Series Description

The Charles In Charge TV show was a 30 minute family comedy series that aired on CBS in its first season and then in syndication thereafter. It was about a college student (Charles) who moves in with the Pembroke family. He received free rent in exchange for doing housework and babysitting the children. Due to low ratings, the Pembrokes were transferred to another city (for work) and the Powell family took their place starting in the second season.

Charles In Charge Cast

Scott Baio .... Charles
Willie Aames .... Buddy Lembeck
James T. Callahan .... Walter Powell (1987-1990)
Nicole Eggert .... Jamie Powell (1987-1990)
Sandra Kerns .... Ellen Powell (1987-1990)
Josie Davis .... Sarah Powell (1987-1990)
Alexander Polinsky .... Adam Powell (1987-1990)
Ellen Travolta .... Lillian (1987-1990)
Julie Cobb .... Jill Pembroke (1984-1985)
April Lerman .... Lila Pembroke (1984-1985)
James Widdoes .... Stan Pembroke (1984-1985)
Jennifer Runyon .... Gwendolyn Pierce (1984-1985)
Jonathan Ward .... Douglas Pembroke (1984-1985)
Michael Pearlman .... Jason Michael Pembroke (1984-1985)
Justin Whalin .... Anthony (1988)

Theme Song

Title: "Charles in Charge"

By: "Timothy Thompson"

New boy in the neighborhood
Lives downstairs and it is understood.
He's there just to take good care of me,
Like he's one of the family.

Charles in Charge
Of our days and our nights
Charles in Charge
Of our wrongs and our rights

And I sing, I want,
I want Charles in Charge of me.

Charles in Charge
Of our days and our nights
Charles in Charge
Of our wrongs and our rights

And I sing, I want,
I want Charles in Charge of me.

Charles In Charge Trivia:

The college that Charles attended was Copeland College in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Neither the name or location of the college were revealed until Charles In Charge left CBS and went into first run syndication in its second season.

There was 20 month delay from the end of the first season til the beginning of the second season which began in December of 1986!

Charles in Charge was the third series where Ellen Travolta played the role of Scott Baio's mother. The other two were "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi".

Charle's last name (and, therefore, his mother's) was never revealed during the show's entire run. This was obviously done on purpose. In some of the episodes there were situations where Charles would normally have given his last name but doesn't. (For example: a whole group of students are exchanging names and Charles gets conveniently called away for some reason).

The role of Charles was actually specially written for Michael J. Fox ("Family Ties") but when he turned it down Scott Baio was given the role that ran for five seasons! It's doubtful the Michael J. Fox was too torn up over it though as he landed the role of "Marty McFly" in the first "Back to the Future" movie about that same time!

Scott Baio was a classic teen idol. In fact, TV Guide magazine ranked him #16 on the "TV's 25 Greatest Teen Idols" list in their January 23, 2005 issue! He earned the title with millions of loving female fans. He also dated some of the hottest celebrities including Brooke Shields ("Suddenly Susan"), Heather Locklear ("Spin City"), Pamela Anderson ("Stacked"), Nicole Eggert ("Baywatch"), Erika Eleniak ("Baywatch"), Natalie Raitano ("V.I.P."), and even Nicollette Sheridan who is still gorgeously sexy 20 years later in her role as Edie Britt on the series "Desperate Housewives"!

Fans of Willie Aames as "Tommy Bradford" on the series, "Eight Is Enough" were happy to see him again on Charles In Charge!