"The A-Team" (1983) TV series 1983-1987

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Creators:

Stephen J. Cannell
Frank Lupo

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

23 January 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

Heroes for hire.

Plot:

Four Vietnam vets, framed for a crime they didn't commit, help the innocent while on the run from the military.

Plot Keywords:

Vietnam | Army | Soldiers Of Fortune | Special Forces | Veterans Administration

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

George Peppard	...	John 'Hannibal' Smith / ... (97 episodes, 1983-1987)
Dwight Schultz	...	'Howling Mad' Murdock (97 episodes, 1983-1987)
Mr. T	...	B.A. Baracus (97 episodes, 1983-1987)
Dirk Benedict	...	Templeton 'Faceman' Peck (96 episodes, 1983-1987)
John Ashley	...	Narrator / ... (84 episodes, 1983-1986)

Runtime:

60 min (98 episodes) | Argentina:60 min | Israel:45 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG | Australia:M (some episodes) | Netherlands:6 (DVD rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Stephen J. Cannell Productions

Trivia:

During the entire series, only five people died on-screen. They include Gen. 'Bull' Fulbright (Jack Ging), who got shot in the back by a hostile during an operation working together with the A-Team. The deaths of at least three more characters were left ambiguous.

Quotes:

Face: [the team's plane is starting to malfunction] Uh, Murdock, what's going to happen?
Murdock: Looks like we're going to crash.'
Face: No, what's *really* going to happen?
Murdock: Looks like we're going to crash and die.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Stop-Loss (2008)

BEST TV SHOW EVER

What constitutes a really really good TV show? I think it has to have good characters, good stories,action, car chases, villains and it has to be totally crazy and unafraid to show the impossible.

The A-Team had it all. It is the type of show one can watch over and over again and still enjoy it. I have very fond memories of The A-Team from the 1980's. I get all nostalgic when watching it. Why is it that the TV writers and producers from the 1980's produced such good stuff? Why can nobody write a good show nowadays.

The storyline for the A-Team hardly ever changed. Some underdog such as a farmer or small business owner would be getting hassle from some rich guy who wanted to put them out of business. The underdog would call in the A-Team. The A-Team would thrash the bad guys. The bad guys would get hold of as much weaponry as they could. The A-Team would then get hold of even better weaponry. There would be a good scrap at the end and plenty of gunfire (although neither the good guys or bad guys could hit anyone). The A-Team would beat the baddies and leave them for the police. That was the story for most the episodes. There were deviations from the normal formula (particularly in the last season)at times. In one episode a mercenary called Kyle tries to put the A-Team out of commission. In another episode Howlin' Mad Murdock was wounded whilst the US Army were on the Team's trail.

The really good thing about the A-Team was that it was totally crazy and didn't take itself seriously. There were so many odd things about this series.

For example, the A-Team never seemed to have a permanent house. I guess they lived in that van but I never saw any suitcases or personal belongings in their van.

There were other crazy things. The Team used to bust Murdock out of a psychiatric hospital when they needed him. Perhaps the hospital chiefs should have put a 24 hour guard on his door. The other funny thing was the way the Team always used to put B.A. Baracus to sleep when they needed to fly. They never failed in doing that. In short, the Team could do anything. They could evade the US Army constantly and they could build anything from scrap. The only thing they couldn't do was shoot anyone-they always missed. It was all these crazy things that made the A-Team great.

The characters were brilliant. The late George Peppard was Hannibal who always had a plan and only enjoyed himself when there were bullets flying past him and things getting blown up. Mr T played the grumpy B.A. Baracus whose heart was in the wrong place. He was tough but scared of flying. Dirk Benedict played Faceman who was the ultimate conman. He could play any part and get anything for the team. Dwight Schultz played the mad howlin'Murdock who may have been mad but he could certainly be counted on. Throughout the series the Team were joined by the likes of the beautiful Amy Allen and the slick Frankie Santana. The last season deviated from the normal formula but it was still good.

All in all, it was a great show which brings back great memories whenever I watch it. It was just one of the many shows which made the 80's great. A big pat on the back must go to everyone involved in this wonderful show. I hope the big budget film is good but nothing could ever be better than this show.