Charlie's Angels - The Complete Second Season

          Charlie's Angels: The Complete Second Season has no shortage of the good-natured cheese and eye candy that made the primetime television show's debut season wildly popular in 1976. The Angels had a new look in their second year: Farrah Fawcett, arguably the most popular of the show's three actresses, departed before the sophomore season and was replaced by another blonde dazzler, Cheryl Ladd. (Ladd's character, Kris Munroe, was the younger sister of Fawcett's Jill Munroe, whose exit is explained in the premiere episode as a liberated woman's career move: Jill has decided to race cars in Spain.) No sooner does Kris settle in than a crisis sweeps through off-screen Charlie's private investigation agency. While cavorting on Oahu in the two-part "Angels in Paradise," Charlie is kidnapped by a smuggler (France Nuyen), who demands the Angels break her husband out of jail in exchange for their boss's life. Bubbly Kris, brainy Sabrina Duncan (Kate Jackson), beauteous Kelly Garrett (Jaclyn Smith), and sidekick Bosley (David Doyle) are compelled to soak up rays and sip fruity mixed drinks in Waikiki while fighting crime in various guises, re-establishing, for another season, Charlie's Angels' dramatic and aesthetic game plan for every episode: start slow with lots of idle chatter, put the girls in a ridiculous undercover situation, and get them out of their clothes as much as possible. The pattern continues in the silly "Angels on Ice," starring old hands Phil Silvers and Jim Backus, in which our heroines join an ice show to find out who kidnapped a pair of skaters. "Pretty Angels All in a Row" finds Kelly and Kris reluctant entrants in a "Miss Chrysanthemum Pageant" (no, you won't find Kate Jackson in a swimsuit this year, either) rigged by organized crime. "Circus of Terror," co-starring James Darren, enlists the Angels in the carney life. Still, there are surprises: "The Sammy Davis Jr. Kidnap Caper" stars the late rat-packer in peril and much bemused by the presence of three comely bodyguards.

Comment:
    Before I begin, I would just like to say that I am writing this review much like a "first time" viewer would. I was ten years old when Charlie's Angels hit the airwaves and watched the show each week as if it were required by law! That was, however, over 30 years ago! Before purchasing Season's One and Two, I had not seen a single episode since it's original run. When I came to the end of Season One, I was a bit upset that I was going to have to make the transition from Farrah Fawcett to Cheryl Ladd. To my ultimate delight, I barely noticed the switch. Ms. Ladd took over in a way that made my heart go "pitter-patter!" It's truly amazing how well she immediately fit in with Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. To me, she completely leveled the playing field for the show. In Season One, it's not difficult to figure out that Farrah stole a bit of thunder from Kate and Jaclyn. I personally don't feel this way, but the producers obviously did. Farrah wore the super-sexy outfits, she had the big beautiful hair, and she rarely wore a bra. I think that they tried to portray her as the woman every man wanted, but could never have. When Cheryl Ladd emerged on the screen she was the ultimate "girl next door." Her constant smile and charming personality was a great addition to the show. At times, they did dress her in the super-sexy outfits like they did with Farrah. While Cheryl definitely "filled them out" far better than Farrah did, she never seemed unapproachable. Yes she was sexy, but first and foremost...she was just plain cute! Season Two of Charlie's Angels is a great collection complete with action, glamour, glitz, and light-hearted humor. It's also a bargain! You get 26 episodes at a running time of 1127 minutes. That's almost 19 hours of entertainment at a very low cost.