#sandra kerns

[retropunch]

Charles in Charge (1984) - Season 3 end credits

Charles, a college student, is a live-in housekeeper in the Powell household. Charles, along with his friend Buddy, attempts to juggle his studies, friendships, and duties to the family.

[abriefingwithmichael]

The Incredible Hulk 3.4

Sandra Kerns. Enjoyable middle-of-the-road Hulk episode.

A lesser-example of something the show normally does really well: create a fully-rounded ‘world’ with interesting people for David to interact with. When the show does this properly, you honestly feel as if these characters will have a life after David moves on. As if it’s a crossover with another television series.

For some reason, this particular ‘world’ that David is temporarily part of doesn’t have the ‘spark’ that so many others do.

It’s not the cast. Both L.Q. Jones and James Crittenden are good as mismatched brothers on the rodeo circuit: one a cowboy, one a clown. There’s a lot tension between then, and the actors make it work perfectly. One of the best scenes in the episode is a fight between them.

And it’s not the story: David discovers that one brother has been stealing cattle to pay off gambling debts, which makes him a target for the rustlers. Cue: plenty of drama some entertaining Hulk action. Meanwhile the other brother is hiding a serious illness. The good drama there, too.

The episode probably falls down when it comes to creating a believable rodeo environment. The opening minutes are a stock footage montage, and the same generic stock footage (from the 60s!) pops up a lot throughout the episode. Now, I understand that it’s hard to fake a rodeo with some big sheds and a horse, but this constant use of old documentary film leaves me cold.

On the good side, the story zips along and it’s another instance of David being a great TV hero: coming into people’s lives, really caring about them and setting them on the right path before moving on.

6/10

[praeger]

Scott Baio, Sandra Kerns and Stephen Parr in CHARLES IN CHARGE