Charles In Charge
 An archetypal 1980s sitcom starring teen heartthrob Scott Baio
as Charles (no last name), an impoverished college student who
gets a job as live-in 'nanny' for the Pembroke's and their three
kids.
Baio had made a name for himself playing Fonzie's younger
cousin in Happy Days and its spin-off Joanie Loves
Chachi.
Following the demise of those series, American TV bosses still
considered the actor a 'hot' item, and his 'hunk' status led to
this purpose-built series.
The comedy arose from Charles' attempts at raising the
Pembroke's three mischievous children, Lila (14), Douglas (12) and
Jason (10). Charles has a girlfriend, fellow college student
Gwendolyn, and a best buddy named, appropriately, Buddy.
CBS dropped the show after just one season but new episodes,
utilising a slightly different format, were made for first-run
syndication.
In these, Charles returned from vacation to find that
the Pembrokes had moved to Seattle and sub-let their house to the
Powell family. Luckily, they too needed a house-boy and Charles
moved back in, carrying on much as before.
John Travolta's sister Ellen joined the new cast as Charles'
mother Lillian, an on-screen relationship they had previously
explored in Joanie Loves Chachi.
|
