a closeup of Shelley from the cover of TV Week, March 1980
It seems they needed a scapegoat to explain the dip in the ratings of the 4th season of Charlie's Angels. During its first season, the series finished at no. 5 over all in the ratings. Then it went up to no. 4 the second season. Then it dipped significantly to no. 12 by the third season. Shelley's season finished at no. 18 (tied with Chips.) Although the ratings didn't go up, the series was still within TV's top 20 shows that year (That's why people remember Shelley and her episodes.) Now was it fair to blame her for the dip? She wasn't given much to say or do during the first half of season 4, right? And that's when the dipping started, right? Also, what was the reason for the significant dip during season 3?
Shelley on the cover of TV Week, March 1980