an artwork of the Angels
from the original Charlie's Angels TV series
(left or right) Jaclyn Smith, Shelley Hack, Kate Jackson,
Farrah Fawcett, Tanya Roberts and Cheryl Ladd
In 2002, the E! network aired the special TV Tales: Charlie's Angels. It was about the legendary TV series Charlie's Angels - its inception, history and legacy. It was aired prior to the 2003 release of Charlie's Angels Full Throttle, the second Angels movie. All six Angels from the original TV series (as well as the executive producers and the show's production team) appeared in it and each Angel was given a chance to talk about her experience doing the show. Each girl gave their thoughts and views about what they went through and what the show meant to them. It also informed viewers about the post-Angels projects of each actress and goings-on with each of them so far.
screen captures of the Angels
from the original Charlie's Angels TV series
as they appeared on the E! network special
TV Tales: Charlie's Angels
The casting of Shelley as Tiffany Welles on Charlie's Angels in 1979 was, of course, discussed in the special. Her being THE Charlie Girl during the time she was cast was mentioned and was stated as one of the pivotal reasons why she was chosen ("THE Charlie Girl Becomes Charlie's Newest Angel" was a headline producer Aaron Spelling couldn't resist.) "I was on the evening news. I was in all the newspapers. It was a huge deal," Shelley recalled. Shelley's debut episode "Love Boat Angels" topped the Nielsen ratings which was a huge boost for the show (it had slipped significantly in the ratings the year before - from #4 in 1977 to #12 in 1978.) But as the season progressed, she was consistently given little to say and do. Shelley noticed, "It was an awkward introduction. I was hardly in the first couple of shows. I don't know why that is." Consequently, viewers lost interest, and the show began to dip in the ratings. When she was finally given "equal status" with the other Angels, it was too late. The show had seriously slipped in the ratings. Shelley's assessed, "The other networks had two years to try to counter-program. They were counter-programming more effectively every year. And that's what was happening." So, after just one season, Shelley left the show. "I never expected to be there more than a year and I wasn't," Shelley said. "So I did my year and I moved on. That was just fine. That was plenty for me." It seems Charlie's most private Angel found the Angel spotlight a little too overwhelming.
screen captures of Shelley
from E! network's TV Tales: Charlie's Angels
