"Blue Thunder" (1984) TV series 1984-

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

6 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

An advanced prototype police helicopter and their ground support crew battle crime.

Plot Keywords:

Helicopter | Police | Cult TV | Based On Film

Cast

James Farentino	...	Frank Chaney (11 episodes, 1984)
Dana Carvey	...	Clinton 'JAFO' Wonderlove (11 episodes, 1984)
Sandy McPeak	...	Captain Braddock (11 episodes, 1984)
Dick Butkus	...	Richard 'Ski' Butowski (11 episodes, 1984)
Bubba Smith	...	Lyman 'Bubba' Kelsey (11 episodes, 1984)
Ann Cooper	...	J.J. Douglas (10 episodes, 1984)

Series Directed by
Guy Magar		(3 episodes, 1984)
Bernard McEveety		(2 episodes, 1984)
Gilbert M. Shilton		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Writing credits
Don Jakoby		(2 episodes, 1984)
Fred McKnight		(2 episodes, 1984)
Dan O'Bannon		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Produced by
Donald A. Baer	....	producer (11 episodes, 1984)
Janice Cooke	....	associate producer (11 episodes, 1984)
David Moessinger	....	co-executive producer / executive producer (11 episodes, 1984)
Jeri Taylor	....	producer (11 episodes, 1984)
Roy Huggins	....	executive producer (10 episodes, 1984)

Series Original Music by
Pete Rugolo		(1 episode, 1984)

Series Cinematography by
Andrew Jackson		(11 episodes, 1984)

Series Film Editing by
Russell Denove		(3 episodes, 1984)
Art Stafford		(3 episodes, 1984)
Jim Benson		(2 episodes, 1984)
George Hively		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Casting by
Meryl O'Loughlin		(10 episodes, 1984)

Series Art Direction by
Archie J. Bacon		(11 episodes, 1984)
Ross Bellah		(11 episodes, 1984)

Series Set Decoration by
Audrey A. Blasdel		(11 episodes, 1984)
Mickey S. Michaels		(9 episodes, 1984)
W. Joe Kroesser		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Costume Design by
Grady Hunt		(11 episodes, 1984)

Series Makeup Department
Leo Lotito Jr.	....	makeup supervisor (11 episodes, 1984)
Mike Moschella	....	makeup artist (8 episodes, 1984)
Hazel Catmull	....	hair stylist (3 episodes, 1984)
Ginger Grieve	....	hair stylist (3 episodes, 1984)
Terry Smith	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1984)
Judy Crown	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1984)
Kaye Pownall	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1984)

Series Production Management
Larry Y. Albucher	....	unit production manager (11 episodes, 1984)
Doreen Bergesen	....	executive in charge of production (11 episodes, 1984)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James W. Gavin	....	second unit director (11 episodes, 1984)
Dennis Maguire	....	second assistant director (8 episodes, 1984)
Steve Barnett	....	assistant director (4 episodes, 1984)
Bill Carroll	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1984)
Douglas Dean III	....	assistant director / second assistant director (2 episodes, 1984)
Richard Hinds	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1984)
Gene Sultan	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1984)

Series Art Department
Craig Binkley	....	property master (11 episodes, 1984)
Hank Stonecipher	....	supervising construction coordinator (11 episodes, 1984)
David Kirk	....	construction coordinator (7 episodes, 1984)
Robert DePatis	....	construction coordinator (4 episodes, 1984)

Series Sound Department
Frank Meadow	....	sound mixer (11 episodes, 1984)

Series Special Effects by
Peter Albiez	....	special effects (11 episodes, 1984)

Series Visual Effects by
Deena Burkett	....	special visual effects (11 episodes, 1984)
Bill Millar	....	special visual effects (11 episodes, 1984)

Series Stunts
Bob Harris	....	stunt coordinator (10 episodes, 1984)
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts (3 episodes, 1984)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Frank M. Holgate	....	second unit director of photography (11 episodes, 1984)
Howard Block	....	camera operator (10 episodes, 1984)
Tom Hayes	....	gaffer (10 episodes, 1984)
Ron Stafford	....	key grip (10 episodes, 1984)

Series Casting Department
Fran Bascom	....	casting (7 episodes, 1984)
Simon Ayer	....	casting (3 episodes, 1984)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elizabeth Pine	....	women's wardrobe supervisor (7 episodes, 1984)
Harald Johnson	....	men's wardrobe supervisor (6 episodes, 1984)
Henri Sigler	....	wardrobe supervisor / men's wardrobe supervisor (5 episodes, 1984)

Series Music Department
Frank Denson	....	composer: theme music (10 episodes, 1984)

Series Transportation Department
Jack Grant	....	driver coordinator (6 episodes, 1984)
Dean Quisenberry	....	driver coordinator (4 episodes, 1984)

Series Other crew
Fred McKnight	....	production consultant (11 episodes, 1984)
Sandy Nelson	....	script supervisor (7 episodes, 1984)
Don Jakoby	....	executive story consultant (6 episodes, 1984)
Dan O'Bannon	....	executive story consultant (6 episodes, 1984)
Don Safran	....	associate to executive producer (6 episodes, 1984)
David Braff	....	executive script consultant (5 episodes, 1984)
Daniel Freudenberger	....	story editor (5 episodes, 1984)
Stephen Zito	....	story editor (5 episodes, 1984)
Betty Goldberg	....	script supervisor (4 episodes, 1984)
W. Paul Henley	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1984)
Murray Miller	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1984)
Robert Schlitt	....	executive story supervisor (3 episodes, 1984)
Karen White	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1984)
Gene Kraft	....	title designer (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Television

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1984) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)

Other Companies

• Procter & Gamble  sponsoring

Also Known As:

Runtime:

60 min (11 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

RMS Queen Mary - 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Television

Trivia:

According to a report in TV Guide (Sept 3-9, 1983), Gil Gerard had been signed to play a pilot on "Blue Thunder."

Quotes:

PVC:Well what's that bird Chaney? You look like you're flying my Grandmother's old wringle washer!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ride with the Angels: Making 'Blue Thunder' (2006) (V)

The A-Team and Airwolf Double, but better than Streethawk

After seeing only the Pilot episode (''Second Thunder'') and the next proper episode to follow (''A Clear and Present Day''), I have to say this spinoff series inspired by the original 1983 box-office smash hit of the same name, is a worthy and stylish piece of television, fiananced by Rastar Productions and the original film's distributer, Columbia Pictures. Dana Carvey get's on my nerves sometimes with his over-the-top humour (noticably taken from Dwight Schultz's Murdock in 'The A-Team'), but the aerial action sequences are superb. Seeing as only 11 episodes were produced, I would have to say it is miles ahead of the 1985 13-episode 'Streethawk' series, seeing as both were aired on ABC in the Eighties. The new theme music is now one of my favourites, but I still recognise the constant drum beat used also constantly in 'The A-Team'. All in all, I would rate these show 8/10. Although the original aerial police station base wasn't available to the show's production team, the stock footage taken from the original film is well put together and the soundstages are alright, but a bit of a goof, with the slow rotating blades above the actors, plus no backing motion video playing to simulate the actors actually flying in the air, which was seen in 'Airwolf'.