Charlie & Co.

Charlie & Co.
Also known as ''Charlie & Company''
Genre Sitcom
Created by Allan Katz
Starring Flip Wilson
Gladys Knight
Kristoff St. John
Fran Robinson
Jaleel White
Della Reese
Theme music composer Merald "Bubba" Knight
Gladys Knight
Sam Dees
Opening theme "Family", performed by Gladys Knight
Composer(s) Perry Botkin, Jr.
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 18 (1 unaired)
Production
Running time 30 minutes
Production company(s) Allan Katz Productions
Bob Henry Productions
20th Century Fox Television
Distributor 20th Television
Release
Original network CBS
Original release September 18, 1985 (1985-09-18) – May 16, 1986 (1986-05-16)

Charlie & Co. (also known as Charlie & Company) is an American sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 18, 1985 to May 16, 1986. Created by Allan Katz, the series stars Flip Wilson and Gladys Knight. Charlie & Co. is regarded as CBS's answer to The Cosby Show, which was a ratings success for NBC at the time.[1] Unlike The Cosby Show, which ran for eight seasons, Charlie & Co. lasted for only one.

Synopsis

The series follows a middle class African American family that lived on the South Side of Chicago.

Charlie Richmond (Flip Wilson), a black middle-class employee of the Division of Highways, who juggled his work and home life with his lovely wife, Diana, a schoolteacher played by Gladys Knight. The couple had three children: sixteen-year-old "Junior" (Kristoff St. John), fifteen-year-old Lauren (Fran Robinson) and nine-year-old Robert (Jaleel White).

Della Reese joined the cast during the latter half of the first season as Charlie's sister-in-law, Aunt Rachel.

CBS canceled the series in May 1986.[2]

Cast

Episodes

# Title Directed by Written by Original airdate
1"Pilot"TBATBASeptember 18, 1985 (1985-09-18)
Charlie is asked by Junior to speak at Career Day at his school. All is well until Charlie freezes up with a case of stage fright.
2"Easy for You to Say"TBATBASeptember 25, 1985 (1985-09-25)
Charlie faces difficult tasks on the home front: he has to cancel the family's camping trip due to work---and Lauren wants to discuss sex.
3"Muggers or Us"TBATBAOctober 2, 1985 (1985-10-02)
Charlie wants Diana to transfer to another school after there's an incident of vandalism at her school.
4"Buddy Can You Spare My Dime?"TBATBAOctober 9, 1985 (1985-10-09)
Charlie struggles to find the nerve to ask for the money his boss owes him, while the family struggles through Diana's nutrition campaign.
5"The World According to Jim"TBATBAOctober 16, 1985 (1985-10-16)
Charlie and Diana soon regret letting Charlie's co-worker move in during his marital spat.
6"Like Father, Like Son"TBATBAOctober 23, 1985 (1985-10-23)
Junior is sorely taxed by Charlie's sudden desire to be more of a pal than a father.
7"Will Be Around"TBATBAOctober 30, 1985 (1985-10-30)
The children are upset when Charlie talks of making out a will following a brush with death.
8"Operation Richmond"TBATBANovember 6, 1985 (1985-11-06)
Just after the family decides to cut back on expenses, Charlie has to go into the hospital for an operation.
9"Happy Anniversary...Sort Of"TBATBANovember 13, 1985 (1985-11-13)
Charlie's behavior at a faculty party he and Diana attend threatens the celebration of their 20th anniversary.
10"For the Love of Lauren"TBATBANovember 27, 1985 (1985-11-27)
A jilted Lauren thinks all men are jerks, until she attends a concert with a consoling Miguel, the ladies' man of Charlie's office.
11"Who's Watching the Roads"TBATBADecember 4, 1985 (1985-12-04)
Charlie's co-workers plan to take full advantage of their boss's absence, despite the fact that he left Charlie in charge.
12"Silent Knight"TBATBADecember 11, 1985 (1985-12-11)
Charlie's looking forward to spending Christmas with his family, but Junior and Lauren have other ideas.
13"Beaus and Arrows"TBATBADecember 25, 1985 (1985-12-25)
Diana's old college boyfriend returns.
14"Here's Rachel"TBATBAJanuary 28, 1986 (1986-01-28)
Della Reese joins the cast as Aunt Rachel.
15"Rachel and the Stranger"TBATBAApril 25, 1986 (1986-04-25)
After a burglary, Aunt Rachel is too scared to return alone to her apartment, so Diana volunteers Charlie to stay overnight with her.
16"When You Least Expect It"TBATBAMay 2, 1986 (1986-05-02)
The family knows that Diana has something on her mind, but she won't talk until she's sure---that she's pregnant.
17"Don't Take My Son... Please"TBATBAMay 9, 1986 (1986-05-09)
Bored with school, Junior decides to join the Army.
18"Rent and Rave"TBATBAUnaired
The Richmonds face a rent increase.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Result Category Recipient
1986 Young Artist Awards Nominated Best Young Supporting Actor in a New Television Series Jaleel White
Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television Series Fran Robinson
Best Young Actor Starring in a New Television Series Kristoff St. John
Best New Television Series - Comedy or Drama
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References

  1. ↑ "Blacks on TV: Tuning in to the New Season". Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. 40 (12): 68–69. October 1985. ISSN 0012-9011.
  2. ↑ "CBS Yanks 'Charlie & Co.', 'Trapper' In New Season". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 70 (10): 61. 1986-05-26. ISSN 0021-5996.


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