in the Charlie's Angels episode "Love Boat Angels," 1979
It seems like the bashing of Shelley Hack has endured over the years if you check out some of the posts on the net regarding her and her acting. But also, the people who have secretly appreciated this much maligned Angel are finally coming out of the woodwork to defend her.
But before anything else, why was Shelley Hack ever hired as Kate Jackson’s replacement in the first place? What were her credentials?
Spelling-Goldberg was looking for an unknown who was almost there. She had to be somewhat recognizable, had to have, at least, enough acting talent, and she had to have this bubble of intelligence that would suit the character they were introducing.
Tiffany Welles was bright and intelligent, grew up in (originally in) Connecticut and whose father was police chief there and an old friend of Charlie.
Shelley Hack grew up in Greenwich Connecticut. One down.
She’s a Smith College graduate with a high IQ. Two down.
Shelley Hack has this bubble of intelligence about her (especially when she’s in glasses). Three down.
Shelley Hack’s acting resume prior to Charlie’s Angels:
1977 Annie Hall
1978 If Ever I See You Again
1979 Married: The First Year, Episode 03 - "Full House" (March 14)
1979 Death Car on the Freeway (aired September 25)
1979 Time After Time
Her cameo in Annie Hall is greatly remembered, one of the funniest scenes in the picture. If Ever I See You Again bombed, she was okay.
Married: The First Year, episode 3, okay.
Death Car on the Freeway, improved.
Time After Time, her participation was close to nil (as she wanted). Her part was a voice-over, she doesn’t appear on screen.
Okay, so she wasn’t Kate Jackson/Emmy-nominated-Sabrina-Duncan caliber but she had enough chops to get the job done. Besides, Charlie’s Angels was not a vehicle for acting awards. “It’s fluff, but high grade fluff,” as Shelley put it. She had enough acting talent and experience, four down.
By 1979, Shelley Hack reached supermodel status and had become recognizable, as THE Charlie Girl in the Charlie perfume ads. Her face and the scent have become so synonymous that it became hard not to picture her face upon the mention of the Revlon brand. And also Revlon Charlie was, at that point, the best-selling scent in the world, YES, the world. So, Shelley Hack was now recognizable to the whole world. The perfect somewhat unknown who was almost there. Five down.
Now for the add-ons. Shelley Hack was beautiful (her "look" was both smart and wholesome). She was a model for chissakes. And she had been modeling since her teens. She knew how to wear clothes with the best of them and she had the poise and manners of a genteel woman. She was pleasant and hard working. Yes, a perfect choice.
Now, let’s compare her to the woman she replaced. Like Kate, she had her own brand of beauty. Like Kate, she was reed thin. Like Kate, she was sort of tomboyish. Like Kate, she was very smart and intelligent. Like Kate, she wanted a more serious approach to the characterization in the show. Like Kate, she was working on developing her character to be believable. Like Kate, she would air her opinions. Like Kate, she seemed to have irked some people in the production.
After getting rid of Kate, isn’t it funny that they got exactly the same person in Shelley?
But you see, unlike Kate, Shelley didn't take part in the conceptualization of the show. Shelley didn’t have the power Kate had when it came to script and wardrobe. Shelley didn’t have a chance.
So, like Kate, Shelley was let go. And to add insult to injury, she was blamed or the decline of the show in the ratings. (Please take note that Season 3 of Charlie's Angels already fell 7 places in the ratings finishing at 12th place. In spite of it all, Season 4 finished at 18th, still within TV’s top 20.)
