ABC-TV’s 1987-88 sitcom “The Charmings,” told the high-concept tale of what would happen if Snow White and her Prince suddenly got transplanted to “modern day” LA?
Well, it happened in the first episode of this show where the Wicked Stepmother got her spells crossed and brought herself and other characters from the Enchanted Forest into the present.
Obviously, it would not be an easy adjustment. Snow had no job skills, per se, and as for Prince Charming, there were precious few dragons to slay in LA. Even the Wicked Stepmother had little to do but stand in front of her Magic Mirror and wait for it to say she was far “fairer” than Snow White. (And good luck with that!)
Nevertheless, the Charming Family were ever the upbeat optimists and always believed in a happily ever after. They were as guileless as Jeannie out of the bottle and as naïve as “My Favorite Martian.” They were constantly befuddling their next door neighbors, Don and Sally Miller. The Millers never quite knew what to make of their oddly acting, oddly dressed neighbors who often spoke about Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin as if they knew them! (And they did!)
“The Charmings” debuted on ABC-TV in March of 1987. And though it was only on for 20 episodes, it did develop a bit of cult following as the show was so humorously and inventively able to send up not only modern mores but all the cliches of fairy tales.
The casting of the show was spot-on.
Originally, Caitlin O’Heaney starred as Snow White. She appeared in the show’s first six episodes while Carol Huston took it over for all the remaining installments. Amid the show’s surprisingly active fanbase online, debate still rages between who was the better princess. O’Heaney with her old-school glamour (previously utilized on the TV series “Tales of the Gold Monkey) certainly looked the part but Huston seemed more like a sitcom “mom.”
Chris Rich played Prince Eric Charming. Rich had paid his dues in daytime drama and would later prove his comedy chops as Reba’s ne’er-do-well ex-husband on “Reba.” Judy Parfitt, as Lillian the Evil Stepmother, was one of those grande dames of UK film, TV and theatre, adept at playing everything from Shakespeare to broad comedy. She was excellent in PBS’ “Death of a Princess” and was, later, able to hold her own opposite Kathy Bates in the film “Dolores Claiborne.”
Cork Hubbert, played Luther, the one dwarf who made the journey to modern day. Hubert, before his premature death in 2003, had memorable roles in “Legend” and an unforgettable role in the film version of Carson McCullers’ “Ballad of the Sad Café.” Finally, cast as the sassy talking mirror up in Lillian’s room was Oscar- and Emmy-nominated actor Paul Winfield.
The family’s common sensical, often confused neighbors were played by Paul Eiding and Dori Brenner. The Charmings’ two sons were played by child actors Brandon Call and Garette Rafliff Henson.
The majority of episodes of the series either dealt with the Charmings attempting to make their way in this strange foreign land and time or with Lillian (ala “Bewitched”) casting some sort of crazy spell to derail the life and love of Snow and her Prince.
For example, in one episode she casts a spell that makes a neighbor fall in love Eric. In another, she brings Eric’s old flame—Cinderella!—to modern times to try to rekindle their old romance.
Throughout there are issues with adopting a fairy tale mentality to the 1980s. When Lillian asks the Mirror who is the “fairest of them all,” the Mirror replies, “Well, Christie Brinkley is lookin’ good!”
Later, while Luther is sweeping the floor, Lillian asks, “Must you whistle while you work?!”
Later, we learn that Rapunzel was a bit easy; she was willing to let her hair down for just about anyone.
Despite “The Charmings” perhaps not having the freshest of premises, a variety of critics took to its good humor. Mark Schwed, UPI Television Editor at the time, said it was “a hoot” and called the writing of the series “tight and hilarious” and praised the show’s “refreshing blast of fantasy.” And the “Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,” at the time, while clearly stating that the show was “not Neil Simon,” championed its “off hand, deadpan approach.”
“Charmings” originally debuted as ABC’s Friday-night slate of comedies. It did well enough during its tryout to be renewed by the network after its first six installments aired. Unfortunately, when it returned, ABC moved it to Thursdays, up against the powerhouse team of “The Cosby Show” and “A Different World,” then the two top programs on television. It was a kamikaze timeslot and no show, not even one as endearing as “The Charmings,” could stand up to those two megahits,
Fifteen more episodes of the series were produced and 14 of them aired. Then “The Charmings” were gone. THE END.
But despite its lack of any sort of major ratings victories, “Charmings” has endured with a variety of fans and when it gets mentioned on Facebook or Reddit, a variety of voices rise up to herald this little short-lived show that so skillfully mixed a biting humor with a generous and optimistic heart.
by Cary O'Dell 
The casting of the show was spot-on.
Throughout there are issues with adopting a fairy tale mentality to the 1980s. When Lillian asks the Mirror who is the “fairest of them all,” the Mirror replies, “Well, Christie Brinkley is lookin’ good!” 