TEST RUN REVIEW: Charles in Charge

Just a reminder that I'll be blogging/reviewing actual pilots once they start after Labor Day. These are just test runs with familiar shows. . .enjoy!

Name of Show: Charles in Charge
Network: CBS (ok. . .Hulu)
Day: Wednesday
Time: 8pm EST
Genre: Sitcom
Length: 30 minutes
Year: 1984
Who was born on that day: Ashlee Simpson

Characters (in order of mention/appearance):
Gwendolyn Pierce: hot girl, played by fake Cindy from A Very Brady Christmas
Charles: College student, just trying to be a guy, nanny
Lila Pembroke: 8th grader, brainy, desperately wants to be popular
Buddy Landbeck: Charles' sidekicky friend, nicknamed "Goon"
Alexander Morgan: 8th grader who is cool but bad at math
Stan Pembroke: Dad, cheeseball, 35 years old
Jill Pembroke: Journalist, too young to have kids that age
Douglas Pembroke: Middle kid, nerdy, wears Yoda mask at dinner, future PETA member
Jason Pembroke: youngest kid, too precocious for his own good, mouthy kid but ya love him!
Delivery guy: fakes embarassing stereotype of a chinese-american but oh! he's just as assimilated as the rest of us!


Stereotypes:
-Grumpy Old Man
-Sassy non-White Woman
-Funny fat guy
-Hot blonde wife of funny fat guy
-Quirky, far too self-aware early 20's guy/girl
-Emo Teen
-Guy you've seen in that one movie who always has a sarcastic comment
X Fallen star taking what work they can get (Willie Aames!)
X Relatable guy/girl, soon to be tabloid fodder
X High-strung guy/girl whose buttons everyone enjoys pushing
-Cougar
X Brainy brunette
X Precocious kid acting way too mature for their age
X Hot blonde

Basic premise:
The Pembrokes hired a college kid (Charles) and put him in "charge" of their family, which is comprised of a 13 year old girl, a nerdy middle son, and a precocious younger son. Charles must balance the desires of an early 20-something with the responsibilities of being a manny.

Pilot plot:
Charles scores a date with the hottest girl at Unnamed College! He and his buddy Buddy (wow. . .nice telegraphing there, writers) talk about where he can take the hottie Gwendolyn Pierce when we find out that Mrs. Pembroke has to work and Charles is gonna have to stay home with the kids! Meanwhile, little miss Lila has scored a hottie of her own: Alexander Morgan (oh honey, with a name like Alexander, you may be in for a shock in a few years. . .). Since she's super brainy, he wants her to tutor him in math. She thinks this is her "in" into the popular crowd (if that were true, I would have been Prom Queen). Dad isn't too keen on his only daughter having a boy over (after all, he is 35 and apparently thinks he's sterile now . . .?) and beckons Charles to break his legs if he tries anything (personally, I think his time is better spent watching Douglas and Ahlexahhhhnder. . .but hey. . .this was the 80s, I guess prime time wasn't ready for that). Gwendolyn arrives and shock! She's blonde! She and Charles get cozy while Jason hides in a closet (again, thought that would be Alexander. . .), and Charles remembers that he needs to make sure Lila and Alexander aren't getting freaky (but not really. . .let's be honest).

Act 1 Break Pickle: Trying to get some from Gwendolyn but is morally bound to watch the kids.

We come back and Alexander just really wants to learn math and not makeout with Lila (who will soon start spelling woman with a y and doing performances of the Vagina Monologues). Gwendolyn, meanwhile is upset that Charles kissed her because she's just seen as a piece of meat and nobody likes her mind. I really fail to relate to her at all. Jason has been put to work spying on Lila (so that Charles doesn't have to) and Douglas is off trying on different alien outfits and playing Atari or something (I smell some Judy from Family Matters potential). Charles overhears something suspicious from Lila's room, but it turns out it's just Alexander asking her to knock if off so they can study math. The nerve! Then, they all agree to get ice cream (how most of my days end too). Mr. and Mrs. Pembroke come back, delighted to see all the kids leave and hope they all get double-scoops. . .if you know what I mean. eeeeewwwwww.

Well-placed Hulu ad: Birth Control!

Reaction: As much as I want to relive middle school and watch Scott Baio cope with growing up, I've already seen his reality show, so no need to watch this. It clearly was a vehicle to get a popular character from Happy Days into his own show, as well as show a modern family with two working parents and how they manage. If it was premiering this year, it would have two laid-off parents trying to figure out how to pay for their kids' clothes, with grandpa living there because no one can afford a nursing home.

Competing against in my DVR schedule (remember, only two slots!): Nothing, since it's on Hulu

Added to schedule?: Let's just say that if i saw a rerun on the guide, I wouldn't watch it. If it was 1984 and I was 14, I would.

Renewed for a 2nd season prediction: A good chance! And then syndication!

Hey! It's _Chachi________ from _Happy Days________ !