<Tr> <Th> Audio format </Th> <Td> Monaural </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Original release </Th> <Td> September 22, 1976 (1976 - 09 - 22)--June 24, 1981 (1981 - 06 - 24) </Td> </Tr> <P> Charlie's Angels is an American crime drama television series that aired on ABC from September 22, 1976 to June 24, 1981, producing five seasons and 110 episodes . The series was created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts and was produced by Aaron Spelling . It follows the crime - fighting adventures of three women working in a private detective agency in Los Angeles, California, and originally starred Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett (billed as Farrah Fawcett - Majors), and Jaclyn Smith in the leading roles and John Forsythe providing the voice of their boss, the unseen Charlie Townsend, who directed the "Angels" crime - fighting operations over a speakerphone . There were a few casting changes, after the departure of Fawcett and Jackson, came the additions of Cheryl Ladd, Shelley Hack, and Tanya Roberts . </P> <P> Despite mixed reviews from critics and a reputation for merely being "Jiggle TV" (specifically emphasizing the sex appeal of the female leads), Charlie's Angels enjoyed huge popularity with audiences and was a top ten hit in the Nielsen ratings for its first two seasons . By the third season, however, the show had fallen from the top 10 . The fourth season of the show saw a further decline in ratings; the changes could not stop the falling ratings and in 1981, after 110 episodes and five seasons, Charlie's Angels was canceled . The series continues to have a cult and pop culture following through syndication, DVD releases, and subsequent TV shows . </P>

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