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Charles, a 19-year-old student at the fictional Copeland College in New Brunswick, New Jersey, works as a live-in babysitter in exchange for room and board.
1984
Jill and Stan Pembroke are a working couple whose uncertain schedules propel them into hiring a nineteen-year-old college student, Charles, to move in and help them with their three children: Lila 14; Douglas, 12; and Jason, 10.
Charles is put in the awkward position of helping and encouraging Lila, Jason and Douglas to seek out new and exciting extracurricular activities.
Mr. and Mrs. Pembroke are spending the evening out, and Charles is baby-sitting. He is busy preparing for Gwendolyn's visit, with whom he plans to study.
The Wilson's would like to hire a young lady to take care of their children. Mrs. Pembroke suggests that she spend some time with Charles to see if she's up to it.
Cousin Elliot shows up at the Pembroke house. His ideas on how to deal with children do not coincide with Charles' opinions.
Charles and Gwendolyn had a fight over something rather trivial, and he feels he doesn't want to deal with the whole WOMEN issue.
Stan comes home expecting Jill to be ready to go to the Vice President's reception, but home has turned into "Little Crisis Central".
Diana Marks is a classy lady, and she has agreed to go on a Halloween date with Buddy.
Charles has his hands full. It is pouring rain outside and everyone in the Pembroke household is confined to the house.
Charles and Gwendolyn decide that college itself puts enough pressure on them, so they give themselves some space.
It is Christmastime and Grandma Irene, Stan's mother, is expected for her yearly three-week-stay with her grandchildren.
Jason and Douglas come in the back door carrying a dog, and they are blaming each other for 'killing' the animal.
Charles is pushed for time, and he has to meet a deadline for his school paper. His scholarship depends on it.
Charles can't find anything wrong with having a little fun in college, but Gwendolyn has a different opinion.
Charles has a million things to do before he meets Michelle Harris for coffee at the Lamplight.
Charles is in charge of the Pembroke children when their parents are off on a week's vacation in Jamaica.
Mr. and Mrs. Pembroke went to the movies, and an incredible blizzard hits the city, leaving them unable to return to their home.
No matter how hard Charles and Buddy try, between them, they do not have enough cash to even think about going out on dates.
Charles, and his friends, save and scrape together as much money as they possibly can to spend a few days of rest in sunny Florida.
Charles and Buddy are excited about their very first bachelor party.
Jill gives Charles two tickets for a Knicks' game. Charles is so excited, he thinks of a way to do something special in return.
Charles and Buddy are trying very hard to find themselves summer jobs and are ecstatic when their applications are accepted.
1987
Charles suggests the family spend the Christmas holidays in the mountains, but a storm leaves everyone but Walter stranded in a cabin.
News of the sudden arrival of Commander Powell throws the household into chaos.
When Charles is named Student of the Year, local newspaper reporter Pat Walker (Barbara Rhoades) arrives at the house to interview him.
When Charles' and Buddy's history teacher changes their team assignment from a written to an oral report, Charles insists that Buddy deliver the speech.
Charles becomes infatuated with Trish (Susannah Woodside), a beautiful fashion model and the daughter of Walter's friend.
When Jamie enrolls in a modeling school, a suspicious Charles decides to investigate. He and Buddy enroll in order to expose the school as a fraud.
Charles tries to end a feud between Walter and Lillian by giving them each a ticket to a swing music concert.
The death of a lifelong friend causes Walter to have visions of mortality, so Charles summons Walter's father, Buzz (Dabbs Greer), for a visit in order to show him his son has many years left.
When Buddy receives word that his shy sister Bunny (Mindy Cohn) is arriving for a visit, he pleads with Charles to help entertain her.
Charles asks editor Gayle Landis for a job on her newspaper, but acting as a fill—in for "‘Dear Amy" is not what he had in mind.
Unable to decide on a college major and faced with a tuition increase, is determined to convince his Uncle Joe (John Astin) that he should be made the heir to his business.
When Buddy's new girlfriend unceremoniously dumps him, he sinks into a bout of depression. Under the circumstances, Charles requests that everyone be especially nice to Buddy.
Charles convinces Ellen to allow Adam to stay up and watch television all night, let Jamie streak her hair, and allow Sarah to go on her first unchaperoned date.
Charles is ecstatic when he scores an A on his English assignment, until he turns past the cover page and discovers Sarah's poem there by mistake.
Charles calms Lillian's fears about an upcoming trip out of town, saying that he's more than able to manage the pizza parlor himself, even though she's just hired a new chef, Dine (Vito Scotti).
Charles and Buddy decide to pledge a fraternity, and must put up with a series of humiliating tests and activities during "Hell Week."
When Charles and Buddy foil an attempted holdup at the pizza parlor, their names appear in the local newspaper. They can't resist capitalizing on their new-found popularity with the girls at the sorority house.
When the Powells learn their house is to be sold and Ellen loses her job, Charles takes to bed with a sneezing fit and falls asleep.
This is just not Charles' day. He's trying to prepare for the new school year, but Buddy needs his help in planning their end of summer party.
Charles becomes frantic when he makes too many commitments for one evening.
Charles is outraged when he learns his mother is hosting a sorority slave auction. Outraged, that is, until he finds out that attractive new transfer student Jeanie intends to bid for him.
Confused by the instructions that came with a new stereo component rack, Charles is frustrated trying to assemble the unit.
After Charles is devastated at being dumped by his girlfriend, Buddy fixes him up with Beth (Brenda Swanson), a female bodybuilder at his health club.
Charles seems to be the only one excited about his new post as teacher's aide. Jamie resents his sitting in on her class, and the teacher can't understand why anyone would want to teach.
When Sarah tries to get closer to a boy that she likes by inviting him over to study, she is upset when he pays more attention to Charles than her.
The kids each must find a gladiator to represent their class in the school's stunt-filled quiz contest complete with pies in the face and a dunk tank.
1988
While Commander Powell is home, Sarah is arrested for protesting the nuclear weapons on her father's ship.
Charles' professor disagrees with the grade he gives a student.
Lillian hires an Elvis impersonator for the diner.
Adam studies Charles' dating techniques.
Lillian starts a 1950's-style restaurant called the "Yesterday Cafe".
A woman at camp pursues Charles.
Charles has to entertain his professor's sister, and he sets her up with Walter.
Jamie and Sarah want to go to a nightclub
Charles can't use his credit card because of the Powell children.
Buddy goes to the hospital right after an argument with Charles.
Jamie thinks she will be in a commercial, but it is really Sarah who got the part.
Charles and Buddy find out Jamie's teacher is wanted by the FBI.
Charles uses one of Sarah's poems to impress a woman, who publishes it in a magazine under Charles' name.
When Charles bumps his head, he begins acting strangely and calls himself Chaz.
Chaz gets married.
Jamie joins a cult, and Charles must prove that the leader is a fake.
Walter remodels the basement.
The Powell's old babysitter comes back tries to get Charles in trouble.
Walter tries to impress a woman with war souvenirs.
Charles uses a digital organizer to plan his schedule.
Charles writes an essay about childhood.
Charles and Buddy go out with identical twins, but they think they are dating the same girl.
Jamie wants to move to New York and live with Charles' aunt.
Charles has a dream about life without him.
Charles tutors an ex-con.
Buddy's father visits and reveals he is getting a divorce.
Scott Baio
Charles
Willie Aames
Buddy Lembeck
Nicole Eggert
Jamie Powell
Josie Davis
Sarah Powell
Alexander Polinsky
Adam Powell
Ellen Travolta
Lillian
James T. Callahan
Walter Powell
1987
Charles returns from a two-week camping trip with his friend, Buddy, to discover a whole new household waiting for him.
Charles meets a new girl, Rebecca Stansbury on campus, who happens to be an art student.
Charles is a fireman putting out fires all over the Powell household.
Jamie and Sarah Powell have a school-project that involves raising eggs as children. Real eggs, not so real children.
Boys who are studying important things for their future, often end up studying less important things for their future, namely girls!
Charles is nervous about asking out a wonderful young lady named Louise.
Buddy comes for dinner, wrenches his ankles, and has to stay in Charles' room for a few days.
Lieutenant Matty Whiteford comes to keep Ellen Powell and the kids company for a weekend.
Sid's Pizza Parlor, the place that provides Charles a home away from home, is under attack.
Everyone in the Powell family wants something they-don't have, but someone else does.
What do you do when you want to go out, but you can't, because someone else is going out on a date that you aren't supposed to talk about.
Charles is mad at Buddy because Buddy sold him a cassette player which doesn't work.
Charles has to visit in town when his folks arrive for the weekend, so Buddy is placed in charge of the Powell kids.
A famous young movie star, Darby Peterson, shows up on Charles' doorstep disguised as "Dorothy."
Charles dates a girl equipped with lovely eyes, a gorgeous body, and a set of huge parents, that accompany her on dates.
Charles'mom, Lillian, comes to town for a brief - or maybe not so brief - visit.
Mrs. Powell decides Charles needs a weekend off, and she implements her decision with a firm edict.
Adam thinks he's seen a UFO outside his window, and his sisters are convinced they've seen an alien in the kitchen.
Sarah is the proud parent of Ross, a pet turtle, who until recently, has lived in relative safety in the Powell backyard.
Charles' first love returns
In the second of a two part series, Gwendolyn Pierce tells Charles she will consider his proposal.
Ever have one of those days when you can't win for losing? Well, Charles is having one of those days, and it's turning into a week.
Charles and Lillian are throwing a big opening night party to introduce the new chef of Sid's Pizza Parlor.
Charles' widowed mother Lillian comes into town for a five-day visit, complete with motherly advice.
There are two very lovely ladies Charles and Buddy would like to date if they can find the time.
Ellen's attractive, married cousin Joan Robinson comes to visit and puts the whammy on Charles.
1989
After complaints from the family, Charles tells the children there are no more rules in the house.
Buddy decides to become a priest after a near-death experience.
Walter makes plans with three women on the same night.
Jamie tries to join an exclusive group of girls.
Charles' girlfriend Jennifer (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen) tells a lie about Buddy in order to get rid of him.
Charles is the judge of a beauty pageant where Jamie, Sarah, and both of Charles' girlfriends are contestants.
Buddy offers to help out Adam with babysitting, but he ends up forgetting the little girl at the diner.
A tabloid shows pictures of Charles with a rock star (Samantha Fox), and everyone thinks they're in a relationship.
Charles' old friends come to visit.
Jamie gets upset when she thinks Charles is trying to make her boyfriend stop seeing her.
Buddy enters a mental hospital to do research, but they make him a patient.
Buddy wins a contest to be a disc jockey for a day at the diner.
Buddy gets tested for ESP and starts to predict the future.
Jamie and Sarah run for class president against each other. Buddy and Charles start fighting again which leads to a food fight erupting in the diner.
Charles invents a device that will help people prepare for earthquakes.
When a boy thinks Jamie is shallow, she talks to Charles' intelligent girlfriend.
An accidental bump on the head turns Charles into Chaz again.
Lillian sees an old boyfriend.
Charles works at a hotel in Hawaii with Buddy's cousin. (A pilot to a possible spin-off which never materialized.)
Charles is the substitute teacher in Sarah's class, and Sarah's partner lets her do all the work on an assignment
Charles and Buddy protest animal testing at their college.
Walter takes a history class that Charles teaches.
Charles visits his aunt Sally at her car wash. (A pilot to a possible spin-off which never materialized.)
Charles gets trapped in an elevator with a blind woman.
Sarah visits her relatives in Albuquerque and a foreign exchange student that is living with them. (A pilot to a possible spin-off which never materialized.)
Sarah puts on a show to raise money, and Charles directs while preparing for an interview to get into Princeton.
