Charlie’s Angels is an American crime drama television series that aired on ABC from September 22, 1976 to June 24, 1981, producing five seasons and 110 episodes. The series was created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts and was produced by Aaron Spelling.
It follows the crime-fighting adventures of three women working in a private detective agency in Los Angeles, California, and originally starred Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett (billed as Farrah Fawcett-Majors), and Jaclyn Smith in the leading roles and John Forsythe providing the voice of their boss, the unseen Charlie Townsend, who directed the “Angels” crime-fighting operations over a speakerphone.[1] There were a few casting changes, after the departure of Fawcett and Jackson, came the additions of Cheryl Ladd, Shelley Hack, and Tanya Roberts.[2]
Despite mixed reviews from critics and a reputation for merely being “Jiggle TV” (specifically emphasizing the sex appeal of the female leads), Charlie’s Angels enjoyed huge popularity with audiences and was a top ten hit in the Nielsen ratings for its first two seasons. By the third season, however, the show had fallen from the top 10. The fourth season of the show saw a further decline in ratings; the changes could not stop the falling ratings and in 1981, after 110 episodes and five seasons, Charlie’s Angels was canceled. The series continues to have a cult and pop culture following through syndication, DVD releases, and subsequent TV shows.
It also includes a 2011 television series reboot and a series of theatrical motion pictures.
References
- Bergan, Ronald (4 April 2010). “John Forsythe obituary”. Theguardian.com. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- News, A. B. C. (22 September 2016). “‘Charlie’s Angels’ Celebrates 40th Anniversary”. ABC News. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
If you like the Series check out the films