First off, I never understood the decision to completely overhaul the cast, can anyone explain this to me?

Second, which family did you like better, the Pembrokes or the Powells?

The show was cancelled after one season (probably because of low ratings) on CBS then brought back from the dead 2 years later in first-run syndication. I thought it was cool that they brought back Michael Pearlman and the mom for that first episode in syndication - it brought some closure..

the first season was ok but there was better chemistry with the new cast. They should have brought Jennifer Runyon back as Charles' girlfriend when in went into syndication as a regular character (they did for 2 episodes, but it was not enough...)

Powells by far.
Buddy was even weirder! Mr. Powell was hilarious...Charles and Buddy in wacky situations...Jamie was a boy's dream, Sarah was smart, and Adam was a nuisance.

I personally preferred the Powell family episodes mainly because of Nicole, but also because the show seemed more fun. However, I also loved the Pembroke family episodes because more serious situations were presented than in the Powell episodes.

For instance, Charles and Lyla once had this very emotional conversation involving the betrayal of trust, which involved tears, hugs and all of that good stuff. This almost never happened during the Powell episodes. You know what I mean? I always wished that Charles and Jamie would've had a similar emotional breakthrough because they always seemed to have a love-hate relationship.

Also, that first episode of the new show after it went into first-run syndication was a bit disappointing to me. Jason was the only member of the original Pembroke family to appear on the show and say goodbye to Charles. Jill Pembroke wasn't even played by the same actress! Where the heck were Stan, the REAL Jill, Douglas, and Lyla?! I wished they'd do an "E! True Hollywood Story" on Charles in Charge so we could find out.

YES!!! Please do an inside story. I think there was more going on there than we think. I mean the the time that has passed was not enough so that they could not bring that cast back and they sure werent busy with other projects! Maybe there were fights we dont know about. The kids sure did not seem much into show buisness after that show. Bye the way...the ones with the powells were funnier but the ones with the pembrokes were sweeter....PEMBROKES ALL THE WAY!

I also preferred the Pembroke family over the Powell's. I just feel that there was more of a family atmosphere with the Pembroke's. When the Powell's moved in, Mrs. Powell pretty much disappeared and we only saw her husband in one episode. I know that Grandpa Walter was shown for every episode but it wasn't the same as having the kids' mother and father like in the Pembroke season. I also think that the kids in the Pembroke season were better actors. The Powell girls were cuter than Lila, but Lila was a better actress. She had a wider acting range. The Pembroke boys were far better than Adam Powell, IMO. Adam got on my nerves. Jason was cuter and could deliver his lines tons funnier than Adam. As for Douglas, any scene he was in, I laughed out loud. As for Charles' best friend, Buddy, I think he got weirder in the Powell years. JMO.

I take the Powells over the Pembrokes. I liked the show more with the Powell family they where more interesting.

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GET OUT OF MY GARAGE!!!

That's tough. They both were great. The Powells had great comedy, while the Pembrokes could bring straightforward, setious subjects. But I'd still go with the Powells. (Pembrokes are too far behind tho)

Powells, NO question about it. While the Pembroke episodes were also very good (and far better than any situation comedy of the last 10 years), the episodes with the Powells were by far better than the episodes with the Pembrokes. Maybe its just because they had 5 more seasons to develop the characters, but the show was just alot funner with the Powell family. There did seem to be more of a bond between Charles and the Pembroke family though.

I would have to say the Powell's just because we got allot more episodes to get to know them. Also, any family with Nicole Eggert in it has to be the better one http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif The Pembrokes were a much more believable family and played by better actors though I agree.

As far as why they changed families. I always assumed it was because with the show off the air and everyone released from their contracts they weren't able to get everyone back, if they all even wanted to come back. Also, clearly the original family wasn't bringing in the ratings and usually when a show comes back to a new network or syndication after struggling ratings in their old home, the producers seem to think the answer is to rework the show. It wasn't just the family, the whole feel of the show changed after that first season.

oh...my...god...wh-wha-what is this about the "Pembroke boys" being better than Adam?? WHATTT????? and better looking? and delivering lines better??? omg NO WAY!! I know it was just in your opinion, but I'd like to give mine now. OMG ALEXANDER POLINSKY IS THE MOST PERFECT(and I stress the word) MAN ALIVE!!! agh I don't even watch the Pembroke episodes. Personally, those people make me sick. agh I can't stand to watch them. I don't know or care to know any of their names. You couldn't really call me a "CIC" fan..just a 4/5 all seasons fan. I don't even know how many ppl are in the Pembroke family (that is their name, right?)

Anyways..quite obviously, my pick for the better family is the Powells. omg do you remember the episode where Adam was taken to that art thing, and they thought he was a child genius, and he got to see a woman nude for the first time?? Two things I burst out laughing at in that ep-- when he said, "Yeah, Buddy. I'm impresionable." and when later, he said to Charles, "She got MY attention.", and he had that glazed look in his dreamy brown eyes. omg I *LOVE* him!!
http://64.4.16.250:80/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=cf09ade9bdf58f88fa9e1f4523add9db&lat=1003808510&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fpub3%2eezboard%2ecom%2fbroughneckramblings
go there and click on "Alexander Polinsky". It's a commercial he did recently, and he sounds sooo hoooottttt!!!

well, I doubt anyone's gonna go, but that one above is messed up-- it's this one:
http://www.digitalpatches.com/4DACTION/WWW_Tal_Agent_Select/2969540/2/27

Pembrokes all the way!! The Powells eps. got to be a bit more sillier. Which is okay, but they weren't really family oriented like the Pembrokes. Plus I like how they all look in the early 80's, by the time they got to the Powells, it got to the real nasty 80's. Like Buddy and Charles, had mini mullets. LOL. And like what people have said, Buddy acted way to stupid. But bottom line, I like the Pembrokes and the whole Pembroke era. They all were good actors and the kids all had good charisma and charm. Oh yeah, I also like Jennifer Runyon. She was in most Pembroke eps., so my vote is for the Pembrokes.

I was like AlexFan in the beginning. Most of what I had seen of CIC was the Powell episodes because there are so many of them. When they showed the Pembroke shows I was like, "what the heck is this?"

HOWEVER, now that I have actually taken the time to watch the Pembroke shows, I have come to a revelation that those shows, while different from the Powell episodes, are just as entertaining and just as valid as the later ones. In fact, I believe that those episodes have more substance than most of the Powell episodes. The one where Lila goes on the date with the rocker boy is priceless for its depth and seriousness of matter. You just don't find that in the later episodes.

So, AlexFan, you like the Powell episodes, but before you totally rag on the Pembroke episodes (which I guess you already have!), you should really watch those first episodes and see what you are missing. You just might be pleasantly surprised!!!! And you might even like Jason and Douglas!!! (the Pembroke boys)

yeah, right.. ppl couldn't PAY me to watch those PemJOKES. ugh like I said- they make me sick, and I'm sure there are ppl out there who feel the same way about the Powells. Good for them!! i don't mind if they don't watch them. and as far as liking those "boys"... not in a million years!! I've seen them before. You don't know how long I went turning on the tv and seeing the first season opening credits. I'd turn off the tv immediately. and alot of "cic" sites have pics of both fams, so I know that I am not the LEAST bit interested in them.

Well, at least no one can say you aren't firm in your beliefs!!!

BUT, keep this in mind, you can't really judge something unless you have really seen and experienced it.

So, for you to not even watch the episodes with the Pembrokes and say that you hate them and don't think they are as good as the Powell episodes doesn't speak well for your basis of judgment.

Just thinking out loud, of course. Please don't take offense at this. You are perfectly entitled to your opinion.

Just glad that you are here and talking CIC!

PEMBROKES,PEMBROKES AND PEMBROKES!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't say anything bad for Powells, but I loved the Pembroke season much better! They were all so cute and nice and sincere there. That is MY opinion.