bigger as well.