why did they switch families?

the show was cancelled, and so the actors would have had to find other jobs. when the show was put in syndication perhaps some of the actors notably james widdoes and julie cobb weren`t available to come back. that`s why they chose another actress to play jill in the first powell episode. julie cobb had obviously been busy with another project.

I'm watching the first season for the first time and wow, it is remarkably great and a much smarter sitcom than the syndicated later seasons I better remember. These kids are incredibly talented comedians. The first season was certainly smarter than the audience.

For downright amateur villains you birds win the nickel-plated hot dogs.

http://www.tv.com/shows/charles-in-charge/forums/does-anyone-remember- or-know-why-they-retooled-the-show-with-the-powells-424-223623/

The reason they changed the cast was largely due to the fact that the original "Charles In Charge" series was cancelled by CBS after its initial season, which ran from 1984-1985. Upon cancellation, the entire supporting cast were released from their contracts. When they decided to bring it back for a second season in syndication nearly TWO YEARS LATER, a couple of the original cast members had gone on to other things, and since they were a family, it would be hard to explain where two or three members were at. There was also the issue that the two oldest kids had grown up--A LOT--making it hard to swallow that they actually needed someone like Charles around.

So since they had to recast most of the family anyway (only actor Michael Pearlman who played the youngest son Jason was actually interested in coming back), they decided to wipe the slate clean (with the exception of Willie Aames and Scott Baio) and just start fresh with a new family. To explain this change, in the first new episode of the second season (which first aired in early 1987--almost two years after the first season finale), Jason (Pearlman, who himself has grown a great deal since the previous episode) and his mother Jill (portrayed by a different actress) are present to tell Charles that the family has moved to Washington state during his vacation, and that a new family who is interested in his services had moved into the house. A semi-emotional goodbye between Jason and Charles takes place, and the new format is complete. The funny thing is, the newer version with the Powells went on to become one of the most popular and remembered series of the 1980s, but the Pembrokes were almost forgotten and are seldom shown when the show appears in repeat syndication (after that initial episode, none of the original cast members ever appeared again--with the exception of an arc with Gwendlyn).

I liked the Pembrooks much more than the Powells. I found the Powells annoying and unwatchable whereas I thought the Pembrooks had much better character development and more appealing personalities. The Pembrooks bond with Charles also seemed much more genuine than the Powells ever did. I also always thought it a shame Gwendolyn wasn't kept on.

Season one of CIC is by far my favourite. I just don't like how they changed it afterwards, even if changes of some sort couldn't be helped.

[deleted]

The Powells were my favorite family. Would of loved to get between those blonde beauty sisters. Charles did haha

I have actually discovered viva the Frequently Asked Questions of why they switched families so check out the post that also asks this question and look for my reply from tonight.

Michael Pearlman (Jason) was interviewed for a podcast over a decade about:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4HtxAScBe4

https://soundcloud.com/649743407/reliving-my-youth-michael

http://justmyshow.blogspot.com/2009/04/show-notes-michael-pearlman-of-charles.html

He said that the original intent was on bringing the Pembroke family back. But Jonathan Ward would've been unavailable as he already booked another series, Julie Cobb wanted her old network salary, which is why a different actress portrayed Mrs. Pembroke in the first syndicated episode, and James Widdoes had started to segue into directing. So all that was left was Michael and April Lerman. It wouldn't have made any sense to keep a family that would've mostly been recast anyway, so they just got a new one.