Charlie's Angels

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This article is about the television series. For the 2000 movie see Charlie's Angels (film).
Charlie's Angels
Image:Charliesangels.jpg
Main title card
Format Action adventure
Created by Ivan Goff
Ben Roberts
Starring Kate Jackson
Farrah Fawcett
Jaclyn Smith
Cheryl Ladd
Shelley Hack
Tanya Roberts
David Doyle
John Forsythe
Country of origin Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 110 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Aaron Spelling
Leonard Goldberg
Running time 50 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel ABC
Original run September 22, 1976 – June 24, 1981
External links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Charlie's Angels is a television series that was broadcast on the ABC Television Network from 1976 to 1981, about three women who work for a fictional private investigation agency, the Charles Townsend Agency. Their boss, Charlie (voiced by John Forsythe), was rarely seen and is never seen full face — in some episodes he is shown from the rear only (where the viewer only sees the back of his head and his arms) and on the series finale where he appears in surgeon's mask and outfit. He only ever contacted the "angels" by telephone, addressing them via a speakerphone on the office's desk.

The three original "angels" were Sabrina Duncan (Kate Jackson), Jill Munroe (Farrah Fawcett-Majors) and Kelly Garrett (Jaclyn Smith). Later, when a character left (because the actress went on to other projects, etc) another "angel" was brought on to keep the number at three. Later angels were Jill's little sister Kris Munroe (Cheryl Ladd), Tiffany Welles (Shelley Hack), and Julie Rogers (Tanya Roberts). Jaclyn Smith was the longest serving TV angel, remaining with the show for its entire five season run. Another major character throughout the series was Charlie's assistant, John Bosley (David Doyle).

A 1974 Ted Mikels movie called Doll Squad featured three female crime fighters, one even named Sabrina. Whether the movie influenced Aaron Spelling is disputed.


Contents

[edit] Premise

The show's premise focused on Charlie assigning the Angels to a new situation each episode, where they would go undercover in order to investigate 'from the inside'. Their undercover characters often had to feign not knowing each other in the situation, until their cover was inevitably blown. The undercover aspect of the show created much of the plot interest and tension. In the early seasons of the show, the Angels, under their assumed identities, used a combination of sexual wiles and knowledge learned for the situation in which they were being placed. By the third and fourth seasons, the writing had a tendency to stray from the show's initial sex appeal (see "As 'Jiggle TV'") and focus more on the case at hand.

[edit] As "Jiggle TV"

The show became known as "Jiggle TV" and "T&A TV" (or "Tits and Ass television") by critics who believed that the show had no intelligence or substance and that the scantily or provocatively dressed Angels (generally as part of their undercover character — e.g., roller derby girl, beauty pageant contestant, maid, female prisoner or just bikini-clad) did so to showcase the figures and/or sexuality of the actresses as a sole means of attracting viewers. Farrah Fawcett-Majors once attributed the show's success to this fact: "When the show was number three, I figured it was our acting. When it got to be number one, I decided it could only be because none of us wears a bra."

[edit] Episodes

Main article: List of Charlie's Angels episodes

[edit] Nielsen Ratings/ABC Broadcast History

Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of Charlie's Angels on ABC.

Note: Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of May sweeps. All times listed are North American Eastern Standard Time.

Season Timeslot Première Finale TV Season Rank Viewers
(millions)
1 Wednesday 10:00 P.M. September 22, 1976 May 4, 1977 1976-1977 #5[1] 18,369,600
2 Wednesday 9:00 P.M. September 14, 1977 May 10, 1978 1977-1978 #4[2] 17,787,600
3 September 13, 1978 May 16, 1979 1978-1979 #12[3] 18,178,000
4 September 12, 1979 May 7, 1980 1979-1980 #20[4] 15,946,700
5 Sunday 8:00 P.M. (November 30, 1980 - January 11, 1981)
Saturday 8:00 P.M. (January 24, 1981 - February 28, 1981)
Wednesday 8:00 P.M. (June 3, 1981 - June 24, 1981) 		November 30, 1980 June 24, 1981 1980-1981 #59[5] 8,758,285

+ The show tied for 4th place in the 1977-78 year-end rating and tied for 19th place in the 1979-80 year-end ratings.

[edit] Chronology of known Angels

  • John Bosley (1976–1981), played by David Boyle (Bosley was Charlie's assistant) Charlie's Angels original TV series
  • Connie Bates (1988–1989), played by Claire Yarlett,[6] Angels '89
  • Pam Ryan (1988–1989), played by Sandra Canning,[6] Angels '89
  • Trisha Lawrence (1988–1989), played by Karen Kopins,[6] Angels '89
  • Bernie Colter (1988–1989), played by Téa Leoni,[6] Angels '89
  • Madison Lee (1980s or 1990s?), played by Demi Moore,[7] Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
  • Adriana Vega (1998–1999), played by Patricia Manterola,[8][9] Ángeles
  • Elena Sanchez (1998–1999), played by Sandra Vidal,[8] Ángeles
  • Gina Navarro (1998–1999), played by Magali Caicedo,[8] Ángeles
  • Natalie Cook (2000–2003), played by Cameron Diaz, Charlie's Angels & Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
  • Dylan Sanders (2000–2003), played by Drew Barrymore, Charlie's Angels & Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
  • Alex Munday (2000–2003), played by Lucy Liu, Charlie's Angels & Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
  • Franziska (2002), played by Susann Uplegger[10]Wilde Engel
  • Lena (2002), played by Eva Habermann),Wilde Engel
  • Raven (2002), played by Birgit Stauber),Wilde Engel
  • Rebecca (2003), played by Vanessa Petruo), Wilde Engel
  • Ida (2003), played by Tanja Wenzel), Wilde Engel
  • Aiko (2003), played by Zora Holt), Wilde Engel
  • Richard Voss (2003), played by (Udo Kier), Wilde Engel

[edit] Pop culture impact

The first season of Charlie's Angels caused an explosion of fan hysteria and press coverage that was unheard of in the mid-1970s. It was even highlighted as a cover story in Time magazine which analyzed the impact of the show on popular culture. Also, in the U.S. census, it was found out that the name Charlie was more often used in naming children.

TV Guide also cashed in on the Angel phenomenon where Angel-groups graced the cover. The first one was during first season (1976) and had Jaclyn Smith, Farrah Fawcett-Majors, and Kate Jackson on the cover. The second one was during second season (1978) and had Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, and Kate Jackson on the cover. The third one was during fourth season (1979-1980) and had Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, and Shelley Hack on the cover. Other years had some of the Angels individually on the cover...with personal interviews.

Despite the fame and popularity of the show things were not always so "Angel-like" on the set. After Farrah Fawcett-Majors unexpectedly left the show after first season (supposedly because of her husband at the time, Lee Majors, didn't like her gone all the time--as well as with all her new fame Farrah thought she could do movies instead) things went into a frenzy. Who would replace Farrah?

Every aspiring actress knew it would be practically a "death sentence" job. Executive producer Aaron Spelling wanted actress Cheryl Ladd, but Ladd at first refused. But, he persisted and eventually she agreed...but they decided to create an all new character that could be Jill's (Fawcett) younger sister. She would start out inexperienced and would occasionally make a few humorous mistakes, but would of course triumph in the end. Then over time her character would become more experienced and sure of herself. This of course became Kris Munroe. On her first day to the set, in order to help break the "ice" so-to-speak, Cheryl Ladd wore a tight T-shirt that said: Farrah Fawcett-Minor. Everyone found it hilarious.

Second season premired with immense success (2-hour Angels In Paradise season premiere was the highest rated episode of the whole series!) and suddenly America was in love with the new Angel...plus she looked sensational in a bikini! However, actress Kate Jackson was not pleased about Farrah leaving and often would not even speak to Ladd when the cameras were not rolling. Because of Jackson's hostility towards her, at first Ladd didn't know if she could go on. It was actually actor David Doyle (John Bosley) that reassured her that everything would be okay and she would do great.

There was supposedly quite a bit of turmoil brewing behind-the-scenes and to the point that the set was eventually closed to the public during filming. Spelling and Goldberg took Farrah to court when she backed out after only one season...however it was discovered that she had not actually signed her original contract. A settlement was made and she agreed to make a total of 6 return guest-appearances on the show--3 for third season and 3 for fourth season.

Even with Farrah's return appearances, towards the end of third season Kate Jackson wanted out as well. Rumor had it that after all the constant blow-ups and turmoil from Jackson after Farrah left, Spelling and Goldberg were happy to let her out of the 5 year contract. They then hired actress and model Shelley Hack to be a more sophisticated Angel named Tiffany Welles. However, for some reason critics and fans did not take to her like they had with Cheryl after Farrah left, so sadly after the fourth season Hack was let go.

For the fifth and final season producers hired actress Tanya Roberts to come in as a more tough and street-smart Angel named Julie Rogers. Even though audiences seemed to accept Roberts better than they had Hack, ratings had taken an all-time dive. Word finally came down that after the fifth season the show would not be renewed. Charlie's Angels was cancelled. There had been talk of possibly renewing the series for a sixth season, but Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, and David Doyle had all 3 stated that even if the show was renewed for another season they would not be coming back. They were tired of all the turmoil and stress and wanted to go on to other projects.


The show has inspired many remakes and reinterpretations throughout the years and in different countries.

[edit] TV series

  • Four women were selected to be in a show called Angels '88, which was to serve as an updated version of the show. The show was later named Angels '89 after production delays, but the show ultimately never aired.
  • From 1998–1999, Telemundo and Sony produced a show called Ángeles.[11] The weekly hour format did not catch on with Hispanic viewers, who are accustomed to watching telenovelas nightly and the series was soon cancelled.
  • In 2002, a German version of Charlie's Angels, Wilde Engel,[12] was produced by the German channel RTL. The show was produced by Hermann Joha, Angela Strunck, and Melanie Mohr, but the cast was entirely changed around the second season. The show was known as Anges de choc in French-speaking countries, and as Three Wild Angels in English-speaking ones. The first season had good ratings, but they were slipping by the second season and high production costs made it hard to go on. The show was cancelled during 2005.

[edit] Films

The television series inspired two feature films from production company Flower Films: Charlie's Angels (2000) and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003), both directed by McG and starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as the three angels, with John Forsythe returning to voice Charlie. Bosley was played in the first film by Bill Murray, while the second film cast Bernie Mac as Jimmy Bosley, John's adoptive-brother.

The second movie had more nods to the TV series than the first movie in the series did, perhaps due to complaints from fans of the TV series. Whereas most movie remakes of 1970s TV shows, like Starsky and Hutch, are actually remakes, the Charlie's Angels films are set in a different time. The mythology goes that whenever an Angel leaves, she is replaced so there are always three (seen in the TV show). Liu, Barrymore and Diaz's characters are not based on the Angels in the show, but are their "successors". To prove this fact, Demi Moore's character, who is a 'fallen' Angel, quotes; "Back in my day — we used guns", which refers to the lack of martial arts in the TV series, while it is the preferred form of combat in the films. In the TV series, the Angels were more police-like, generally using guns. Physical struggles, were, however, common. In fact, the silhouette logo of the TV series does show one angel with her hands in a karate-like pose (and the other two with a gun and a walkie-talkie). The karate pose is often included when the show is being spoofed. The martial arts theme in the movies can be seen, in a way, as based on the original TV logo.

Also, Jaclyn Smith reprised her Kelly Garrett role from the TV series, who Dylan (Barrymore) meets in a Mexican cafe when she decides to leave the Angels. Kelly persuades her to rejoin the Angels with an inspiring speech. This reinforces the fact that there were not just three Angels (in fact in the TV series the viewer sees six different Angels), but there have always been three Angels at any one time.

[edit] Telefilm

In 2004, a television movie entitled Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Charlie's Angels aired on NBC. It depicted the true story of what happened during the first season of the TV show.

[edit] Video games

In July 2003, three Charlie's Angels games were released on three different gaming platforms: Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, and the mobile phone. The versions released on both the GameCube and PlayStation 2 were virtually the same, each given the same title: Charlie's Angels. The version released for the mobile phone was fundamentally toned down to fit the technical restrictions of the platform, and was titled Charlie's Angels: Road Cyclone.

According to Game Rankings, the GameCube version is the worst reviewed video game of all time (an average of 23%, with Metacritic garnering the same results). Although the PlayStation 2 version didn't garner enough reviews to be officially listed, this version is virtually the same as the GameCube version. The mobile phone version averaged a respectable 79%.

[edit] Collectible items

During the show's run, many collectible items were produced, including (two versions of) dolls, countless games, several posters, trading cards, pipes, notebooks, lunchbox & thermos, Charlie's Angels Van, and even record albums. Even though it was not directly part of the show, Farrah Fawcett-Majors also released a poster of her sporting a red bathing suit that became the biggest selling poster in history with 12 million copies sold. This poster also helped the beginning popularity of the series.

[edit] Comics

Two British comic strip versions were produced. The first appeared in the Polystyle publication Target in April 1978, drawn by John Canning. Target was a sister title to the long-running TV Comic aimed at older children and featuring TV action and crime shows of the day. Proving unpopular, it folded in August and merged back into TV Comic where Canning's Angels strip continued until October 1979. The second strip was printed in Junior TV Times Look-In, debuting in November 1979 (as soon as Polystyle's deal expired), written by Angus P. Allan and drawn by Jim Baikie and Bill Titcombe.

In the on-line comic Erfworld, one side in The Battle for Gobwin Knob hires three glowing, flying female combatants from an unseen "Charlie". One is blond and two are dark-haired. They first appear in silhouette in Page 42 of the comic and in the final frame of Page 69, after dispensing with some "Dwagons" of the opposing side, once again take up the iconic pose of Charlie's Angels. They are referred to as "Charlie's Archons". In the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, in the context of which the Erfworld story is placed, an archon is a documented character. In Gnosticism, an archon occupies a role similar to the angels of the Old Testament.

[edit] DVD releases

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released Seasons 1-3 of the series on DVD thus far. No release date(s) have been announced for the seasons 4 & 5 DVDs.

Season Episodes^ Discs Release Date Notes
1 23 5 May 27, 2003 This DVD set includes all 22 episodes from the first season in their entirety, in addition to the 90-minute pilot tele-film that preceded the series.
2 24 6 April 6, 2004 This DVD set includes all 24 episodes from the second season, all of which appear in their entirety, with the exception of the two-hour episodes "Angels in Paradise" and "Angels on Ice," both of which appear in their edited, syndicated version as two-part episodes.
3 22 6 July 4, 2006 This DVD set includes all 22 episodes from the third season, all of which appear in their entirety, with the exception of the two-hour episodes "Angels in Vegas" and "Terror on Skis," both of which appear in their edited, syndicated version as two-part episodes.
4 25 TBA TBA
5 16 TBA TBA

^Based on the format in which episodes originally aired. Two-hour episodes are counted as one episode.

[edit] Angel appearances

This is a chronological list of appearances that two or more Angels have made together in support of Charlie's Angels.

  • In 2006, all three original Angels appeared together on-stage at the Emmy Awards, in a retrospective tribute to Aaron Spelling.

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ "The Envelope 1976/1977", Los Angeles Times, September 18, 2007. 
  2. ^ "The Envelope 1977/1978", Los Angeles Times, September 18, 2007. 
  3. ^ "The Envelope 1978/1979", Los Angeles Times, September 18, 2007. 
  4. ^ "The Envelope 1979/1980", Los Angeles Times, September 18, 2007. 
  5. ^ "Charlie's Angels - U.S. Detective Drama", Museum of Broadcast Communications, October 2, 2007. 
  6. ^ a b c d Angels of the "Angels '88" or "Angels '89" from the much-hyped but never-aired show of the late '80s. [1]
  7. ^ A character in the Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle movie with "retcon" involving her being a former Angel
  8. ^ a b c Angels from the "Angeles" TV show from the 1998-99 Spanish-language version on Telemundo. [2]
  9. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387796/
  10. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318259/
  11. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387796/
  12. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318259/

[edit] External links

es:Los ángeles de Charlie fa:فرشتگان چارلی (مجموعه تلویزیونی) fr:Drôles de dames it:Charlie's Angels nl:Charlie's Angels (televisie) ja:チャーリーズ・エンジェル no:Charlie's Angels pl:Aniołki Charliego pt:Charlie's Angels fi:Charlien enkelit sv:Charlies änglar zh:霹靂嬌娃

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