I loved this show so much as a young girl. The Angels were role models to me. Everyone talks about the show as if it was meaningless and all about jiggling breasts and blowdried hair and perfect teth. Well, to me it represented women who had it all. Perfect looks and brains and courage to fight crime. I'll always love this show.
11 Reviews
Confident Pilot
gridoon20245 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This pilot to one of the most popular - and influential - TV shows of the 1970s doesn't waste much time with the introductions; you meet the characters, you learn that you will never actually see Charlie in his entirety, time to move on to the case at hand. And the case at hand is quite intricate (the extended - 74 minutes - running time helps), as even its main goal is not revealed until near the end; the story has a fair number of twists, and manages to stay one step ahead of the viewer. Also helping this pilot are a sinister atmosphere, the swampy setting for the climax, and a choice supporting cast: I was surprised to see Tommy Lee Jones and Bo Hopkins here. But maybe I shouldn't reveal who has the best line of the episode: "We came to dig a grave....might as well make it a cemetery!". *** out of 4.
"Once upon a time, there were three little girls who went to the police academy..."
moonspinner559 October 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Excellent pilot episode to the long-running ABC detective series wastes no time in plunging the trio of Angels into danger and disguise. The missing owner of a large vineyard in Northern California is presumed dead, but the case has cooled without evidence. The owner's second wife and her foreman-lover have just a few days until the man's last will goes into effect, which the scheming spouse will benefit from unless her long-lost stepdaughter should happen to turn up and complicate legal matters; she does. Jaclyn Smith's Kelly handles the first part of the case with aplomb, at first pretending to be the missing heiress but then--after she's purposefully exposed as a fraud--claiming to be a mercenary after some $20 million hidden on the property. Kate Jackson's Sabrina also arrives under the guise of the rightful heir, with Farrah Fawcett-Majors' Jill in tow as her secretary. David Doyle as Bosley is actually second in command at Townsend Investigations, with most of the leg-work done by David Ogden Stiers (his character of Scott Woodville was jettisoned once the show got picked up, although he's a fine addition here). Tommy Lee Jones has a small part as a childhood friend of the elusive daughter, while Bo Hopkins and Diana Muldaur are perfect as the shady couple running the business. We learn a few interesting things about the Angels this first time out: Sabrina is an accomplished horse-rider, Kelly can ride a motorcycle, and Jill has a crush on boss Charlie (even though he only communicates with the ladies via telephone). Extremely well-written by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts, well-produced and with an exciting action climax in a swamp. Be sure to stay through the end-credits to hear Farrah's sexy come-on! Who wouldn't want more after this?
The One that started it all
gortx20 March 2005
Hard to believe now that this middling TV Movie/Pilot, with a needlessly convoluted plot, would spark a phenomenon. Caught this on Starz Mystery Channel on satellite.
Seeing it for the first time in nearly 30 years, a few retrospective thoughts:
1. Interesting that Jaclyn Smith was front and center for the first act since she had the least amount of acting experience going in. Apparently, Kate Jackson (who was promised the lead) switched roles with her. Farrah is the 3rd banana here - history changed that.
2. It isn't surprising that the David Ogden Stiers character was dropped after the pilot. Originally added so that there would be a man who could "bail out" the Angels, he was really too stuffy for the show's fluff. David Doyle hit the notes perfectly.
3. I liked the jazzier sounding "main theme" as played in the movie. The rest of the score is typical 70's TV waka waka electronics.
4. Aside from a brief shot of Jacklyn Smith in a bikini and the requisite "Charlie Girl" snippets, there was little of the cheesy T&A exploitation that the show became known for (particularly in its first season).
And to think that this was hot stuff at the time. sigh.
Seeing it for the first time in nearly 30 years, a few retrospective thoughts:
1. Interesting that Jaclyn Smith was front and center for the first act since she had the least amount of acting experience going in. Apparently, Kate Jackson (who was promised the lead) switched roles with her. Farrah is the 3rd banana here - history changed that.
2. It isn't surprising that the David Ogden Stiers character was dropped after the pilot. Originally added so that there would be a man who could "bail out" the Angels, he was really too stuffy for the show's fluff. David Doyle hit the notes perfectly.
3. I liked the jazzier sounding "main theme" as played in the movie. The rest of the score is typical 70's TV waka waka electronics.
4. Aside from a brief shot of Jacklyn Smith in a bikini and the requisite "Charlie Girl" snippets, there was little of the cheesy T&A exploitation that the show became known for (particularly in its first season).
And to think that this was hot stuff at the time. sigh.
Pretty good, intriguing, but way too convoluted
johnral32120 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This pilot is intriguing and well-acted and directed etc. The major problem is that the plot is way too convoluted. It's almost as difficult to follow as a Bond movie, with twists and counter-twists. The first angel goes in under-cover, then her cover is blown (intentionally apparently) and a second angel goes in also under-cover to impersonate the same person impersonated by the first angel. Then the land at issue (mostly a swamp) has been sold to someone (go figure -- people buying swampy land); so somehow the Angels get onto that house to sell it to the bad guys within a day or so. Then the bad guys go to dig up the dead dude in the swamp which allows the angels to catch them. (Also a bit odd because all the angels know is that a dude has been dead in a swamp for years. There's not likely to be much of a body left after years in swamp water.) Then the angels are miraculously saved because Charlie has called some local dude to come out and help; lucky Charlie had his number and the guy was at home and he was willing to drive out to a swamp at midnight... Not really a bad pilot -- but just very complicated and not very realistic....
Charlie's Angels
salon10129 January 2006
Ah...if only shows were more like this show. Granted...the plots were not always the best but at least they were entertaining instead of depressing or just plain boring. These angels brought a lot of us growing up in the seventies a lot of joy and that is why it was a huge sensation. Now if they would only release all the rest of the seasons...this angel lover would definitely buy them. In a day when all the TV shows is just about sex, sex, sex...it is refreshing to see a show where they are never in bed. They did wear some bathing suits but so what...now they are getting to where they wear nothing. Perhaps that is what they need to draw viewers these days instead of their talent. Charlie's Angels will forever be around because they were and still are loved by millions.
was a toddler when this 1st appeared...
jtsjtssmokey-703-36697312 March 2022
So have no real memory 1st time playing, but think rem re runs as do rem seeing something, think anyway. But the cheesy 70s, there is something about this era, this show, and others from. Well, entertaining this 1st episode, and funny to see whats his name from several movies, one where his partner, whats his name from fresh prince, think right name, goes back in time to well 69 not 70s. Good laugh and well might not be the "never ending move and action and so much, too much more at times over the top with little to no story at times" but well, like some new stuff too.
But this was a fun diversion from today, the slower pace of tv, and even longer running times, like and hr play is anywhere between 47 and 50 maybe 51 mins, today your lucky if it reaches.43 mins in actual show.
Sad though to think so many are no longer here, and ok, was awhile ago, as cant see names of when typing, but the one that was on a poster, maybe all as all were beautiful, well think all are beautiful in some way, and well we are all human, but the one that died from cancer, married to, (or not ?) but he stayed with her till ... he played the characters father who was called bones on well bones, to the one who played Bossley, the original to... think will find and watch the full series.
But this was a fun diversion from today, the slower pace of tv, and even longer running times, like and hr play is anywhere between 47 and 50 maybe 51 mins, today your lucky if it reaches.43 mins in actual show.
Sad though to think so many are no longer here, and ok, was awhile ago, as cant see names of when typing, but the one that was on a poster, maybe all as all were beautiful, well think all are beautiful in some way, and well we are all human, but the one that died from cancer, married to, (or not ?) but he stayed with her till ... he played the characters father who was called bones on well bones, to the one who played Bossley, the original to... think will find and watch the full series.
This swill was popular television?
helpless_dancer9 February 2002
You must wonder about the intelligence of TV viewers during the seventies when this gibberish was on top. I saw my first episode last week and was totally amazed at the amateur hour presented therein. A sixth grade dialogue, extremely emaciated plot, downright silly action scenes as the "girls" took on ruthless drug lords with their pipsqueak snubbies, absolutely pathetic performances, and the list goes on and on. But who could give a good performance when asked to do mindless garbage like this? No wonder I prefer books to television.
Good introduction to the series
shakspryn27 October 2023
This is an enjoyable pilot TV-movie for the famous series. The plot is fairly elaborate, and in fact, it works much like a Mission Impossible episode, but with a totally different emphasis.
At the time this series aired, and for years afterwards, there was a huge amount of blather and tsk-tsking disapproval expressed in the media about this series, because the premise was three beautiful young women as detectives. There were plenty of tougher. Much grittier series around the same time, such as Police Woman with Angie Dickinson, or Hawaii 5-0; lots of shows. Charlie's Angels took a different approach: it didn't try to make the women seem like tough gun-wielding types. They were all attractive; but frankly, so were nearly all the women portrayed in TV series at the time!
Looking at the show now, in 2023, 47 years after this pilot was made, it strikes me as perfectly pleasant, light entertainment. And to me it stands the test of time: I watched it tonight, and it held my interest.
The guest cast are good. One of the actors is a very young Tommy Lee Jones! I thought it looked like him, but I didn't believe it until I saw the credits. That's part of the fun of these old TV series, the surprises you get as you watch them. I look forward to watching all the rest of the episodes on dvd.
At the time this series aired, and for years afterwards, there was a huge amount of blather and tsk-tsking disapproval expressed in the media about this series, because the premise was three beautiful young women as detectives. There were plenty of tougher. Much grittier series around the same time, such as Police Woman with Angie Dickinson, or Hawaii 5-0; lots of shows. Charlie's Angels took a different approach: it didn't try to make the women seem like tough gun-wielding types. They were all attractive; but frankly, so were nearly all the women portrayed in TV series at the time!
Looking at the show now, in 2023, 47 years after this pilot was made, it strikes me as perfectly pleasant, light entertainment. And to me it stands the test of time: I watched it tonight, and it held my interest.
The guest cast are good. One of the actors is a very young Tommy Lee Jones! I thought it looked like him, but I didn't believe it until I saw the credits. That's part of the fun of these old TV series, the surprises you get as you watch them. I look forward to watching all the rest of the episodes on dvd.
aw, so boring... what a yawn...
RavenGlamDVDCollector27 April 2024
Unfortunately I have to agree with helpless_dancer, one of the other reviewers here. Yeah, of course this was way back then, but really, it was bad. I mean, this story is slow and ponderous and nothing exciting happens. Really, that it lifted off AT ALL after this... what a bummer of a TV movie. There was only one high point, right at the end, Farrah Fawcett-Majors cooing "be sure to call if you need us, you hear?" or something like that. The episode itself is way, way, way below later standard. And this criticism comes from The Raven, who usually goes all out to bestow compliments on pretty actresses.
This... bland. Argh. One and a half hours, gah!
This... bland. Argh. One and a half hours, gah!
Made me what I was meant to do.....
angela_evans-1983728 April 2024
I was only 10 yrs old when this came on and I was mesmerized, lol. I grew up wayyyy in the country down a dirt road with only 2 neighbors in about 7 miles. I solved a lot of crime in those woods!! I was 30 when I became a rookie cop. Now mind you there was only 1 other female in the history of our sheriffs office and she was not on the road. After 2 yrs I made Detective, which I did for 8 yrs before going back to the road. I was the only female allowed on the road for over 16 yrs. I was a LT for the last 13 yrs. I had an uphill battle in my career a lot of times. I say all this to say this, these were women a little 10 yr old girl could look up to. So it will always have a special place in my heart. I just retired a couple of years ago after 25 yrs because of medical issues and that was the hard. I know my family say I overshare, lol.
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