The A-Team (1983–1987)

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

Creators:

Stephen J. Cannell, Frank Lupo

Stars:

George Peppard, Dwight Schultz, Mr. T

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

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
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)

Storyline

At the end of their stint in Viet Nam, Col. John "Hannibal" Smith and his team were framed for robbing the Bank of Hanoi (which they had done, but under orders), and sent to a US military prison. They escaped and went on the run, pursued first by Col. Lynch and later by Col. Decker. While on the lam, they became heroes for hire, working as good-guy vigilantes around the US or the world. Hannibal was their leader and an expert at disguises. Face was the team's con artist and lady's man. BA (officially "Bad Attitude") was their mechanic, but also took care of mayhem and intimidation. The final member of the Team, "Howling Mad" Murdock, was an expert pilot, and a certified lunatic--they broke him out of a mental hospital whenever they needed him for a mission.

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Plot Keywords:

vietnam | soldier | army | soldiers of fortune | special forces | 

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Taglines:

Heroes for hire.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Omada

Filming Locations:

Saddle Rock Ranch - 31727 Mullholland Highway, Malibu, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stephen J. Cannell Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

The University of Alabama's marching band ("The Million-Dollar Band") often performs the theme song to this show at their athletic events (the connection being that their teams start with an "A" for "Alabama").

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Goofs

In order to have become a Green Beret BA Baracus would have to have undergone Airborne Training and completed a number of parachute jumps. Yet according to his mother he was afraid of flying even from an early age. However, given BA's tenacity and toughness, that doesn't discount the possibility that he did many parachute jumps simply because he wanted to face that fear and overcome it.

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Quotes

B.A. Baracus: I ain't goin' on no airplane!

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Connections

Referenced in Het glazen huis: Confrontaties (2004)

User Reviews

Television defined the eighties

Nothing defined the eighties so much as the television we watched. Dallas. The Young and the Restless. The Dukes of Hazzard. He-Man. The Greatest American Hero. Airwolf. Knight Rider.

In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they did not commit. They promptly escaped a maximum security stockade into the Los Angeles Underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they exist as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire...

The A-Team.

With a script any eight year old would love, the four members of the A-Team went off every week to somewhere in America to help someone who couldn't find help anywhere else. They battled impossible odds (with impossible storylines) and managed to stay one step ahead of the law. They were always predictable, heroic, and fun. God bless the eighties, and long live TV Land.