Customer Reviews

Charles in Charge: The Complete First Season

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well before metrosexual became common term, networks had `macho' Italian American men taking up domestic work such as house cleaning---or child care. Resurrecting the careers of both Scott Baio (`Happy Days', `Joannie Loves Chachie') and Willie Aames (`Eight is Enough') this season is classic camp television with some genuinely good surprises tucked away

Nineteen-year old Charles is hired by Jill (Julie Cobb) and Stan Pembroke (James Widdoes) to watch over their very rambunctious kids: Lila, 14 (April Lerhman); Douglas, 12 (Jonathan Ward); and Jason, 10 (Michael Pearlman). We never learn Charles's last name, but I remain convinced that Charles's last name is `Arcola'-because `Charles' also was the birth name of Baio's character on both `Happy Days' and `Joannie Loves Chachi'!

In this 22-episode 1984-1985 first season (the only one on NBC), Charles is very clean-cut, and his best friend Buddy Lembeck (Aames) is quite the devious schemer. When the Pembrokes really leave Charles in charge for the night, he and Lila discover the dates they both subsequently invited over ultimately feel objectified. We see Charles's date Gwendolyn Pierce (Jennifer Runyon) throughout the rest of this season.

Coming to think of his extra curricular activity AS taking care of the Pembroke kids ("Extracurricular Activity") Charles clearly is very special. Very few college students want to spend time as a live-in-nanny, regardless of how obviously angelic the kids and/or parents are. The type of stuff Charles handles is really mild though; none of the kids EVER take drugs...etc.

I developed a new and totally unexpected appreciation for this series after going through both college and graduate school's many stresses. The writers more or less accurately captured college student's struggle trying to balance everything out in their own lives while having enough money to live that life. `Charles' subsequently was much more realistic in its depictions than the `college years' of many other TV shows (90210, Saved By The Bell...etc)..

Episodes like "Another Saturday Night" clearly set the series in the 1980's. All of the kids AND Charles are home watching election return results on a Saturday night because Michael Jackson is rumored to make a special appearance at a campaign headquarters. The kids sincerely feel down when Jackson's appearance ultimately gets cancelled due to unfavorable election returns. Contrasting with today, Jackson genuinely was a big entertainment draw in the 1980s.

Meg Ryan makes a special guest star as "Jane" a college student thinking of becoming a nanny for the neighboring Wilson's. However, after spending time with Charles, she realizes that working with kids and their problems are not HER strong point; she subsequently gets another job. Being a nanny is not for everybody.

The production team genuinely did a good job with the extras. Extras for this season include "The great 80's TV flashback"

Gwendolyn Pierce! Gwendolyn Pierce! Gwendolyn Pierce ! Gwendolyn Pierce was a recurring theme of many of the Charles in Charge Season One episodes. Charles in Charge Season One, is very different than Charles in Charge Season Two. Scott Baio stars as Charles. He is a college student living in the Pembroke family home while he attends college and hangs out with his best friend Buddy. The Pembroke family are not quite as exciting or interesting to watch as the Powell family who were featured on the show starting with the second season until the show ended it's run. An easy way to tell the two families apart is the Powell family had blonde hair for the most part and the Pembroke's were darker haired.

So season one is a fun season to watch primarily because of the antics of Charles and Buddy. There are also a lot of up and coming stars featured in season one. Meg Ryan appears in one episode as a young woman wanting to hire a nanny or all in one like Charles. It's a fun season where Charles primarily crushes on Gwendolyn, dates Gwendolyn or pursues other girls.

The box set is nice. The color discs are not dual sided as many Universal releases have been. The set also includes a half hour feature titled "The Great 80's TV Flashbacks," and a bonus episode from Charles in Charge season 2.

The bottom line is pick up this set and buy it. Hopefully brisk sales will quicken the release of Charles in Charge Season 2. The show really picked up with the addition of the Powell family who were much more interesting than the Pembrokes.

5 stars for the set itself, 4 stars for the season.

Fianlly Charles IS in Charge of DVD!!! I have been waiting for this great show to come to DVD. It was one of my favorite week night shows. It was always funny and a great time to spend with my brothers. Charles in Charge was a good show in the fact that it was a show you could watch with your parents in the room and not worry about something said on the show that would make your mom make you turn it off. Can't wait for Charles to be in Charge of my DVD player!! Way Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i am so happy this is coming out on DVD. I use to watch the show all the time. It is a great 80's show. It may be cheesy and people may talk bad about the show but you know they were watching it in the 80's.

The first season of Charles in Charge is great, but it gets much better throughout season 2. I really hope Universal releases season 2 soon.

I ACTUALLY BOUGHT A LOT OF OLDER TYPE DVDS INCASE THE SHOW JUST SLOWLY DISAPPEARS. I GREW UP WITH THIS SHOW..ITS A CLASSIC AND I HOPE TO OWN EVERY SEASON SOON!! THEY NEED MORE SHOWS LIKE THIS NOW

This is funny enough to keep the entire family entertained and not give them a toothache the way the Brady Bunch would. Although it can be edgy at times it doesn't go over the top. A perfect reflection of the 80s.

Not only did I watch this show for Scott Baio, but because it was really funny (back in the day). This was excellent and very entertaining. I love the theme song as well. Charles comes to stay with his charges and mishap and mayhem ensue in each episode. I'm certainly going to get this not only for old times sake, but I know I'm going to love it all over again. And to D James - I am not mentally deficient, you just don't know a good show when it hits you.
Look for a very young Meg Ryan in the third episode, Christina Applegate in Slumber Party and Mathew Perry on the 3rd disc in the Bachelor Party episode.

I was five when this show first aired, and don't remember seeing it at the time. But through the years the 80's has always been my favorite decade when it comes to music, movies, and TV...so, it was not a surprise that I decided to buy this DVD! It took me a little while to warm up to it. There are times when the plot sags, though the cast always does a pretty good job of making the best of it.

After watching a few episodes, I really started to enjoy "Charles in Charge." I like the simplicity of some of the episodes -- there aren't a million different subplots going on, so the actors really can delve into the storyline! And the kids were all very adept at their roles. Michael Pearlman was very cute and perfectly captured the sentiments of his character, Jason, with great sensitivity and zest! Jonathan Ward portrayed the zany Douglas astutely. And April Lerman (Lila) definitely had something special -- she really should have gone further in the biz!

There is one element of the show's premise that requires some suspension of disbelief. While Charles is supposed to be in charge since the parents are so busy, you'll notice that the parents are "there" quite a lot. More often than not, the writing makes it seem that the parents are there but don't know how to deal with certain issues in raising their kids -- so they just tell Charles to take care of it. Other times, they seem to have the answers, yet they apparently are so fond of Charles in those moments that they leave it to him to figure out. A little strange in my opinion, but that's sitcoms for ya!

All in all, this DVD is a worthy investment for avid fans of 80's sitcoms. From all I've read, the later seasons -- with Charles taking care of a totally different family -- were far more popular and remain better known. I haven't seen those yet, so can't comment on them. But I can definitely say that this first season is a hidden treasure in the books of 80's sitcoms. It is unique, and the colorful cast leaves you with very feel-good feelings!

Whether you prefer the Powell family or the Pembroke family, no Charles in Charge collection would be complete without Charles in Charge - The Complete First Season from Universal Home Entertainment. Presented in Full Frame (1.33:1) video and English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono, this 3-disc (single-sided) set not only includes all 22 episodes with the Pembrokes as originally broadcast on CBS, but also the following Special Features: Exclusive bonus preview episode from Season Two with Charles' new family, the Powells! and The Great 80s TV Flashback featurette, plus the following guest stars: Olympic gold medalist Julianne McNamara, Meg Ryan (When Harry Met Sally), Jerry Levine (Teen Wolf), Mario Baio (real-life brother of Scott Baio), Christina Applegate (Married With Children), Rue McClanahan (The Golden Girls), Jeremy Miller (Growing Pains), Brian Robbins (Head of the Class), Raymond Singer (Street Hawk), model/actress Kathy Ireland, Loren Lester (Batman: The Animated Series), Peter Parros (Knight Rider), Matthew Perry (Friends), and Dick O'Neill (Cagney & Lacey). The discs are housed in slimcases (with episodes and plot descriptions listed on the back) all inside a slim outer box. The audio & video are crisp and clear while the episodes themselves (definitely '80s) still retain their charm. Overall, a well-packaged set from Universal. Highly recommended to fans of other family shows from creator/producer Michael Jacobs such as Boy Meets World, and Dinosaurs.

Episodes:
1. Pilot
2. Extracurricular Activity
3. Another Saturday Night
4. War
5. Cousin Elliott
6. Slumber Party
7. Discipline
8. Trick or Treat
9. A Date with Enid
10. Friends & Lovers
11. Home for the Holidays
12. Accidental Puppy
13. The Commotion
14. Mr. President
15. Jill's Decision
16. Pressure from Grandma
17. Snowed In
18. Charles "R" Us
19. Charles' Spring Break
20. The Wrong Guy
21. Mr. Brilliant
22. Meet Grandma


Bonus Episode from Season 2:
Amityville