Charlie & Co.

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 only one.

Charlie & Co.
the cast of Charlie & Co. as pictured in the 1985 TV Guide Fall Preview issue
Also known asCharlie & Company
GenreSitcom
Created byAllan Katz
StarringFlip Wilson
Gladys Knight
Kristoff St. John
Fran Robinson
Jaleel White
Della Reese
Theme music composerMerald "Bubba" Knight
Gladys Knight
Sam Dees
Opening theme"Family", performed by Gladys Knight
ComposerPerry Botkin, Jr.
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes18 (1 unaired)
Production
Production locationsABC Television Center, Los Angeles, California
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesAllan Katz Productions
Bob Henry Productions
20th Century Fox Television
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseSeptember 18, 1985 (1985-09-18) –
May 16, 1986 (1986-05-16)

Synopsis

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

Charlie Richmond (Flip Wilson) is a black middle-class employee of the Division of Highways, who juggled his work and home life with his 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 cancelled the series in May 1986.[2]

Cast

Episodes
Nº Title Directed by Written by Original air date PC
1"Pilot"Alan RafkinAllan KatzSeptember 18, 1985 (1985-09-18)6S79
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.
Recording date: April 04, 1985
2"Easy for You to Say"Alan RafkinMichael KaganSeptember 25, 1985 (1985-09-25)6S01
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.
Recording date: August 13, 1985
3"Muggers or Us"Alan RafkinBill RichmondOctober 2, 1985 (1985-10-02)6S03
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?"Alan RafkinGary GilbertOctober 9, 1985 (1985-10-09)6S02
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"Alan RafkinMichael KaganOctober 16, 1985 (1985-10-16)6S05
Charlie and Diana soon regret letting Charlie's co-worker move in during his marital spat.
Recording date: September 17, 1985
6"Like Father, Like Son"Alan RafkinMonty Aidem and Gary MurphyOctober 23, 1985 (1985-10-23)6S06
Junior is sorely taxed by Charlie's sudden desire to be more of a pal than a father.
7"Will Be Around"Alan RafkinGary GilbertOctober 30, 1985 (1985-10-30)6S07
The children are upset when Charlie talks of making out a will following a brush with death.
Recording date: October 08, 1985
8"Operation Richmond"Alan RafkinGary Ferrier and Aubrey TadmanNovember 6, 1985 (1985-11-06)6S08
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"Alan RafkinAllan KatzNovember 13, 1985 (1985-11-13)6S09
Charlie's behavior at a faculty party he and Diana attend threatens the celebration of their 20th anniversary.
10"For the Love of Lauren"Alan RafkinBill RichmondNovember 27, 1985 (1985-11-27)6S10
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?"Alan RafkinBill RichmondDecember 4, 1985 (1985-12-04)6S04
Charlie's co-workers plan to take full advantage of their boss's absence, despite the fact that he left Charlie in charge.
Recording date: September 10, 1985
12"Silent Knight"Alan RafkinGary GilbertDecember 11, 1985 (1985-12-11)6S12
Charlie's looking forward to spending Christmas with his family, but Junior and Lauren have other ideas.
13"Beaus and Arrows"Alan RafkinS : Allan Katz;
T : Michael Kagan		December 25, 1985 (1985-12-25)6S11
Diana's old college boyfriend returns.
Recording date: November 12, 1985
14"Here's Rachel"Alan RafkinAllan KatzJanuary 28, 1986 (1986-01-28)6S14
Della Reese joins the cast as Aunt Rachel.
15"Rachel and the Stranger"Alan RafkinLiz SageApril 25, 1986 (1986-04-25)6S17
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"Alan RafkinGary GilbertMay 2, 1986 (1986-05-02)6S16
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"Alan RafkinBill RichmondMay 9, 1986 (1986-05-09)6S15
Bored with school, Junior decides to join the Army.
18"Rent and Rave"Alan RafkinGary Ferrier and Aubrey TadmanMay 16, 1986 (1986-05-16)6S13
The Richmonds face a rent increase.

Awards and nominations
Year Award Result Category Recipient
1986Young Artist AwardsNominatedBest Young Supporting Actor in a New Television SeriesJaleel White
Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television SeriesFran Robinson
Best Young Actor Starring in a New Television SeriesKristoff St. John
Best New Television Series - Comedy or Drama
-

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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