A Halloween Must-See

Shelley with Terry O'Quinn

in a promo pic for The Stepfather, 1987

Halloween is just a few days away and what better way to celebrate the holiday than to snuggle up with someone and watch horror films. In 1987, Shelley starred in the horror classic The Stepfather. It was directed by Joseph Ruben and had Terry O'Quinn in the title role. Terry played Jerry Blake (the stepfather), a man who has a knack for marrying into the "perfect" family and then killing the family off when he realizes that the family isn't "perfect" after all. Shelley played Susan Maine, the woman who marries Jerry and is willing look past the cracks on Jerry's carefully-constructed façade. Jill Schoelen played Stephanie, Susan's daughter by her first marriage. Stephanie doesn't like Jerry, finds him creepy and is determined to find out who he really is. The story was penned by Carolyn Lefcourt, Brian Garfield and Donald E. Westlake, who got screenplay credit. It was loosely based on on the story of John List, the New Jersey man who killed his own family in 1971 and then disappeared.

a writeup about The Stepfather

from 1987

Shelley was cast by the film's director Joseph Ruben who was impressed by her work in Martin Scorsese's The King of Comedy. "Shelley didn't have to test," said Ruben, "Shelley got it really off King of Comedy, because I thought she was just so believable and natural and easy. She doesn't strain on camera. And I was just knocked out by her in that movie." The film was shot on location in Canada and when it was released, Shelley told Channel Surfing: Charlie's Angels that she sneaked in alone when the film was being shown in theaters and got pretty scared with what she saw. Shelley received glowing reviews for her performance in this cult classic. The film is currently out on DVD and Blu-ray format. It is also available in various streaming platforms. It's great movie to watch for this coming Halloween, a Halloween must-see.

Shelley with Jill Schoelen

in a promo pic for The Stepfather, 1987

Plenty of Pincurls

a glamourous pic of Shelley

from 1986

Shelley experienced a career upswing in 1986. Her third TV series, Jack and Mike, was doing fairly well and getting decent ratings. And after a first order of a pilot and 12 episodes, the ABC network ordered five more episodes in 1987. Naturally, Shelley was featured in many newspapers and magazines (as promo for her new TV series). And since she was one of the more glamorous stars in Hollywood at the time, writeups about her looks, hair, and style would also crop up. In February of 1987, she appeared on the cover of the Sophisticate's Hairstyle Guide magazine, as well as on a spread within its pages. Two of Shelley's latest hairstyles were featured on the spread. "A Natural Favorite" was one. "Plenty of Pincurls" was another. These hairstyles were favored by Shelley because they allowed her natural waves to shine. "My favorite way to wear my hair is naturally wavy... the way my hair goes by itself," Shelley confided at the time. She saw her stylist every six weeks to trim her highlighted dark blonde hair, which she conditioned after every shampoo. The mag showed readers how to achieve Shelley's waves and recommended what products to use to achieve her look. And to achieve her cover girl complexion, Shelley's advice was to, "Moisturize! Cleanse! Stay out of the sun!"

Shelley in a mag clipping

from the Sophisticate's Hairstyle Guide,

Feb 1987

Super Scenics USA

a closeup of Shelley

from a fashion postcard, 1971

Shelley was a very busy model in the 1970s, appearing on many magazine covers, magazine and catalog spreads as well as standee posters and postcards. In 1971, Shelley appeared on a fashion postcard which was based on a spread that appeared on Seventeen magazine's April 1971 issue. The spread was called "Super Scenics USA: Dig Those Denims in New Mexico" where Shelley wore a denim look perfect for wearing to those archaeological digs in Albuquerque or the railroads at Santa Fe. She wore classic denim overalls by Time and Place zapped with a blossom applique over a T-shirt of rayon and cotton knit. A gaucho hat by Betmar finished her look. The postcard was a cropped version of the spread. And Shelley looked ready to get her hands dirty. (For more, check out Dig Those Denims, Dig Those Denims 2)

Shelley in a fashion postcard, 1971

Found Money TV Movie 8

screen captures from the TV movie

Found Money, 1983

Shelley appeared alongside comedy legends Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar in the 1983 TV movie Found Money. The movie was about computer expert Max Shepherd and security guard Sam Green, two former employees of First National Bank who have been let go with little to no benefits after decades of employment. Max uses his computer skills to create an account in the bank using the money from inactive accounts that are automatically transferred to the state when not claimed after five years. Using the name Seymour Good, head of The Invisible Friend Inc., he transfers the money to accounts of ordinary citizens who bring kindness to the world. After some convincing, Sam joins Max in his quest. As good Samaritans begin receiving the money, the story is picked up by the press and is covered by reporter Leslie Phillips (Shelley Hack) who becomes Max's love interest.

screen captures from the TV movie

Found Money, 1983

Shelley found both Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar "very generous to work with" but had to keep up with the their pace. "You had to work so fast, because everything was left loose," she told TV Guide. "I felt like I kind of jumped on a moving train," she added. As for Shelley's performance in Found Money, Television writer Fred Rothenberg said "Miss Hack's acting has improved since she played one of Charlie's Angels." Shelley said of the TV movie, "It's a whole type of distinctly American comedy, the closest to theater on film I'd ever gotten." Prior to Found Money, Shelley had starred in several stage plays in the early 1980s and had received excellent reviews for her performances. She was also cast in the Martin Scorsese film The King of Comedy where she held her own in scenes opposite acting giant Robert De Niro; she got excellent reviews for her performance in the film as well. Shelley had come a very long way indeed.

screen captures from the TV movie

Found Money, 1983

Charlie-The-Great Dividend

Charlie Girl Shelley with the Chaz Man

in promo pics for Revlon's Charlie

and Chaz product lines, 1976

Shelley was THE Charlie Girl from 1976 to 1982. "THE" because it was Shelley's image that inspired women to go out, be independent and be happy about it. In fact, it was and still is Shelley's face that is most associated with the brand. In fact, the Charlie brand was so popular that a masculine counterpart was created and was named Chaz. Both Charlie and Chaz were derived from the name of Revlon's founder Charles Revson. In 1977, a newspaper ad promoting both fragrances was released, with the tagline "When Chaz and Charlie get together... you get one big splash of a dividend! 'Charlie-The-Great'". The promo stated that with any purchase of $3.00 or more from the Chaz collection (which included Chaz cologne spray, Chaz cologne, Chaz Aftershave, Chaz Conditioning Soap, Chaz Body Freshening Talc, and The Chaz Set), anyone could purchase Charlie-The-Great, an 8-oz. sized bottle of Charlie cologne, for just $3.00. An artwork of Shelley appeared on the ad, of course, and Shelley looked fab even in artwork.

an artwork of Shelley

in a newspaper ad for Charlie

perfume and cosmetics, 1977

Airport Sighting

a paparazzi pic of Shelley, 1979

Shelley was hounded by the paparazzi in 1979 after it was announced that she was cast in Charlie's Angels. She became the newest Angel in 1979, and she jumped from being THE Charlie Girl to becoming Charlie's latest Superstar cherub. As it was for all the Angels before her, she received a lot of attention from both the media and from fans. Her casting was even mentioned in the evening news - it was a huge deal. "I couldn't believe it. What was I doing in the evening news," she exclaimed at the time. When she arrived in St. Thomas at the Caribbean, where her first Charlie's Angels episode was going to be shot, she was greeted by the paparazzi. "When I got off the plane, there were maybe eight million paparazzi. I looked around for Sophia Loren. It was for me. I couldn't believe it," Shelley said. The same was true when she returned from the Caribbean. The paparazzi was at the Los Angeles International Airport, waiting for her arrival. Shelley was astonished by the amount of attention her Angel casting generated. "I had press people crawling in my windows," she told E! in 2002.

a paparazzi pic of Shelley, 1979

A Challenge For An Actress

Shelley on the cover

of Woman magazine, Nov 1979

Shelley became Charlie's newest Angel in 1979. Kate Jackson left the hit TV series at the end of its 3rd season and producers Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg needed a replacement for the upcoming season. "I learned you can be hurt twice," Spelling said (most likely referring to Farrah Fawcett and now Kate). "Katie and I were dear, dear friends. Katie wanted to spread her wings. But you cannot allow actors to break contracts - so I had to fire her," he added. After sifting through around 300 applicants, Spelling and Goldberg ran "personality tests" on 20 of them, then screen tests on 12, and Shelley emerged as the winner, as their final choice. "We hired her 40 percent from the screen test and 60 percent from the personality test," Spelling told TV Guide, "We decided she was a nice person with sparkle and intelligence." And Shelley was so excited about her new Angel status, "I feel like Cinderella. My cheeks hurt from smiling too much."

a writeup about Shelley

and co-Angel Kate Jackson

from the weekly magazine Woman,

Nov 1979

According to Spelling, they were looking for someone long and lean like Kate. They were looking for a girl with "the right bubble and intelligence." New Angel Tiffany Welles was written as a Smith College graduate, a girl from the East who was not a voluptuous sexpot. And Shelley fit the bill perfectly... she's a Smith College graduate (with a degree in history), she was born in New York and she grew up in Connecticut, and she had that classic model shape and beauty. And Shelley's casting was announced around the world. Everyone was excited to watch the new Angel team (Shelley, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd) solve mysteries and fight crime in the upcoming season. Shelley, who studied acting in New York, at the Herbert Berghof Studios under Jack Wolzer, was no acting novice as she had been delving into film and TV work since 1977. But after a bit of convincing from her agent, she decided to audition for the part of Tiffany Welles in Charlie's Angels, to leap at the opportunity to explore her range as an actress in the hit TV series. "I think it's a challenge for an actress," she said, "I hope to grow."

a writeup about Shelley

and co-Angel Kate Jackson

from the weekly magazine Woman,

Nov 1979

Fashion-Forward '74

a closeup of Shelley from the cover

of Sears Apparel and Decorator

Fashion Fabrics catalog, 1974

Shelley appeared on many catalog spreads and covers throughout her modeling career... she appeared on many catalogs for Sears. She appeared on the cover of Sears Apparel and Decorator Fashion Fabrics catalog, on their fall and winter 1974 issue. The catalog contained the different types of fabrics available at Sears that could be used to create the latest fashion pieces or home accessories. The catalog also contained fashion patterns (by Simplicity) and home decor/household items that could be enhanced with the right fabrics. Shelley appeared on the cover wearing a three-piece outfit by Simplicity Patterns. She wore the Long Sleeve Turtleneck Top (made with a Fortrel polyester fabric) over the Pantsuit (made with a Ponti Di Roma double-knit fabric). She topped it off with the Jiffy Knit Unlined Jacket (made with an argyle plaid printed Fortrel polyester fabric). She finished her look with a knitted skull cap. And Shelley looked chic and fashion-forward.

Shelley on the cover

of Sears Apparel and Decorator

Fashion Fabrics catalog, 1974

A Natural Favorite

a promo pic of Shelley

for Jack and Mike, 1986

Shelley experienced a career upswing in 1986. Her third TV series, Jack and Mike, was doing fairly well and getting decent ratings. And after a first order of a pilot and 12 episodes, the ABC network ordered five more episodes in 1987. Naturally, Shelley was featured in many newspapers and magazines (as promo for her new TV series). And since she was one of the more glamorous stars in Hollywood at the time, writeups about her looks, hair, and style would also crop up. In February of 1987, she appeared on the cover of the Sophisticate's Hairstyle Guide magazine, as well as on a spread within its pages. Two of Shelley's latest hairstyles were featured on the spread. "A Natural Favorite" was a hairstyle that Shelley liked because it allowed her natural waves to shine. "My favorite way to wear my hair is naturally wavy... the way my hair goes by itself," Shelley confided at the time. She saw her stylist every six weeks to trim her highlighted dark blonde hair, which she conditioned after every shampoo. The mag showed readers how to achieve Shelley's waves and recommended what products to use to achieve her look.

Shelley in a mag clipping

from the Sophisticate's Hairstyle Guide,

Feb 1987

1970s High-End Chic

a closeup of Shelley from an ad

for Dorian by Lowell Judson, 1972

Shelley appeared in many ads during her tenure as a Supermodel in the 1970s. In 1974, she appeared in an ad for Dorian by Lowell Judson. Dorian was an exclusive and high-end dress label known for jersey dresses. The label was sold at Lord & Taylor, I. Magnin, and Neiman Marcus. Designer Lowell Judson designed for Nelly de Grab's fashion line (which was known for mix & match separates and luxurious evening wear) and won a Special Award from the Coty American Fashion Critics' Awards in 1976 for men's loungewear. In the ad, Shelley wore a sunshine color printed long dress (of acrylic jersey fabric) that could take any woman from dinner at home to an evening on the town. A wide belt and chunky sandals finished her look. A single bracelet accessorized her look. And Shelley looked like a 1970s high-end chic chick.

Shelley in an ad

for Dorian by Lowell Judson, 1972

Found Money TV Movie 7

Shelley in a screen capture

from the TV movie Found Money, 1983

Shelley appeared alongside comedy legends Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar in the 1983 TV movie Found Money. The movie was about computer expert Max Shepherd and security guard Sam Green, two former employees of First National Bank who have been let go with little to no benefits after decades of employment. Max uses his computer skills to create an account in the bank using the money from inactive accounts that are automatically transferred to the state when not claimed after five years. Using the name Seymour Good, head of The Invisible Friend Inc., he transfers the money to accounts of ordinary citizens who bring kindness to the world. After some convincing, Sam joins Max in his quest. As good Samaritans begin receiving the money, the story is picked up by the press and is covered by reporter Leslie Phillips (Shelley Hack) who becomes Max's love interest.

screen captures from the TV movie

Found Money, 1983

Shelley found both Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar "very generous to work with" but had to keep up with the their pace. "You had to work so fast, because everything was left loose," she told TV Guide. "I felt like I kind of jumped on a moving train," she added. As for Shelley's performance in Found Money, Television writer Fred Rothenberg said "Miss Hack's acting has improved since she played one of Charlie's Angels." Shelley said of the TV movie, "It's a whole type of distinctly American comedy, the closest to theater on film I'd ever gotten." Prior to Found Money, Shelley had starred in several stage plays in the early 1980s and had received excellent reviews for her performances. She was also cast in the Martin Scorsese film The King of Comedy where she held her own in scenes opposite acting giant Robert De Niro; she got excellent reviews for her performance in the film as well. Shelley had come a very long way indeed.

screen captures from the TV movie

Found Money, 1983

More Body-and-Soul

Shelley in promo pics

for Charlie perfume and cosmetics, 1976

Shelley was THE quintessential Charlie Girl and appeared in many, many ads for the brand. She was Revlon Charlie's image model from 1976 to 1982. Charlie was one of the first mega-successful lifestyle brands in the world. The phenomenal success of the brand was due in part to Shelley's unforgettable image. In 1976, an artwork of Shelley appeared in a newspaper ad for Charlie called "Charlie's Body-and-Soul Set." It was a promo for a gift set that contained Charlie More Moisture Moisturizer, Charlie Bath Soap, Charlie Body Silk, and Charlie Concentrated Perfume Spray. The Charlie Body-and-Soul Set (worth $19.75) could be purchased for only $4.75 for any purchase of $5.00 or more from the Charlie Collection. Shelley, of course, appeared in the ad for this promo.

an artwork of Shelley

in a newspaper ad for Charlie

perfume and cosmetics, 1976

Filmed in Chicago

a closeup of Shelley

from a 1986 paparazzi pic

Shelley starred in her third TV series Jack and Mike in 1986. The series explored the life of journalist Jackie Shea (played by Shelley) and restauranteur Mike Brennan (played Tom Mason), a married couple with busy careers trying to make their marriage work. "It's about a modern woman who is doing something her contemporaries are doing - holding down a job and keeping a relationship," Shelley explained. "The real focus will be on the marriage and how two people who work cope and how their professional entanglements affect them," Tom Mason added. To distinguish it from other shows airing at the time, the series was filmed on location in Chicago, Illinois. Shelley would be spotted occasionally by the paparazzi en route from L.A. to Chicago. "We filmed the pilot here (Chicago) in February, in minus 15 degree weather," Shelley said. "No one anticipated the sudden drop in temperature. Nearby warm clothing stores were completely ransacked," she added. But not to worry, Shelley was welcomed by her adoring fans; and they gave her flowers, as well as woolen caps.

a clipping about Shelley

being spotted by the paparazzi

at the Los Angeles Airport, 1986

Top and Pants Set

a closeup of Shelley from a pic

for Simplicity fashions, 1976

Shelley appeared on many Simplicity pattern catalogs, brochures and packaging during the 1960s and 1970s. The Simplicity Pattern Company is the leading manufacturer of sewing patterns and sewing pattern guides which are distributed throughout the world. They have been manufacturing sewing patterns since 1927 and have allowed fashionistas on a budget and sewing aficionados to create clothes in a reliable manner. In 1976, Shelley was photographed wearing Simplicity Pattern number 7430, a misses' pullover top and pants set (which could also be used for a pullover dress). The top-stitched top had a sailor type collar, a front that softly gathered to the inset, a front slash opening (with an optional buttoned tab), forward shoulder seams, and short set-in sleeves at the dropped shoulders. It could be worn with or without a self-fabric tie belt. Transfers for the embroidery details were included but were optional. The pants had a back zipper and a waistband. And as always, Shelley looked fab in the top and pants set. (For more, check out: A Guide to Gauze)

a pic of Shelley with Kathy Loghry

for Simplicity fashions, 1976

Zwicker Understands 3

closeups of Shelley

from pics used in an ad

for Zwicker Knitting Mills, 1970

Shelley appeared in an ad for Zwicker Knitting Mills in 1970. Zwicker was a knitting mill company (the last one in the US when it closed in 1990) that sold knitted winter wear such as scarves, gloves, hats and the like. Their 1970 ad had the tagline "Grandmother loved you... but Zwicker understands you better." The ad was a promo for the latest variety of knitwear made available by Zwicker for the contemporary young miss... so young ladies could have alternatives to the knitwear their grandmas made for them. Great-looking tam o' shanters, lace crochet hats, cable-stitched berets, and wild-colored London street-boy caps - they were all available. Long, long scarves and wild ponchos were available as well. Because Zwicker understood the needs of the 1970s fashionista. And Shelley was one '70s fashionista indeed. (For more, check out: Zwicker Understands 1 and Zwicker Understands 2)

Shelley in an ad

for Zwicker Knitting Mills, 1970

1986 TV Series

a promo pic of Shelley

for Jack and Mike, 1986

Shelley's third foray into series TV was Jack and Mike in 1986. Executive producer David Gerber believed so much in Shelley that he wanted to give her her own TV series. It was initially called Jackie O'Shea, with Shelley in the title role. Tom Mason (Shelley's co-star in the TV movie Kicks with whom she had good chemistry) was offered the role of Jackie's husband. After talks with Gerber regarding the husband character being more involved in the plots, Mason finally accepted. The series was then retitled Our Kind of Town. When it aired, it was again retitled Jack and Mike... alluding to the names of the two main characters, Jackie Shea and her husband Mike Brennan. The pilot episode was originally aired in September 16, 1986 right after the hit TV series Moonlighting; and debuted to decent ratings. It also received decent reviews, with a few scathing writeups here and there. After a first order of a pilot and 12 episodes, the ABC network (which aired the series) ordered five more episodes; and the series looked like it was in for a long run. Then, it was suddenly canceled to the disappointment of fans. Let's hope the entire series is finally streamed somewhere.

Shelley in a mag clipping

from the Sophisticate's Hairstyle Guide,

Feb 1987

Fashionable And Up-To-The-Minute

a closeup of Shelley from an ad

for Rovercoat by Arthur Jay, 1970

Shelley modeled part-time during her schooling in the 1960s and started modeling full-time after graduating. She was a very busy model in the 1970s. She was represented by Ford Models Inc. and was one of the most sought after models in their roster. She appeared on magazine covers, spreads and features, commercials and print ads. In 1970, she appeared in an ad for Rovercoat by Arthur Jay. Rovercoat was a fashion line owned by the Arthur Jay Company. Rovercoat specialized in creating women's outer apparel, namely coats and rainwear. The line included clothing, footwear and headgear for women. In the ad, Shelley wore a checkerboard print above-the-knee coat in a textured fabric. It had a leather-look yoke, a leather-look belt, a Peter pan collar and leather-look buttons. It also had matching leather-look gloves. She wore it over a turtleneck sweater top and pants by Happy Legs. Boots by Latinas finished her look. A smart hat accessorized her look. And Shelley looked fashionable and up-to-the-minute.

Shelley with Colleen Corby, Lucy Angle,

and an unidentified model in an ad

for Rovercoat by Arthur Jay, 1970

Found Money TV Movie 6

Shelley in a screen capture

from the TV movie Found Money, 1983

Shelley appeared alongside comedy legends Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar in the 1983 TV movie Found Money. The movie was about computer expert Max Shepherd and security guard Sam Green, two former employees of First National Bank who have been let go with little to no benefits after decades of employment. Max uses his computer skills to create an account in the bank using the money from inactive accounts that are automatically transferred to the state when not claimed after five years. Using the name Seymour Good, head of The Invisible Friend Inc., he transfers the money to accounts of ordinary citizens who bring kindness to the world. After some convincing, Sam joins Max in his quest. As good Samaritans begin receiving the money, the story is picked up by the press and is covered by reporter Leslie Phillips (Shelley Hack) who becomes Max's love interest.

screen captures from the TV movie

Found Money, 1983

Shelley found both Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar "very generous to work with" but had to keep up with the their pace. "You had to work so fast, because everything was left loose," she told TV Guide. "I felt like I kind of jumped on a moving train," she added. As for Shelley's performance in Found Money, Television writer Fred Rothenberg said "Miss Hack's acting has improved since she played one of Charlie's Angels." Shelley said of the TV movie, "It's a whole type of distinctly American comedy, the closest to theater on film I'd ever gotten." Prior to Found Money, Shelley had starred in several stage plays in the early 1980s and had received excellent reviews for her performances. She was also cast in the Martin Scorsese film The King of Comedy where she held her own in scenes opposite acting giant Robert De Niro; she got excellent reviews for her performance in the film as well. Shelley had come a very long way indeed.

screen captures from the TV movie

Found Money, 1983

The Stow-It-All Tote

Shelley in promo pics

for Charlie perfume and cosmetics, 1976

Shelley was THE quintessential Charlie Girl and appeared in many, many ads for the brand. She was Revlon Charlie's image model from 1976 to 1982. Charlie was one of the first mega-successful lifestyle brands in the world. The phenomenal success of the brand was due in part to Shelley's unforgettable image. In 1976, an artwork of Shelley appeared in a newspaper ad for Charlie called "The Dividend That Goes Your Way... Charlie's Stow-It-All." It was a promo that offered a $26.00 value dividend from Charlie at only $6.00 for every $5.00 purchase or more from the Charlie collection by Revlon. The dividend included Charlie More Moisture Moisturizer, Charlie Fresh New Makeup, Charlie Fresh Fresh Eyecolor in Silverfrost Plum, and Charlie Concentrated Perfume Spray - all packed into a stylish dark-blue corduroy tote that could be taken anywhere. The ad included a checklist of all the products available from the Charlie collection for customers who wanted their transactions and purchases done via postal mail. And whether in pictures or in artwork, Charlie Girl Shelley was always Charlie-Girl gorgeous.

an artwork of Shelley

in a newspaper ad for Charlie

perfume and cosmetics, 1976

Shelley and John

Shelley with writer/director John Leone

at The Love Boat Honors Helen Hayes

gala event, 1980

In February of 1980, Shelley attended The Love Boat Honors Helen Hayes gala event which was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The special event for the hit TV series The Love Boat also paid tribute to the "First Lady of American Theatre" Helen Hayes. Love Boat executive producer Aaron Spelling was a big admirer of Ms. Hayes and included a special tribute to the two-time Oscar winner (who was also the first woman to win the EGOT - an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award) at the gala event. The acting legend was also an esteemed guest star in the 90-minute 3rd season finale episode of The Love Boat entitled "No Girls for Doc/Marriage of Convenience/The Caller/The Witness" where she played opposite her real-life adopted son, actor James MacArthur, who rose to fame as Danny "Danno" Williams on the TV series Hawaii Five-O. The episode aired in May of that year.

Shelley with writer/director John Leone

at The Love Boat Honors Helen Hayes

gala event, 1980

Recommended Episode Order

Shelley with Jaclyn Smith

and Cheryl Ladd in a promo pic

for Charlie's Angels, 1979

In 1979, Shelley joined the cast of the mega-hit TV series Charlie's Angels for its 4th season. Promo pics, writeups and gossip about Shelley and the new Angel team appeared all around the world; and fans were excited to see Charlie's newest Angel in action. When Shelley's debut episode "Love Boat Angels" aired, it topped the Nielsen ratings; and US Weekly predicted that the series, with Shelley on board, would be a hit. But changes were made during the 4th season. Due to the request of the retained cast members for more time off, solo episodes were produced. These episodes focused on just one Angel, with the other Angels playing support, popping up here and there throughout the entire episode. Each Angel had three of these solo episodes, including guest Angel Farrah Fawcett (half of the 4th season episodes were solo episodes and half were team episodes). After two team episodes ("Love Boat Angels" and "Angels Go Truckin'"), Shelley was suddenly relegated to the background... as two Jaclyn Smith back-to-back solo episodes, a Farrah Fawcett solo episode, a Cheryl Ladd solo episode, a team episode, and then another Farrah Fawcett solo episode were aired. "We want to introduce the new Angel gradually" was the explanation; but the move backfired. Upon so much anticipation after the announcement of Shelley's casting, the extremely disappointed fans didn't get to see enough material on her (during those crucial initial episodes) to embrace her character. It was only by the 10th episode of the season ("Angels in Campus") that Shelley was finally able to star in her own solo episode (and she rose to the occasion). But viewership had already declined by then. Fans were left with the impression that Shelley added nothing to the show... as she was given little to say or do during those crucial initial episodes.

the original episode order

of Charlie's Angels season 4,

1979-1980

So the problem with Charlie's Angels season 4 was really the fact that the introduction and development of Shelley's character Tiffany Welles happened too late in the season... around mid-season. This prevented viewers from getting to know Tiffany. Although Shelley's potential to shine as an Angel could be seen as early as the 2nd episode (in the team episode "Angels Go Truckin'"), the barrage of solo episodes focusing on her co-Angels kept Tiffany in the background for quite a while. So maybe a slight shuffling of episodes could remedy the situation. Watching the episodes in a different order could result in a more developed Tiffany Welles character. Right after "Love Boat Angels," watching Shelley's solo episode "Angels on Campus" will immediately give viewers a taste of who Tiffany is... a smart, stylish collegiate who can get herself out of a jam. Follow this up with the Jaclyn's solo episode "Avenging Angel" and then the highly entertaining team episode "Angel Hunt," and viewers will feel that Tiffany is now part of the group. Then watching Farrah's solo episode "Fallen Angel" (her best guest episode), Cheryl's solo episode "Caged Angel," and then the well-written team episode "Angels Go Truckin'" will keep viewers interested in this new angel team. Continuing with Shelley's solo episode "Of Ghosts and Angels" and then alternating team and solo episodes will keep viewers engaged and interested in the Angel characters and familiarize them with this new Angel team's group dynamic. Also, watching the two-parter team episode "One Love... Two Angels" in the middle of the season, helps develop the Tiffany character even further, as this is the best detective work Tif does in the series. Ending the season with the team episode "Three For The Money" (a solid, well-written, and well-performed episode) will leave viewers with a smile on their faces.

a recommended episode order

of Charlie's Angels season 4,

1979-1980

Zwicker Understands 2

a closeup of Shelley

from a pic used in an ad

for Zwicker Knitting Mills, 1970

Shelley appeared in an ad for Zwicker Knitting Mills in 1970. Zwicker was a knitting mill company (the last one in the US when it closed in 1990) that sold knitted winter wear such as scarves, gloves, hats and the like. Their 1970 ad had the tagline "Grandmother loved you... but Zwicker understands you better." The ad was a promo for the latest variety of knitwear made available by Zwicker for the contemporary young miss... so young ladies could have alternatives to the knitwear their grandmas made for them. Great-looking tam o' shanters, lace crochet hats, cable-stitched berets, and wild-colored London street-boy caps - they were all available. Long, long scarves and wild ponchos were available as well. Because Zwicker understood the needs of the 1970s fashionista. And Shelley was one '70s fashionista indeed.

Shelley in a pic used in an ad

for Zwicker Knitting Mills, 1970