Post your fave character!

[Brett Ferino]

Who's your fave character and why???

[brendon]

As I have said, I am much bigger fan of the pembroke era so i think my favorite character was Jason. He stole the scenes and was so bubbly and full of life that he just lit up the show. And of course SID from tbe pizza place cuase he always hooked charles up with free pizza!!!! Thats a friend!!!

[Nicole's Boy]

Well, obviously Jamie Powell was my favorite character for her adorable sarcasm and stunning looks, but Charles comes in a close second. Scott Baio ruled. I always looked up to him for some reason. Jason and Douglas were cool too. You have to love those weird masks Douglas wore!

And, IMHO, Buddy was much cooler during the early years and in the first season or so of the revamped series. They made him TOO dumb during the later episodes. Before, he was just a party animal who said stupid but funny things. In the end, Buddy was a total retard (and I mean no offense whatsoever to the mentally challenged). Notwithstanding, Scott and Willie still comprised the greatest comedy duo since Abbot and Costello in my book!

[brendon]

I SO TOTALLY AGREE!!!! I have said over and over that I like the pembroke shows more becuase they were sweeter but one of the other reasons is Buddy. In the 1st season he was not dumb at all and even early in syndicated shows he was ok but WOW in those last ones you hit it right on the head...he was just plain retarded. I mean I am not a big fan of dum characters in general but I know every show has them becuase there are lots of people that laugh at it but when the character is ridiculous it hurts the show. I think maybe those later ones was just an example of the show running out of gas after so many shows and depending on Buddy for too much. They should have just named the series Buddy in Charge!

[Nicole's Boy]

I'm glad someone agrees with me concerning Buddy Lembeck. He was originally a superficial college student who cared more about girls and keg parties than his studies, which provided an entertaining contrast to Charles' scholastic dedication and conscientousness (even though he couldn't resist the beautiful babes either when it was all said and done).

I don't know why the producers felt the need to completely transform Buddy's personality in the last couple of seasons. Even his voice changed, and it was actually annoying. They went overboard in making him extra stupid. Heck, the guy couldn't even THINK in the end! But the first three seasons were grand. 1990 is when the show plummeted in value.

[This message has been edited by Nicole's Boy (edited 11-24-2000).]

[brendon]

You and I see exactly the same way. I suppose its like any show when the plots begin to wear thin. Lets face it most shows never make it to 100 shows but after that with very few exceptions shows begin to hit the wall. Considering that CIC was doomed by CBS in the spring of 85 to the graveyard after 22 shows, we are lucky to have had so many. Most shows that are as short lived as charles was on the network are never even seen in re runs much beucase there are just not enough shows but the syndicated shows made it possible for us to see the really good ones...the Pembrokes....so I guess they served thier purpose and there were some good ones in the Powell shows to. I don't know what it is about CIC. It was not the funniest show I have ever seen but it had a sweetness to it that endears it to me. I think it has alot to do with the preformers on the show and how well the did thier parts. You truly beleived that Charles cared about bringing the kids up and and about them. That is most important for any show, the caring of the people, and CIC bought it out wonderfully.

[Nicole's Boy]

We do share the same opinions about CIC, Brendon. The show just makes me feel wholesome, and that's a very crucial factor missing from television today. I think "Charles in Charge" is the greatest family-oriented sitcom in TV history. How about the rest of you?

[Charybdis]

I would have to say that my favorite character is Charles. He's the focus of the show, so he takes and gets all the credit.

Not only that, but the show is unique in the fact that he is such a good guy to be taking care of these children while he is at college, you have to like the guy!!

Never was it ever even remotely hinted at that he looked the wrong way at one of the girls, wanted to take advantage of them, etc.

What kind of people would hire a boy to look after two very cute impressionable young girls nowadays? It was refreshing and simplistic, yet not too family-gushy boring, if you know what I mean.

Someone also asked about a least favorite character: I think the least favorite has to be a tie between Lillian, Adam Powell and Cousin Anthony (justin whalin).

[brendon]

YES!!!! We are in agreement on much of the things about the show. Its nice to see you guys post regularly. I check this board everyday when I check my mail so its nice to see replies. YES! CIC was so wholesome. The producers had a delimma. Charles had to be a normal college student and that means girls but he could not appear sex crazed. Lets not forget that in the start of the show he was 19 and Lila was 14 so thats not a big difference. But if we believed for ONE minute that Charles ever ever even thought anything about those kids then the show is gone. I love 2 of the shows from the 1st seaon more than others. One was the one where Thier cousin comes over and tries to give Lila permisson to go to a night club and Charles risks his job to protect her and the other where Lila dates a guy and lies to Charles and get him almost fired and the scence they share in the end is great! CIC is the last of a line of sitcoms that kids and parents could watch together. Now its Freinds and thier sex innuendo. As AL Bundy said on Married with Children.." Freinds dont have em..dont need em..sure as hell dont wanna watch em"! I have no problem with sex jokes but i think 8 pm should be family time and Charles was it!!!

[Nicole's Boy]

Brendon, that specific episode where Lyla and Charles have a teary-eyed moment after Lyla breaks Charles' trust was the example I used to illustrate the key difference between the Pembroke episodes and the Powell episodes.

There were no emotional moments between Charles and any of the Powell children. I hated that! In that respect, the first season has a strong advantage, but the Powell episodes benefit from being funnier.

[Charybdis]

I almost forgot to mention my favorite episode!

It's from the Powell era and it's where Sally Struthers plays Jamie's teacher in school. She is suspected of being a criminal and Buddy and Charles dress up as women and crash her party!!! Budella Lumbella!!! and Charlotte Webb!!! That had me rolling with laughter.

Also, I like the final episode. The ending also got me teary eyed! And I'm a guy!!!

[brendon]

I have always maintained that the Powell shows were a litte funnier but in order to do that you have to sacrifice some things like tenderness, I mean after all, it's only a 23 minute show but a few shows here and there can be geared towards caring and the later ones just weren't. I think we have to keep in mind that it takes shows a while to hit thier strides, because characters roles get more defined and writing becomes sharper. The new version had many more shows to perfect the show than did the old. We will never know but I think if the network version had been bought back for a second season we would have seeen a much better show then either of the version. I just think realism is very important and the new version just didnt hit the mark. I mean Charles was there to HELP raise the children, not raise them. As the later version goes on and on the parents become just an after though and that always botherd me. There was NO DOUBT in the first season that Charles was in Charge but the Pembrokes were in charge of him. Like the episode we talked about where Lila dates the boy. Stan lets Charles have it and good. That show had it all, laughs, tears, drama, and shows what the series could have been if some network big wig had seen what we see. I suppose maybe if they had gone for the laughs and then stuck the drama in after the show got it's feet wet then maybe it would have lasted longer but I still admire the first season for the values they tried to portray.

[ThomasE]

Yes Buddy was a major retard. He got annoying much like Screech in the last years of Saved by the Bell:The New Class. His voice stupidly changed. Buddy was pathetic in his later years. Flat out dumb. It was totally messed up.

Buddy: "Hey Charles! It me, Buddy."
"Hey Charles! Do you want to look at my new patio furniture.
Charles: Buddy you don't have a patio.

Buddy: Hey Charles. I just came up with a great idea. Braile maps for blind drivers!


[This message has been edited by ThomasE (edited 12-02-2000).]

[brendon]

YES!!! I do agree. It does take alot of writing talent to write dumb lines. I mean I don't want to put down anyones sense of humor becuase it makes some people laugh but when it becomes overbearing then it ruins the show...flatout!

[brendon]

OOPS!!! Typo in that last post!! It should be it DOES NOT take alot of writing talent!!! To much coffee for brendon!

[highanddry]

I would have to say that my favorite character was Charles.

Normally i'd be jealous of Scott Baio, since he was basically linked with just about every single delicious starlett in Hollywood back in the 80s, but after seeing his Celebrity Profile on E!, he seems like a pretty decent guy.

I thought it was funny the way he would rip on his own musical "career":

"The first album wasn't bad enough, so we had to make a second one!"

Most Hollywood stars would be too egotistical and arrogant to say something like that.

[Maria]

As I like the Pembroke season much better than the Powell season my favourite characters are the Pembroke kids( especially Jason) then Charles and Buddy of course and I also like Sarah Powell. :wave: