The Charmings Explained
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 2 |
| Num Episodes: | 21 (1 unaired) |
| Executive Producer: | Prudence Fraser
Robert Sternin |
| Producer: | Danny Kallis |
| Runtime: | 24–25 minutes |
| Channel: | ABC |
The Charmings is an American fantasy sitcom that follows Snow White and Prince Charming, awakened from a thousand-year spell, as they adjust from their familiar life in the enchanted forest to the modern ways of 20th-century Los Angeles suburbs.[1] The series originally aired from March 20, 1987, to February 11, 1988, on ABC.[2]
Synopsis
The opening voice-over sets up the premise:
The premise of the series' plot was that fairy tale characters Snow White and Prince Charming were magically transported to a 20th-century suburb in Burbank, California. Each episode shows the Charmings trying to adapt to their new life while Lillian, Judy Parfitt, the wicked stepmother, and her wise cracking Magic Mirror, Paul Winfield, watch from upstairs. After the first season, Caitlin O'Heaney (who portrayed Snow White) was replaced by Carol Huston.
After mild success as part of ABC's Friday night lineup, the series was moved to Thursday nights for its second season, in a head-to-head battle with NBC's A Different World, and later The Cosby Show. Due to low ratings, the series was canceled after twenty episodes. One episode remains unaired in the US, though it was shown during the show's run in the UK and in 2021 in Canada on CTV.[3]
Characters
- Snow White Charming (portrayed by Caitlin O'Heaney in 1987, Carol Huston in 1987–1988.[4]) - Her "fairy tale" motif catches the attention of a department store executive, who sponsors a line of interior decorating products and gives her a job overseeing the designs.
- Prince Eric Charming (portrayed by Christopher Rich) - Unskilled at anything in the modern world, he largely is a stay-at-home dad who wrote about his time in the Enchanted Kingdom. Later he learns he has a skill for handyman work and carpentry, and soon gets a job in construction.
- Queen Lillian White (portrayed by Judy Parfitt) - The wicked stepmother of Snow White whose sorcery often backfires on her, but occasionally proves useful in helping her family.
- Luther (portrayed by Cork Hubbert) - A dwarf that helps out the Charmings after being caught in the same spell that caused everyone to sleep until modern times.
- Thomas and Cory Charming (portrayed by Brandon Call and Garette Ratliff Henson) - The two Charming children of Snow White and Prince Eric Charming and the step-grandsons of Lillian. Due to their spending the least time in the fairy tale world, they had been the most assimilated into 20th century society and they face difficulties accepting they are from fairy tales.
- Don "King of Carpets" Miller and Sally Miller (portrayed by Paul Eiding and Dori Brenner) - The Charmings' neighbors who find their new neighbors' penchant for medieval fairy tale style odd but never figured out they were the real Prince Charming and Snow White. Even when Eric is under a truth spell and confides in Don that they were Prince Charming and Snow White, Don considers it a joke.
- The Magic Mirror (portrayed by Paul Winfield) - In this show, the Magic Mirror is depicted as a man inside a mirror. The Mirror frequently reminds Lillian that her daughter and son-in-law will come out on top and make it in this new land because unlike her, they are goodhearted people who respected others. A running gag is that he makes remarks about how Snow White is the fairest and telling Lillian "it ain't you!" whenever she asks who is the fairest. However, it is implied he may have been joking because at one point in this show when Lillian has lost her powers and he must depart, he confides in her that she has always been the fairest.
Episodes
Season 2
International Broadcast
In Italy, the show aired on Odeon TV under the name Biancaneve a Beverly Hills (Snow White in Beverly Hills) from 1988 until 1989.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|
| 1987 | | Nominated | Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series | Warren Cress, Ross Harmon, Charles T. Henry, Bud Holland, Stephen A. Jones, Art LaCombe, Bill Scott, and Dave Smith (For episode "The Incredible Shrinking Prince") |
| Outstanding Achievement in Costuming for a Series | Betsey Potter (For episode "Modern Romance") |
| 1988 | Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series | Warren Cress, Ross Harmon, Charles T. Henry, Joe Talosi, Harriet Uhl, Dave Smith, and Dale Walsh (For episode "Trading Places") |
| Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series | Mark Buxbaum (For episode "The Witch Is of Van Oaks") |
| 1988 | | | Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor in a Television Comedy Series | Brandon Call | |
Notes and References
- News: O'Connor . John J. . 1987-03-26 . TV REVIEWS; CBS AND ABC INTRODUCE PRIME-TIME SITCOMS . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-01-31 . 0362-4331.
- Web site: BBC - Comedy Guide - the Charmings. https://web.archive.org/web/20041129115944/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/c/charmingsthe_7771340.shtml . 2004-11-29 .
- Web site: The Charmings. CTV. January 9, 2022. January 10, 2022. January 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220110064016/https://www.ctv.ca/shows/the-charmings. dead.
- Web site: Archives . L. A. Times . 1987-07-17 . CAROL HUSTON SIGNS FOR 'THE CHARMINGS' . 2023-01-31 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
