'Charles in Charge' is charming; dreadful 'Dreams'
If you've aged before your time watching this season's TV quota of adolescent charm, may I suggest you give youth one more chance. Charles in Charge (CBS, Wednesdays, 8-8:30 p.m., starting Oct. 3) has charm without nausea, wit without grossness.
Starring a personable actor named Scott Baio, ''Charles'' concerns a teen-age live-in family helper to a family with three energetic children. Charles deals with his own growing up as he tends to the growing-up process of his charges.
I must warn you, though - they are all cute, in their own way. But at least not cutesy.
The executive producer is Al Burton (he was with Norman Lear for many years), and his show reflects taste, sensitivity, literacy, and solid moral values. Throw in a few laughs, and what more can you ask for in an innocent sitcom? Shakespeare?
''Charles in Charge'' is a pleasant shade tree in this year's wasteland. 'Dreams'
If you find ''Fame'' too deep to fathom and if music videos are a mite too fast for your eyes, CBS is offering an easy alternative.
Dreams (CBS, Wednesdays, starting Oct. 3, 8:30-9 p.m.) follows the adventures of a Philadelphia rock group - four young people, going on five (that's the plot of the premiere episode). Five is their number, not their age, which is supposed to be early 20s, but you could never tell that by their preteen dialogue.
John Stamos stars as the band's lead singer and ladies' man. The only hope for the show is if, for some reason, he becomes a teen-age idol. Well, more amazing things have happened. And then there's the music. All I can tell you is that ''Dreams'' seems to be the theme song, and it is repeated often.
''Dreams'' tries very hard for timeliness, even if the music sounds a bit like early rock-and-roll: Executive producers Jon Peters and Peter Guber (in association with Centerpoint Productions) have thrown in some last-minute breakdancing and director Bill Bixby has indulged in some MTV-style quick cutting to give the show a relevant look. But try as they may, ''Dreams'' still emerges from the 1984-season as a throwback to the 1966-season ''The Monkees.''
