Following the success of Starsky and Hutch, producers Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg created one of the defining television series of the 1970's - Charlie's Angels. The formula for the series was basic - to say the least - with three female detectives who, every week, were sent on crime-busting operations, authorised by Charlie, their unseen benefactor.

Although tame by today's standards, Charlie's Angels raised not only American network ABC's television ratings to new heights, but the show's risque approach to sexual innuendo and blatant titillation also raised more than a few eyebrows. However, the viewing public adored it - the female audience loved the show's feminist overtones, while the males tuned in each week to glimpse their favourite Angel in various states of undress.

Since its debut in 1976, Charlie's Angels has been a cultural phenomenon - introduced now to a new generation, courtesy of McG's recent film remake. Now, Columbia Tri-Star have issued Angels Under Cover, featuring two episodes of the original television series and starring the original trio - Kate Jackson (Sabrina Duncan), Farrah Fawcett-Majors (Jill Monroe), and Jaclyn Smith (Kelly Garrett).

The question, was it worth the effort? Well...

Episode 1: To Kill An Angel

The seventh episode of the show's first season. Kelly - ever the good Samaritan - escorts a young autistic boy to an amusement park, where he unwittingly discovers a discarded handgun belonging to a hired hitman. Unfortunately for Kelly, the boy's find holds some tragic consequences...

Episode 2: Night of the Strangler

The third episode of Charlie's Angels' first season. A serial killer, with the bizarre moniker of the 'Rag Doll Strangler', is dispatching fashion models in an unique manner, forcing the Angels to enter into the fashion world's seedy underbelly in an attempt to apprehend the murderer...

Angels Under Cover is sourced from a televison series, and is naturally presented in a 4:3 format.

Visually, blacks are, for the most part, quite solid - however, on a few occassions, they are slightly opaque. Foreground objects tend to be quite sharp, yet objects regulated to the mid- and background often adopt a soft or muted look. There is no over-saturation of colour, but minor grain is often present.

Those expecting sonic fireworks will be severely disappointed as the audio is presented in mono. There seems to be some very minor fluctuation in dialogue levels, but overwise it is clear. I did not detect any low level noise.

Included on this disc is the 20 minute featurette, Angels Forever, which explores the mythos of the series and the phenomenon generated from it.

I have a confession to make - one that I am not proud of. I enjoyed Angels Under Cover, albeit in a perverse, masochistic kind of way. Certainly, the stories are formulaic and are often quite bland, the dialogue is inane, and some of the show's direction makes Ed Wood Jr. look like Orson Welles in comparison. But one can argue that this is an integral part of the series' charm.

If you are a dedicated fan and have a love affair with the show, then by all means - buy it. However, if you do not fall within this category, give this title a wide berth.