Charles in Charge
Charles (Scott
Baio) is a student at Copeland.
College, a live-in helper in charge of the Powell
family. He's conscientious about his responsibilities
and he's an excellent role model for his three
teen-age charges. Plus, his school chum Buddy
Lembeck (Willie Aames) is always nearby to pester
him.
Charles is now in charge of the Powells and they
have the same ups and downs and the same
challenges and successes that all American families
share.
Mrs. Ellen Powell (Sandra Kerns) pines for her
Naval officer husband. Her father-in-law, Walter
Powell (James Callahan), is a former Navy man
who's around to maintain order in Navy fashion. The three kids are 15-year-old Jamie
(Nicole Eggert), the glamour girl; 14-year-old Sarah (Josie Davis), the student of the
family; and 12-year-old Adam (Alexander Polinsky), who is totally under the thrall of the
charismatic Charles.
In the midst of everything, Charles maintains his role as philosopher and the unwilling
arbitrator of everything from menus to social graces.
Courtesy of KTLA TV
Plot Summary for "Charles in Charge"
Charles, a college student, moves in with the Powell family as the housekeeper, baby-sitter and friend to the children. Along with his best friend, Buddy, Charles attempts to manage his life, especially college and girls, as well as tend to the family.
Courtesy of David Landers
SYNOPSIS
Charles In Charge was the story of a 19-year-old college
student who went to work as a male governess for a busy
working couple. In exchange for room, board and a little
spending money, Charles tried to keep a rein on Stan and
Jill's three rambuctious kids: cute, boy-crazy Lila (age 14);
sarcastic Douglas (age 12) and happy-go-lucky Jason (age
10). Charles worked hard at the job and at his studies, but
still managed to find time to hang out with the girl of his
dreams, beautiful, sexy coed Gwendolyn Pierce.
Cast of Pembroke's 1984-1985
| Charles | Scott Baio |
| Buddy Lembeck | Willie Aames |
| Gwendolyn Pierce | Jennifer Runyon |
| Douglas Pembroke | Jonathan Ward |
| Jason Pembroke | Michael Pearlman |
| Lila Pembroke | April Lerman |
| Stan Pembroke | James Widdoes |
| Jill Pembroke | Julie Cobb |
| Elliot Pembroke | Jerry Levine |
| Paula Thackery | Julianne McNamara |
When Charles
In Charge returned to the air as a first-run
syndicated series in early 1987, only Charles and Buddy
returned from the original cast. The Pembrokes had moved
to Seattle and sold their house to the Powells, who became
Charles' new employers. The man of the house was not Mr.
Powell, a Navy commander stationed in the South Seas, but
his cranky father Walter, himself a retired career Navy man.
Also in the house were Walter's daughter-in-law Ellen and
his three grandchildren: Jamie (age 14), who was much
more outgoing, worldly and boy-crazy than her younger
sister. She seemed forever preoccupied with getting Sarah
out of her shell; Sarah (age 13) who was moving at a much
slower, but for her, more comfortable pace than Jamie and
Adam (age 12) who could have been a clone of Jason
Pembroke.
That fall, Charles' loving mother, Lillian, came from
Scranton, Pennsylvania for a short visit. She bought his
favorite hangout, Sid's Pizza Parlor, and took up permanent
residence in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Not only did he
have to deal with her good-natured meddling, but picking
up girls at Sid's when she was there was not what it used to
be!
During the 1988-1989 season, Lillian converted the pizza
parlor into a nostalgic diner named The Yesterday Cafe, her
hip young nephew, Anthony, came to live with her for
awhile and Charles was involved with sexy Stephanie - his
most serious relationship since Gwendolyn. In the last
original episode, which aired in December 1990, Charles
was accepted to graduate school at Princeton.
Series summary from The Complete Directory to Prime Time
Network and Cable TV Shows
by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh.
Updated: September 25, 1999