Daring

An ad for "Harrigan's Angel"
a Charlie's Angels episode aired in 1980

In 1979, Shelley joined the cast of one of the most daring shows on TV, Charlie's Angels, joining incumbent Angels Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd. The series dared defy the norms of the era by casting women as leads. At the time, television was dominated by male characters and women were often relegated to the background, as sidekicks or second leads. Either that or they were cast as secretaries, nurses, moms, grand-moms or any other "traditional" role for women. Charlie's Angels changed that. Not only were the Angels leads this time, they were doing the jobs that were men were reserved exclusively for men. They were feminine action figures come to life who related to each other just like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid would. And the stir it created can be seen in the Charlie's Angels episode "Harrigan's Angel". When Harrigan, an alcoholic detective, was forced to work with the Townsend girls, he said, "You mean I've got to work with girls?" His reaction was not uncommon during the era.

Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd and Shelley Hack
Charlie's Angels circa 1979