I recently discovered that, unlike most TV shows, the production code numbers for the episodes of Charles in Charge don't actually signify the order that the episodes were made in, contrary to popular belief. I figured this out by finding pictures of several scripts online, and comparing the script revision dates to the production numbers, and they were wildly different. For example, the episode Lilian Putts Around has a production number which would seem to indicate that it was the fourth episode made, but the script shows that it was actually filmed in April of 1987 (filming started in September 1986), so this is impossible.

It seems that the only way to find the true order of Charles in Charge episodes (something which has always proved difficult), would be to find the script revision or taping dates for each episode. By looking through the archives of auction sites online, these are some of the only ones I have been able to find. I was wondering if others here could help fill in the gaps if they have scripts, call sheets, or revision/taping dates for episodes not listed here:

Amityville (Revised September 12, 1986)
A Date from Heck (Revised Sept. 16, 1986)
Buddy Comes to Dinner (Revised September 23, 1986, Taped October 14, 1986)
Feud for Thought (Revised September 30, 1986)
Fox in the Henhouse (Revised October 20, 1986)
American Teen (Revised October 27, 1986)
The Egg and Us (Revised November 4, 1986)
Dating (Revised November 7, 1986)
The Naked Truth (Revised November 11, 1986)
Pizza Parlor Protest (Revised December 12, 1986)
The Case of the Mock Turtle Mystery (Revised January 21, 1987)
Isn't That What's Her Face? (Revised February 14, 1987)
The Undergraduate (Revised February 18, 1987)
Getting In (Revised February 25, 1987)
Lillian Putts Around (Revised April 3, 1987)
Speechless (Revised April 10, 1987)
Sarah Steps Out (Taped July 21, 1987)
It's a Blunderfull Life (Revised May 10, 1989)
Lost Resort (Revised April 23, 1990)
Dead Puck Society (Revised May 1, 1990)
Fair Exchange (Revised May 4, 1990)
La Cage aux Fools (Revised May 18, 1990)

Just to check, no one has any shooting dates or additional scripts (with revision dates) in their possession, with which I could add more dates to the list (or know where I can find them online)? I scoured Ebay and Worthpoint listings to put together the list I posted. I'm only interested in Seasons 2 through 5 since those are the ones with production numbers that don't follow consecutively.

Hey Jenny!

You may want to check ScriptFly (https://www.scriptfly.com/searchpage/resultpage.php?search=tvc) or ScriptCity. Both of them offer CiC scripts, and I have used both sites to get authentic Facts of Life scripts. At $10 bucks per script, their prices are fairly reasonable. However, if you're on a budget, you may want to contact a librarian at the UCLA film and TV archive because they might help with script dates.

Good luck with your research!

Thanks for your response, RetroGuy! Script City is a great source for script dates, and best of all, you don't need to buy the scripts since they put the dates in the description. :) The UCLA lead is one I haven't tried before, so I'm going to look into that. Thanks again!

Glad I could help!

Would love to hear if your project is successful! :)

I haven't had much luck in finding filming or production dates. It really does seem the only way to discern the order that episodes were made in is to look for scripts as they turn up on Ebay.

This is the latest version of my findings, using dates from scripts. All the missing episodes are the ones that I have not yet been able to find script dates for.

78009 Amityville (Revised Sept. 12, 1986)
78023 A Date from Heck (Revised Sept. 17, 1986)
78025 Buddy Comes to Dinner (Revised September 23, 1986, Taped October 14, 1986)
78026 Feud for Thought (Revised September 30, 1986)
78012 A Fox in the Henhouse (Revised October 20, 1986)
78019 American Teen (Revised October 27, 1986)
78017 The Egg and Us (Revised November 4, 1986)
78005 Dating (Revised November 7, 1986)
78002 The Naked Truth (Revised November 11, 1986)
78018 Pizza Parlor Protest (Revised December 12, 1986)
78021 Trade Off (Revised December 17, 1986)
78032 Isn't That What's Her Face? (Revised February 14, 1987)
78034 The Undergraduate (Revised February 18, 1987)
78013 Getting In (Revised February 25, 1987)
78004 Lillian Putts a Round (Revised April 3, 1987)
78022 Speechless (Revised April 10, 1987)

78046 Sarah Steps Out (Taped July 21, 1987)
78061 Dutiful Dreamer (Revised January 8, 1988)

78306 Room at the Bottom (Revised September 9, 1988)
78309 It's a Blunderfull Life (Revised May 10, 1989)

Lost Resort (Revised April 23, 1990)
Dead Puck Society (Revised May 1, 1990)
Fair Exchange (Revised May 4, 1990)
La Cage aux Fools (Revised May 18, 1990)