Why was Charlie heard and not seen? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

gregrob · 01-01-2007, 04:08 PM

From the time I was a kid, I never quite understood the reason for this gimmick. In the pilot movie, Charlie's associate (David Ogden Stiers) tells the angels that Charlie is a very private person and nobody sees him but "me." But Charlie did not remain anonymous to all the sexy babes seen "serving" him. So why did he have to remain anonymous to the Angels?

airhead · 07-10-2007, 08:40 PM

They might've thought it would make the show more interesting.

hch · 09-15-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregrob

From the time I was a kid, I never quite understood the reason for this gimmick. In the pilot movie, Charlie's associate (David Ogden Stiers) tells the angels that Charlie is a very private person and nobody sees him but "me." But Charlie did not remain anonymous to all the sexy babes seen "serving" him. So why did he have to remain anonymous to the Angels?

That issue was brought up in the Season 1 episode "Target: Angels". From what I gather, Charlie sent a lot of people to prison and it would be a matter of time before they got out and they would get their revenge on Charlie. So to protect himself, he had to be anonymous, even with his Angels.

They were dying to see what he looked like when they had to hide out in his spacious castle of a house in that episode. It wasn't as if they didn't try to get a look at him, it was funny how he had the taxi cab do a rapid U-ie to get away from being seen by the Angels. And he ended up selling the house!

Bosley was the only one who could get close to Charlie and he took great pains and lengths to make sure that Charlie remain anonymous all the way to the final episode, and even then Charlie wasn't seen.

What Charlie looked like was the greatest mystery of them all.

catlover79 · 09-15-2009, 01:56 PM

^ I agree - it was supposed to bring more mystery to the show.

tv star collector · 09-16-2009, 01:34 PM

According to the Charlie's Angels Casebook, by Jack Condon and David
Hofstede (2000), the idea was Kate Jackson's. Producers Aaron Spelling and
Leonard Goldberg pitched the idea for the show to Kate Jackson in 1979. "At
the meeting, I saw a squawkbox on Aaron's desk, and suggested the girls work
for a guy they never see; he only talks to them on the phone or squawkbox.
Then I noticed a picture of three angels on Aaron's wall; so I said, let's call
the girls "angels." At first, the show was to be called Harry's Angels,
which was later changed to Charlie's Angels for two reasons: (1) to
avoid confusion with another ABC detective series, Harro O; and (2)
"Charlie" was a name then associated with a popular line of perfume. Of
course, Kate Jackson was the first actress to be cast in Charlie's Angels.. One of the most important post-production tasks was to add the voice
of Charlie, the Angels' wealthy, mysterious boss. Spelling hired Gig Young,
who battled alcoholism throughout his career. He was too drunk to perform
the role. In desperation, Spelling phoned his friend John Forsythe. Forsythe
agreed to take the job and taped his part for the first episode in 1976 in his
pajamas.

Zoneboy · 09-16-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Charlie's Angels Casebook

At first, the show was to be called Harry's Angels,
which was later changed to Charlie's Angels to
avoid confusion with another ABC detective series, Harry O

I liked the name Charlie's Angels much better but I can't believe that ABC would think that people would be dumb enough to confuse Harry's Angels with Harry O.

catlover79 · 09-16-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

I liked the name Charlie's Angels much better but I can't believe that ABC would think that people would be dumb enough to confuse Harry's Angels with Harry O.

What, you didn't want to see David Janssen running around after the bad guys in a bikini??

littlebelle · 09-23-2009, 12:27 PM

I think when I found out it was John Forsythe, all I could think of was Blake Carrington kickin it with all these females in bikinis serving him drinks LOL

catlover79 · 09-23-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlebelle

I think when I found out it was John Forsythe, all I could think of was Blake Carrington kickin it with all these females in bikinis serving him drinks LOL

01-01-2007, 04:08 PM	#1
gregrob Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 13, 2002 Posts: 130	Why was Charlie heard and not seen? From the time I was a kid, I never quite understood the reason for this gimmick. In the pilot movie, Charlie's associate (David Ogden Stiers) tells the angels that Charlie is a very private person and nobody sees him but "me." But Charlie did not remain anonymous to all the sexy babes seen "serving" him. So why did he have to remain anonymous to the Angels?

07-10-2007, 08:40 PM	#2
airhead Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 02, 2007 Location: Orem UT Posts: 103	They might've thought it would make the show more interesting.
	__________________ www.myspace.com/asairhead

09-15-2009, 01:56 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	^ I agree - it was supposed to bring more mystery to the show.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

09-23-2009, 12:27 PM	#8
littlebelle Spell Caster Senior Member Join Date: Dec 29, 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,659	I think when I found out it was John Forsythe, all I could think of was Blake Carrington kickin it with all these females in bikinis serving him drinks LOL
	Last edited by littlebelle; 09-23-2009 at 03:09 PM.

09-16-2009, 01:34 PM	#5
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	According to the Charlie's Angels Casebook, by Jack Condon and David Hofstede (2000), the idea was Kate Jackson's. Producers Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg pitched the idea for the show to Kate Jackson in 1979. "At the meeting, I saw a squawkbox on Aaron's desk, and suggested the girls work for a guy they never see; he only talks to them on the phone or squawkbox. Then I noticed a picture of three angels on Aaron's wall; so I said, let's call the girls "angels." At first, the show was to be called Harry's Angels, which was later changed to Charlie's Angels for two reasons: (1) to avoid confusion with another ABC detective series, Harro O; and (2) "Charlie" was a name then associated with a popular line of perfume. Of course, Kate Jackson was the first actress to be cast in Charlie's Angels.. One of the most important post-production tasks was to add the voice of Charlie, the Angels' wealthy, mysterious boss. Spelling hired Gig Young, who battled alcoholism throughout his career. He was too drunk to perform the role. In desperation, Spelling phoned his friend John Forsythe. Forsythe agreed to take the job and taped his part for the first episode in 1976 in his pajamas.