Charlie’s Angels changed television forever when it premiered in 1976, redefining what female heroes could look like. Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith weren’t just solving crimes—they were pioneering a new era of empowerment, showing that women could be smart, stylish, and fearless at the same time. Beyond the action, the fashion and charisma of the Angels shaped pop culture for decades. Behind the scenes, the show’s creation had its own twists. John Forsythe became the voice of the mysterious Charlie only after the original actor, Gig Young, was dropped for a drinking problem.

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.