Charles in Charge

Oct 3, 1984

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.

Oct 10, 1984

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

Oct 17, 1984

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.

Oct 24, 1984

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.

Nov 7, 1984

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

Nov 14, 1984

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

Nov 21, 1984

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

Nov 28, 1984

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

Dec 5, 1984

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

Dec 12, 1984

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

Dec 19, 1984

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

Dec 26, 1984

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

Jan 2, 1985

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

Jan 16, 1985

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

Jan 23, 1985

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

Jan 30, 1985

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

Feb 6, 1985

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

Feb 13, 1985

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

Feb 20, 1985

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.

Feb 27, 1985

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

Mar 13, 1985

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

Apr 3, 1985

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

Jan 3, 1987

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

Jan 10, 1987

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

Jan 17, 1987

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

Jan 24, 1987

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

Jan 31, 1987

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

Feb 7, 1987

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

Feb 14, 1987

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

Feb 21, 1987

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

Feb 28, 1987

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

Mar 7, 1987

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

Mar 14, 1987

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.

Mar 21, 1987

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

Mar 28, 1987

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

Apr 4, 1987

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

Apr 11, 1987

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

Apr 18, 1987

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

Apr 25, 1987

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

May 2, 1987

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

May 9, 1987

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

May 16, 1987

Charles' first love returns

May 23, 1987

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

May 30, 1987

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.

Jun 6, 1987

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

Jun 13, 1987

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

Jun 20, 1987

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

Jun 27, 1987

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

Dec 26, 1987

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

Jan 2, 1988

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

Jan 9, 1988

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

Jan 16, 1988

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.

Jan 23, 1988

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

Jan 30, 1988

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.

Feb 6, 1988

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

Feb 13, 1988

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.

Feb 20, 1988

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

Feb 27, 1988

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.

Mar 5, 1988

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.

Mar 12, 1988

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.

Mar 19, 1988

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.

Mar 26, 1988

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.

Apr 2, 1988

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).

Apr 9, 1988

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

Apr 16, 1988

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.

Apr 23, 1988

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.

Apr 30, 1988

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.

May 7, 1988

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

May 14, 1988

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.

May 21, 1988

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

May 28, 1988

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.

Jun 4, 1988

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.

Jun 11, 1988

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.

Jun 18, 1988

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.

Dec 31, 1988

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

Jan 7, 1989

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

Jan 14, 1989

Lillian hires an Elvis impersonator for the diner.

Jan 21, 1989

Adam studies Charles' dating techniques.

Jan 28, 1989

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

Feb 4, 1989

A woman at camp pursues Charles.

Feb 11, 1989

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

Feb 18, 1989

Jamie and Sarah want to go to a nightclub

Feb 25, 1989

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

Mar 4, 1989

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

Apr 22, 1989

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

Apr 29, 1989

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

May 6, 1989

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

May 13, 1989

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

May 20, 1989

Chaz gets married.

May 27, 1989

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

Jul 1, 1989

Walter remodels the basement.

Jul 8, 1989

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

Sep 9, 1989

Walter tries to impress a woman with war souvenirs.

Sep 16, 1989

Charles uses a digital organizer to plan his schedule.

Oct 14, 1989

Charles writes an essay about childhood.

Oct 21, 1989

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

Oct 28, 1989

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

Nov 4, 1989

Charles has a dream about life without him.

Nov 11, 1989

Charles tutors an ex-con.

Nov 18, 1989

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

Dec 30, 1989

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

Jan 6, 1990

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

Jan 13, 1990

Walter makes plans with three women on the same night.

Jan 20, 1990

Jamie tries to join an exclusive group of girls.

Jan 27, 1990

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

Feb 3, 1990

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

Feb 10, 1990

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

Feb 17, 1990

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

Feb 24, 1990

Charles' old friends come to visit.

Mar 3, 1990

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

Apr 28, 1990

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

May 5, 1990

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

May 12, 1990

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

May 19, 1990

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.

May 26, 1990

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

Jun 2, 1990

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

Jun 9, 1990

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

Aug 25, 1990

Lillian sees an old boyfriend.

Sep 1, 1990

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

Sep 8, 1990

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

Sep 15, 1990

Charles and Buddy protest animal testing at their college.

Sep 22, 1990

Walter takes a history class that Charles teaches.

Oct 20, 1990

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

Oct 27, 1990

Charles gets trapped in an elevator with a blind woman.

Nov 3, 1990

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.)

Nov 10, 1990

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