I read that the show Charlie & Company starring Flip Wilson, Gladys Knight and Jaleel White was CBS answer to the Cosby Show in the fall of 85. I didn't watch yet but plan to this weekend. I was 10 when this show premeired on CBS and don't remember it at all

I saw it a few times. It wasn't particularly memorable, frankly. And, yes, it is
fairly obvious that it was CBS's answer to the enormously popular COSBY SHOW
on NBC. But Flip was out of his element, in a sitcom format. He was terrific as
a variety show host and performer.

I saw it a few times. It wasn't particularly memorable, frankly. And, yes, it is
fairly obvious that it was CBS's answer to the enormously popular COSBY SHOW
on NBC. But Flip was out of his element, in a sitcom format. He was terrific as
a variety show host and performer.



I forgot that Jaleel White got his first big break by starring on this show

i watched it once or twice flip wilson just wasant suted for a sitcom

I remember this show real well back in 1985. It did look like CBS was trying to cash in on Cosby's success, but this show wasn't bad. If I remember correctly, it came on Wednesday nights. I last saw this show on BET in the early 90s.

In this era, CBS wasn't known for it's comedies. CBS had a lot of canceled comedies I think that would have made hits like Melba, Bagdag Cafe, Royal Family, Teech, and Together We Stand.

I remember this show real well back in 1985. It did look like CBS was trying to cash in on Cosby's success, but this show wasn't bad. If I remember correctly, it came on Wednesday nights. I last saw this show on BET in the early 90s.

In this era, CBS wasn't known for it's comedies. CBS had a lot of canceled comedies I think that would have made hits like Melba, Bagdag Cafe, Royal Family, Teech, and Together We Stand.


Damm, BET aired all the short-lived Black Comedies in the early 90's

Sanford Arms
Charlie and Co
Sanford
Out All Night


Where the hell was my VCR?-lol

Damm, BET aired all the short-lived Black Comedies in the early 90's

Sanford Arms
Charlie and Co
Sanford
Out All Night


Where the hell was my VCR?-lol

My VCR was probably at the store like yours might have been. I didn't get my first VCR until 1993 when I was 18 going on 19. I had saved up for that. LOL

My VCR was probably at the store like yours might have been. I didn't get my first VCR until 1993 when I was 18 going on 19. I had saved up for that. LOL


Damm, the only short-lived I remember watching on BET was Baby I'm Back and Sanford. I actually did record Sanford because that was on BET in 94 while I was in college

I remember watching this show, but don't remember too much about it specifically, like how closely it copied the Cosby Show.


I didn't watch yet but plan to this weekend.


How many episodes have you found?

How closely was CBS's CHARLIE & CO. a clone of THE COSBY SHOW? Set on Chicago's south side, many TV critics accused the short-lived 1985-1986
series of being a poor-man's version of NBC's highly successful COSBY SHOW. Charlie Richmond (Flip Wilson) was an administrative assistant with the Chicago Dept. of Highways. He and his wife Diana (Gladys Knight), an elementary school teacher, had three outspoken kids. Since none of them were afflicted with shyness, life at home, particulary at meals, tended to resemble a verbal free-for-all. The cast also included Charlie's boss and his four co-workers. In mid-season, Della Reese joined the cast as Diana's sarcastic Aunt Rachel, not one of Charlie's favorite people. (Source: THE COMPLETE DIRECTORY TO PRIME TIME NETWORK & CABLE TV SHOWS).

I remember watching this show, but don't remember too much about it specifically, like how closely it copied the Cosby Show.





How many episodes have you found?


Only 1 ep-lol-"The Pilot"

apparently did NOT like the show one bit
I saw on a E show on him, that he was happy it got cancelled

i didnt like it, i watched a few eps, BUT i didnt like the cosby show either:lol:

apparently did NOT like the show one bit
I saw on a E show on him, that he was happy it got cancelled

i didnt like it, i watched a few eps, BUT i didnt like the cosby show either:lol:


Didn't like the Cosby Show???-lol

THE COSBY SHOW was total schlock to me......

I like Bill Cosby and I loved I SPY and his 70s sitcom THE BILL COSBY SHOW, which was really well done

also FAT ALBERT= the best cartoon of its time, well written and funny

I also like COSBY his later sitcom and THE COSBY MYSTERIES which I love

i even liked his remake of the old groucho show that flopped

BUT the 1980s THE COSBY SHOW was so sugary and sweet it was like BUBBLEGUM ROCK of the 70s

ESPECIALLY when it was part of a GREAT nbc night of FAMILY TIES, CHEERS and NIGHT COURT

3 great shows, BUT the cosby show, DESPITE being a hit, was really repetitive and the show was carried by Cosbys personality and carryovers from his stand up routines!

THE COSBY SHOW was total schlock to me......

I like Bill Cosby and I loved I SPY and his 70s sitcom THE BILL COSBY SHOW, which was really well done

also FAT ALBERT= the best cartoon of its time, well written and funny

I also like COSBY his later sitcom and THE COSBY MYSTERIES which I love

i even liked his remake of the old groucho show that flopped

BUT the 1980s THE COSBY SHOW was so sugary and sweet it was like BUBBLEGUM ROCK of the 70s

ESPECIALLY when it was part of a GREAT nbc night of FAMILY TIES, CHEERS and NIGHT COURT

3 great shows, BUT the cosby show, DESPITE being a hit, was really repetitive and the show was carried by Cosbys personality and carryovers from his stand up routines!



I think the first season was a defintely carryover from his stand up rountine.

i didnt HATE the cosby show
it is just that i think its sooooo over rated
and i think that it was a realllllllly repetitive show
the same thing over and over and over

i like the Cos and i still stock up on jello pudding pops

i just think the show was so weak compared to his other shows

1st season of cosby show was pretty much verbatium of his
stand up routine.

Watch The Movie-concert Bill Cosby himself and you've watched
the first 4 episodes of the season.

it got better when they had to actually write material. but many times
ended up getting a little "moral of the week" story for me.

There were many times that my mom was quoted as saying "Talking too,
that boy needs his butt whooped"

but the series was lame-o to me

too many cute kids

too many Morality lessons

very unrealistic

i love Cosby and u r right, he used most of his stand up bits as filler
i like the stand up
but it made the sitcom feel like a rerun
EVEN when it was a new ep

i think Cosbys other shows are much better

BUT yes Charlie & Co was even worse!

poor Flip wilson was slumming for a paycheck!

but the series was lame-o to me

too many cute kids

too many Morality lessons

very unrealistic

i love Cosby and u r right, he used most of his stand up bits as filler
i like the stand up
but it made the sitcom feel like a rerun
EVEN when it was a new ep

i think Cosbys other shows are much better

BUT yes Charlie & Co was even worse!

poor Flip wilson was slumming for a paycheck!



I finally watched Charlie and Company and the only weak character was the FATHER

Well if the main character is weak....

By the way, Flip did NOT like this show
in an interview later on he talked of how he knew it would flop and he even told Cosby he was sorry for doing the rip off show, BUT the $ they offered him was too good to pass up! :crazy:

Well if the main character is weak....

By the way, Flip did NOT like this show
in an interview later on he talked of how he knew it would flop and he even told Cosby he was sorry for doing the rip off show, BUT the $ they offered him was too good to pass up! :crazy:



I just wasn't a fan of Flip Wilson at all. His Variety show was HORRIBLE

At the time my family watched it
BUT the show was really bland
when i watch it now i rarely laugh at all

i guess Flip seemed like such a nice guy, that is why people watched
NOT because it was truly funny
some variety shows, like Carol Burnett I honestly laugh at
but not Flip
not ever

too bad, he seemed soooooooo nice

but not really funny :p

At the time my family watched it
BUT the show was really bland
when i watch it now i rarely laugh at all

i guess Flip seemed like such a nice guy, that is why people watched
NOT because it was truly funny
some variety shows, like Carol Burnett I honestly laugh at
but not Flip
not ever

too bad, he seemed soooooooo nice

but not really funny :p




I had actually planned on recording the Flip Wilson show marathon in July 0f 2004 but I ended up recording OVER episode. Especially the eps with GERALDINE-lol

thought Geraldine was soooooooo funny
BUT i thought it was the worst bit on the show
awful!!

BUT i do have a talking Flip Wilson Doll from the 70s
and 1 side is Flip, the other side is Geraldine!
:lol:

was CBS' re-entry into the kind of "family" comedy that came back into vogue with "THE COSBY SHOW" after 1984. Was it the network's (or 20th Century-Fox TV's) fault that the family just HAPPENED to be black? Or that their show had a lousy time period and not enough viewers tuned in to warrant a renewal in 1986? Or that Flip Wilson eventually regretted DOING the show in the first place??

Believe me, George Lopez does a better job with that kind of situation today
(and never mind what "Mr. Teleliteracy" says!!)- one hundred+ episodes and loyal viewers can't be wrong!!

was CBS' re-entry into the kind of "family" comedy that came back into vogue with "THE COSBY SHOW" after 1984. Was it the network's (or 20th Century-Fox TV's) fault that the family just HAPPENED to be black? Or that their show had a lousy time period and not enough viewers tuned in to warrant a renewal in 1986? Or that Flip Wilson eventually regretted DOING the show in the first place??

Believe me, George Lopez does a better job with that kind of situation today
(and never mind what "Mr. Teleliteracy" says!!)- one hundred+ episodes and loyal viewers can't be wrong!!


What else could Flip Wilson say after the show FAILED?-lol

I really don't remember this show when it first aired but when BET re-aired it...wait,I still don't remember it that much. CBS wasn't big in my household...to be honest, it STILL isn't at my family's house, not even mine! CBS sucks big time!

I really don't remember this show when it first aired but when BET re-aired it...wait,I still don't remember it that much. CBS wasn't big in my household...to be honest, it STILL isn't at my family's house, not even mine! CBS sucks big time!


Yeah in the show was your BOY jaleel White at the age of 9, Flip wilson, and Gladys knight. I don' remember BET airing this show

Yeah in the show was your BOY jaleel White at the age of 9, Flip wilson, and Gladys knight. I don' remember BET airing this show

Lord have mercy...Steven Q.Urkel?!!!!! No wonder this show didn't last long!

The only reason why I remember it being on BET was because I had girl scouts around the time and that would come on as soon as I got home.. I should have remembered this show considering 1985 was my year, even at five. I remember Small Wonder and Double Trouble so I should have remembered this show.

Lord have mercy...Steven Q.Urkel?!!!!! No wonder this show didn't last long!

The only reason why I remember it being on BET was because I had girl scouts around the time and that would come on as soon as I got home.. I should have remembered this show considering 1985 was my year, even at five. I remember Small Wonder and Double Trouble so I should have remembered this show.



I only seen 2 eps and I like it better than any UPN show that was aired after 2000