The Charmings
The Charmings is an American fantasy sitcom television series created by Prudence Fraser and Robert Sternin that aired on ABC from March 20, 1987, to February 11, 1988.[1] The premise centers on the fairy tale figures Snow White and Prince Charming—along with their two children, Thomas and Cory, and the dwarf Luther—being accidentally transported from their enchanted world to a contemporary suburb in Burbank, California, after the Evil Queen's curse backfires, forcing them to navigate 1980s American life without revealing their magical origins.[1] The family lives next door to a modern couple, Don and Sally Miller, whose interactions highlight cultural clashes and comedic misunderstandings between medieval royalty and suburban normalcy.[2] The series starred Caitlin O'Heaney as Snow White in the first season (replaced by Carol Huston in the second), Christopher Rich as Prince Charming (renamed Prince Eric in the show), and Judy Parfitt as the vengeful Evil Queen (Queen Lillian), who also arrives in the modern world and lives upstairs in their home, pretending to be Snow White's aunt.[1] Supporting roles included Brandon Call and Garette Ratliff Henson as the children, Cork Hubbert as Luther, and Paul Winfield as the Magic Mirror.[1] Directed by Jack Shea, Gerren Keith, and others, the show was produced by Fraser and Sternin's company, with 21 episodes across two seasons, though only 20 aired due to low ratings leading to its cancellation. Episodes often featured magical mishaps, such as Snow White's inability to lie or Prince Charming's sword-fighting skills causing suburban chaos, blending humor with light-hearted satire on family dynamics and technology.[1] Despite positive reviews for its witty script and fresh take on classic tales—earning a 6.8/10 rating on IMDb from 346 users—the series struggled with viewership, finishing 78th out of 82 primetime shows in its first season and being pulled early in the second.[2] No major awards were won, but it has since gained a cult following for its nostalgic appeal and parallels to later fairy tale adaptations like Once Upon a Time.[2]Background
Premise
The Charmings is an American fantasy sitcom centered on the fairy tale characters Snow White and Prince Charming (known as Prince Eric in the series), who, along with their family, are awakened from a thousand-year enchanted sleep and thrust into modern suburban life. The series draws from the classic Snow White story, where the wicked queen (Queen Lillian) casts a spell to punish Snow White and Prince Eric by placing them, their two young sons Thomas and Cory, and a loyal dwarf companion Luther into a deep slumber intended to last 1,000 years. This curse, motivated by the queen's enduring jealousy, transports the group from their medieval world to 1987 Burbank, California, a quiet Los Angeles suburb, where they must navigate the complexities of contemporary American society.[3][4] Upon awakening, the Charming family—embodying traditional fairy tale archetypes—finds themselves in a fully furnished modern home, but the spell's expiration leaves them bound to this new era without the option to return to their original realm, forcing an abrupt assimilation into 1980s culture. Key magical remnants persist, including Queen Lillian's sarcastic Magic Mirror, which provides counsel and commentary while often affirming Snow White's enduring beauty, and occasional spells that the family and queen attempt to wield amid everyday challenges. The central conflict revolves around the clash between their archaic values, chivalric ideals, and rudimentary understanding of magic with the era's technological advancements, social customs, and consumer-driven lifestyle, such as dealing with household appliances, school systems, and financial obligations.[1][4][3] Compounding their adjustment is the persistent threat from Queen Lillian, who also awakens and continues her schemes to undermine the family from within their shared home, using her magic in petty and often backfiring ways. Luther, having shared in the enchantment, serves as a practical ally to the Charmings, helping bridge their fairy tale past with the present. This setup highlights themes of cultural displacement and the humorous dissonance of timeless archetypes confronting rapid modernization, without resolution to their exile. The series produced 21 episodes across two seasons, with one remaining unaired in the United States at the time of cancellation.[1][5][3]Development
The Charmings was created by husband-and-wife team Prudence Fraser and Robert Sternin, who drew from their experience as writers on the hit sitcom Who's the Boss? to develop the series as a lighthearted fantasy comedy.[6][7] As executive producers, Fraser and Sternin oversaw production through their company, Sternin & Fraser Ink, in association with Embassy Communications and later Columbia Pictures Television.[8] The concept originated as a modern parody of the Snow White fairy tale, transporting Prince Eric, Snow White, and their family from an enchanted slumber into 1980s suburban life, emphasizing fish-out-of-water humor where medieval values clashed with contemporary American culture.[1] This setup echoed earlier fantasy sitcoms like Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie but updated the trope for a family-focused narrative, with the characters settling in Burbank, California, to highlight relatable suburban satire.[1] The series was pitched to ABC amid a surge in demand for wholesome, family-oriented programming in the mid-1980s, following the success of shows like The Cosby Show, which had revitalized the sitcom genre with positive, ensemble-driven stories.[9] ABC greenlit the pilot in late 1986, capitalizing on the network's push for Friday night family blocks to compete with NBC's dominance in prime-time comedy.[2] Filmed ahead of its March 20, 1987, premiere, the pilot episode introduced the core premise of the Charming family's time-displaced arrival and their efforts to adapt without revealing their magical origins, setting the tone for episodic conflicts blending fairy tale whimsy with everyday challenges.[10] The decision to tone down overt magical elements in favor of character-driven comedy aligned with ABC's standards for broad appeal, avoiding the more fantastical excesses of prior decades' supernatural series.[11] The show's development reflected broader 1980s television trends, where post-Cosby family sitcoms emphasized uplifting themes and intergenerational dynamics to attract advertisers targeting households, while fantasy comedies like ALF (1986) and Out of This World (1987) tested modern twists on classic myths.[12] ABC slotted The Charmings into its emerging Friday night lineup as a lead-in to Webster, aiming to build a block of feel-good content that premiered with solid initial ratings, leading to a full-season renewal despite the era's volatile scheduling.[13] No revival attempts have surfaced as of 2025, though the creators' later success with The Nanny (1993–1999) underscores their influence on blending nostalgia with contemporary humor.[14]Cast and Characters
Main Cast
Snow White Charming was portrayed by Caitlin O'Heaney during the first season of The Charmings, where she depicted the character as a naive yet resilient homemaker adapting to modern suburban life, including learning to use household appliances and participating in PTA meetings.[15] O'Heaney's performance emphasized Snow White's fairy tale innocence clashing with 1980s American domesticity, often leading to humorous situations as she navigated everyday challenges without magic.[16] In the second season, Carol Huston took over the role, maintaining the character's wide-eyed wonder while bringing a slightly more grounded approach to her interactions with contemporary society.[17] Huston's portrayal continued to highlight Snow White's resilience in blending her enchanted past with her new role as a mother and wife in Burbank, California.[5] Prince Eric Charming, played by Christopher Rich throughout both seasons, was shown as a chivalrous but bewildered husband and father grappling with modern gender roles and unemployment in 1980s America.[15] Rich embodied the prince's traditional heroic demeanor in scenarios like job hunting and family responsibilities, often resulting in comedic bewilderment at technologies like televisions and cars.[18] His performance captured Eric's efforts to protect and provide for his family while adjusting to a world far removed from medieval fairy tales.[16] The Charming children were portrayed by Brandon Call as the older son Thomas and Garette Ratliff Henson as the younger son Cory, both dealing with tween and teen issues such as schoolwork and dating, infused with magical elements from their heritage.[15] Thomas, under Call's depiction, often explored adolescent challenges like fitting in at high school while occasionally relying on subtle fairy tale magic for mishaps.[5] Cory, played by Henson, represented the younger perspective, adapting to modern toys and friendships with a sense of wonder that mirrored his parents' experiences.[18] Their arcs highlighted generational contrasts within the family unit as they balanced ordinary American youth culture with their enchanted origins.[16] The Magic Mirror was voiced by Paul Winfield across the series, serving as a sassy, all-seeing oracle that delivered comic relief and advanced plot exposition through witty commentary on the family's predicaments.[15] Winfield's vocal performance infused the mirror with a knowing, sardonic tone, often mocking the Charmings' struggles with modernity while providing guidance rooted in fairy tale lore.[16] This character frequently interacted with the family to underscore their cultural adjustments, adding layers of humor to the narrative.[5]Supporting Characters
Queen Lillian White, portrayed by Judy Parfitt, serves as the primary antagonist and Snow White's wicked stepmother, who is transported to the modern world alongside the Charming family due to the same enchantment.[19] Her scheming nature drives much of the series' conflict, as she repeatedly attempts to sabotage the family's adjustment to suburban life through spells aimed at reversing the curse or eliminating Snow White, though her magic frequently backfires in comedic ways.[20] For instance, in one episode, she transforms the Charming children into mannequins to silence them, only to struggle reversing the spell, heightening the plot's tension while underscoring her villainous yet inept role.[20] Lillian's interactions with the family often propel storylines involving deception and redemption, such as her efforts to ruin holidays by debunking Santa Claus, which ironically lead to magical revelations that reinforce the show's fairy tale themes.[21] Luther, played by Cork Hubbert, is a loyal dwarf from the original fairy tale who becomes an integral part of the Charming household after awakening from the same spell.[22] As one of Snow White's former companions, he provides physical comedy through his medieval clumsiness in everyday tasks, such as struggling with modern appliances or household chores, which contrasts sharply with the family's more adaptable members.[19] Luther's hapless yet helpful demeanor contributes to the humor by highlighting cultural clashes, like his attempts at attending college or performing domestic duties, often resulting in slapstick mishaps that advance episodic plots without overshadowing the core family dynamics.[22] Recurring modern neighbors Don "King of Carpets" Miller (Paul Eiding) and Sally Miller (Dori Brenner) act as comic foils, embodying typical 1980s suburbanites whose suspicions and meddling expose the Charmings' otherworldly peculiarities.[2] Their nosy interactions, such as mistaking Luther for a gardener or reacting to the family's unfiltered honesty and casual magic, amplify the satirical elements of cultural adjustment, frequently leading to misunderstandings that drive plot progression.[19] For example, Don's business dealings and Sally's social prying often intersect with the Charmings' fairy tale quirks, creating opportunities for the family to navigate secrecy while the Millers remain oblivious to the truth.[2] Guest stars enhance the episodic humor through fairy tale cameos disguised in modern contexts, such as Kim Johnston Ulrich's portrayal of Cinderella in "Cindy's Back in Town," where Lillian's botched spell summons her to stir romantic jealousy and test Eric's fidelity.[23] These one-off appearances, often involving historical or mythical figures adapted to 1980s settings, provide fresh gags like Cinderella's outdated etiquette clashing with contemporary dating norms, reinforcing the show's blend of enchantment and everyday satire without delving into extended arcs.[19]Production
Casting Process
The casting for The Charmings took place in Los Angeles in 1986, as the series was greenlit by ABC for a spring 1987 premiere, with producers seeking actors capable of blending fairy tale authenticity with comedic timing in a modern setting. Caitlin O'Heaney was initially selected for the role of Snow White Charming, drawing on her extensive theatrical background that included a childhood stage debut as Peter Pan and numerous live theater performances, which aligned with the character's whimsical, storybook origins.[24] Christopher Rich was cast as Prince Eric Charming for his blond, wavy-haired, all-American appearance and movie-star good looks, which provided a humorous contrast to the character's medieval roots and unskilled adaptation to contemporary life.[25] Paul Winfield, an established actor with Emmy nominations for his portrayals in King (1978) and Roots: The Next Generations (1979), was cast to portray the Magic Mirror, depicted as a man inside the mirror, to lend dramatic gravitas and prestige to the role, marking a notable instance of an African American performer in a prominent supporting position during 1980s network television casting.[26] A significant casting change occurred during the first season when O'Heaney was replaced by Carol Huston as Snow White after appearing in the initial six episodes. Executive producers Robert Sternin and Prudence Fraser cited a creative mismatch, stating that "our interpretation of the part was not hers," leading to the switch announced in July 1987 for the fall episodes and continuing into season two.[17] This mid-season transition required adjustments to maintain narrative continuity, as Huston adopted the character's established traits while introducing her own vocal and physical interpretation, though it drew mixed responses from viewers accustomed to O'Heaney's portrayal.[27]Filming and Style
The Charmings was filmed primarily on soundstages at the ABC Television Center, located at 4151 Prospect Avenue in Los Angeles, California. [28] This studio served as the main production hub for the series' interior scenes, where sets were designed to evoke a blend of enchanted fairy-tale aesthetics and contemporary 1980s suburban domesticity, such as a modern kitchen juxtaposed with magical elements. [28] Exterior establishing shots for the Charming family home were captured at a local residence in the Hollywood vicinity to represent the show's Burbank, California, setting. [29] [5] The production relied on practical effects for its magical components, characteristic of mid-1980s sitcom budgets, including simple projections and pre-recorded audio. [30] No extensive computer-generated imagery was used; instead, spells and supernatural occurrences were depicted through quick editing cuts and physical props, aligning with the era's television conventions for fantasy comedy. [31] The series was produced by Sternin & Fraser Ink in association with Embassy Communications for the first season and Columbia Pictures Television for the second. Episodes were directed by a rotating team, with Jack Shea directing the majority (13 episodes), alongside contributions from Gerren Keith (2 episodes), Howard Murray (2 episodes), Mark Cullingham (1 episode), and Will Mackenzie (1 episode). [15] [32] The directorial approach focused on farce and slapstick humor, emphasizing physical comedy and rapid pacing within the standard 22- to 25-minute runtime per episode to highlight cultural clashes between the fairy-tale family and modern life. [32] [33] The series concluded after two abbreviated seasons due to low ratings, resulting in only 20 episodes airing in the United States, while one produced episode remained unaired domestically but was broadcast internationally. [29]Episodes
Season 1
The first season of The Charmings aired on ABC from March 20 to April 24, 1987, as a mid-season replacement series, comprising six episodes that established the core premise of the Charming family's displacement from a fairy-tale world to 1980s suburban California.[1] The narrative arc centers on their comedic struggles with modern conveniences and customs, such as operating household appliances, navigating traffic, and blending into neighborhood social dynamics, while Queen Lillian schemes to disrupt their new life using remnants of her magic.[34] This introductory season highlights the family's gradual adaptation, with Prince Eric taking a job and the children attending school, setting up ongoing conflicts between enchantment and everyday reality.[35] Production for the season occurred primarily in Los Angeles studios during early 1987, with exterior shots filmed at a medieval-style house in the city to evoke the family's otherworldly origins.[29] Notable guest appearances included actors like Casey Sander as the used car salesman (Honest Abe) in "The Charmings Buy a Car", adding layers to the modern-world satire through interactions with skeptical locals.[36] The episodes were directed by Gerren Keith and others, emphasizing practical effects for magical elements like shrinking potions and spells, filmed efficiently to meet the network's quick turnaround for the spring launch.[15] Viewer reception built modestly, though specific Nielsen figures for individual episodes remain scarce; the series ranked low overall in primetime, around 78th out of 82 shows for the season.[2]| No. | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot | March 20, 1987 | Prince Eric, Snow White, and their children awaken from a century-long sleep in modern California, purchase a home, and enroll the kids in school, but face suspicion when Thomas recounts fairy-tale adventures involving dragons and Cinderella.[37] |
| 2 | The Mirror Cracked | March 27, 1987 | Eric and Snow host a neighborhood welcome party to fit in, but Lillian's jealous magic triggers an earthquake that shatters her Magic Mirror, forcing her to seek repairs from a modern glazier.[38] |
| 3 | Modern Romance | April 3, 1987 | Luther and Lillian wager on securing the most attractive date for a night out; Lillian uses a potion to transform a homeless man into a suave companion, leading to chaotic romantic entanglements.[39] |
| 4 | The Charmings Buy a Car | April 10, 1987 | Celebrating their 1,010th anniversary, Eric purchases a unreliable used car for Snow from a shady dealer, while the Mirror tempts Lillian with visions of a lavish Las Vegas getaway to escape suburbia.[36] |
| 5 | The Incredible Shrinking Prince | April 17, 1987 | Desperate to lose weight, Lillian brews a potion that accidentally shrinks Eric to doll size, prompting the family to hide him from visitors and reverse the spell before he causes more mishaps.[40] |
| 6 | An '80s Kind of Prince | April 24, 1987 | Feeling overshadowed as Snow pursues a fashion design job, Eric attracts unwanted attention when Lillian casts a love spell on a neighbor woman to sabotage their marriage.[41] |
Season 2
The second season of The Charmings aired on ABC from September 17, 1987, to February 11, 1988, comprising 15 episodes that expanded on the family's adjustment to 1980s suburban life. This season introduced the recasting of Snow White Charming, with Carol Huston replacing Caitlin O'Heaney in the role to bring a fresh dynamic to the character.[17] The narrative arc focused on the Charmings' growing immersion in modern society, including participation in community events like holidays and school activities, while magical elements led to increasingly chaotic mishaps that tested their secrecy. Conflicts with the scheming Queen Lillian intensified, heightening the stepmother rivalry and building tension toward the season finale's tease of a possible spell reversal. The season's episodes highlighted these themes through standalone stories laced with fairy tale twists. For instance, "A Charming Halloween" explored holiday traditions gone awry due to uncontrolled magic, while "The Ghost of Christmas Past" delved into festive family dynamics complicated by supernatural interference. "To Save a Princess" deepened the ongoing antagonism with Lillian, as Prince Charming confronted her schemes in a high-stakes rescue. Later episodes like "The Witch Catchers" and the finale "The Greatest Gift" ramped up the magical threats, underscoring the family's precarious balance between their enchanted origins and everyday existence.| No. in season | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lillian Loses the Kids | September 17, 1987[42] |
| 2 | The Charmings Go Plastic | September 24, 1987[42] |
| 3 | The Witch of Van Oaks | October 1, 1987[42] |
| 4 | The Fish Story | October 8, 1987[42] |
| 5 | Cindy's Back in Town | October 15, 1987[42] |
| 6 | A Charming Halloween | October 22, 1987[42] |
| 7 | Trading Places | October 29, 1987[42] |
| 8 | The Ghost of Christmas Past | November 5, 1987[42] |
| 9 | The Charmings and the Beanstalk | November 12, 1987[42] |
| 10 | The Last M.D. | November 19, 1987[42] |
| 11 | To Save a Princess | November 26, 1987[42] |
| 12 | The Witch Catchers | December 3, 1987[42] |
| 13 | Almost Perfect | December 10, 1987[42] |
| 14 | The Princess and the Runaway | January 7, 1988[42] |
| 15 | The Greatest Gift | February 11, 1988[42] |