Charles In Charge: The Complete First Season
Starring: Scott Baio, Julie Cobb, April Perman, Jonathan Ward, Jennifer Runyon, Willie Aames
Directed by: Various

Charles In Charge: The Complete First Season Reviewed by Paul Heath

CHARLES IN CHARGE is a 1980's comedy, set up as a vehicle for then hot property, Happy Days star Scott Baio. Like many US based comedies of that day, the set-up is simple, though effective. Charles (Baio) takes on a job as a carer for suburban family, the Pembrokes, and looks after their three children, Lila, Douglas and Jason. Hilarity ensues through this, the first of the six series long series.

I only know of Scott Baio through his role of Charles 'Chachi' Arcola (gettit - Charles) in his days on the seventies show, Happy Days. I remember watching the show for many years as a kid on either a Saturday or Sunday afternoon around my grandparents house. Memories of that show, and indeed watching that show with my family are still with me, though I don't recall ever watching the spin-off show "Joanie Loves Chachi", which followed a few years later in the early 1980's. So forgive me is I haven't even come across CHARLES IN CHARGE before reviewing the first season here.

A lot of eighties sitcoms are being brought back, and week after week, I find myself with a new release to review from a similar era in television (next on my plate is a release of the first season of the John Travolta launch-pad, WELCOME BACK KOTTER - another show that escaped me). I would have been fairly young when CHARLES first went out, and I can't actually ever recall it being screened over here in the UK anyway.

So, what's it like. Well, it's very similar to a lot of shows that were being picked up at that time. This reminded me a lot of Diff'rent Strokes, a series that I really enjoyed at the time. Scott Baio I can see would have been a heartthrob back in his day (hey, he probably still is), and his babyface looks no doubt made hoardes of female fans tune in every week. Now, being a red-blooded Englishman, what did I think of it. Well, I kinda like it. It doesn't take much to please me, and the easy comedy, catchy theme-tune and likable cast made me watch more than just the one episode on the disc.

In fact, over the last few days I've found myself bunging on another episode when I have had a free half hour, or when I'm updating the site in the early evening. It's a no hassle, easy show to watch, and its actually quite funny in places, if not a little dated. I found the little off beat character of Douglas really funny too, and the lovely Gwendolyn is kinda hot too.

Also, look out for a few star cameos on this release. Both Erika Eleniak (Baywatch) and Matthew Perry (Friends) feature in a couple of the episodes. Perry plays a date of Lila in the episode entitled 'The Wrong Man' which you'll find on the third disc of the set. Dude looks so young!!!

The extras are pretty much non existent, though we do get a bonus episode taken from the second series where Charles looks after his second family, the Powells. There's also another preview of the second season, as well as a feature called "The Great 80's TV Flashback', which is basically a promo reel for series like KNIGHT RIDER, MIAMI VICE, THE A-TEAM, MAGNUM PI and MURDER SHE WROTE. There are some interviews with magazine columnists and producers of the various shows too. It's a good look back, and there's something in there for all fans of the time, though it's really just a good platform for promotion of other titles from the various TV series of this time. I liked the trip back though, and hey the 'Hoff' turns up for a quick chat!

As I said earlier, I found CHARLES IN CHARGE to be slightly entertaining, and occasionally funny. It's excellent value though if you're a fan, with every one of the 23 episodes included. Possibly a series that you won't sit down and watch in one full sitting if you're not in love with Scott Baio, but one that you can pop in your DVD machine every now and again. Each time, you'll probably be giggling along with the canned laughter all the way back to the eighties. Well, even if it's just at the ridiculous outfits, cheesy dialogue and big hair from the day.

Good clean fun.

Grade: C

Paul Heath