Holy cow, it's my first post here and nobody's posted about this yet!! First off, hi! I'm Heather and I've been a longtime lurker here at this forum. Of course I'm a CiC girl since I discovered it on Nick in 2002, and I'm pretty much hooked for life.

OK, to business--as you may know, E! Network has their True Hollywood Story series. This entire month is devoted to TV shows, and they will air a brand new episode all about Charles in Charge this weekend!! I saw the commercial yesterday with cute Scott Baio talking about his infamous relationships, and I nearly fell off my bed. The episode will premiere this Sunday, May 21 at 8 pm on the East Coast. Set your VCRs!! :D

Yes, we are going to do a story on the blog about it this week. But since you mentioned it, here are the details:

In Charles in Charge: The E! True Hollywood Story, we bring you the drama behind the comedy about a lovable American family. Catch up with the cast, and find out who had crushes on whom, onstage and off.

The sitcom first blasted onto CBS in 1984. After one year, the network pulled the plug, but Charles would return. When the show entered syndication in early 1987, heartthrobs Scott Baio (Happy Days) and Willie Aames (Eight Is Enough) formed part of a new family, embroiled in issues that snared teens, parents and young adults. Plus, it was funny. Chachi was back and here to stay.

E! now reveals the Story left untold. Learn what almost left the sexy Nicole Eggert (Baywatch) paralyzed for good, and go inside Josie Davis' struggle to grow up on TV and in real life. And what about the long list of Hollywood babes who wanted Charles to be in charge of their hearts?

Tune in SUNDAY, MAY 21 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET/PT only on E!

I got excited. :( On the main page, when you can only see part of the thread title, it said "E! to air Charles in Charge." DANG!

I bet the E Hollywood special will totally ingnore the first season. :(

I'll watch it! :)

I bet the E Hollywood special will totally ingnore the first season. :(

I hope they don't! The first season was the best in my opinion.

I bet the E Hollywood special will totally ingnore the first season. :(

Somehow I don't think that's going to be the case, since they will have to discuss why the families are different.

You got a point there. They'll have to discuss the "why" part.

Yes, we are going to do a story on the blog about it this week. But since you mentioned it, here are the details:

In Charles in Charge: The E! True Hollywood Story, we bring you the drama behind the comedy about a lovable American family. Catch up with the cast, and find out who had crushes on whom, onstage and off.

The sitcom first blasted onto CBS in 1984. After one year, the network pulled the plug, but Charles would return. When the show entered syndication in early 1987, heartthrobs Scott Baio (Happy Days) and Willie Aames (Eight Is Enough) formed part of a new family, embroiled in issues that snared teens, parents and young adults. Plus, it was funny. Chachi was back and here to stay.

E! now reveals the Story left untold. Learn what almost left the sexy Nicole Eggert (Baywatch) paralyzed for good, and go inside Josie Davis' struggle to grow up on TV and in real life. And what about the long list of Hollywood babes who wanted Charles to be in charge of their hearts?

Tune in SUNDAY, MAY 21 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET/PT only on E!


Do you know if any of the first season cast members will be interviewed?

I am glad that E! is going to be doing a True Hollywood Story
on Sunday, May 21, 2006 at 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm Central Time

Can't wait...

I hope it's about more than just the usual list of who Scott slept with. If I can't be on the list, I can't bare to hear about it!

I would not have guess that Josie Davis would have this problem growing up on television. I thought she was a professional at it. Guess I was wrong...

I am taping The Charles In Charge True Holliwood Story
on Sunday, May 21, 2006 at 10:00 pm Central Time.

Me, too.

Begin your VCRs, people..:D

I just got done watching Charles In Charge: The True Hollywood Story. I thought it was okay but there were a number of things that really bothered me. I'm not sure if it is just me, but I think Scott came off like a real jerk. He really seemed to be full of himself. I also wished that they had given a little more time to the Pembroke version of the show. I didn't like how they referred to the Powell version of the series as the "new and improved Charles In Charge". What a liked best was seeing Josie Davis. Man, is she beautiful. :D As a kid watching CIC in the late 1980's I has a huge crush on Sarah.

I also wished that they had given a little more time to the Pembroke version of the show.

I agree. I would have also liked to have seen them talk to some of the Pembroke's. I was kind of disappointed that none of them were on the show.

It seemed more like a THS of Scott Baio's failed romances than about Charles in Charge.

I agree. I would have also liked to have seen them talk to some of the Pembroke's. I was kind of disappointed that none of them were on the show.


I would love to see what April Lerman looks like now. Of course, both her and Michael Pearlman are out of the buisness so that is why they probably were not there.

I really never saw Sarah as the "ugly duckling" of the show....I really did not. That's just me, you know.:) Josie really does look good for her age and I was surprised to see Mrs. Powell. Boy, she really has aged! Though Walter still had the same voice as he did, but he looked the same as he did in the 80s. I taped this......but I was a bit too busy fixing up and I decided to browse the Internet once more. That's just me, again.

I just finished watching the show. I liked it...although I do wish they had spent too little time discussing the actual show (not the mention the first season). It seemed to be a True Hollywood Story on Scott and Willie, not on the show. I don't think Scott came off as arrogant or whatever...I think he was actually not taking himself too seriously, like he was looking back on his life and acknowledging that back then he was an idiot. LOL.
There's one thing that Josie said that I have to agree with....Scott's laugh. I love his laugh. It's so infectious and genuine that when you hear it, you just want to laugh along with him. I can imagine that you can hear it from a block away. LMAO

Great review, 80s!:)

It seemed kind of short.. weren't some of the True Hollywood Stories used 2 hours long, instead of 1 hour?

Doesn't Michael Pearlman sometimes post here? That'll be great if he saw the show & gives us his view on it.

I'm not sure if it is just me, but I think Scott came off like a real jerk. He really seemed to be full of himself.

Well, nobody's perfect, but I wouldn't necessarily say he came off like that. I have to say, I almost kind of feel sorry for the guy. He's in his forties and unattached, maybe he's lonely...unless, of course, he prefers it that way.

I also wished that they had given a little more time to the Pembroke version of the show. I didn't like how they referred to the Powell version of the series as the "new and improved Charles In Charge".

I can agree on that. I happen to like both versions, but I would've liked to have heard more about the Pembroke season and maybe a little more about what inspired the show's creators to make it. But like Scott himself said, "It's not rocket science, it's a @#$%in' sitcom (this comment was edited for content).

Scott's laugh. I love his laugh. It's so infectious and genuine that when you hear it, you just want to laugh along with him. I can imagine that you can hear it from a block away. LMAO

I know what you mean. I love Scott's laugh too, and his smile. My mom was watching THS with me (she's not a fan) and she felt the need to tell me his laugh was "goofy." (She did NOT mean that in a good way.) Well, that's her opinion, not mine. *sigh*

Hey, I have a goofy laugh and my parents love me.:)Hey, I would like to hear Scott say the "F" word. Maybe the 2nd Season might have the THS on the 2nd Season of CIC...possibly not, I think.

BTW, could they release the outtakes of the show itself from the 2nd Season...?:lol: I would love to see that, though.

I agree, they should put bloopers on the 2nd season DVD.

Hey, I have a goofy laugh and my parents love me.:)Hey, I would like to hear Scott say the "F" word. Maybe the 2nd Season might have the THS on the 2nd Season of CIC...possibly not, I think.

Scott has said the F word in a movie..."I Love NY", I believe it was. :lol: If not that, I'm sure it was another movie. If he said "frigging" on THS, then it's not out of the spectrum of belief that he would ever say the other. lol.

I agree, they should put bloopers on the 2nd season DVD.

bloopers would be awesome. Although we did see some on THS ("why did you duck?" "cause I know you!"LMAO) I would never get tired of watching bloopers from CiC

I would love to see the one with Josie and Scott.....Josie was so into her character and Scott ruined the moment about the cake she was making.

There was also another blooper where the unpopular smart geek and Scott were suppose to stay on the script, but Scott chuckled and went over the couch hiding, I think.

I also Scott will be 45 in September 22nd, but who's counting..

By the way, wasn't it funny when see Willie and Scott in drag(a.k.a Bosom Buddies) and Scott almost nearly kisses Willie...that was too funny!

He has a wonderful laugh, if you watch his face when the other actors are saying their lines he smiles or chuckles and seems to be enjoying their perfomances too, thats the sign of a generous actor, he always seems to be in the moment with them. The out take of him laughing and falling over the couch is the BEST I can watch that over and over again. He doesn't take himself seriously that's what makes him so endearing, but, it also may be the reason we don't see him do more. The movie were he uses the "F" word is "I LOVE NY", love that movie, but there is another, he plays a serious role that one is "Detonator" that word coming from him IS extremly sexy.

Oh, wow. He supported the same five o'clock shadow like I do when I feel tired. Very strange...:crazy:

Another CIC blooper had James T. Callahan doing some sort of infomercial on CIC and you noticed that he becomes a bit distracted when Charles is outside....I wonder what went wrong there...:lol:

By the way, I wrote to Universal to see if they can get the bloopers from the 2nd Season itself...

Another CIC blooper had James T. Callahan doing some sort of infomercial on CIC and you noticed that he becomes a bit distracted when Charles is outside....I wonder what went wrong there...:lol:

By the way, I wrote to Universal to see if they can get the bloopers from the 2nd Season itself...

I don't think anything was wrong there....Scott was goofing around and decided to try to mess with James Callahan while he was trying to tape that promo for CiC. LOL. James didn't even know Scott was back there until someone started laughing and he asked "what's going on?" before he turned around and saw Scott. :lol:

What was up with all the Josie being an ugly duckling talk?

I don't think anyone ever thought of her that way. Ugly?... No way. :o

What was up with all the Josie being an ugly duckling talk?

I don't think anyone ever thought of her that way. Ugly?... No way. :o

they were referring to Josie's character "Sarah"...she was the plain sister and Josie used to get labelled the "ugly duckling" by the press because they couldn't/wouldn't distinguish her from her character. I agree, Josie was a very pretty young lady and a beautiful young woman now. I think she's even prettier than Nicole.

But Josie is a very pretty girl. She even pulled the nerd role pretty well for someone that had no background acting in her life. She sort of reminded of that girl from Jurrasic Park a bit. Just a bit...

I remember that promo well.....it was just James Callahan and that was it.

That must have took a lot of work from James to not mess that up.

Question: Where was the drag scene in what episode? Or is that from the cutting floor?

It did seem to be the scott and Willie ETHS show,and most of the willie stuff we got from the eight is enough ETHS.With CIC just bein the back drop a bit. I didnt learn anything of what went into the show,how it came about,or how thye were casted. More of the 1st season would have been nice,and the reasoning of why it was brought back. My guess as to why it focused on the powells would be cause maybe we are gonna get season 2 soon, and thats who is in it

I hope so.....I wonder if we will see Season 2 bloopers also as well as cast commentary on certain episodes, if they want to do it.

I remember that promo well.....it was just James Callahan and that was it.

That must have took a lot of work from James to not mess that up.

Question: Where was the drag scene in what episode? Or is that from the cutting floor?

I don't remember the name of the episode but Charles and Buddy were in drag cause they were undercover to find out if Jamie's teacher (guest star Sally Struthers) was a woman who was wanted from the FBI. They went to her house in drag because she was having a meeting for women only.

Oh....:lol:

Thanks, anyway...

I love the part: "Why are you ducking?"

I never thought id see one of these on CIC. Im glad I did.

I know. Isn't it amazing or what? I just wrote to Universe to see if they can at least send Season 2 bloopers in the extras, you know.:)

They showing it again!

I actually saw this, only because a friend called to tell me it was on. I had no idea they were even making one. True Hollywood Stories always have a formula, which includes a "rise and fall" or "tragedy" element. On this one, they chose to focus on Willie's history of abuse, Nicole's serious accident, etc.
There really wasn't enough "tragedy" to fill the whole hour, so we got intensive bios of Scott and Willie. Fair enough.

I was disappointed that they didn't bother to interview Michael Jacobs, the show's creator. He left the show after it went into syndication, and the show was never quite the same. I'm sure if E! had a larger budget, they could have done a "Where are they now" with the old cast (including Jennifer Runyon, who played Gwendolyn Pierce) and the show would have been much more interesting. Instead, they were content to rehash Nicole's boob job, Scott at the Playboy mansion, and Josie Davis "becoming" hot.

Watching it reminded me of Willie and Scott's personalities. I was surprised to see Scott being even a little candid, while Willie's religious conversion was really downplayed. I also remembered what it was like on the set of the first episode featuring the new family (I was the only member of the old family that was there). Don't interpret this the wrong way, but both Josie and Nicole really struggled with their lines and delivery at that first taping. Josie admits in the episode she had no real non-commercial acting experience.

One thing that the show DID remind me of, was how surprised all of us were when the original show wasn't picked up for a second season. It was nice to be reminded by Willie of that.
Overall, about what I'd expect from tabloid TV. I don't really have the stomach for celebrity-type shows, but it was nice to dredge up some old memories.

Hello, again, Michael. Nice to hear from you. As always, your review is very informative. I know, a bit of a shocker not to include the original creator, Michael Jacobs. But that's show business for you. Really? Those two actresses really did struggle with their lines...I would not have noticed that. I definitely agree that they should have include the 1st Season cast members. That would have made it much interesting.

I'm all about the Pembrokes too... mainly cos it's early 80s.

Hello there, Michael! I was hoping you'd stop by to let us know what you thought of the show! Like I said in my previous post, I found it pretty disappointing that they did not give more time to the 1st season with the Pembrokes. In my opinion, that was the best season! :cool:

Oh wow I didn't realise it was THE Michael Pearlman!!! Michael I've said this before in the CIC section... you were my favourite on that show! Such great talent and I truly am not just saying that. You had the funniest lines and your delivery was classic! The only saving grace was that they invited you back for the season 2 opener.

I'll only be buying Season 1 of CIC as that was the season my family and I loved as kids.

I know, Michael. They really should have shown Charles' first date, Jennifer, because she did served an important part in Charles' life and hence returns at the 3rd season. So you and Jennifer are the only original characters on the show...amazing.

I think the network version of the series always seems to get over looked. Just look at the top of this very page. What do you see? A picture of the Powells, not the Pembrokes...who were on the show first. I like the Powells and all (especially seasons two and three), but the Pembrokes will always be my favorites. :)

As always, nice hearing from you, Michael.:) Glad to hear your opinions, though. You have a wonderful knack for writing.

:) :wave:

Yeah, great to hear from the one and only Michael Pearlman! My only experience with the first season is through the DVDs, but I think both versions of the show have their charm.

That's true on all accounts.:)

You think this will be the last one we will ever, though?:confused:

I would love to see what April Lerman looks like now.

One of the cast members from the play "Annie" has made a documentary about the girls who starred in the 70's and 80's version of the play. April Lerman was interviewed.

This is the webiste for the documentary http://www.lifeaftertomorrow.com

April is on the left: http://www.lifeaftertomorrow.com/gallery/lat_22.jpg

There is also a short video clip, and April talks for a few seconds.

Thank you. Long time no see, April. :) She looks like still working, though.

hello i just came across this and i was wondering if anyone taped or burn to DVD i would like to see it since i didnt know it was playing e mail me privately thanks again dogboy2@comcast.net

I am afraid I did not taped it.

One of the cast members from the play "Annie" has made a documentary about the girls who starred in the 70's and 80's version of the play. April Lerman was interviewed.

This is the webiste for the documentary http://www.lifeaftertomorrow.com

April is on the left: http://www.lifeaftertomorrow.com/gallery/lat_22.jpg

There is also a short video clip, and April talks for a few seconds.


Thanks for the picture of April. :) She is still beautiful, isn't she? :)

Thanks for the picture of April. :) She is still beautiful, isn't she? :)

She is very beautiful.

I was happy to see a current picture of her.

Glad to see her...:)

IMO, I think the powells was the best family on Charles In Charge.:)

IMO, I think the powells was the best family on Charles In Charge.:)

Me too! ;)

Grandpa Powell was always my favorite Powell. Sarah was my other fave as well as Jamie. But I could never stand Adam. Don't know why. But Grandpa cracks me up.

For example in the Bad Boy episode:

**ding dong**

Grandpa: "Hooligan!" referring to the kid Charles is tutoring..:lol:

Grandpa Powell was always my favorite Powell. Sarah was my other fave as well as Jamie. But I could never stand Adam. Don't know why. But Grandpa cracks me up.

For example in the Bad Boy episode:

**ding dong**

Grandpa: "Hooligan!" referring to the kid Charles is tutoring..:lol:

I hated Adam too! He needed to go!

My favorite is Sarah. She was so funny.:)

I hated Adam too! He needed to go!

My favorite is Sarah. She was so funny.:)

Aww, poor Adam, he always gets made fun of, LOL. I normally didn't care much for him either, but he did have some great moments. I think it was the episode where the old babysitter comes back and steals the necklace, and Charles and Buddy question Adam, and he sarcastically replies something about how "Higgins got wise, so I had to do him in too," or something to that extent. Anyway, his line and delivery was hilarious. I liked the Powells better overall, as well. I thought most of the Pembrokes were kind of annoying, except for the mom and Lila.

Aww, poor Adam, he always gets made fun of, LOL. I normally didn't care much for him either, but he did have some great moments. I think it was the episode where the old babysitter comes back and steals the necklace, and Charles and Buddy question Adam, and he sarcastically replies something about how "Higgins got wise, so I had to do him in too," or something to that extent. Anyway, his line and delivery was hilarious. I liked the Powells better overall, as well. I thought most of the Pembrokes were kind of annoying, except for the mom and Lila.

:lol:

Hehe...

What is also good to know as to why Grandpa is my favorite. Adam might have funny moments....but there is few of them that it is really hard to care about him at all. You think that Alexander's character might not be an exact clone of Pearlman's character(exception of the sports), but it turned it was. I was surprised. The writers could have done something different to his character, but they never did. They never let him grow in all the four seasons. Which is a shame. It was really the banter between Grandpa, Sarah, Buddy, and Jamie that held it all together. Hand it been only Adam, it would not have been memorable at all.

I missed it. :(

Anyone know when it's coming on again?

I missed it. :(

Anyone know when it's coming on again?


I'm not really sure when E will air it again, but I'm sure they will at some point in the future. You really didn't miss much though. They pretty much overlooked the Pembrokes and focused on the Powells. I sort of figured that they would do that, but I had hoped that they would give the Pembrokes their due. The special mostly focused on "Hollywood" stuff like Scott Baio's womanizing and Nicole Eggert's boob job.

Nothing important. No talk about how the show was thought out. Only Michael Pearlman might tell us the answers. I hope.