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CHARMINGS, THE: PILOT {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)

Summary

One in this comedy series about Snow White and Prince Charming living in a 20th-century Californian suburb with their children and wicked stepmother.

The Charmings are being shown around their new modern-day house, where they are fascinated by their first exposure to modern technology. The introduction explains that after they defeated the evil queen and went of to live “happily ever after,” the queen returned and cast a spell that put them all to sleep for a thousand years, herself included. Lillian talks with her magic mirror about how her life isn’t going how she planned. She spies on Eric playing with the kids. After she sends them upstairs, Snow talks with Eric; she is worried about fitting in to the twentieth century. Lillian comes downstairs to interrupt, and Snow remarks how she can’t live in the same house as her.

The Charmings’ neighbors, Don and Sally Miller, arrive to introduce themselves. Sally mistakes Snow for a clothing designer and the Charmings believe Don is royalty when Sally says he is the “king of carpets.” The next day, the kids go to school and Eric goes to search for a job. Lillian immerses herself in modern cosmetics, but the mirror still declares Snow White to be the fairest. Lillian visits Snow and tries to convince her that the modern world will never accept them; Snow remains optimistic. Eric returns, having not found a job. The kids return from a bad day at school. Thomas has been sent home with a note from the school saying he is “distanced from reality,” due to him relating some details of his life, such as slaying dragons with his father the previous summer. The school is sending a child psychologist to evaluate Thomas.

Snow is worried about the upcoming visit from the psychologist. She and Sally purchase modern attire for herself and the family in an effort to convince the psychologist that they are normal. She also doesn’t want Eric to mention anything that would hint that they are actually from medieval times. Lillian is ecstatic that the Charmings will be forced to lie, a betrayal of all their principles. Lillian arrives in her sorceress attire when the psychologist arrives. Eric is soon confronted with a choice between lying about Thomas and his family’s origins and telling the truth. Lillian magically freezes everyone else to taunt Eric about the choice before she leaves.

Ultimately Eric decides to tell the truth. However, the psychologist believes that Eric’s account of “slaying dragons” with his son is a metaphor for their bonding and approves. Because of Eric’s use of “imagery,” the psychologist suggests Eric become a children’s book author and wants to set him up with a friend of his in the business. Lillian, furious that her plans have been ruined, curses the psychologist with a tail as he leaves. Includes commercials.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: March 20, 1987 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:29:32
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:09739
  • GENRE: Comedy, fantasy/science fiction
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy, fantasy/science fiction; Families
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1987-1988
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV – Commercials – Bayer aspirin
    • TV – Commercials – Campho-Phenique cold sore gel
    • TV – Commercials – Children’s Panadol fever medicine
    • TV – Commercials – J C Penney department stores
    • TV – Commercials – Kal Kan cat food
    • TV – Commercials – Milk
    • TV – Commercials – Neo-Synephrine cold medication
    • TV – Commercials – Ragu pasta
    • TV – Commercials – Vaseline lotion
    • TV – Promos – “ABC Saturdays”
    • TV – Promos – “Bedknobs and Broomsticks”
    • TV – Promos – “Max Headroom”
    • TV – Promos – “The Real Ghostbusters”
    • TV – Promos – “Through Naked Eyes”
    • TV – Promos – “Webster”

CREDITS

  • Robert Sternin … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
  • Prudence Fraser … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
  • Roxie Wenk Evans … Producer
  • Will Mackenzie … Director
  • Jonathan Wolff … Theme Music by
  • Caitlin O'Heaney … Cast, Snow White
  • Christopher Rich … Cast, Prince Eric Charming
  • Judy Parfitt … Cast, Queen Lillian White
  • Cork Hubbert … Cast, Luther
  • Brandon Call … Cast, Thomas Charming
  • Garette Raitliff … Cast, Cory Charming
  • Paul Eiding … Cast, Don Miller
  • Dori Brenner … Cast, Sally Miller
  • Paul Winfield … Cast, The Mirror
  • Sam Anderson … Cast, Dr. Peters
  • Phyllis Katz … Cast, Real Estate Agent