Charles in Charge

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. It appears Charles has the perfect arrangement while he attends school and does some growing of his own with the help of his best friend, Buddy Lembeck. Charles becomes ecstatic when his dream girl, Gwendolyn Pierce, the campus beauty, accepts a date with him. However, Jill and Stan have to go out for the night -- leaving Charles in charge.

Charles is put in the awkward position of helping and encouraging Lila, Jason and Douglas to seek out new and exciting extracurricular activities. The end result is that Jason dreams of soccer stardom; Lila sees herself as a cheerleader; and Douglas eyes the school band -- specifically the triangle instrument. Olympic gold medalist Julianne McNamara guest stars.

Mr. And Mrs. Pembroke are spending the evening out and Charles is babysitting. He is busy preparing for Gwendolyn's visit, with whom he plans to study. Buddy shows up unexpectedly and wants to go to The Lamplight to look at girls. After all, that is what guys should be doing on a Saturday night. Gwendolyn is enraged when she finds out that Charles occasionally hangs out there with his friends. Buddy and she argue heatedly and it just makes matters worse.

The Wilsons would like to hire a young lady to take care of the children. Mrs. Pembroke suggests that she spend some time with Charles to see if she's up to it. Much to Charles' embarrassment, Jane (Meg Ryan) turns out to be a very pretty girl who has heard many great things about him. When Charles has his hands full after the Pembroke children declare war, he is talked into remaining neutral by Jane.

Charles comes home triumphant from a softball game. He is so happy with life, his job, school…Unexpectedly, cousin Elliot shows up at the Pembroke house. His ideas of how to deal with children, what is permissible and what is not, do not necessarily coincide with Charles' opinions. The children drink coffee, overeat on ice cream to the point of stomach aches, Elliot even plans to take Lila -- who is only fourteen years old -- to a dark, smoky night club.

Charles and Gwendolyn had a fight over something rather trivial, and suddenly he feels he doesn't want to deal with the whole women issue. He's had it with women! He looks around the Pembroke house and realizes that Lila is having all her girlfriends over for a slumber party. He is trapped in the house full of women, and although Buddy drops in and has agreed to stay with him, they are outnumbered.