So we’ve all seen Enchanted now, right? Good. Because it’s time to address a serious issue, one that hasn’t been explored since Disney’s nifty little fairy-tale spoof blew out the box office last weekend. And the issue is thus: How come nobody has pointed out that the premise of Enchanted—while certainly inspired—is basically, um, cribbed from the most awesome forgotten TV sitcom of the 1980s? That’s right, I’m talking about The Charmings.
Show of hands: Who remembers it? The premise was pretty lame, but it was executed with panache and a lot of underappreciated wit, and it is my strong belief that a cult of Charmings fans exists, lying in wait and trying to figure out how in the hell we can get together some sort of superfan convention where we don tights and wield swords and basically act like lunatics. (Oh, wait. We have renaissance fairs for that.)
In a nutshell, Snow White and Prince Charming threw her wicked stepmother, Queen Lillian (the fantastic Judy Parfitt) into a bottomless pit that—well, it wasn’t bottomless. And when Girl finally crawled her way out, she cast a spell that put them to sleep. The poor schmucks finally woke up a century later—in the Reagan era—and were forced to acclimate to their new surroundings, a tidy California suburb where, naturally, their idiot neighbors remained totally clueless.
The best part of The Charmings, as I’m sure anyone who watched can attest, were the bitchy exchanges between the Queen—who was banished to an upstairs bedroom—and her Mirror (played by the late Paul Winfield). The two of them pretty much stayed up there all day, hatching plots, wreaking havoc and just being generally fabulous. And while it was never expressly stated, methinks the Mirror was also a big ol’ Queen himself.
Below is a clip of the opening credits from the show’s first season (which, by the way, featured my favorite of the two Snow Whites who appeared during its short-lived run.) See? It’s the Enchanted premise—or at least it’s close enough. And listen to that ’80s sax! You go on with your skinny-tie-wearing self, Person Who Performed That!
So, who loved The Charmings the way I loved The Charmings? Don’t leave a brother hanging—speak up!
I remember this show. I always loved that castle-house.
This is too weird. A friend just brought up this show last night when someone was talking about Enchanted. I barely remember it.
I loved that show when I was a kid. I remember being crushingly disappointed when I found out they had replaced the first Snow White, who I had a total crush on.
I’m just afreadi that if I watch it today it won’t be as funny as I remembered it.
I loved this show too…I had a crush on Christopher Rich when I was…11. The modern-day people’s hair and clothes scare me.
oh how I loved the charmings! the mirror! sometimes, late at night, I pretend that I have a fabulous mirror who dishes with me while I preen.
great post!!
Yep, count me in. I loved The Charmings when it was on. The writing was great. It had a great Lost in Space camp feel to it. It got a lot of attention at first, but then the novelty wore off I guess and the faithful were not enough, so they canned it. Enchanted was very much in the Charming mode.
Sorry, but that looked awful.
I definitely remember The Charmings! Weren’t they apart of one of the original T.G.I.F. line-ups? I could be wrong, but I think I am correct…anyone ?
I loved “The Charmings!” Funniest bit: when Prince Eric hears some loud music and complains to Snow White, she responds, “Oh, Eric, it’s only rock ‘n’ roll, and I like it.” ” You like it?” “Yes, I do.”
I loved that show! I used to cruise past a house in my town that I thought looked just like the one on the show.
I loved “The Charmings!” Funniest bit: when Prince Eric hears some loud music and complains to Snow White, she responds, “Oh, Eric, it’s only rock ‘n’ roll, and I like it.” “You like it?” “Yes, I do.”
Dude! The Charmings and Sledgehammer. Nothin’ better.
Am I the only Sci-Fi geek here that sees a blatant rip off of Orson Scott Card’s book “Enchantment” which was written 8 years ago?
See for yourself:
http://www.hatrack.com/osc/books/enchantment.shtml
I LOVED this show! Granted I was in elementary school but I still remember it. I always ask friends if they remember it and no one does. I thought I was alone and perhaps going slightly crazy and it never existed in the first place. Good to know I’m not! Now if someone will only remember Covington Cross, and more importantly, get it on dvd.
I thought I was the only person who remembered this show! My sister and mom and I all loved it.