It was first broadcast on CBS from October 3, 1984 to April 3, 1985, when it was cancelled due to a struggle in the Nielsen ratings. It then had a more successful first-run syndication run from January 3, 1987 to December 22, 1990. 126 original episodes were aired in total. The theme song is also heard as part of the "T.V. Medley" on the Family Guy: Live in Vegas album. In "Road to the North Pole", Peter asks Mall Santa Claus for a Charles in Charge lunchbox. At the end of the episode, which takes place about one year after the initial request, he receives it from the real Santa.