Charles Issues... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Charybdis · 11-28-2000, 03:53 PM

Hi, I am new to this BBoard but I wanted to start posting regularly. I don't think I ever watched Charles in Charge while it was on, but I became a big fan during 1991 when one of my local stations was running the sydicated show. For some reason, the show was pretty cool and I have always liked it. Now to the issues which I have seen discussed on previous posts:

1) For the longest time, I did not like the Pembrokes. The Powell's just seemed funnier and Charles seemed to always get in trouble more with them. The Pembroke shows seemed to be more syrupy and taught more values, etc. Not that that is wrong, but they just seemed a little bit boring. I have been watching the early shows on WGN this past month, and I am beginning to change my attitude about the early shows. Actually, I kind of like them now. And, yes, Jason Pembroke is funnier and crazier than Adam Powell.

2) Buddy acts like a ******. As anyone knows, Buddy's character was drastically changed in the last couple of years of the syndicated show. While he acts very funny and sometimes steals the episode with his oddball behavior, one cannot really believe that this is the same old Buddy from before. Maybe since he was a girl-chasing, missing classes, party animal in the first show, the producers thought that his image wasn't the best one to project to a family watching the show (the kids watching too).

3) The Powells moving in while Charles is on vacation. My guess is that CBS cancelled the show and the producers thought, "why tempt fate with bringing back all the original characters when the first show failed?" So, voila, they bring in a whole new family for Charles to get to know. I don't think it was all that strange the way they left so suddenly. He got a new job and they had to go real fast. I have been reading the book that was published in 1984 about the show and in it they say that Charles and Buddy were camping and when the guy who ran the camp tried to tell them that there was something important about his life, they misunderstood him (he was a foreigner) and thought he said there was something important about his "wife." Basically, they didn't listen to him!!

Anyway, these are some issues that I have always thought about this show. Wouldn't it be great if they made a reunion show and bring back all the original actors?

Maybe Charles is now a Professor after attending graduate school and somehow he gets involved with both families again. That would be cool!!

Nicole's Boy · 11-29-2000, 12:59 AM

I second the notion about a reunion show! Considering all of the sitcom reunion shows that have taken place (most recently "Growing Pains"), a CIC reunion seems like a potentially successful project. They could definitely work a story around Charles' teaching job. I think it would be awesome of both the Powells AND the Pembrokes were featured in this show! I'm optimistic that it will happen in the near future.

brendon · 11-29-2000, 06:50 AM

WOW YOU GUYS were right on the money with all you said. Ive checked the board the last couple of days and no new posts so its nice to see somebody posting again. Yes the Pembrokes were my favorite all along even when I watched the show in 1984 when it was on. I remember being so happy in 87 when the said they were bringing the show back but so disappointed when i saw there was a new family. I watched the new ones but they were never the same to me. WGN is a great outlet to show the series to a national audience and they are smack now in the middle of the Pembroke years so I watch every day I can. By the way, the series did not really fail in 84. It ended the season number 45 for the year out of 111 shows, and considering it was a new series, and up against Whos the Boss for much of its run which was a breakout hit that year and finished number 11 that was not bad. CBS just decided to ax it. It is one a long line of shows that became popular after its run that nobody noticed when they were on. The Adams Family, the Munsters, and the Brady Bunch were all ignored during thier run but thrived in re runs. At least the people of the show know now that they bought laughter to many. I am all for a Charles reunion. Maybe one of the kids has kids and needs a nanny...Charles STILL in charge? By the way, glad to see you found the light and came to love the Pembrokes. Keep on Posting!

brendon · 11-29-2000, 06:54 AM

By the way, did ANYBODY ever believe that character of Buddy in the last years was in College!! You would have had to be as dumb as Buddy. Another thing, at least in the first year of the show Charles goes to class and does college things like beg for student loans. In the last years of the show he might as well be a Chef cuase he does as much as go to school!

brendon · 11-29-2000, 06:56 AM

HEY you have read the book from 84!!! I would love to have it. Tell us some more tid bits!

11-28-2000, 03:53 PM	#1
Charybdis Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 28, 2000 Location: N.C. Posts: 78	Charles Issues... Hi, I am new to this BBoard but I wanted to start posting regularly. I don't think I ever watched Charles in Charge while it was on, but I became a big fan during 1991 when one of my local stations was running the sydicated show. For some reason, the show was pretty cool and I have always liked it. Now to the issues which I have seen discussed on previous posts: 1) For the longest time, I did not like the Pembrokes. The Powell's just seemed funnier and Charles seemed to always get in trouble more with them. The Pembroke shows seemed to be more syrupy and taught more values, etc. Not that that is wrong, but they just seemed a little bit boring. I have been watching the early shows on WGN this past month, and I am beginning to change my attitude about the early shows. Actually, I kind of like them now. And, yes, Jason Pembroke is funnier and crazier than Adam Powell. 2) Buddy acts like a ******. As anyone knows, Buddy's character was drastically changed in the last couple of years of the syndicated show. While he acts very funny and sometimes steals the episode with his oddball behavior, one cannot really believe that this is the same old Buddy from before. Maybe since he was a girl-chasing, missing classes, party animal in the first show, the producers thought that his image wasn't the best one to project to a family watching the show (the kids watching too). 3) The Powells moving in while Charles is on vacation. My guess is that CBS cancelled the show and the producers thought, "why tempt fate with bringing back all the original characters when the first show failed?" So, voila, they bring in a whole new family for Charles to get to know. I don't think it was all that strange the way they left so suddenly. He got a new job and they had to go real fast. I have been reading the book that was published in 1984 about the show and in it they say that Charles and Buddy were camping and when the guy who ran the camp tried to tell them that there was something important about his life, they misunderstood him (he was a foreigner) and thought he said there was something important about his "wife." Basically, they didn't listen to him!! Anyway, these are some issues that I have always thought about this show. Wouldn't it be great if they made a reunion show and bring back all the original actors? Maybe Charles is now a Professor after attending graduate school and somehow he gets involved with both families again. That would be cool!!

11-29-2000, 12:59 AM	#2
Nicole's Boy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 20, 2000 Location: U.S. Posts: 68	I second the notion about a reunion show! Considering all of the sitcom reunion shows that have taken place (most recently "Growing Pains"), a CIC reunion seems like a potentially successful project. They could definitely work a story around Charles' teaching job. I think it would be awesome of both the Powells AND the Pembrokes were featured in this show! I'm optimistic that it will happen in the near future.

11-29-2000, 06:50 AM	#3
brendon Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 19, 2000 Location: Richmond Posts: 61	WOW YOU GUYS were right on the money with all you said. Ive checked the board the last couple of days and no new posts so its nice to see somebody posting again. Yes the Pembrokes were my favorite all along even when I watched the show in 1984 when it was on. I remember being so happy in 87 when the said they were bringing the show back but so disappointed when i saw there was a new family. I watched the new ones but they were never the same to me. WGN is a great outlet to show the series to a national audience and they are smack now in the middle of the Pembroke years so I watch every day I can. By the way, the series did not really fail in 84. It ended the season number 45 for the year out of 111 shows, and considering it was a new series, and up against Whos the Boss for much of its run which was a breakout hit that year and finished number 11 that was not bad. CBS just decided to ax it. It is one a long line of shows that became popular after its run that nobody noticed when they were on. The Adams Family, the Munsters, and the Brady Bunch were all ignored during thier run but thrived in re runs. At least the people of the show know now that they bought laughter to many. I am all for a Charles reunion. Maybe one of the kids has kids and needs a nanny...Charles STILL in charge? By the way, glad to see you found the light and came to love the Pembrokes. Keep on Posting!

11-29-2000, 06:54 AM	#4
brendon Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 19, 2000 Location: Richmond Posts: 61	By the way, did ANYBODY ever believe that character of Buddy in the last years was in College!! You would have had to be as dumb as Buddy. Another thing, at least in the first year of the show Charles goes to class and does college things like beg for student loans. In the last years of the show he might as well be a Chef cuase he does as much as go to school!

11-29-2000, 06:56 AM	#5
brendon Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 19, 2000 Location: Richmond Posts: 61	HEY you have read the book from 84!!! I would love to have it. Tell us some more tid bits!