IT'S THE SHOW THAT STARTED "JIGGLE TV". THE FEMINIST'S NIGHTMARE AND JOE SIXPACK'S GREATEST DELIGHT.
MAKING IT'S DEBUT ON ABC TV IN THE FALL OF 1976, CHARLIE'S ANGELS QUICKLY BECAME THE TALK OF THE INDUSTRY AND MADE TELEVISION HISTORY TO BOOT. IT WAS THE STORY OF THREE UNDERCOVER DETECTIVES (ALL KNOCKOUTS) WHO WORKED FOR A MAN WHO RUNS A DETECTIVE AGENCY NAMED CHARLIE AND WENT ON DANGEROUS UNDERCOVER MISSIONS AND CAPERS.
CHARLIE'S ANGELS WAS NOT ONLY ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR TV SHOWS OF THE 1970'S, IT WAS ALSO ONE OF THE FIRST SERIES TO HAVE WOMEN TAKING ON ROLES USUALLY RESERVED FOR MEN. STARRING KATE JACKSON, JACLYN SMITH, AND A THEN LITTLE-KNOWN MODEL AND SOMETIME-ACTRESS NAMED FARRAH FAWCETT, CHARLIE'S ANGELS QUICKLY BECAME A RATINGS SMASH HIT AND A MERCHANDISING BONANZA.
A NEW VERSION OF THE SERIES WILL DEBUT ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2011 (THAT'S TONIGHT), THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEBUT OF THE ORIGINAL SERIES.
O.K., LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A FEW FACTS YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT CHARLIE'S ANGELS:
KATE JACKSON WAS THE FIRST ANGEL CAST
SHE HAD HER CHOICE OF ROLES, AND SHE CHOSE TO PLAY SABRINA DUNCAN - "THE SMART ONE". ORIGINALLY CAST AS A GLAMOROUS MODEL TYPE, LIKE HER TWO COUNTERPARTS, JACKSON SOON TIRED OF THIS AND ASKED THAT HER CHARACTER HAVE A LESS GLAMOROUS WARDROBE AND WEAR FEWER BIKINIS. HER REQUEST WAS GRANTED AND THAT IS WHY ON THE SHOW YOU WILL USUALLY ONLY SEE THE OTHER TWO ANGELS IN HIGH-FASHION OUTFITS AND REVEALING SWIMSUITS.
PRO ARTS TRACKED DOWN FARRAH AND ARRANGED FOR A PHOTO SHOOT BY THE POOL AT HER HOUSE IN BEL-AIR, CALIFORNIA. PHOTOGRAPHER BRUCE McBROOM USED AN INDIAN BLANKET THAT DOUBLED AS A SEAT COVER IN HIS CHEVY AS THE BACKGROUND. FARRAH CHOSE A RED TWO-PIECE SUIT INSTEAD OF A BIKINI TO HIDE A SCAR ON HER STOMACH. BETWEEN THE TIME FARRAH POSED AND THE RELEASE OF THE POSTER, A HANDFUL OF CHARLIE'S ANGELS EPISODES HAD AIRED. THIS STROKE OF LUCK HELPED THE POSTER''S SUCCESS AND SALES WENT THROUGH THE ROOF.
THE "THE FARRAH FAWCETT POSTER" WAS TO BECOME THE BIGGEST SELLING POSTER IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN POP CULTURE.
FARRAH FAWCETT QUICKLY BECAME THE BREAKAWAY STAR OF THE SHOW AND THE MOST POPULAR ANGEL.
KATE JACKSON WAS THE FIRST ANGEL CAST
SHE HAD HER CHOICE OF ROLES, AND SHE CHOSE TO PLAY SABRINA DUNCAN - "THE SMART ONE". ORIGINALLY CAST AS A GLAMOROUS MODEL TYPE, LIKE HER TWO COUNTERPARTS, JACKSON SOON TIRED OF THIS AND ASKED THAT HER CHARACTER HAVE A LESS GLAMOROUS WARDROBE AND WEAR FEWER BIKINIS. HER REQUEST WAS GRANTED AND THAT IS WHY ON THE SHOW YOU WILL USUALLY ONLY SEE THE OTHER TWO ANGELS IN HIGH-FASHION OUTFITS AND REVEALING SWIMSUITS.
THE SHOW WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED "ALLEY CATS"
KATE JACKSON SAW A PAINTING OF THREE ANGELS IN PRODUCER AARON SPELLING'S OFFICE AND GAVE THEM THE "ANGELS" IDEA. THEN THE TITLE WAS CHANGED TO "HARRY'S ANGELS", BUT THIS CONFLICTED WITH ANOTHER CONTEMPORARY SERIES CALLED HARRY O, STARRING DAVID JANSSEN, SO, "CHARLIE'S ANGELS" WAS FINALLY AGREED UPON.
IT WAS NOT THE FIRST "JIGGLE TV" SHOW
THE TERM "JIGGLE TV", WHICH WAS MADE FAMOUS BY CHARLIE'S ANGELS, WAS FIRST USED TO DESCRIBE THE SHORT-LIVED SHOW SUGAR TIME STARRING HUGH HEFNER'S THEN-GIRLFRIEND BARBI BENTON.
THAT SHOW WAS CANCELLED AFTER A FEW EPISODES AND CHARLIE'S ANGELS PUT THE TERM INTO THE TV LEXICON.
THE TERM "JIGGLE TV", WHICH WAS MADE FAMOUS BY CHARLIE'S ANGELS, WAS FIRST USED TO DESCRIBE THE SHORT-LIVED SHOW SUGAR TIME STARRING HUGH HEFNER'S THEN-GIRLFRIEND BARBI BENTON.
THAT SHOW WAS CANCELLED AFTER A FEW EPISODES AND CHARLIE'S ANGELS PUT THE TERM INTO THE TV LEXICON.
JOHN FORSYTHE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL "CHARLIE"
GIG YOUNG WAS ORIGINALLY CAST TO PLAY THE GIRLS' BOSS, CHARLIE, WHO WAS NOT SEEN ON CAMERA, BUT GIG WAS A NOTORIOUS ALCOHOLIC AND REPORTED FOR HIS FIRST DAY'S WORK COMPLETELY PICKLED. HE WAS SO BADLY DRUNK, HE COULDN'T READ HIS LINES WITHOUT SLURRING THEM. NERVOUS, AS IT WAS A FRIDAY NIGHT AND THE PILOT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE DELIVERED ON MONDAY, PRODUCER AARON SPELLING CALLED HIS OLD FRIEND, ACTOR JOHN FORSYTHE, AND ASKED HIM TO COME DOWN AND READ THE ROLE. FORSYTHE COMPLIED, DROVE DOWN THAT NIGHT, AND READ THE ROLE- REPUTEDLY IN HIS PAJAMAS. HE WAS TO BE CHARLIE THROUGHOUT THE SHOW'S FIVE-YEAR RUN.
ALL THREE ACTRESSES WERE SOUTHERN GIRLS WITH HEAVY DIXIE ACCENTS
ALL THREE HAD TO DELIBERATELY HIDE THEIR SOUTHERN DRAWLS FOR THEIR ROLES, ESPECIALLY FAWCETT AND SMITH, WHO HAD LITTLE PREVIOUS ACTING EXPERIENCE.
ALL THREE HAD TO DELIBERATELY HIDE THEIR SOUTHERN DRAWLS FOR THEIR ROLES, ESPECIALLY FAWCETT AND SMITH, WHO HAD LITTLE PREVIOUS ACTING EXPERIENCE.
IT WAS AYN RAND'S FAVORITE SHOW
YOU'RE KIDDING, RIGHT? NO, LEGENDARY "OBJECTIVIST" WRITER AND LIBERTARIAN AYN RAND LOVED THE SHOW (SHE LIKED SEEING WOMEN IN POSITIONS OF POWER TAKING CONTROL.)
YOU'RE KIDDING, RIGHT? NO, LEGENDARY "OBJECTIVIST" WRITER AND LIBERTARIAN AYN RAND LOVED THE SHOW (SHE LIKED SEEING WOMEN IN POSITIONS OF POWER TAKING CONTROL.)
THE "FARRAH" CUT, WAS THE MOST COPIED HAIRSTYLE IN THE LATE 1970'S.
PROBABLY THE MOST POPULAR AND COPIED WOMEN'S TV HAIRSTYLE IN HISTORY, IT'S POPULARITY WAS TO BE RIVALED ALMOST TWENTY YEARS LATER BY JENNIFER ANISTON'S "RACHEL" CUT, HONORING HER MANE FROM THE HIT SITCOM FRIENDS.
"THE FARRAH FAWCETT POSTER" WAS ACTUALLY SHOT BEFORE FARRAH FAWCETT WAS AN ANGEL.
PROBABLY THE MOST POPULAR AND COPIED WOMEN'S TV HAIRSTYLE IN HISTORY, IT'S POPULARITY WAS TO BE RIVALED ALMOST TWENTY YEARS LATER BY JENNIFER ANISTON'S "RACHEL" CUT, HONORING HER MANE FROM THE HIT SITCOM FRIENDS.
"THE FARRAH FAWCETT POSTER" WAS ACTUALLY SHOT BEFORE FARRAH FAWCETT WAS AN ANGEL.
THE PRO ARTS COMPANY WAS RUN BY TWO BROTHERS WHO SPECIALIZED IN SELLING YOUTH-ORIENTED POSTERS. THEIR FONZIE POSTER FROM THE POPULAR SERIES HAPPY DAYS, HAD SOLD A QUARTER OF A MILLION COPIES IN THE MID-SEVENTIES. THE BROTHERS HEARD THAT MANY OF THEIR GUY FRIENDS IN COLLEGE WERE BUYING WOMEN'S MAGAZINES JUST TO GET THE PICTURES OF THE GORGEOUS MODEL WHO WAS FEATURED IN THE WELLA BALSAM SHAMPOO ADS - THE MODEL WAS A BLOND BEAUTY NAMED FARRAH FAWCETT.
PRO ARTS TRACKED DOWN FARRAH AND ARRANGED FOR A PHOTO SHOOT BY THE POOL AT HER HOUSE IN BEL-AIR, CALIFORNIA. PHOTOGRAPHER BRUCE McBROOM USED AN INDIAN BLANKET THAT DOUBLED AS A SEAT COVER IN HIS CHEVY AS THE BACKGROUND. FARRAH CHOSE A RED TWO-PIECE SUIT INSTEAD OF A BIKINI TO HIDE A SCAR ON HER STOMACH. BETWEEN THE TIME FARRAH POSED AND THE RELEASE OF THE POSTER, A HANDFUL OF CHARLIE'S ANGELS EPISODES HAD AIRED. THIS STROKE OF LUCK HELPED THE POSTER''S SUCCESS AND SALES WENT THROUGH THE ROOF.
THE "THE FARRAH FAWCETT POSTER" WAS TO BECOME THE BIGGEST SELLING POSTER IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN POP CULTURE.
FARRAH FAWCETT QUICKLY BECAME THE BREAKAWAY STAR OF THE SHOW AND THE MOST POPULAR ANGEL.
SHE QUIT AFTER JUST ONE SEASON, BELIEVING SHE COULD BECOME A MOVIE STAR. HER EARLY ATTEMPTS AT FILMS (SOMEBODY KILLED HER HUSBAND AND SUNBURNED) FLOPPED AND SHE WAS, FOR YEARS, BRANDED AS A FAILURE FOR LEAVING A HIT SERIES, MUCH LIKE PERNELL ROBERTS A DECADE EARLIER AFTER LEAVING HIS HIT SHOW BONANZA. BUT FARRAH WAS TO REDEEM HERSELF IN MORE SERIOUS ROLES, ESPECIALLY 1984'S THE BURNING BED AND SHE WAS TO WIN SEVERAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS AND BE NOMINATED FOR AN EMMY AWARD FOR HER ACTING.
FARRAH WAS ALSO THE ONLY ANGEL TO RETURN TO THE SHOW AFTER LEAVING TO MAKE GUEST STAR APPEARANCES
FARRAH WAS ALSO THE ONLY ANGEL TO RETURN TO THE SHOW AFTER LEAVING TO MAKE GUEST STAR APPEARANCES
KATE JACKSON WAS ORIGINALLY OFFERED THE LEAD IN KRAMER VS. KRAMER, 1979'S OSCAR-WINNING FILM. THE SHOW'S PRODUCERS, HOWEVER, REFUSED TO GIVE HER THE TIME OFF TO SHOOT KRAMER VS. KRAMER , SO HER ROLE WENT, INSTEAD, TO AN UP-AND-COMING YOUNG ACTRESS NAMED MERYL STREEP, WHO WAS TO WIN HER FIRST OSCAR FOR IT. JACKSON, UNDERSTANDABLY UPSET AT THIS DENIAL, LEFT THE SHOW AFTER SEASON THREE.
CHERYL LADD REPLACED FARRAH AS HER KID SISTER, KRIS MUNROE. JACKSON WAS REPLACED BY SHELLY HACK (PLAYING TIFFANY WELLES) WHO ONLY LASTED ONE SEASON. TANYA ROBERTS REPLACED HACK AND BECAME THE LAST "ANGEL" IN THE SHOW'S FINAL SEASON, PLAYING JULIE ROGERS. JACLYN SMITH (AS KELLY GARRETT) WAS THE ONLY "ANGEL" WHO LASTED THROUGHOUT THE SERIES ENTIRE FIVE-YEAR RUN.
CHERYL LADD REPLACED FARRAH AS HER KID SISTER, KRIS MUNROE. JACKSON WAS REPLACED BY SHELLY HACK (PLAYING TIFFANY WELLES) WHO ONLY LASTED ONE SEASON. TANYA ROBERTS REPLACED HACK AND BECAME THE LAST "ANGEL" IN THE SHOW'S FINAL SEASON, PLAYING JULIE ROGERS. JACLYN SMITH (AS KELLY GARRETT) WAS THE ONLY "ANGEL" WHO LASTED THROUGHOUT THE SERIES ENTIRE FIVE-YEAR RUN.
SO ACTUALLY THERE WERE SIX "ANGELS" IN ALL. INTERESTINGLY, MUCH LIKE THE THREE STOOGES (THERE WERE ACTUALLY SIX STOOGES IN ALL OVER THE YEARS) THE CHEMISTRY OF THE ORIGINAL THREE (MOE, LARRY AND CURLY) COULD NEVER BE REPLACED AND REMAIN PERENNIAL FAVORITES IN THE FANS' MINDS.
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