The A-Team 

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, Mr. T, Dwight Schultz

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations.

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 Vietnam, 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 ladies 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:

gmc vandura | 1980s | good versus evil | mercenary | hero for hire | 

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Taglines:

Heroes for hire.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

The A-Team

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stephen J. Cannell Productions, Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Stereo (Season 5)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the Italian version, "Face" is called "Sberla" (= "face slap") and BA is known as PE or "Pessimo Elemento" (= "terrible element").

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Goofs

Throughout the series, the stunt doubles used to stand in for the actors are often very obviously not the actor in question. This is consistent with other action/adventure TV shows from the same era and ilk.

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Quotes

[opening narration]
Narrator: 10 years ago a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive 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.

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Alternate Versions

The episodes broadcast in Germany on the commercial network RTL were heavily cut with regards to violence and 'imitable techniques' (such as improvising weapons and explosives). Also, the opening credits for all episodes were based on the version originally used for the 5th season, including the unpopular remix of the opening song. The first season episodes broadcast on the public network ARD, however, were completely uncut and featured the original opening credits.

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Connections

Referenced in DVD-R Hell: Mr. T's Be Somebody or Be Somebody's Fool (2012)

User Reviews

A real awesome TV series from the 1980's.

I think "The A-Team" is still a great show from the 80's, it has a lot of humor and great acting. Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo have a great imagination when they thought up this idea.

The series is about former soldiers, who were Vietnam veterans,are on the run from the law. They are sought after by the U.S. Army for crimes they didn't commit. The A-Team are wanted for robbing the bank of Hanoi.

The A-Team is led by Col. John "Hannibal" Smith, played so awesome by the late George Peppard (Breakfast At Tiffany's, Battle Beyond The Stars, and Treasure Of The Yankee Zepher). Hannibal is a master of disguise, does stunts for movies on his free time. Hannibal is so fond of quoting whenever his plans go great, Hannibal quotes "I love it when a plan comes together."

Sgt. Bosco "B.A." Baracus, played superbly by Mr. T (Rocky III and D.C. Cab). B.A.'s initials are known by the other members of the team as "Bad Attitude". B.A. has a fear of flying, that is why when the team need to fly somewhere, Hannibal always has to drug him to get him on the plane cause B.A. refuses to fly, no matter what situation they are in. B.A. may seem mean, but he really is a nice person, he gets along with kids really well.

Capt H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock is a member of the team who is not all there.Murdock resided at the V.A. Hospital for the first 4 seasons. Murdock is crazy, likes to talk about his invisible dog named "Billy", a dog that does not exist, he may be nuts but he is a great pilot. Murdock tends to get on B.A. Baracus's nerves from time to time. Murdock is played so well by actor Dwight Schultz (Star Trek:The Next Generation and The Temp).

Lt. Templeton Peck a.k.a. "Face"or "Faceman", played awesome by Dirk Benedict (Battlestar Galactica, Ruckus, and Alaska) is a great con man for the team, he gets the team things they need for anything, he even gets Murdock out of the V.A. Hospital when the team needs him. Face drives a real nice Corvette.

Amy Allen, played by the beautiful Melinda Culea, is a reporter who works with The A-Team from time to time, gets them information. The A-Team met her when Amy hired them to help find her friend being held in Mexico by Guerillas.

Tawnia Baker, played by Marla Heasley, is Amy Allen's replacement on the show for 1 year.

Frankie "Dishpan" Santana, played by Eddie Velez (Repo Man, Rooftops, and Traffic), joined the team in the final season of the show.

The A-Team help people in need, they don't always do it for money, they help people even if the people don't have to money to pay them. The A-Team is always being chased after by the U.S. Army., the Colonels that have tried to catch them are Col. Lynch, played by William Lucking (The River Wild, The Trigger Effect, and Erin Brockovich), Col. Roderick Decker, played by Lance LeGault (Iron Eagle, Mortal Combat:Annihilation), Col. Briggs, played by Charles Napier (Rambo:First Blood Part II, The Grifters, and Austin Powers:The Spy Who Shagged me),Gen. Fullbright, played by Jack Ging(Riptide). The A-Team always outwits them.

The A-Team have gotten away from them but later got captured and tried and sentenced to execution, but is saved by a government agency.Gen. Hunt Stockwell, played by Robert Vaughn (The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Superman III, and Black Moon Rising)is in charge of the agency.

I think "The A-Team" is a well done show, it may seem violent, but the focus is what it is all about, soldiers who help people out, they only shoot when they have to. No one has ever got killed except Gen. Fullbright by Vietnamese soldiers in one episode,and a Mob boss who gets killed, but not by the A-Team in the episode in the first season.

Special guest appearances on the A-Team are Hulk Hogan of WWF fame, Boy George of the 1980's pop group "Culture Club". The late Rick James,who is a R&B singer, well known for is hit single "Superfreak". I give this TV series 2 thumbs up and 10/10 stars.