Charles in Charge
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.
Seasons
1. Pilot
Air Date: 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.
2. Extracurricular Activity
Air Date: 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.
3. Another Saturday Night
Air Date: 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.
4. War
Air Date: 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.
5. Cousin Elliott
Air Date: 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.
6. Slumber Party
Air Date: 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.
7. Discipline
Air Date: 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".
8. Trick or Treat
Air Date: 1984-11-28
Diana Marks is a classy lady, and she has agreed to go on a Halloween date with Buddy.
9. A Date with Enid
Air Date: 1984-12-05
Charles has his hands full. It is pouring rain outside and everyone in the Pembroke household is confined to the house.
10. Friends And Lovers
Air Date: 1984-12-12
Charles and Gwendolyn decide that college itself puts enough pressure on them, so they give themselves some space.
11. Home for the Holidays
Air Date: 1984-12-19
It is Christmastime and Grandma Irene, Stan's mother, is expected for her yearly three-week-stay with her grandchildren.
12. Accidental Puppy
Air Date: 1984-12-26
Jason and Douglas come in the back door carrying a dog, and they are blaming each other for 'killing' the animal.
13. The Commotion
Air Date: 1985-01-02
Charles is pushed for time, and he has to meet a deadline for his school paper. His scholarship depends on it.
14. Mr. President
Air Date: 1985-01-16
Charles can't find anything wrong with having a little fun in college, but Gwendolyn has a different opinion.
15. Jill's Decision
Air Date: 1985-01-23
Charles has a million things to do before he meets Michelle Harris for coffee at the Lamplight.
16. Pressure from Grandma
Air Date: 1985-01-30
Charles is in charge of the Pembroke children when their parents are off on a week's vacation in Jamaica.
17. Snowed In
Air Date: 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.
18. Charles 'R' Us
Air Date: 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.
19. Charles' Spring Break (A.K.A.: The Last Resort)
Air Date: 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.
20. The Wrong Guy
Air Date: 1985-02-27
Charles and Buddy are excited about their very first bachelor party.
21. Mr. Brilliant
Air Date: 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.
22. Meet Grandpa
Air Date: 1985-04-03
Charles and Buddy are trying very hard to find themselves summer jobs and are ecstatic when their applications are accepted.
1. Amityville
Air Date: 1987-01-03
Charles returns from a two-week camping trip with his friend, Buddy, to discover a whole new household waiting for him.
2. The Naked Truth
Air Date: 1987-01-10
Charles meets a new girl, Rebecca Stansbury on campus, who happens to be an art student.
3. Feud for Thought
Air Date: 1987-01-17
Charles is a fireman putting out fires all over the Powell household.
4. The Egg and Us
Air Date: 1987-01-24
Jamie and Sarah Powell have a school-project that involves raising eggs as children. Real eggs, not so real children.
5. The Loan Arranger
Air Date: 1987-01-31
Boys who are studying important things for their future, often end up studying less important things for their future, namely girls!
6. American Teen
Air Date: 1987-02-07
Charles is nervous about asking out a wonderful young lady named Louise.
7. Buddy Comes to Dinner
Air Date: 1987-02-14
Buddy comes for dinner, wrenches his ankles, and has to stay in Charles' room for a few days.
8. A Fox in the Henhouse
Air Date: 1987-02-21
Lieutenant Matty Whiteford comes to keep Ellen Powell and the kids company for a weekend.
9. Pizza Parlor Protest
Air Date: 1987-02-28
Sid's Pizza Parlor, the place that provides Charles a home away from home, is under attack.
10. Trade Off
Air Date: 1987-03-07
Everyone in the Powell family wants something they-don't have, but someone else does.
11. Dating
Air Date: 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.
12. Music, Music, Mayhem
Air Date: 1987-03-21
Charles is mad at Buddy because Buddy sold him a cassette player which doesn't work.
13. Buddy in Charge
Air Date: 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.
14. Isn't That What's Her Face?
Air Date: 1987-04-04
A famous young movie star, Darby Peterson, shows up on Charles' doorstep disguised as "Dorothy."
15. A Date From Heck
Air Date: 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.
16. Mama Mia
Air Date: 1987-04-18
Charles'mom, Lillian, comes to town for a brief - or maybe not so brief - visit.
17. Weekend Weary
Air Date: 1987-04-25
Mrs. Powell decides Charles needs a weekend off, and she implements her decision with a firm edict.
18. U.F. Oh No
Air Date: 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.
19. The Case of the Mock-Turtle Mystery
Air Date: 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.
20. Twice Upon a Time (1)
Air Date: 1987-05-16
Charles' first love returns
21. Twice Upon A Time (2)
Air Date: 1987-05-23
In the second of a two part series, Gwendolyn Pierce tells Charles she will consider his proposal.
22. A Job From Heck
Air Date: 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.
23. Baby Doll
Air Date: 1987-06-06
Charles and Lillian are throwing a big opening night party to introduce the new chef of Sid's Pizza Parlor.
24. Lillian Putts a Round
Air Date: 1987-06-13
Charles' widowed mother Lillian comes into town for a five-day visit, complete with motherly advice.
25. Her Brother's Keeper
Air Date: 1987-06-20
There are two very lovely ladies Charles and Buddy would like to date if they can find the time.
26. The Undergraduate
Air Date: 1987-06-27
Ellen's attractive, married cousin Joan Robinson comes to visit and puts the whammy on Charles.
1. Yule Laff
Air Date: 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.
2. Piece of Cake
Air Date: 1988-01-02
News of the sudden arrival of Commander Powell throws the household into chaos.
3. Dorm Warnings
Air Date: 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.
4. Speechless
Air Date: 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.
5. Infatuation
Air Date: 1988-01-23
Charles becomes infatuated with Trish (Susannah Woodside), a beautiful fashion model and the daughter of Walter's friend.
6. Role Model
Air Date: 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.
7. The Extremely Odd Couple
Air Date: 1988-02-06
Charles tries to end a feud between Walter and Lillian by giving them each a ticket to a swing music concert.
8. Poppa, the Sailor Man
Air Date: 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.
9. Bottle Baby
Air Date: 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.
10. Dear Charles
Air Date: 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.
11. The Pickle Plot
Air Date: 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.
12. The Buddy System
Air Date: 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.
13. Sarah Steps Out
Air Date: 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.
14. Trading Papers
Air Date: 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.
15. Five Easy Pizzas
Air Date: 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).
16. Getting In
Air Date: 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."
17. Hero Today, Gone Tomorrow
Air Date: 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.
18. Dutiful Dreamer
Air Date: 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.
19. Berkling Up Is Hard to Do
Air Date: 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.
20. Runaround Charles
Air Date: 1988-05-07
Charles becomes frantic when he makes too many commitments for one evening.
21. Where the Auction Is
Air Date: 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.
22. The Boy Who Loved Women
Air Date: 1988-05-21
Confused by the instructions that came with a new stereo component rack, Charles is frustrated trying to assemble the unit.
23. Barbelles
Air Date: 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.
24. The Blackboard Bungle
Air Date: 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.
25. The Heart Burgler
Air Date: 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.
26. May the Best Man Lose
Air Date: 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.
1. No Nukes, Is Good Nukes
Air Date: 1988-12-31
While Commander Powell is home, Sarah is arrested for protesting the nuclear weapons on her father's ship.
2. Ninny and the Professor
Air Date: 1989-01-07
Charles' professor disagrees with the grade he gives a student.
3. Duelling Presleys
Air Date: 1989-01-14
Lillian hires an Elvis impersonator for the diner.
4. Adam See, Adam Do
Air Date: 1989-01-21
Adam studies Charles' dating techniques.
5. Yesterday Cafe
Air Date: 1989-01-28
Lillian starts a 1950's-style restaurant called the "Yesterday Cafe".
6. Fatal Obsession
Air Date: 1989-02-04
A woman at camp pursues Charles.
7. Walter Gets a Dodo
Air Date: 1989-02-11
Charles has to entertain his professor's sister, and he sets her up with Walter.
8. Ladies' Night Out
Air Date: 1989-02-18
Jamie and Sarah want to go to a nightclub
9. Chargin' Charles
Air Date: 1989-02-25
Charles can't use his credit card because of the Powell children.
10. A Fish Called Buddy
Air Date: 1989-03-04
Buddy goes to the hospital right after an argument with Charles.
11. Second Banana
Air Date: 1989-04-22
Jamie thinks she will be in a commercial, but it is really Sarah who got the part.
12. Still at Large
Air Date: 1989-04-29
Charles and Buddy find out Jamie's teacher is wanted by the FBI.
13. Poetic License
Air Date: 1989-05-06
Charles uses one of Sarah's poems to impress a woman, who publishes it in a magazine under Charles' name.
14. Charles Splits (1)
Air Date: 1989-05-13
When Charles bumps his head, he begins acting strangely and calls himself Chaz.
15. Charles Splits (2)
Air Date: 1989-05-20
Chaz gets married.
16. Curing the Common Cult
Air Date: 1989-05-27
Jamie joins a cult, and Charles must prove that the leader is a fake.
17. Room at the Bottom
Air Date: 1989-07-01
Walter remodels the basement.
18. A Sting of Pearls
Air Date: 1989-07-08
The Powell's old babysitter comes back tries to get Charles in trouble.
19. Walter's War
Air Date: 1989-09-09
Walter tries to impress a woman with war souvenirs.
20. The Organization Man
Air Date: 1989-09-16
Charles uses a digital organizer to plan his schedule.
21. Big Bang
Air Date: 1989-10-14
Charles writes an essay about childhood.
22. Triple Threat
Air Date: 1989-10-21
Charles and Buddy go out with identical twins, but they think they are dating the same girl.
23. Aunt Vanessa
Air Date: 1989-10-28
Jamie wants to move to New York and live with Charles' aunt.
24. It's a Blunderfull Life
Air Date: 1989-11-04
Charles has a dream about life without him.
25. Bad Boy
Air Date: 1989-11-11
Charles tutors an ex-con.
26. Buddy's Daddy
Air Date: 1989-11-18
Buddy's father visits and reveals he is getting a divorce.
1. Summer Together, Fall Apart
Air Date: 1989-12-30
After complaints from the family, Charles tells the children there are no more rules in the house.
2. Get Thee to a Nuttery
Air Date: 1990-01-06
Buddy decides to become a priest after a near-death experience.
3. Three Dates & a Walnut
Air Date: 1990-01-13
Walter makes plans with three women on the same night.
4. Out with the in Crowd
Air Date: 1990-01-20
Jamie tries to join an exclusive group of girls.
5. There's a Girl in My Ficus
Air Date: 1990-01-27
Charles' girlfriend Jennifer (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen) tells a lie about Buddy in order to get rid of him.
6. Judge Not Lest Ye Beheaded
Air Date: 1990-02-03
Charles is the judge of a beauty pageant where Jamie, Sarah, and both of Charles' girlfriends are contestants.
7. Baby Bummer
Air Date: 1990-02-10
Buddy offers to help out Adam with babysitting, but he ends up forgetting the little girl at the diner.
8. Paper Covers Rock
Air Date: 1990-02-17
A tabloid shows pictures of Charles with a rock star (Samantha Fox), and everyone thinks they're in a relationship.
9. Child Hoods
Air Date: 1990-02-24
Charles' old friends come to visit.
10. Advice and Contempt
Air Date: 1990-03-03
Jamie gets upset when she thinks Charles is trying to make her boyfriend stop seeing her.
11. Daffy Doc
Air Date: 1990-04-28
Buddy enters a mental hospital to do research, but they make him a patient.
12. Buddy Flips a Disc
Air Date: 1990-05-05
Buddy wins a contest to be a disc jockey for a day at the diner.
13. Brain Man
Air Date: 1990-05-12
Buddy gets tested for ESP and starts to predict the future.
14. Don't Rock the Vote
Air Date: 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.
15. Let's Quake a Deal
Air Date: 1990-05-26
Charles invents a device that will help people prepare for earthquakes.
16. Up Your IQ
Air Date: 1990-06-02
When a boy thinks Jamie is shallow, she talks to Charles' intelligent girlfriend.
17. All That Chaz
Air Date: 1990-06-09
An accidental bump on the head turns Charles into Chaz again.
18. Frankie and Mommy
Air Date: 1990-08-25
Lillian sees an old boyfriend.
19. Lost Resort
Air Date: 1990-09-01
Charles works at a hotel in Hawaii with Buddy's cousin. (A pilot to a possible spin-off which never materialized.)
20. Dead Puck Society
Air Date: 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
21. La Cage Aux Fools
Air Date: 1990-09-15
Charles and Buddy protest animal testing at their college.
22. Teacher's Pest
Air Date: 1990-09-22
Walter takes a history class that Charles teaches.
23. Almost Family
Air Date: 1990-10-20
Charles visits his aunt Sally at her car wash. (A pilot to a possible spin-off which never materialized.)
24. Seeing Is Believing
Air Date: 1990-10-27
Charles gets trapped in an elevator with a blind woman.
25. Fair Exchange
Air Date: 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.)
26. Charles Be DeMille
Air Date: 1990-11-10
Sarah puts on a show to raise money, and Charles directs while preparing for an interview to get into Princeton.
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Rating
6.1/10
Release Date
1984-10-03
Episodes
126 (5 seasons)
Status
Ended
Cast
Production Companies
Universal Television
Al Burton Productions
Scholastic Productions