The show: “Charlie’s Angels” On duty: Kelly Garrett (Jaclyn Smith), Sabrina Duncan (Kate Jackson) and Jill Munroe (Farrah Fawcett)
M.O.: Ten years after women burned bras, the Angels didn't bother wearing bras at all. In doing so, they created a new feminism that made being sexy and tough OK. The former policewomen combined crime-fighting skills and feminine wiles in solving the Townsend Agency’s unique cases. And if show ratings and poster sales mean anything, male viewers were quite accepting of the Angels’ brand of, well, modern feminism. Go figure.
The show: “The Closer”
On duty: Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick)
M.O.: Johnson has skills: CIA-trained, a knack for getting confessions and her micro-managing keeps her abreast of every detail. Her messy personal life is just as impressive, though. She has had an affair with a married man, a failed marriage, can’t tell her parents about her live-in boyfriend, a secret junk food addiction, frequently gets lost on L.A. streets and she can’t parallel park. Johnson’s just like us—except she has a badge.
The show: "Police Woman"
On duty: Sergeant Leann "Pepper" Anderson (Angie Dickinson)
M.O.: As the first female title character in a police show, Anderson is the benchmark for measuring TV’s arresting females. Anderson, an LAPD cop, inspired an avalanche of applications from American women wanting to become policewomen. Of course they did—Sergeant Anderson made it look easy. She wasn’t afraid to rock a mini-skirt or throw a punch, and she handled a rifle like a sharp shooting pro.
The show: “21 Jump Street”
On duty: Detective Judy Hoffs (Holly Robinson-Peete)
M.O.: Hoffs had it really tough as the only girl in a team full of hunks. Idealistic and college-educated, yet street-savvy, Hoffs really put herself out there for the kids she helped. During the series’ run, she narrowly escaped a lesbian kiss (whew!), infiltrated a street gang and spent an entire sting in a wheelchair. By series end, Hoffs had lost her idealism, but she was the only officer to get promoted. Score!
ONE MORE TIME I CAN'T GET ENOUGH
