A-Team, The (NBC 1983-1987, George Peppard, Mr T)

Action adventure series The A-Team was about a group of outlaw Vietnam veterans who hire themselves out as mercenaries.

One of the most explosive series of the ’80s, The A-Team was a phenomenal success from the start. The show’s winning combination of hard-core action and tongue-in-cheek humor quickly attracted a following that lasted much of its run, January 1983 to June 1987.

The series revolves around the crafty Col. John “Hannibal” Smith and his crack team of commandos who were busted performing a covert mission four days after the end of the Vietnam War. Unable to prove who gave them the orders, the Team was imprisoned by its own government. After escaping, the good-guy outlaws keep one step ahead of the military by working as mercenary soldiers who always emerge on the side of justice.

Hannibal’s cohorts are B.A. (for “Bad Attitude”) Baracus, the tough mechanic, Howling Mad Murdock, the crazed pilot and Faceman, the charming hustler who can talk his way around any situation. The four are always armed to the teeth, battling all manner of baddies, but oddly, almost never suffer serious injury.

The Faceman was played in the pilot by Tim Dunigan, the BA in Bosco’s name stands for Bad attitude and he hated flying (having to be drugged before he would go up in a plane).

For the final season having been captured by General Stockwell the team actually found themselves working for the government. 2010 saw a big budget high octane big screen movie starring Liam Neeson as Hannibal and Bradley Cooper as Faceman. Despite lots of hype it failed to set the box-office alight and no further A-Team outings were forthcoming.

production details
USA / NBC – Universal – Stephen J. Cannell Prod. / 4×120 minute episodes 90×60 minute episodes / Broadcast 23 January 1983 – 14 June 1987

Creators: Brandon Tartikoff, Frank Lupo, Stephen J. Cannell / Music: Mike Post, Pete Carpenter / Executive Producers: Stephen J. Cannell, Frank Lupo, John Ashley

cast
GEORGE PEPPARD as Colonel John ‘Hannibal’ Smith
DIRK BENEDICT as Lt Templeton ‘Faceman’ Peck
DWIGHT SHULTZ as Captain HM ‘Howling Mad’ Murdock
MR T. as Sergeantt Bosco ‘BA’ Baracus
MELINDA CULEA as Amy Amanda ‘Triple A’ Allen (1983)
ROBERT VAUGHAN as General Hunt Stockwell (1986-87)
EDDIE VELEZ as Frankie ‘Dishpan’ Sanchez (1986-87)
WILLIAM LUCKING as Colonel Lynch (1983-84)
LANCE LE GAULT as Colonel Roderick Decker (1983-86)
MARLA HEASLEY as Tawnia Baker (1984)
JUDY LEDFORD as Carla (1986)