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Whoo-Hoo! Castellaneta Stars in NBC's 'Angels' Movie

Friday, October 17, 2003

10:16 AM PT

As the voice of Homer Simpson, Dan Castellaneta has ensured himself a place in the television pantheon. His newest on-camera role will be that of another TV legend.

Castellaneta has signed on to star in NBC's movie about behind-the-scenes turmoil on the TV series "Charlie's Angels." He'll play producer Aaron Spelling, who brought the show to ABC -- and the term "jiggle TV" into popular consciousness -- in 1976.

"Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Charlie's Angels'" will follow the meteoric rise of the series -- it was the No. 5 show on TV its first season -- and its stars, Farrah Fawcett-Majors, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. It will also chronicle the backstage squabbles that led to Fawcett-Majors leaving after just one season.

"The dramatic story behind the show's first season makes this a perfect fit with NBC's direction for movies," executive producer Michael G. Larkin says. "Love it or hate it, the impact of this show is still with us 27 years later."

NBC covered similar territory last season with its first "Behind the Camera" movie, about "Three's Company." The new project will feature a few characters from the first movie, including ABC chief Fred Silverman and agent-manager Jay Bernstein, who guided the careers of both Fawcett and Suzanne Somers.

Wallace Langham ("The Larry Sanders Show") will reprise his role as Bernstein, while Dan Lauria ("The Wonder Years") will play Silverman (Brian Dennehy played the role in the "Three's Company" movie).

Tricia Helfer (Sci Fi's "Battlestar Galactica") will play Fawcett-Majors. Lauren Stamile ("Off Centre") will play Jackson, and Christina Chambers ("Sunset Beach") rounds out the Angels as Smith.