a writeup about Shelley leaving Charlie's Angels, 1980
Shelley left Charlie's Angels after only one season, and she was unfairly blamed for the ratings dip that season. But in reality, the series already experienced a huge dip in the ratings the season before she came in. It dropped from #4 in season 2 to #12 in season 3. By the 3rd season, the series was out of the top 10 shows of the year. And when season 4 came around, it seems the production put the weight, burden and responsibility of putting the show back into the top 10 on Shelley's shoulders. And how? By limiting her lines and screen time as well as recycling stories and under-developing her character. It seems Shelley was fighting a losing battle from the get-go. But in spite of all that, the series still landed at #18 (tied with CHiPs) in the ratings, among the top 20 shows that year.
It was rumored that Farrah was to replace Shelley in Charlie's Angels.
