Yes, I remember it well. It was a really nice day in September of 1976. I was still a teenager at the time and I couldn’t wait for the series premiere of “Charlie’s Angels.” Finally audiences were going to have a private eye series with serious stories and harrowing adventure. A show that wouldn’t pander to the lowest common denominator to draw in ratings… the jiggle factor. Oh, wait… that was another show. I was watching for that… uh… lowest… uh… common denominator. (Ahem). Well, come on! I was a red-blooded American male. It’s not like I let myself be completely taken in by the three beautiful actresses that starred in the show. I mean, really. Do you think for one moment that I had one of those infamous Farrah Fawcett posters on my wall? (Well okay, I did. But that’s not the point… I wasn’t the only one!) When “Charlie’s Angels” premiered, it was an overnight sensation. Almost immediately Farrah Fawcett, Jacklyn Smith and Kate Jackson were turned into merchandise darlings.

They showed up on lunch boxes, posters and numerous other items. The series found itself to be so popular as to last five seasons. The funny thing being, if you were to ask anyone who the most famous Angel was, I’d bet the answer would be Fawcett. Yet, she only stayed on for the first season. When she left, she was replaced by Cheryl Tiegs who stayed with the series through the rest of its run.

Yes, I loved the show. It was pure escapism. The episodes at times were a bit silly, but the show was about the looks, not the depth. And there’s nothing wrong with that. “Charlie’s Angels” was entertaining and that was all it had to be. Even after that fifth season, the show’s popularity stayed strong. It lived on in re-runs, and in 1988 the network even tried to revive the show, going as far as to put together a cast that included Tea Leoni. It was to be called “Angels ‘88” (later changed to “Angels ’89” due to delays), but unfortunately it never made it on the air.

In 1998, a Spanish version of the series called “Angeles” premiered on Telemundo. A direct remake of the show, it even took some of the original storylines and adapted them for the series. Then, the big break to bring the Angels back into the spotlight cam in 2000 with the release of the feature film, “Charlie’s Angels.” The big budget action-comedy starred Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Lieu and did well enough at the box office to warrant a sequel, coming out later this year. The films take the premise of the original series and take them to an exaggerated level. They are more parody than anything else. But, at least they created a renewed interest in the series.

For those who don’t know the score, the original series centered around three police officers, Jill Munroe (Fawcett), Sabrina Duncan (Jackson) and Kelly Garrett (Smith). They all had exceptional skills, but were being wasted on menial duties. Then one day, they are invited to join a private investigation agency by a mysterious millionaire, Charlie Townsend. Referred to only as ‘Charlie’, his face was never shown in the series and he generally communicated to the Angels through an intercom. (Of course die-hard fans know the actor’s identity. Can you remember? I’ll list it after the credits below.)

If you weren’t lucky enough to have watched the series when it originally aired, fear not. Sony / Columbia Tristar is releasing all 22 episodes from the first season in a 5-disc set. All the episodes have been digitally mastered and, let me tell you they look and sound great. Each disc is individually packaged in it’s own ultra-slim keep case, and all five fit into a cardboard slipcase. The only thing I found odd was that none of the individual keepcases have any artwork. They’re all clear.

To help keep you in the know, there’s a trifold insert with the title and synopsis for each episode. And even more interesting is an ad slip showcasing some of the other series that are going to be released soon. There’s a couple on particular that I’m really excited about.

The one main extra offered on this set is the “Angels Forever” featurette. It’s a 20-minute look at the series told thru the stories and memories of childhood fans. A mixture of clips and interviews, it gives viewers an idea of what made the series so popular.

The “Charlie’s Angels” 1st season set is a must own for fans of 70’s television. It’s also a must for guys ranging in age from teenagers to senior citizens. And ladies, we really only watch it for the stories.

Episodes:
Hellrider
The Mexican Connection
Night Of The Strangler
Angels In Chains
Target: Angels
The Killing Kind
To Kill An Angel
Lady Killer
Bullseye
Consenting Adults
The Seance
Angels On Wheels
Angel Trap
The Big Tap Out
Angels On A String
Dirty Business
The Vegas Connection
Terror On Ward One
Dancing In The Dark
I Will Be Remembered
Angels At Sea
The Blue Angels

Starring: Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, Jacklyn Smith and David Doyle
Extras: Angels Forever Featurette, Bonus Trailers
Specifications: Full Screen,
Studio: Sony / Columbia Tristar
Release Date: 5/27/2003
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

(Charlie was portrayed by none other than John Forsythe.)

We'll give Charlie's Angels - TV Series - Season 1 an A.