Forsythe recorded his first lines in his pajamas—and throughout the whole series, he never once appeared on set. Another funny detail: the same shot of the Townsend Agency was reused constantly, even when the parked cars didn’t match which Angel was inside. The stars’ cars became iconic, too—Jill and Kris with their Cobra, Kelly in her Mustang, and Sabrina in her Pinto, while Bosley cruised in a Thunderbird.
Paychecks varied widely at first. Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith earned $5,000 per episode, while Kate Jackson made $10,000. But Jaclyn’s salary soared to $75,000 by the final season, making her one of TV’s highest-paid actresses. The show almost had a terrible name—Alley Cats—until Kate Jackson suggested Charlie’s Angels after spotting a painting of angels in producer Aaron Spelling’s office.
Farrah’s departure after season one shocked fans. She wanted deeper, more meaningful roles and felt stifled creatively. Lawsuits followed, but she eventually returned for six guest episodes. Cheryl Ladd replaced her with humor, arriving on set in a T-shirt reading “Farrah Fawcett Minor.” Though later reboots struggled, the Angels’ legacy remains powerful. They broke stereotypes, inspired generations, and proved that femininity and heroism can shine together.
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