Jan Spears

Episode 15 - One of Our Angels Is Missing - 01/16/80 Synopsis: The Angels are hired to return a jewel thief who has jumped bond. Kris follows the thief to Arizona but doesn't know that he is also a killer and rapist. This episode is the second of Cheryl's Season 4 "Solo Angel" episodes. As a solo episode, it's not nearly as compelling as Cheryl prior outing, Caged Angel, but it is an improvement on Jaclyn's "Solo Angel" episodes; mostly because it doesn't have that 'Very Special Episode of . . . ' feel to it. The story itself is OK but it feels like a pale imitation of Love Boat Angels. There are a lot of dull conversations between Kris and the thief that are derivative of the conversations Kris had with Burt Convy's character in the season opener. Also, Kris comes across as completely irresponsible. When she learns the thief is a killer and rapist, she defies orders and sticks by the thief's side. That would have made for a good episode in Season 2, when Kris was new and inexperienced, but here she is reckless to the point of stupidity. As a Charlie's Angels episode, the same old problem that plagues all of the "Solo Angel" episodes raises its head. Jaclyn, Shelley and David perform a little con on the thief's partner but, otherwise, stand around doing nothing and worrying about Kris. Grade: B- (as a Kris "Solo Angel" episode) Grade: D+ (as a Charlie's Angels episode)

Episode 14 - Angel's Child - 01/09/90 Synopsis: Kelly discovers that the police detective she is working with is abusing his young son and sues for custody. Meanwhile, the crooks who Kelly and the detective have been pursuing make their own moves against Kelly and the young boy. This is the second of Jaclyn's "Solo Angel" episodes in Season 4. Given that the subject matter of this episode is child abuse, the tone is very serious. Jaclyn gives one of her strongest performances in the series in this and she is matched all the way by guest star Simon Oakland, who plays the detective. All that being said, I'm not a fan of this episode. I'm always wary of "social issue" episodes on television because I don't think you can solve complex issues like child abuse within the context of a 48 minute television program. The ending, in particular, grates because the show tries to put a pretty bow on a very downbeat situation so that the audience leaves the episode on a "feel good" note. It just feels like a cheat. My other problem with this episode is that it's hardly a Charlie's Angels episode at all. Kris, Tiffany and Bosley barely appear in it. As a one-off, Angel's Child would have been OK. But coming hard on the heels of Avenging Angel, Caged Angel and the two "Farrah Returns" episodes, the feeling left is of another show entirely replacing Charlie's Angels. Grade: A (for the performances of Jaclyn and Simon Oakland) Grade: D (as a Charlie's Angels episode)

Episode 13 - Of Ghosts and Angels - 01/02/80 Synopsis: Tiffany experiences occult phenomena when she visits a college friend at her creepy old mansion. Is there really a haunting? This episode is a hybrid Tiffany-centric/team episode that contains elements from Haunted Angels (Season 3), Angels at the Altar (Season 4) and Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. I always want to like this when I rewatch it but I never do. I find that the supernatural element, which is shown to be real in the episode, cuts too far against the grain of what the show is all about. Also, suddenly finding out that Tiffany has latent psychic powers directly contradicts Tiffany's character as it was established in the first 12 episodes. There are some creepy moments in this, especially when Tiffany sees the creepy groundskeeper staring back at her through a window. But, too often, the Angels stand around asking, "What's happening?" or wandering around secret corridors. The best part of the episode is the costume party at the house, which allows Jaclyn, Cheryl and Shelley to wear costumes. Jaclyn looks ravishing in a Scarlett O'Hara-style dress and Cheryl looks great in her pirate costume replete with gold hot pants. Interesting appearances: Paul Burke, who played Lyon Burke in Valley of the Dolls, plays Clifford Burke in this. Robin Mattson, who would go on to play memorable characters on Santa Barbara and General Hospital, plays Tiffany's friend. Veteran character actor R.G. Armstrong is on hand as well as the groundskeeper. Grade: C+ (An "A" for effort in trying to vary the formula but this episode is too far out of bounds for Charlie's Angels.)

Episode 12 - Cruising Angels - 12/12/79 Note: Cruising Angels was the last episode of the season's first half. Synopsis: Charlie's yacht goes missing for 45 minutes but mysteriously reappears in its original location with a fortune in gold on board. The Angels and Bosley must piece together what happened to the yacht and unravel the mystery of the gold. Cruising Angels is a hybrid of a team episode and a Bosley-centric episode. Bosley takes center stage with this one and the usual Bosley plot points -- Bos as unlikely action hero, Bos romancing the wrong woman -- are out in full force. Unfortunately, these plot developments were done earlier -- and better -- in prior season episodes like Angels Ahoy!. This leaves the viewer with a distinct feeling of deja vu all over again. The team aspect is decent enough and it's refreshing to see all three Angels displaying detective skills. That being said, the story itself is rather ho-hum and the episode as a whole is just kind of blah. There is one exciting part of the episode and that's the reappearance of Sabrina's orange pinto, which Tiffany seems to have inherited! Interesting appearances: Beverly Garland, who would go on to play Kate Jackson's mother on Scarecrow and Mrs. King, plays Bosley's love interest. Peter Mark Richman, who would play Blake Carrington's lawyer on Dynasty, is one of the villains. (It's interesting to note how many key players in the early seasons of Dynasty show up in Season 4. Not only is there John Forsythe and Richman but also Bo Hopkins [Love Boat Angels] and Lloyd Bochner [Angel Hunt].) Grade: B- (Passes the time agreeably but no more.)

Episode 6 - Caged Angel - 10/31/79 Note: In my review order, I have switched this episode with episode 11, Angel Hunt. Synopsis: When an inmate of a women's prison is killed during a heist while on furlough, Kris goes undercover in the prison to find out what is going on. As a showcase for Cheryl Ladd, this "Solo Angel" episode is fairly gripping. Kris is up to her neck in trouble and she has no real means of communicating with the outside world other than through a massage therapist who is Charlie's contact in the prison. But what really makes this episode stand apart from Jaclyn's first "Solo Angel" episode is the presence of guest star Shirley Stoler, who is truly menacing as "Big Aggie". For all that this episode is well-written and acted (by Ladd and Stoler), it feels nothing like a Charlie's Angels episode. Kelly, Tiffany and Bosley have even less screen time in this episode than Kris, Tiffany and Bosley have in Avenging Angel. The only time the episode becomes a true Charlie's Angels episode is when Kelly and Tiffany, wearing traditional nuns habits, pose as Sisters Maria and Theresa in order to get inside the prison and make contact with Kris. Shelley, in particular, looks like she is having a ball during this scene. Interesting appearances: Louise Sorel, who would go on to play prominent parts on the soap operas Santa Barbara and Days of Our Lives, is on hand for this. Actress Sally Kirkland plays an inmate. Grade: C- (as a Charlie's Angels episode) Grade: B+ (as a "Solo Angel" episode) Grade: A+ (the sister Maria and Sister Theresa scene -- a classic moment in the show's history)

Episode 3 - Avenging Angel - 09/26/79 Note: In my review order, I have switched this episode with episode 10, Angels on Campus. Synopsis: When convict Frank Desmond is paroled from prison, he seeks revenge on Kelly, who he blames for sending him to prison. Desmond and his partner, Eddie, begin visiting Kelly at night and surreptitiously shooting her up with heroin. Meanwhile, heroin traffickers who Desmond cheated out of their heroin target Desmond and Kelly. Avenging Angel was the first of the "Solo Angel" episodes in Season 4. While there were no doubt good reasons for implementing this format innovation at the time, the "Solo Angel" format cut against the basic grain of the show, which was the interaction of the three Angels and Bosley. Here, Kris and Tiffany have nothing to do except drive around Los Angeles looking concerned when they realize Kelly is in trouble. As for Jaclyn, the grittier storyline does give her a chance to show how much she had grown as an actress since 1976. Unfortunately, this episode has the whiff of The Afterschool Special episode about it, especially in how ex-con Frank Desmond magically becomes a new man at the end thanks to Kelly. 70s simplistic moralizing at its worst. The episode is unique in that, like Angel Hunt, it doesn't have the standard set-up of most episodes. Also, all of the Angels look great in the final scene. Interesting appearances: This episode is a character actor episode bonanza with Cameron Mitchell, Richard Bakalyan and Stephen McNally on hand. Dallas star Steve Kanaly puts in an appearance here which is interesting given that he was appearing on a rival network in 1979. Perhaps he didn't become an actual contract star on Dallas until 1979? Grade: C (as a Charlie's Angels episode) Grade: B- (as a Jaclyn "Solo Angel" episode)

Episode 9 - Angels on Skates - 11/21/79 Synopsis: The Angels swing into action when they witness a young roller disco skater (!) get kidnapped on Venice Beach. Kris joins the roller disco show (!!) at the local rink while Kelly, Tiffany and Bosley attempt to find the missing young woman. This episode was very 'NOW' when conceived, written and filmed but it sure is very 'THEN' lo these 37 years later. Basing an episode on the then-popular craze of roller disco dates this episode horribly. The story itself is sub-par and the overlay of the disco skating theme only serves to bury the episode. Matters aren't helped by guest villains Rene Auberjonois (in garish disco clothes) and Ed Begley Jr. (on skates), who don't exactly project rank villainy. Also, Kelly disappears from the story at a certain point and only reappears at the end. This episode could also compete easily for the titles of 'Worst Stunt' (a double for Ed Begley Jr. in the big disco skating number at the end who, comically, looks nothing like him) and 'Worst Outfit' (Shelley in orange overalls giving Jaclyn's lilac bridesmaid outfit from earlier in the season a run for its money.) All that being said, this episode does have great time capsule charm to it with disco music, roller skating, Venice Beach, women wearing Mork from Ork-style suspenders, etc. The only thing missing is Jack Tripper skating by on roller skates! Interesting appearances: In addition to Auberjonois and Begley Jr,, who would would both go on to shows of their own in the 1980s, Roz 'Pinky Tuscadero' Kelly is on hand as an aspiring roller derby star. Grade: C- (as a Charlie's Angels episode) Grade: A (as a time capsule of the very late 70s)

The original airdate order and break down through the first 8 episodes was as follows: Kelly "Solo Angel"/Kelly-centric (Avenging Angel and Angels at the Altar) Kris "Solo Angel"/Kris-centric (Caged Angel and Love Boat Angels) "Farrah Returns" (Fallen Angel and The Prince and the Angel) Team episodes (Angels Go Truckin' and Angels on the Street) My preferred airdate order and break down would have been: Team episodes (Angels Go Truckin', Angel Hunt and Angels on the Street) Kelly-centric (Angels at the Altar) Kris-centric (Love Boat Angels) Tiffany-centric (Angels on Campus) "Farrah Returns" (Fallen Angel and The Prince and the Angel) Up next: Angels on Skates

Episode 8 - The Prince and the Angel - 11/14/78 The Prince and the Angel is the second of three 'Farrah Returns' episodes in Season 4 and, unfortunately, is a real snoozefest. Part of the problem is that this episode aired originally only three weeks after the far superior Fallen Angel. The novelty of having Farrah back wasn't as great when her return episodes were packed so closely together. Another problem is that, with the exception of a brief scene between Farrah and Jaclyn at the beginning of the episode, the other Angels and Bosley don't show up until the 20 minute mark. As none of the Angels have much to do thereafter, this makes for an exceedingly weak outing. Farrah is competent in a boring story but it's clear that she was ready to be done with her contractual obligations and get back to trying to launch a movie career. In retrospect, it probably would have been better to have Farrah film two hour versions of Angel, Come Home in Season 3 and Fallen Angel in Season 4 rather than trying to come up with six story ideas across two seasons. Grade: C

I don't know. At this point, they are like members of the primary cast. They deserve the kind of special billing that Heather Locklear got on Melrose Place.

Episode 7 - Angels on the Street - 11/07/79 Note: With Angels on the Street, my reviewing chronology synchs back up with the actual episode airing order. Synopsis: When a shy and introspective young woman is beaten twice by a pimp who "works" in the same neighborhood where the young woman and her father operate a music/dance studio, the Angels and Bosley swing into action. But they are baffled by what appears to be no connection between the woman and the pimp. Kelly and Tiffany infiltrate the pimp's stable of prostitutes while Kris and Bosley keep an eye on the neighborhood. This episode is a prime example of the kind of "message" episodes that permeated Season 4. Unlike prior seasons, where the show sometimes treated social issues in a cavalier fashion, Angels on the Street doesn't soft pedal the violent aspects of prostitution occurring in a poor neighborhood. This is the first team episode in the season with Jaclyn and Shelley working as undercover partners and they work well together. (Even with her prostitute clothes and make-up, though, Shelley looks a little too refined for the neighborhood.) I always forget that there's a nice twist in this episode that transforms the episode from a routine "message" episode into something even more unsettling. The final interesting element in the episode is character actress Madlyn Rhue, who plays a waitress at the neighborhood diner. She ends up acting as an antagonist to the Angels (and an ally to the pimp) for what appears to be no other motive than sheer spite. Grade: B+ (A decent episode made better by the twist.)

Episode 5 - Fallen Angel - 10/10/79 Note: Fallen Angel was the original episode 5. In my reviewing chronology, it becomes episode 6; displacing Caged Angel, which was a Kris "Solo Angel" episode. Synopsis: A suave jewel thief plots to steal a priceless jewel from an opera singer. The Angels (especially Kris and Kelly) are aghast to discover that former Angel Jill is dating the thief and appears to be in cahoots with him. Fallen Angel is the first of three "Farrah Returns" episodes in Season 4. (There had already been three in Season 3.) Along with Angel, Come Home in Season 3, Fallen Angel is the strongest of the Farrah guest star episodes. "Jill gone bad" is an interesting idea that is well-executed here. It leads to lively scenes between Jill and Kris, and Jill and Kelly. Timothy Dalton is cut above the typical guest star and he makes for a strong antagonist. The closing fight scene between Farrah and Dalton is lively and exciting although it is obvious in certain shots that "Jill" is really a stunt man in a frizzy wig. Tiffany doesn't have a lot to do in this episode but this actually makes sense in the context of the episode as she and Jill do not know each other, which is actually stated in the dialogue. As for Farrah, she's still beautiful in this and still has that presence. Three years on from the show's debut in 1976, though, she does appear somewhat harder. It's difficult not to think that all the drama which had occurred in her life between 1976 and 1979 had given her a somewhat harder look and demeanor. That being said, she does have a lovely scene with Cheryl at the end where she looks and acts more like the old, carefree Jill. And even though Farrah and Cheryl didn't start working together until Season 3, they really are believable as sisters. Grade: A- (One of the best "Farrah Returns" episodes)

Episode 4 - Angels at the Altar - 10/03/79 Note: Angels at the Altar was the original episode 4. In my reviewing chronology, it becomes episode 5; displacing the first Farrah-return episode of Season 4, Fallen Angel. Synopsis: Kelly is set to be the maid-of-honor at a high school friend's wedding. The only trouble is that someone keeps trying to kill the groom. While Kelly sticks close to the bride, Kris poses as a maid at the wedding, Tiffany plays the violin at the ceremony and Bosley acts as a bartender at the event. Angels at the Altar is a Kelly-centric episode similar to the earlier Kris-centric episode (Love Boat Angels) and the later Tiffany-centric episode (Angels on Campus). Since the audience had already become well acquainted with the character of Kelly Garrett over the previous three seasons, nothing is really gained by this and some of the interaction between the Angels is lost as Cheryl and Shelley don't have much to do until the last 10 minutes or so. (Guest star Kim Cattrall, who plays the bride, and David Doyle actually have more to do than either Cheryl or Shelley.) Beyond that this is a meat-and-potatoes episode of Charlie's Angels -- nothing extraordinary but entertaining in its way. The highlight to this viewer is Kris (or stunt Kris) in her maid's uniform duking it out with the evil bridesmaid in a bedroom. There's also the fun spectacle of Kris (still in her maid's uniform, Tiffany (Shelley, looking ravishing in peach) and Bosley (in his bartender's uniform) sprinting across the lawn to break up the marriage before the minister can pronounce the couple man and wife. One other side note: Jaclyn has to wear the ugliest late-70s bridesmaid dress (in lilac!) When even Jaclyn Smith can't pull off a dress, you know it's hideous. Interesting appearances: In addition to Kim Cattrall, film noir stalwart Marie Windsor is on hand as her mother. Robert Walker Jr., who looks just like his father, plays the best man. Also participating are two regular Charlie's Angels guests: John David Carson and Joseph Hacker. Carson guested in the Season 3 horseracing episode, and Hacker had already guested in Season 2 as the antique car driver in Antique Angels and in Season 3 as the psychic in Haunted Angels. Someone at Aaron Spelling Productions sure liked these guys! Grade: B (Nothing special but passes the time agreeably enough.)

Episode 11 - Angel Hunt - 12/05/79 Note: The original fourth episode was Angels at the Altar, which was a team episode but was Kelly-centric. I'm substituting Angel Hunt in the review episode because it must have been filmed early in the season and builds on Tiffany's character from Angels on Campus. (A clip from this episode also appears in Shelley's opening credits that began airing with Angels Go Truckin'.) Synopsis: The Angels are enjoying a day at the beach when they receive an urgent call from "Charlie" to travel to a remote island. When they arrive at the island, the Angels discover that a hunter who Charlie had helped put in prison for hunting humans is now hunting them. If you asked me to name my Top Three Charlie's Angels episodes, this would be one of them. Not only is it the finest episode of Season 4 but it's one of the finest of the series. What makes this episode so great is that the Angels have no one to rely on but each other as the hunter and his two henchmen ruthlessly stalk them. For all the action and forward momentum of the plot, there's also a fair amount of character development for the Tiffany Welles character. At one point, Tiffany confesses she is scared but that she's glad the other two Angels are there. This is the point where we would have seen the new team gelling if the episode had aired closer to its filming date. Another great part of this episode is its essential seriousness. There's a certain amount of humor at the start but that disappears until the very end. The Angels are in trouble and they know it. They actually have to kill someone in the episode to get out of this mess. Unusually, Bosley interacts directly with Charlie in this episode. Interestingly, it is Bosley who has more faith in the Angels' ability to defeat their foes rather than Charlie, who needs Bosley to bolster his confidence. Finally, since there is no case in this episode, there is no opening at the Townsend Agency office, there is no call from Charlie and there is no closing scene at the office. This is a complete break from the regular formula and a welcome one. Interesting appearances: Lloyd Bochner plays the hunter, and he and Bo Hopkins (from Love Boat Angels) would go on to star in another Aaron Spelling production in the 80s, Dynasty. L.Q. Jones, who appeared in every Western under the sun, is one of the henchmen. Grade: A+ (This is one of the finest episodes of the entire series not least because it breaks so decisively from the regular formula.)

Episode 10 - Angels on Campus - 11/28/79 Note: The original third episode of the season was Avenging Angel, which was one of Jaclyn's "Solo Angel" episodes in Season 4. I've substituted Angels on Campus in my reviewing order because (a) it's a Tiffany-centric episode that sets up the character of Tiffany Welles perfectly, and (b) it was one of the first episodes filmed for the season. (We know this because a shot from Angels on Campus appears in Shelley's opening credits sequence during Angels Go Truckin' and thereafter.) Synopsis: When two members of Tiffany's college sorority go missing under mysterious circumstances, the Angels and Bosley head to campus to investigate. Tiffany poses as a writer and moves back into her college sorority house, Kris pretends to be an adult student auditing an English class, Kelly acts as a scout from a professional football team and Bosley poses as a former insurance salesman writing a book. Under normal circumstances, I'm not a fan of the Angel-centric or "Solo Angel" format. I'll make an exception in this case because this episode really develops the Tiffany Welles character in terms of her personality and her ability to take the lead in professionally managing an investigation. After having introduced Shelley in Love Boat Angels and then having given her a big part in Angels Go Truckin', this would have been the ideal time for the producers to air this episode because it establishes the character of Tiffany Welles and, in retrospect, disproves the notion that Shelley Hack couldn't act. (Or, to put it another way, she was no worse than any of the other female leads were when they started, with the exception of Kate Jackson.) For whatever reasons(s), though, the producers held this episode until November at which point the "Shelley isn't fitting in" legend had taken hold. The rest of the episode is an up-and-down affair with some suspenseful moments (Tiffany being stalked in a locked locker room) and some ridiculous ones (a volleyball game between rival sororities.) Jaclyn (in particular) and Cheryl are underused but David Doyle has some amusing moments. Interesting appearances: This episode is like a 'Who's Who' of 70s TV actors with Gary Collins, Nita Talbot and Jo Ann Pflug all enrolling (yuck, yuck, yuck) in this one. Grades: A (as a Tiffany-centric episode) B+ (as a Charlie's Angels episode)

Episode 2 - Angels Go Truckin' - 09/19/79 Synopsis: When pharmaceuticals mysteriously go missing during a routine truck drive, the Angels recreate the drive with another cargo of pharmaceuticals in an attempt to lure the crooks who stole the original cargo and figure out how they managed the heist. Kris and Tiffany learn how to be truckers in order to move the cargo and Kelly goes undercover as a waitress at the roadside diner where the original truckers stopped to eat. Angels Go Truckin' is one of the best and most entertaining episodes of the season. Any episode where the Angels have to go undercover in an unlikely situation is usually an entertaining one and so it is here. Cheryl and Shelley look like they're having a blast together as truckers. (If it was all just acting, then Shelley was a much better actress than her detractors gave her credit for.) Another plus is that Cheryl, who was unusually somber in Love Boat Angels, is closer to her normal vivacious self here. After the Kris-centric opening episode, this episode is a true team episode. All of the Angels play a big part, including Shelley, who handles herself capably in her second aired episode. The only real negative to this episode is that Bosley doesn't join the team on the investigation. He appears at the beginning and the end but doesn't have much of anything to do in-between. I find I miss David Doyle whenever he's not on screen. Grade: A- (Would have been an A if there had been more David Doyle.)

Episode 1 - Love Boat Angels - 09/12/79 [Note: This episode was aired originally as a TV movie. On the box set, the episode is split into two.] Synopsis: The Season 4 opener introduces new Angel Tiffany Welles and the reconstituted team immediately boards the Pacific Princess to find two thieves who have stolen a fortune in art. It's interesting comparing this episode introducing Shelley Hack to the one two years prior introducing Cheryl Ladd. While Cheryl's first episode had its dramatic moments, there was a lighthearted tone to the proceedings. Shelley's intro, on the other hand, is much more serious in tone. I'm not sure if this was an improvement. I don't know that your average Charlie's Angels viewer tuned in for a "message" episode about southeast Asian refugees. In her debut episode, Shelley acquits herself respectably in what little she has to do. Unfortunately, this episode morphs very quickly from a team episode to a Kris-centric episode. Jaclyn and Shelley are sidelined until, roughly, the last 20-25 minutes of the episode. In fact, the episode is really a Cheryl Ladd/Bert Convy/Bo Hopkins episode rather than an Angels and Bosley episode. (Convy and Hopkins play the thieves.) Shelley's best moment in the episode is when she confesses to Bosley her doubts and how she's afraid of letting down the rest of the team. David Doyle is wonderful in this scene and he already displays wonderful chemistry with Shelley. The entire Love Boat crew are on-board for this episode but their scenes are short and they disappear from the episode very quickly. What promised to be an interesting crossover doesn't amount to much in the end. Interesting appearances: Everyone and their brother were on the passenger list (yuck, yuck, yuck) for this episode. In addition to Convy, Hopkins and the Love Boat crew, Dick Sargent (Darren #2 from Bewitched) plays a big part as does veteran character actor Barry Sullivan. Judy Landers reprises her delivery girl role from Season 2. Grade: B- (Too much Bert Convy and Bo Hopkins and not enough of Jaclyn and Shelley.)

Actually, the episodes I'm talking about -- like Angel Hunt and Angels on Campus -- were some of the strongest of the season. I think it may have been the case that the network/Spelling productions wanted to introduce Tiffany gradually so they held onto the episodes with a strong Tiffany focus until mid-season. But, by then, it was too late and the tide had turned against Tiffany/Shelley Hack.

Season 4 of Charlie's Angels brought significant changes to the series. The biggest change of all, of course, was the departure of original cast member Kate Jackson after three seasons as the brains and spirit of the Townsend Detective Agency. While replacing Farrah Fawcett with Cheryl Ladd had proven to be relatively easy, replacing Jackson with a new Angel would be a more difficult task given the central role she had played on the show. Wisely, the producers didn't try to copy the Sabrina Duncan character with the introduction of Shelley Hack as Tiffany Welles. While Tiffany Welles would have some characteristics in common with Sabrina Duncan (most notably a certain intelligence), the Welles character would be unique in that she brought a certain sophistication to the show. Some of this came directly from Shelley Hack, who had been a successful working model prior to being cast as Tiffany. The introduction of a sophisticated new Angel to the show led to the second big change in the fourth season, which was an overall trend toward greater glamor and sophistication in how all of the Angels looked. Gone was the casual look from the first three seasons and its place came a greater emphasis on styled clothing, hair and makeup. In retrospect, the 1979-80 season of Charlie's Angels can be viewed as a trial run for everything Aaron Spelling & company would do with Dynasty in the 80s. The third major change of Season 4 had to do with the stories and scripts. Contrary to the legend, Shelley Hack's debut on the show didn't precipitate the general cooling in the ratings. In fact, the show had already fallen out of the Top 10 in Season 3. The producers must have taken Kate Jackson's complaints about the repetitiveness of the scripts seriously and connected them to the general ratings drop in Season 3. In response, they introduced a number of innovations to the writing in Season 4 as a means of halting the ratings slide, not all of which were successful. On the positive side of the ledger, the producers went outside of the stable of regular writers for Season 4 and these efforts represent some of the best episodes of the season. Unfortunately, on the negative side of the books, Season 4 brought with it the "Solo Angels" format. These episodes were ones that focused almost exclusively on a particular Angel (mostly Kelly and Kris) while the rest of the team had little or nothing to do in that episode. While the "Solo Angels" format must have seemed like a good idea at the time in terms of injecting new life into the show, it had two negative consequences. First, it went against the grain of what made the show popular in the first place -- which was the chemistry of the Angels and Bosley. The other problem that resulted from the "Solo Angels" format was the sequencing of these episodes. Many of the Kelly and Kris-centric episodes were frontloaded at the beginning of the season just when it was crucial to be introducing TIffany as the newest Angel. The result was that Tiffany disappeared at times during the first half of the season and gave rise to the idea that the new Angel and her portrayer weren't integrating into the team. The second half of the season proved this was false but, by then, the damage was done. Curiously, several episodes in which Shelley Hack played a big part and which didn't air until later in the season were actually filmed at the beginning of the season. For reasons unknown, these episodes were held until later rather than running close to their film dates. As I review the Season 4 episodes, I will review the episodes in the first half of the season closer to the order in which they were filmed rather than the order in which they were aired. The Tiffany Welles character works so much better when you watch the show this way. (Thanks to the late, lamented 'Jump the Shark' site and the Amazon.com discussion of Season 4 for giving me this idea.)

I hope the people reading this thread have enjoyed the Season 2 episode-by-episode summaries. I have certainly enjoyed writing them! Despite a few duds over the course of a long season, I think Season 2 holds up remarkably well. Overall, I would give it an A-. If it doesn't quite reach the heights that the original three achieved in Season 1, it was entertaining in its own way and proved that the show could do just fine without Farrah. A big part of the credit must go to Cheryl Ladd, who had the unenviable task of replacing Farrah but managed to ingratiate herself with the audience from the get-go. Her performance was so successful that, after Jaclyn Smith, David Doyle and John Forsythe, she would be the core cast member who appeared in the most episodes. If there's one drawback to Season 2, it's the lack of interaction between Sabrina and Kris in many episodes. The situation gets better by the end of Season 2 but the problem is noticeable and detracts a bit from the overall quality of the season. Moving on to review Season 4 (Shelley's season) next!

Season 2 - Episode 24 - Antique Angels - 05/10/78 Synopsis: When thieves steal a special radioactive fuel, the Angels and Bosley swing into action to retrieve it. Their investigation leads them to a 1920s car rally where they pose as Keystone Kops. The good: This episode ended the season on a lighthearted note and everyone appeared to be enjoying the 1920s theme. The case itself is nothing special but, even if you don't like the storyline, the 1920s cars and costumes are enjoyable to watch. The bad: If Charlie's Angels was filmed now, the season would absolutely end on a cliffhanger. Here, the season just ends on a modest note. Interesting appearances: Joseph Hacker appears as one of the car drivers. He would appear again in Seasons 3 and 4 as different characters. Grade: B-

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Angels on the Run - 05/03/78 Synopsis: When a cheating husband goes missing, the Angels and Bosley investigate only to find that the missing husband is caught up in a jewel heist gone bad. The thieves kidnap Kelly, who is posing as the husband's singer wife. The good: Amazingly, astoundingly -- Kate and Cheryl interact throughout the entire episode!!! Another plus is that we get tough Kelly once she gets kidnapped. Tough Kelly is always the best Kelly, I say. The bad: I barely know where to begin with this episode. The story itself isn't bad but there are cringe-inducing scenes. Probably the worst is a pointless scene between Bosley, Charlie and a delivery girl that was clearly meant to be comedy but is painfully unfunny and sexist and destroys any tension that's built up from the main plot. There's also a window dresser who is a complete stereotype, groan-inducing scenes of Charlie learning to play the sitar, gang members in the worst-looking 70s clothes you've ever seen and what looks like recycled sets. (The singer's apartment bears a strong resemblance to the apartment in the flight attendant episode.) Interesting appearances: Judy Landers plays the delivery girl while 70s TV stalwart Elaine Joyce plays a girlfriend of the husband. Craig T. Nelson is also on-board and he would go on to great success in Coach. Grade: C (Raised from a C- because of all the Sabrina/Kris interaction and tough Kelly.)

Season 2 - Episode 22 - The Jade Trap - 03/01/78 Synopsis: The Angels and Bosley investigate a murder in a hotel with many wealthy tenants. A series of robberies have occurred at the hotel but the one they are asked to investigate included a murder that goes against the M.O of the other robberies. Sabrina works behind the scenes, Kelly poses as a Southern belle, Kris pretends to be a Swedish star and Bosley acts as an auctioneer. The good: The premise of the episode -- that the Angels have to find a thief and a killer who are not the same person -- makes for an intriguing storyline. Adding to the intrigue is that the thief's mother is actively encouraging him in his "work" and is helping him! There's also plenty of action with the killer cutting Sabrina's rope as she's trying to rappel down the side of the hotel, the killer trying to run down Kelly and the thief in broad daylight on a beach and the Angels chasing the killer at the end. The bad: Kelly comes across as being completely stupid by getting romantically involved with the thief. Kris' "Swedish" accent is more side-splitting than believable. Interesting appearances: Guest stars galore in this one! Barry Bostwick plays the thief while Dirk Benedict, who was about to embark on the most successful phase of his career with Battlestar Galactica in 1978 and The A-Team in 1983, plays the killer. Joan Leslie, who appeared in a whole slew of patriotic-themed movies during World War II, has a small role here. Grade: B+

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Little Angels of the Night - 02/22/78 Synopsis: The Angels and Bosley move into an apartment complex in which several prostitutes have been murdered. The Angels pose as "working girls" and Bosley goes to work as the complex's handyman. The good: Probably the most distinctive and welcome aspect of this episode is that Kate Jackson and Cheryl Ladd are paired not once but twice! It really was a breath of fresh air whenever the standard pairings of Sabrina/Kelly, Kelly/Kris, Kris/Bosley and Sabrina/Bosley were given a rest. There is a good fight scene at the end of the episode where Kris (and stunt Kris) duke it out with the killer. The bad: The Angels and Bosley are fine as always but, otherwise, there is a flood tide of bad acting from many of the supporting players. The tone is odd as well. In an episode where prostitutes are being murdered, the script contains odd attempts to be lighthearted about prostitution. And it was ill-advised to have Charlie ogling a skimpily dressed young woman in his office when the Angels are investigating the murders of women who work as prostitutes. Interesting appearances: James Mitchell, who would go on to play Palmer Cortlandt on All My Children for 30 years starting in 1979, has a small part here. Michael Warren (billed here as Mike Warren) would go on to great success in the 1980s with Hill Street Blues. Grade: C+ (Bumped up to a B- because of the Sabrina/Kris scenes.)

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Mother Goose Is Running for His Life - 02/15/78 Synopsis: Someone is trying to sabotage a toy company so the Angels and Bosley investigate. Sabrina and Bosley pose as employees of an overseas toy company, Kelly cozies up to the hired saboteur and Kris infiltrates the gang behind it all. Later, Kris poses as a life-sized doll in the toy company's design room. The bad: After high-gear episodes like The Sandcastle Murders and Angel Blues, the show comes back to Earth with this mediocre episode. There's nothing truly terrible but the episode never coheres into anything. Problem #1 is that the Angels all function separately in this and barely interact. At times, it feels like three solo Angels episodes stitched together into an awkward whole. Problem #2 involves Kris posing as a life-sized doll. The show sometimes got into trouble when it came up with a clever stunt -- Kris posing as a doll! - and then tried to fit the rest of the plot around the stunt. It really doesn't work because the Angels' "plan" involving Kris as a doll relies on so much chance and dumb luck that the whole thing becomes unbelievable. The good: The only really interesting thing about this episode is the amoral supporting character of Donna, who charges the Angels for the information they need and then betrays them to the other side. The character adds some much needed-grit to an otherwise flabby episode. Grade: C+