b'released from the contract. She was willing to stay on the show for $75,000 per ep- and youthful energy, and thats where it ended. Farrah was also clearly aware of her isode, from $5,000, and 10% of merchandise revenue, compared to 2% in the firstcommercial value and what that meant to the business worldwhen she walked onto season. The producers refused, Farrah held firm, and she took the deal to leave. the Merv Griffin set, she was wearing a $25,000, full-length, sable coat, the maker Spelling scrambled to find worthy replacements for Farrah, and ended up with mod- of which was dutifully plugged by Griffin. In addition to her charming but sober els Cheryl Ladd and Shelley Hack, neither of whom brought the energy and popu- demeanor, she exhibited her intelligence as a businesswoman who was undoubtedly larity to the show that Farrah did, who would define Charlies Angels for all times.paid handsomely to model high-end designer fashion to millions of viewers.Financially, the move might have been the right oneFarrah earned almost $14 mil- Farrahs light criticism of the show that was making her famous, just a dozen episodes lion over the five years immediately following her departure. For her career, it was ainto its first season, made the loudest noise in that famous, first big interview. No disaster. She burned bridges with the biggest TV producer in the world and with thedoubt, the thought had been planted with the help of her husband that Farrah was top TV network in the country, and the result was that she was blacklisted out of aalready too big for such a silly, novel role, and that her time had come to take on se-very large segment of the entertainment industry. rious parts. The first of which was a full-length, feature film co-starring Jeff Bridges, Over and above the money issue, Farrahs added complaint about Charlies AngelsSomeone Killed Her Husband, that was released in 1978. Widely panned and having was the vapid nature of the content, and that despite her talent as an actress, Jill Mun- done poorly at the box officeit seemed no one was ready to follow Farrah from ro had only been written as a blonde bimbo. In her first, major national TV interviewblonde bombshell to a semi-serious housewife rolethe film was quickly dubbed by in November 1976, Farrahs opening comment to Merv Griffin when asked about thecritics, Someone Killed Her Career.show was, It has a little room for improvement. The appearance would be the firstDespite this, Farrah endured as an A-List attraction, and over the next few years of dozens over the following 30 years in which Farrah would reveal, in the most politeshe did a number of box office films including Sunburn, Saturn 3 and The Can-and discreet fashion, what was really going on in her life and career to audiences ofnonball Run, the 1981 madcap, ensemble comedy that starred Burt Reynolds, Dom millionsand they paid attention. DeLuise, and Dean Martin, along with over a dozen of the biggest stars of the day. It HER MISSION TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. It was in that first interview withwasnt until 1984 that Farrah Fawcett was, at last, recognized as a serious actress who Merv Griffin that Farrah came across as that smart UT girl from Corpus Christi whocould deliver a convincing performance that had nothing to do with her beauty or was thoughtful, clear, and articulate. She was fun without being flirtatious and wassex appeal. The Burning Bed was an NBC television movie about the true story of an obviously no dumb blondequite to the contrary, she wanted the world to under- abused Michigan housewife who murdered her husband by setting him on fire in his stand that Jill Munro was a character with whom she shared head-turning beautysleep, in their marital bed.Above: Farrah took a leading role in the 1981 ensemble comedy hit, The Cannonball Runco-stars in this photo were (left to right) Dean Martin, Jamie Farr, Roger Moore, Burt Reynolds, Adrienne Barbeau, Rick Aviles, and Burt Convy.Right: Farrah had to learn to skateboard for her Charlies Angels scene in which she escaped the bad guys, on a skateboard.42THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE TheCoastalBend.com'