Shelley in a promo pic from 1980
Charlie's Angels is an unforgettable and groundbreaking TV series and it aired from 1976 to 1981. The premise was simple - three beautiful women working as detectives for a millionaire recluse named Charles Townsend. They got their assignments via speaker phone and weren't allowed any face time with the boss for his protection as well as their own. The series broke new ground because aside from having women as leads (a first for TV), it portrayed women as buddies, helping each other through jams and having each other's backs. It portrayed women as independent, liberated and capable of taking care of themselves without the help of men - which was perfect for the time when women's lib was at its peak. Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett (then Majors) and Jaclyn Smith played the first ever team of Angels in season 1 (1976). Cheryl Ladd, Shelley Hack and Tanya Roberts followed suit in seasons 2 (1977), 4 (1979) and 5 (1980) respectively. The series was a phenomenal hit around the world, and all the Angels garnered their own fan following and became superstars in their own right.
a writeup about Charlie's Angels from 1980
a writeup about Charlie's Angels from 1980
In 1980, when Tanya became the newest Angel, some observed that becoming a Charlie's Angel seemed to be a double-edged sword. Yes, instant worldwide fame was guaranteed; but then, along with that, came havoc on the Angels' personal and professional lives. Farrah Fawcett was first to leave the show after season 1 due to the pressure it was putting on her marriage to Lee Majors. Her megastardom put too much strain on their marriage; they were divorced by 1980. By 1980, Farrah also had a hard time finding projects that could propel her career to the next level. After season 3, Kate Jackson was next to go, as she felt really bad for not being given time off her Angels filming sked to film the movie Kramer vs. Kramer with Dustin Hoffman (the part of Joanna Kramer was written for her). Meryl Streep replaced her in the film (and later won an Oscar for the role). The disappointment tainted Kate's enthusiasm for the series; her unhappiness led to problems and to her eventual departure from the show. Like Farrah, by 1980, Kate had a difficult time finding that next career-boosting project. Furthermore, her 2-year marriage to actor Andrew Stevens was beginning to fizzle out; they were divorced in 1981.
a writeup about Charlie's Angels from 1980
a writeup about Charlie's Angels from 1980
Jaclyn Smith's career was going nowhere either. Like Kate, she had to turn down the leading role in the James Bond movie Moonraker as filming it would conflict with her Angels filming sked. And by 1980, her 2-year marriage to actor Dennis Cole was on the rocks; they likewise were divorced in 1981. Cheryl Ladd's career was going nowhere either. Her sexy image may have propelled her to superstardom, but it also made it difficult for her to transition into a serious actress. Her 8-year marriage to David Ladd couldn't survive her stardom either; they were divorced in 1980. By 1980, Shelley Hack was the latest Angel to fly the coup. The Supermodel joined the show a year before and became a Hollywood superstar overnight. But as season 4 progressed, she was consistently given little to say and do. Consequently, viewers lost interest, and the show began to slip in the ratings. When she was finally given "equal status" with the other Angels, it was too late. She left the show in 1980; and her romance with writer/director Nicholas Meyer fizzled out along the way. Tanya Roberts joined the show in 1980, amidst talks about the show being jinxed. But she was determined to break the cycle... as well as keep her 7-year marriage to Barry Roberts (which she ultimately did). For more on what happened to the Angels, check out: An Angels Catch Up 1 An Angels Catch Up 2 An Angels Catch Up 3
a writeup about Charlie's Angels from 1980
