Charles in Charge

One of the most entertaining sitcoms of the '80s is back as all 22 Season One episodes, including the hilarious pilot, of Charles in Charge come to DVD for the first time ever. Tag along with teen idol Scott Baio (Happy Days) as he takes on the role of live-in helper at the Pembroke household and soon discovers he needs a little help of his own! Between his college friend Buddy (Willie Aames), his girlfriend Gwendolyn and the three mischievous Pembroke kids, Charles has a lot to learn about growing up when the household - and his love life - are spiraling out of control. Joining Scott Baio are huge rising stars including Meg Ryan, Christina Applegate and Matthew Perry. And now, fans can see even more of Charles with an exclusive preview episode from Season Two with Charles's new family, the Powells! Starring: Scott Baio, Willie Aames, Julie Cobb, James Widdoes, April Lerman, Jonathan Ward, Michael Pearlman, Jennifer RunyonNothing screams the '80s like Charles in Charge, a featherweight but appealing vehicle for the budding dreamboat of Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi, Scott Baio. The premise: college guy moves into a household with three young children to work his way through school by being a male nanny (a manny?). Hilarity, of the '80s variety, ensues, with lots of double entendres, big hair and really bad clothes decisions (ever notice how often Charles wore two era emblems together, like suspenders with a tie, or gold neck chain with tie (not to mention the popular maroon sweater vest).

Still, Baio's boyish and earnest appeal surpassed his outfits, and managed to sustain the show through six seasons. The first season contains 22 episodes, highlighted by guest appearances by actors who'd become big later, including Meg Ryan and a truly baby-faced Matthew Perry. Bonus features include a featurette on "The Great '80s TV Flashback" (fun, though not quite up to the standards of, say, a VH1 special) and a bonus preview episode from season 2, when Charles moves in with a new family, the Powells. Baio was sweet as Charles, but really rocked decades later in Arrested Development as sleazy attorney Bob Loblaw. Say that three times, really fast. And now everybody, I'm not kidding: "Go! To! Bed!" --A.T. Hurley