This is a nice episode because it takes a more serious approach as the beginning of the show draws us in to the sad situation of a country singer in trouble and her worried father, to whom she is desperately trying to get home. In the investigation of the case, the Cheryl Ladd character takes kind of a lead role as the case starts, and then has a quick fight with one of the bad guys at the end. That character is one the viewer grows rather fond of, until his true intentions are revealed. Kate Jackson's character has a moment of danger when she is shot at and has to dive out of the way. Jaclyn Smith's character has a nice (if a little cheesy based on her acting) confrontation with a possible suspect. All in all, the equal time for each actress / Angel character to have a memorable moment or two really makes this episode strong. Generally, Jaclyn got some of the most favorable parts throughout the show, more screen time, the most close-ups, etc. Towards the end of Cheryl's first season she became more featured, leaving Kate's screen time and visibility in third place. But this episode does well balancing things out. It also provides a more believable, organized string of events to solving their case, as Kris rides with the cabbie to retrace the places he took the singer to at the beginning of the show, and Sabrina and Kelly each visit them as they follow behind.
4 Reviews
Country Heartbreak Angels
adamcshelby24 July 2021
This was one of the more morose episodes of the show, about a country singer who ends up dead from a from a forced heroin overdose. Bess Gatewood plays Amy Waters, singer of the country hit "Trippin' to the Mornin'", and she goes all out with the tears. Her performance definitely sells the viewer on her problems.
A taxi ride is an interesting storytelling device used as the Angels retrace the steps Amy made the night she died. They question each person Amy visited along the way. Sabrina has a forceful scene with a music producer, while Kris rides along with the same taxi driver who gave Amy her ride on the fateful night. Kelly has a run in with one of Amy's user boyfriends, and as always she handles herself well in a tense situation.
A notable guest star is Vincent Schiavelli (the creepy subway guy from Ghost) playing what else? A bad guy. It's called typecasting.
There's melancholy when the case is solved, with Charlie himself admitting he's moved by Amy Water's music, as her hit song plays out in the final scene.
A taxi ride is an interesting storytelling device used as the Angels retrace the steps Amy made the night she died. They question each person Amy visited along the way. Sabrina has a forceful scene with a music producer, while Kris rides along with the same taxi driver who gave Amy her ride on the fateful night. Kelly has a run in with one of Amy's user boyfriends, and as always she handles herself well in a tense situation.
A notable guest star is Vincent Schiavelli (the creepy subway guy from Ghost) playing what else? A bad guy. It's called typecasting.
There's melancholy when the case is solved, with Charlie himself admitting he's moved by Amy Water's music, as her hit song plays out in the final scene.
Thoughtful episode
jarrodmcdonald-111 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I just finished watching this one, and it certainly packs a punch at the end. I think the tone for this one is a lot more somber than previous installments of the series. Writer Edward J. Lakso is able to take the standard format of the program and expand on it with a theme that hadn't been covered yet.
I am not sure if there had been any country singers before 1978 who had overdosed. (In 1989 Keith Whitley died from alcohol poisoning, but that's not quite the same thing.) So probably in some ways, this story is more of a tribute to someone like Janis Joplin who like the dialogue at the end tells us, left behind something that survived in spite of what others had been taking from her. In that regard, it's a story about a person's integrity and their artistic legacy. Interestingly, the song featured throughout the episode ('Tripping to the Morning') was also written by Lakso.
We get pensive moments with each of the Angels, as well as Bosley, who all seem affected by Amy Waters' music. They are captivated by the voice and this one particular song. And although we don't hear the entire tune, we are also drawn in by it. We also learn something more about Charlie-- namely that he's a fan of this music too, and he has a soft spot for Amy's singing.
The investigation follows a specific timeline. They are all retracing Amy's steps, trying to figure out what caused her death that fateful night. There is considerable banter between the characters in their cars, with them talking to one another on their phones about what the cabbie is telling Kris about Amy's last hours. There's a strong sense of teamwork and togetherness, even if they are all in separate locations while conducting their portions of the investigation.
The acting from each one of them is exemplary in this episode, but I especially like the scene where Sabrina bursts into Cooperman's office to rattle his cage about the publishing rights to Amy's songs. And I like the follow-up scene a bit later, after someone has taken a shot at her, where Sabrina visits one of Cooperman's cronies and convinces him they're both targets now because they've met and discussed the big cover-up.
Kate Jackson always seems prepared, coming into her scenes with specific goals to get Sabrina's quirks across. It's like the character is playing a game to make her cover story more believable. Typically Sabrina gets into the role-playing a bit too much for her own good. Then Jackson smartly reels her back in, so she manages to remain level-headed without going too overboard.
I am not sure if there had been any country singers before 1978 who had overdosed. (In 1989 Keith Whitley died from alcohol poisoning, but that's not quite the same thing.) So probably in some ways, this story is more of a tribute to someone like Janis Joplin who like the dialogue at the end tells us, left behind something that survived in spite of what others had been taking from her. In that regard, it's a story about a person's integrity and their artistic legacy. Interestingly, the song featured throughout the episode ('Tripping to the Morning') was also written by Lakso.
We get pensive moments with each of the Angels, as well as Bosley, who all seem affected by Amy Waters' music. They are captivated by the voice and this one particular song. And although we don't hear the entire tune, we are also drawn in by it. We also learn something more about Charlie-- namely that he's a fan of this music too, and he has a soft spot for Amy's singing.
The investigation follows a specific timeline. They are all retracing Amy's steps, trying to figure out what caused her death that fateful night. There is considerable banter between the characters in their cars, with them talking to one another on their phones about what the cabbie is telling Kris about Amy's last hours. There's a strong sense of teamwork and togetherness, even if they are all in separate locations while conducting their portions of the investigation.
The acting from each one of them is exemplary in this episode, but I especially like the scene where Sabrina bursts into Cooperman's office to rattle his cage about the publishing rights to Amy's songs. And I like the follow-up scene a bit later, after someone has taken a shot at her, where Sabrina visits one of Cooperman's cronies and convinces him they're both targets now because they've met and discussed the big cover-up.
Kate Jackson always seems prepared, coming into her scenes with specific goals to get Sabrina's quirks across. It's like the character is playing a game to make her cover story more believable. Typically Sabrina gets into the role-playing a bit too much for her own good. Then Jackson smartly reels her back in, so she manages to remain level-headed without going too overboard.
Charlie's Angels, not just jiggle TV - there was more depth to it than that.
neilclack25 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Heroin. Cocaine. This is quite a heavy subject for Charlie's Angels.
This series, the 2nd series, began with the two-parter 'Angels In Paradise', which was almost a comedy, it had so many funny moments - not to mention plenty of Hawaiian women, and the Angels themselves, in bikinis.
But 19 episodes on, and the mood in this one couldn't be more removed from 'Angels In Paradise'. This is dark, serious, proper drama, with the murdered Country and Western singer, a drug-addict, painted very much as a victim of the showbiz world she moves in, exploited by male hangers on, pushers, and crooked managers and promotors. Even syndicate violence gets a mention.
I've seen some debate over whether the original Charlie's Angels were feminist or not, given that they often used their beauty and sexuality to get around men in a way that normal, less stunningly attractive, women would not be able to do, but I think the programme is quite feminist, at least in the way it always sympathises, rather than condemns, women who work as prostitutes, a recurring theme in Charlie's Angels, and here Amy, the murdered female drug addict, is viewed very much as a good person who got treated badly by the men around her, beaten up by her guitarist, and ripped off financially by other men.
This episode could perhaps be Kate Jackson finest Charlie's Angels performance. Always considered the real actress among the Angels, the scenes where Sabrina confronts, first Cooperman (played by Steve Gravers), the crooked publisher who bought Amy's songs against her will, and then Doneger (played by Lou Picetti), Amy's manager - Sabrina starts low key, a cooky approach, before turning more aggressive and forceful, putting the allegations to them, almost Columbo-like in her delivery.
"What tangled webs we weave", Sabrina reflects openly, in front of Doneger who she realises played no part in Amy's murder, all eyes and facial expressions.
One can only imagine how much it must have hurt Kate Jackson that the Charlie's Angels producers didn't allow her to play the lead role in Kramer versus Kramer around this time (for which Meryl Streep ended up with the part, and won an Oscar for it!), as Jackson's acting in this episode shows how good she would've been in the role.
The first two Charlie's Angels series were filmed from 1976 to 1978, when flared trousers/jeans and shirt collars were at their largest and widest, but then suddenly went out of fashion overnight, never to return, so, unfortunately for Charlie's Angels, that quirk of fashion history makes some of the clothes they wear in some episodes not just look very dated, but laughable, but here though, throughout the episode, Kate Jackson's quality acting coincides with her wearing a stylish black duffel jacket/cardigan, with white trimming, done up with toggles, and blue jeans, that do pass the test of time and still look stylish today. She looks very cool.
It's a rare episode in that all three Angels wear the same clothes throughout, without one costume change - this is due to the timeline of the whole episode taking place in just one day, another rarity. Kris (Cheryl Ladd) wears a black Country and Western- style outfit, appropriately enough as she is goes undercover as a Country and Western music magazine journalist, but how would she have known to wear that right at the beginning, in the Townsend Agency Office, before Charlie had even told them what the case is about? - anyway, it's not fair to pick holes in Charlie's Angels scripts, as they should not be taken too seriously, so we won't question either how it is thst hardened criminals that tail cars are so unobservant that they fail to notice when they're being followed themselves.
The opening scene with the drug afflicted Amy Waters (played by Bess Gatewood, looking terrible, bruised and drugged) being driven around a taxi, takes place at night, and has a sinister vibe to it, typical of many 1970s USA crime films and TV series - the whole episode does have a slight feel of the classic 1976 movie Taxi Driver, starring Robert De Niro, with Larry (played by Gary Bisig), the Taxi Driver who drove Amy around shortly before she died, now retracing the route they took, including all the stops they made, with Kris, undercover as the magazine reporter. There's a slow, sombre feel to it. The three Angels and Bosley all work together as a team, each getting equal air time, and in contact with one another via radio and phone calls. And then, of course, comes the big twist in the story, three quarters of the way in, when Kris gets out of the cab to make a phone call to Bosley, and suddenly we realise that the Taxi Driver is part of the gang that murdered Amy.
The obligatory fight at the end, between all three Angels, and the three criminals is a bit silly and not really needed in this episode. Out of place this time infact.
Bill Quinn who plays Ted Waters, Amy's father, is very good. Heartfelt.
Charlie's Angels did return to the serious issue of Heroin in series 4 when Kelly (Jaclyn Smith) is injected with heroin by crooks and becomes addicted - maybe Smith's finest ever acting performance in all five of the Charlie's Angels series she appeared in.
Charlie's Angels, not just jiggle TV - there was a lot more depth to it than that.
This series, the 2nd series, began with the two-parter 'Angels In Paradise', which was almost a comedy, it had so many funny moments - not to mention plenty of Hawaiian women, and the Angels themselves, in bikinis.
But 19 episodes on, and the mood in this one couldn't be more removed from 'Angels In Paradise'. This is dark, serious, proper drama, with the murdered Country and Western singer, a drug-addict, painted very much as a victim of the showbiz world she moves in, exploited by male hangers on, pushers, and crooked managers and promotors. Even syndicate violence gets a mention.
I've seen some debate over whether the original Charlie's Angels were feminist or not, given that they often used their beauty and sexuality to get around men in a way that normal, less stunningly attractive, women would not be able to do, but I think the programme is quite feminist, at least in the way it always sympathises, rather than condemns, women who work as prostitutes, a recurring theme in Charlie's Angels, and here Amy, the murdered female drug addict, is viewed very much as a good person who got treated badly by the men around her, beaten up by her guitarist, and ripped off financially by other men.
This episode could perhaps be Kate Jackson finest Charlie's Angels performance. Always considered the real actress among the Angels, the scenes where Sabrina confronts, first Cooperman (played by Steve Gravers), the crooked publisher who bought Amy's songs against her will, and then Doneger (played by Lou Picetti), Amy's manager - Sabrina starts low key, a cooky approach, before turning more aggressive and forceful, putting the allegations to them, almost Columbo-like in her delivery.
"What tangled webs we weave", Sabrina reflects openly, in front of Doneger who she realises played no part in Amy's murder, all eyes and facial expressions.
One can only imagine how much it must have hurt Kate Jackson that the Charlie's Angels producers didn't allow her to play the lead role in Kramer versus Kramer around this time (for which Meryl Streep ended up with the part, and won an Oscar for it!), as Jackson's acting in this episode shows how good she would've been in the role.
The first two Charlie's Angels series were filmed from 1976 to 1978, when flared trousers/jeans and shirt collars were at their largest and widest, but then suddenly went out of fashion overnight, never to return, so, unfortunately for Charlie's Angels, that quirk of fashion history makes some of the clothes they wear in some episodes not just look very dated, but laughable, but here though, throughout the episode, Kate Jackson's quality acting coincides with her wearing a stylish black duffel jacket/cardigan, with white trimming, done up with toggles, and blue jeans, that do pass the test of time and still look stylish today. She looks very cool.
It's a rare episode in that all three Angels wear the same clothes throughout, without one costume change - this is due to the timeline of the whole episode taking place in just one day, another rarity. Kris (Cheryl Ladd) wears a black Country and Western- style outfit, appropriately enough as she is goes undercover as a Country and Western music magazine journalist, but how would she have known to wear that right at the beginning, in the Townsend Agency Office, before Charlie had even told them what the case is about? - anyway, it's not fair to pick holes in Charlie's Angels scripts, as they should not be taken too seriously, so we won't question either how it is thst hardened criminals that tail cars are so unobservant that they fail to notice when they're being followed themselves.
The opening scene with the drug afflicted Amy Waters (played by Bess Gatewood, looking terrible, bruised and drugged) being driven around a taxi, takes place at night, and has a sinister vibe to it, typical of many 1970s USA crime films and TV series - the whole episode does have a slight feel of the classic 1976 movie Taxi Driver, starring Robert De Niro, with Larry (played by Gary Bisig), the Taxi Driver who drove Amy around shortly before she died, now retracing the route they took, including all the stops they made, with Kris, undercover as the magazine reporter. There's a slow, sombre feel to it. The three Angels and Bosley all work together as a team, each getting equal air time, and in contact with one another via radio and phone calls. And then, of course, comes the big twist in the story, three quarters of the way in, when Kris gets out of the cab to make a phone call to Bosley, and suddenly we realise that the Taxi Driver is part of the gang that murdered Amy.
The obligatory fight at the end, between all three Angels, and the three criminals is a bit silly and not really needed in this episode. Out of place this time infact.
Bill Quinn who plays Ted Waters, Amy's father, is very good. Heartfelt.
Charlie's Angels did return to the serious issue of Heroin in series 4 when Kelly (Jaclyn Smith) is injected with heroin by crooks and becomes addicted - maybe Smith's finest ever acting performance in all five of the Charlie's Angels series she appeared in.
Charlie's Angels, not just jiggle TV - there was a lot more depth to it than that.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
