In the mid-1970s, television was preparing for an unprecedented pop-culture earthquake, though nobody quite knew what form it would take. Behind the studio doors of legendary producer Aaron Spelling, a private detective drama was assembling its ranks. It was sleek, glamorous, and unapologetically stylish. Yet long before Charlie’s Angels became a prime-time phenomenon, its casting office witnessed a parade of future Hollywood royalty vying for a spot in Townsend Associates—including a statuesque beauty who almost traded an invisible jet for a speakerphone.
A Closer Look
Originally conceived around Kate Jackson, Charlie’s Angels was built specifically as her showcase. Jackson was the first to sign on, initially earmarked to play streetwise Kelly Garrett before she pivoted to the cerebral Sabrina Duncan. With Farrah Fawcett quickly tapped to bring her sun-drenched, athletic charm to the role of Jill Munroe, television history hit a pivotal fork in the road: who would fill out the trio as the third Angel?
Wonder Angel?
The race for that final slot attracted a remarkable lineup of 1970s star power. Among the hopefuls reading for the part were future sitcom queen Suzanne Somers, bombshell Loni Anderson, The Dukes of Hazzard standout Catherine Bach, model Susie Coelho, and dramatic actress Veronica Hamel. But standing tall among them was a former Miss World USA on the brink of superstardom: Lynda Carter.
At the time, Carter was navigating the precarious early stages of television development. She had already filmed the pilot for The New Original Wonder Woman, which had aired to promising reactions but left its star in contractual limbo while the network decided its fate. Seeking steady work in an unforgiving town, Carter walked into Spelling’s casting room to test for the open spot in the glamorous detective trio.
The chemistry test tantalized producers, but Hollywood logistics intervened. Carter was tied up by her existing commitments to the comic-book adaptation. Once the network gave Diana Prince the green light for a full series, Carter was effectively locked in, taking her out of the running to report to the mysterious Charlie. The role of Kelly Garrett ultimately went to Jaclyn Smith, completing the magnetic triumvirate that defined a generation of television.
It proved to be a rare win-win in entertainment history. Smith became the bedrock of the franchise, serving as the only Angel to remain through the show’s entire five-season run. Meanwhile, Carter strapped on the bulletproof bracelets, slipped into the red-and-gold bustier, and created a feminist icon whose cultural footprint remains indelible half a century later.
The Big Picture
Reflecting on her near-miss starring role in Charlie’s Angels decades later, Lynda Carter harbored no lingering what-ifs about missing out on the Townsend payroll. When asked about the audition, she summed up the twist of fate with trademark wit and self-assurance: “There’s only one Wonder Woman!” It was a cheeky nod to the Angels’ strength in numbers—and a reminder that some heroes are simply meant to save the world on their own terms.
Ask us! What questions do you have about content, strategy, pop culture, lifestyle, wellness, history or more? We may use your question in an upcoming article!
Like MediaFeed’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article originally appeared on NewsBreak and was syndicated by MediaFeed.co.
