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Charles in Charge
1984 - 1990 6.1 (64 votes) 5 Seasons
Genres
Comedy
Networks
CBS
Syndication
Created By
Michael Jacobs

Charles in Charge

Overview

Charles, a 19-year-old student at the fictional Copeland College in New Brunswick, New Jersey, works as a live-in babysitter in exchange for room and board.

Top Cast

Scott Baio
Scott Baio

Charles

Willie Aames
Willie Aames

Buddy Lembeck

Nicole Eggert
Nicole Eggert

Jamie Powell

Josie Davis
Josie Davis

Sarah Powell

Alexander Polinsky
Alexander Polinsky

Adam Powell

Ellen Travolta
Ellen Travolta

Lillian

James T. Callahan
James T. Callahan

Walter Powell

Seasons

Season 1 poster
Season 1 (1984)

No overview available.

22 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Pilot
1984-10-03

Jill and Stan Pembroke are a working couple whose uncertain schedules propel them into hiring a nineteen-year-old college student, Charles, to move in and help them with their three children: Lila 14; Douglas, 12; and Jason, 10.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 2: Extracurricular Activity
1984-10-10

Charles is put in the awkward position of helping and encouraging Lila, Jason and Douglas to seek out new and exciting extracurricular activities.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 3: Another Saturday Night
1984-10-17

Mr. and Mrs. Pembroke are spending the evening out, and Charles is baby-sitting. He is busy preparing for Gwendolyn's visit, with whom he plans to study.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 4: War
1984-10-24

The Wilson's would like to hire a young lady to take care of their children. Mrs. Pembroke suggests that she spend some time with Charles to see if she's up to it.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 5: Cousin Elliott
1984-11-07

Cousin Elliot shows up at the Pembroke house. His ideas on how to deal with children do not coincide with Charles' opinions.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 6: Slumber Party
1984-11-14

Charles and Gwendolyn had a fight over something rather trivial, and he feels he doesn't want to deal with the whole WOMEN issue.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 7: Discipline
1984-11-21

Stan comes home expecting Jill to be ready to go to the Vice President's reception, but home has turned into "Little Crisis Central".

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 8: Trick or Treat
1984-11-28

Diana Marks is a classy lady, and she has agreed to go on a Halloween date with Buddy.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 9: A Date with Enid
1984-12-05

Charles has his hands full. It is pouring rain outside and everyone in the Pembroke household is confined to the house.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 10: Friends And Lovers
1984-12-12

Charles and Gwendolyn decide that college itself puts enough pressure on them, so they give themselves some space.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 11: Home for the Holidays
1984-12-19

It is Christmastime and Grandma Irene, Stan's mother, is expected for her yearly three-week-stay with her grandchildren.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 12: Accidental Puppy
1984-12-26

Jason and Douglas come in the back door carrying a dog, and they are blaming each other for 'killing' the animal.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 13: The Commotion
1985-01-02

Charles is pushed for time, and he has to meet a deadline for his school paper. His scholarship depends on it.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 14: Mr. President
1985-01-16

Charles can't find anything wrong with having a little fun in college, but Gwendolyn has a different opinion.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 15: Jill's Decision
1985-01-23

Charles has a million things to do before he meets Michelle Harris for coffee at the Lamplight.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 16: Pressure from Grandma
1985-01-30

Charles is in charge of the Pembroke children when their parents are off on a week's vacation in Jamaica.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 17: Snowed In
1985-02-06

Mr. and Mrs. Pembroke went to the movies, and an incredible blizzard hits the city, leaving them unable to return to their home.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 18: Charles 'R' Us
1985-02-13

No matter how hard Charles and Buddy try, between them, they do not have enough cash to even think about going out on dates.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 19: Charles' Spring Break (A.K.A.: The Last Resort)
1985-02-20

Charles, and his friends, save and scrape together as much money as they possibly can to spend a few days of rest in sunny Florida.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 20: The Wrong Guy
1985-02-27

Charles and Buddy are excited about their very first bachelor party.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 21: Mr. Brilliant
1985-03-13

Jill gives Charles two tickets for a Knicks' game. Charles is so excited, he thinks of a way to do something special in return.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 22: Meet Grandpa
1985-04-03

Charles and Buddy are trying very hard to find themselves summer jobs and are ecstatic when their applications are accepted.

Runtime: 30 min
Season 2 poster
Season 2 (1987)

No overview available.

26 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Amityville
1987-01-03

Charles returns from a two-week camping trip with his friend, Buddy, to discover a whole new household waiting for him.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 2: The Naked Truth
1987-01-10

Charles meets a new girl, Rebecca Stansbury on campus, who happens to be an art student.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 3: Feud for Thought
1987-01-17

Charles is a fireman putting out fires all over the Powell household.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 4: The Egg and Us
1987-01-24

Jamie and Sarah Powell have a school-project that involves raising eggs as children. Real eggs, not so real children.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 5: The Loan Arranger
1987-01-31

Boys who are studying important things for their future, often end up studying less important things for their future, namely girls!

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 6: American Teen
1987-02-07

Charles is nervous about asking out a wonderful young lady named Louise.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 7: Buddy Comes to Dinner
1987-02-14

Buddy comes for dinner, wrenches his ankles, and has to stay in Charles' room for a few days.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 8: A Fox in the Henhouse
1987-02-21

Lieutenant Matty Whiteford comes to keep Ellen Powell and the kids company for a weekend.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 9: Pizza Parlor Protest
1987-02-28

Sid's Pizza Parlor, the place that provides Charles a home away from home, is under attack.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 10: Trade Off
1987-03-07

Everyone in the Powell family wants something they-don't have, but someone else does.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 11: Dating
1987-03-14

What do you do when you want to go out, but you can't, because someone else is going out on a date that you aren't supposed to talk about.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 12: Music, Music, Mayhem
1987-03-21

Charles is mad at Buddy because Buddy sold him a cassette player which doesn't work.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 13: Buddy in Charge
1987-03-28

Charles has to visit in town when his folks arrive for the weekend, so Buddy is placed in charge of the Powell kids.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 14: Isn't That What's Her Face?
1987-04-04

A famous young movie star, Darby Peterson, shows up on Charles' doorstep disguised as "Dorothy."

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 15: A Date From Heck
1987-04-11

Charles dates a girl equipped with lovely eyes, a gorgeous body, and a set of huge parents, that accompany her on dates.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 16: Mama Mia
1987-04-18

Charles'mom, Lillian, comes to town for a brief - or maybe not so brief - visit.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 17: Weekend Weary
1987-04-25

Mrs. Powell decides Charles needs a weekend off, and she implements her decision with a firm edict.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 18: U.F. Oh No
1987-05-02

Adam thinks he's seen a UFO outside his window, and his sisters are convinced they've seen an alien in the kitchen.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 19: The Case of the Mock-Turtle Mystery
1987-05-09

Sarah is the proud parent of Ross, a pet turtle, who until recently, has lived in relative safety in the Powell backyard.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 20: Twice Upon a Time (1)
1987-05-16

Charles' first love returns

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 21: Twice Upon A Time (2)
1987-05-23

In the second of a two part series, Gwendolyn Pierce tells Charles she will consider his proposal.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 22: A Job From Heck
1987-05-30

Ever have one of those days when you can't win for losing? Well, Charles is having one of those days, and it's turning into a week.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 23: Baby Doll
1987-06-06

Charles and Lillian are throwing a big opening night party to introduce the new chef of Sid's Pizza Parlor.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 24: Lillian Putts a Round
1987-06-13

Charles' widowed mother Lillian comes into town for a five-day visit, complete with motherly advice.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 25: Her Brother's Keeper
1987-06-20

There are two very lovely ladies Charles and Buddy would like to date if they can find the time.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 26: The Undergraduate
1987-06-27

Ellen's attractive, married cousin Joan Robinson comes to visit and puts the whammy on Charles.

Runtime: 30 min
Season 3 poster
Season 3 (1987)

No overview available.

26 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Yule Laff
1987-12-26

Charles suggests the family spend the Christmas holidays in the mountains, but a storm leaves everyone but Walter stranded in a cabin.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 2: Piece of Cake
1988-01-02

News of the sudden arrival of Commander Powell throws the household into chaos.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 3: Dorm Warnings
1988-01-09

When Charles is named Student of the Year, local newspaper reporter Pat Walker (Barbara Rhoades) arrives at the house to interview him.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 4: Speechless
1988-01-16

When Charles' and Buddy's history teacher changes their team assignment from a written to an oral report, Charles insists that Buddy deliver the speech.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 5: Infatuation
1988-01-23

Charles becomes infatuated with Trish (Susannah Woodside), a beautiful fashion model and the daughter of Walter's friend.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 6: Role Model
1988-01-30

When Jamie enrolls in a modeling school, a suspicious Charles decides to investigate. He and Buddy enroll in order to expose the school as a fraud.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 7: The Extremely Odd Couple
1988-02-06

Charles tries to end a feud between Walter and Lillian by giving them each a ticket to a swing music concert.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 8: Poppa, the Sailor Man
1988-02-13

The death of a lifelong friend causes Walter to have visions of mortality, so Charles summons Walter's father, Buzz (Dabbs Greer), for a visit in order to show him his son has many years left.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 9: Bottle Baby
1988-02-20

When Buddy receives word that his shy sister Bunny (Mindy Cohn) is arriving for a visit, he pleads with Charles to help entertain her.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 10: Dear Charles
1988-02-27

Charles asks editor Gayle Landis for a job on her newspaper, but acting as a fill—in for "‘Dear Amy" is not what he had in mind.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 11: The Pickle Plot
1988-03-05

Unable to decide on a college major and faced with a tuition increase, is determined to convince his Uncle Joe (John Astin) that he should be made the heir to his business.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 12: The Buddy System
1988-03-12

When Buddy's new girlfriend unceremoniously dumps him, he sinks into a bout of depression. Under the circumstances, Charles requests that everyone be especially nice to Buddy.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 13: Sarah Steps Out
1988-03-19

Charles convinces Ellen to allow Adam to stay up and watch television all night, let Jamie streak her hair, and allow Sarah to go on her first unchaperoned date.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 14: Trading Papers
1988-03-26

Charles is ecstatic when he scores an A on his English assignment, until he turns past the cover page and discovers Sarah's poem there by mistake.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 15: Five Easy Pizzas
1988-04-02

Charles calms Lillian's fears about an upcoming trip out of town, saying that he's more than able to manage the pizza parlor himself, even though she's just hired a new chef, Dine (Vito Scotti).

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 16: Getting In
1988-04-09

Charles and Buddy decide to pledge a fraternity, and must put up with a series of humiliating tests and activities during "Hell Week."

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 17: Hero Today, Gone Tomorrow
1988-04-16

When Charles and Buddy foil an attempted holdup at the pizza parlor, their names appear in the local newspaper. They can't resist capitalizing on their new-found popularity with the girls at the sorority house.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 18: Dutiful Dreamer
1988-04-23

When the Powells learn their house is to be sold and Ellen loses her job, Charles takes to bed with a sneezing fit and falls asleep.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 19: Berkling Up Is Hard to Do
1988-04-30

This is just not Charles' day. He's trying to prepare for the new school year, but Buddy needs his help in planning their end of summer party.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 20: Runaround Charles
1988-05-07

Charles becomes frantic when he makes too many commitments for one evening.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 21: Where the Auction Is
1988-05-14

Charles is outraged when he learns his mother is hosting a sorority slave auction. Outraged, that is, until he finds out that attractive new transfer student Jeanie intends to bid for him.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 22: The Boy Who Loved Women
1988-05-21

Confused by the instructions that came with a new stereo component rack, Charles is frustrated trying to assemble the unit.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 23: Barbelles
1988-05-28

After Charles is devastated at being dumped by his girlfriend, Buddy fixes him up with Beth (Brenda Swanson), a female bodybuilder at his health club.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 24: The Blackboard Bungle
1988-06-04

Charles seems to be the only one excited about his new post as teacher's aide. Jamie resents his sitting in on her class, and the teacher can't understand why anyone would want to teach.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 25: The Heart Burgler
1988-06-11

When Sarah tries to get closer to a boy that she likes by inviting him over to study, she is upset when he pays more attention to Charles than her.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 26: May the Best Man Lose
1988-06-18

The kids each must find a gladiator to represent their class in the school's stunt-filled quiz contest complete with pies in the face and a dunk tank.

Runtime: 30 min
Season 4 poster
Season 4 (1988)

No overview available.

26 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: No Nukes, Is Good Nukes
1988-12-31

While Commander Powell is home, Sarah is arrested for protesting the nuclear weapons on her father's ship.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 2: Ninny and the Professor
1989-01-07

Charles' professor disagrees with the grade he gives a student.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 3: Duelling Presleys
1989-01-14

Lillian hires an Elvis impersonator for the diner.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 4: Adam See, Adam Do
1989-01-21

Adam studies Charles' dating techniques.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 5: Yesterday Cafe
1989-01-28

Lillian starts a 1950's-style restaurant called the "Yesterday Cafe".

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 6: Fatal Obsession
1989-02-04

A woman at camp pursues Charles.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 7: Walter Gets a Dodo
1989-02-11

Charles has to entertain his professor's sister, and he sets her up with Walter.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 8: Ladies' Night Out
1989-02-18

Jamie and Sarah want to go to a nightclub

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 9: Chargin' Charles
1989-02-25

Charles can't use his credit card because of the Powell children.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 10: A Fish Called Buddy
1989-03-04

Buddy goes to the hospital right after an argument with Charles.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 11: Second Banana
1989-04-22

Jamie thinks she will be in a commercial, but it is really Sarah who got the part.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 12: Still at Large
1989-04-29

Charles and Buddy find out Jamie's teacher is wanted by the FBI.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 13: Poetic License
1989-05-06

Charles uses one of Sarah's poems to impress a woman, who publishes it in a magazine under Charles' name.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 14: Charles Splits (1)
1989-05-13

When Charles bumps his head, he begins acting strangely and calls himself Chaz.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 15: Charles Splits (2)
1989-05-20

Chaz gets married.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 16: Curing the Common Cult
1989-05-27

Jamie joins a cult, and Charles must prove that the leader is a fake.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 17: Room at the Bottom
1989-07-01

Walter remodels the basement.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 18: A Sting of Pearls
1989-07-08

The Powell's old babysitter comes back tries to get Charles in trouble.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 19: Walter's War
1989-09-09

Walter tries to impress a woman with war souvenirs.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 20: The Organization Man
1989-09-16

Charles uses a digital organizer to plan his schedule.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 21: Big Bang
1989-10-14

Charles writes an essay about childhood.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 22: Triple Threat
1989-10-21

Charles and Buddy go out with identical twins, but they think they are dating the same girl.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 23: Aunt Vanessa
1989-10-28

Jamie wants to move to New York and live with Charles' aunt.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 24: It's a Blunderfull Life
1989-11-04

Charles has a dream about life without him.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 25: Bad Boy
1989-11-11

Charles tutors an ex-con.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 26: Buddy's Daddy
1989-11-18

Buddy's father visits and reveals he is getting a divorce.

Runtime: 30 min
Season 5 poster
Season 5 (1989)

No overview available.

26 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Summer Together, Fall Apart
1989-12-30

After complaints from the family, Charles tells the children there are no more rules in the house.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 2: Get Thee to a Nuttery
1990-01-06

Buddy decides to become a priest after a near-death experience.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 3: Three Dates & a Walnut
1990-01-13

Walter makes plans with three women on the same night.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 4: Out with the in Crowd
1990-01-20

Jamie tries to join an exclusive group of girls.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 5: There's a Girl in My Ficus
1990-01-27

Charles' girlfriend Jennifer (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen) tells a lie about Buddy in order to get rid of him.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 6: Judge Not Lest Ye Beheaded
1990-02-03

Charles is the judge of a beauty pageant where Jamie, Sarah, and both of Charles' girlfriends are contestants.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 7: Baby Bummer
1990-02-10

Buddy offers to help out Adam with babysitting, but he ends up forgetting the little girl at the diner.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 8: Paper Covers Rock
1990-02-17

A tabloid shows pictures of Charles with a rock star (Samantha Fox), and everyone thinks they're in a relationship.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 9: Child Hoods
1990-02-24

Charles' old friends come to visit.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 10: Advice and Contempt
1990-03-03

Jamie gets upset when she thinks Charles is trying to make her boyfriend stop seeing her.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 11: Daffy Doc
1990-04-28

Buddy enters a mental hospital to do research, but they make him a patient.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 12: Buddy Flips a Disc
1990-05-05

Buddy wins a contest to be a disc jockey for a day at the diner.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 13: Brain Man
1990-05-12

Buddy gets tested for ESP and starts to predict the future.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 14: Don't Rock the Vote
1990-05-19

Jamie and Sarah run for class president against each other. Buddy and Charles start fighting again which leads to a food fight erupting in the diner.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 15: Let's Quake a Deal
1990-05-26

Charles invents a device that will help people prepare for earthquakes.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 16: Up Your IQ
1990-06-02

When a boy thinks Jamie is shallow, she talks to Charles' intelligent girlfriend.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 17: All That Chaz
1990-06-09

An accidental bump on the head turns Charles into Chaz again.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 18: Frankie and Mommy
1990-08-25

Lillian sees an old boyfriend.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 19: Lost Resort
1990-09-01

Charles works at a hotel in Hawaii with Buddy's cousin. (A pilot to a possible spin-off which never materialized.)

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 20: Dead Puck Society
1990-09-08

Charles is the substitute teacher in Sarah's class, and Sarah's partner lets her do all the work on an assignment

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 21: La Cage Aux Fools
1990-09-15

Charles and Buddy protest animal testing at their college.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 22: Teacher's Pest
1990-09-22

Walter takes a history class that Charles teaches.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 23: Almost Family
1990-10-20

Charles visits his aunt Sally at her car wash. (A pilot to a possible spin-off which never materialized.)

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 24: Seeing Is Believing
1990-10-27

Charles gets trapped in an elevator with a blind woman.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 25: Fair Exchange
1990-11-03

Sarah visits her relatives in Albuquerque and a foreign exchange student that is living with them. (A pilot to a possible spin-off which never materialized.)

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 26: Charles Be DeMille
1990-11-10

Sarah puts on a show to raise money, and Charles directs while preparing for an interview to get into Princeton.

Runtime: 30 min

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