The A-Team Feature Page - Series History, Episode Guide and more!

History

"The A-Team" is an action-adventure T.V. series which ran on the NBC network from 1983 to 1987. In total there were ninety forty-five-minute episodes and four ninety-minute episodes produced, for a total of ninety-eight hours.

The ninety-minute pilot episode (Mexican Slayride) aired as an NBC Sunday Night Movie, on January 23rd, 1983. The first regular forty-five-minute episode, "Children of Jamestown" aired following the Super Bowl on January 30th, 1983.

"The A-Team" almost single-handedly brought NBC out of its third-place slump in the ratings, and was one of the network's biggest successes ever. In its very first season ('82-'83), or half-season, as it was, it finished tenth overall. It was the network's only Top Ten show for the season, and a re-run of "The Out-of-Towners" made it to number two for the week. In its second season it moved up to number four in the overall ratings, with eight episodes reaching number one for the week. It still held strong in the ratings for its third season, finishing in sixth place overall, with one number one high for the episode "Bounty" (which featured Dwight Schultz's wife, Wendy Fulton). However, the fourth season saw a dramatic drop in the ratings, down to thirtieth place, having a high of sixteenth with the episode "Body Slam". Despite drastic efforts to increase the ratings in the fifth season, it finished a dismal sixty-first place for the half-season of episodes that aired. The final episode shown was "Without Reservations", although it is generally acknowledged that "The Gray Team" is the official end of the final series.

Despite its gradual demise, it still has a huge following worldwide, and was voted as the show that people most want to bring back onto television in a recent poll.

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Characters

The A-Team - Amy Amanda Allen

Full name: Amy Amanda Allen ("Triple A")

Occupation: Journalist

Actress: Melinda Culea

Known for: As a renowned journalist, Amy provides vital information for the team's missions, and valuable support during them. Amy is most rememberd for her odd dress sense, her fondness of Murdock, her excitement at being part of the team, her sharp wit, strong character and outspokenness.

Due to disagreements with producers and co-stars, Melinda Culea sadly left the show at the opening of the second series.

Full Name: Bosco "Bad Attitude" Baracus

Rank: Sergeant

Actor: Mr T

Known for: B.A. is the muscle and mechanical genius of the outfit, and is famed for his overabundance of gold jewellery, a bad attitude, his hatred of flying, disliking Murdock, his affinity with children, saying "Fool" and "Sucka", his love of milk and driving and maintaining his beloved ride, the black GMC van.

Full name: "Howling Mad" Murdock

Rank: Captain

Actor: Dwight Schultz

Known for: Murdock, although clinically insane, is a top-notch pilot and offers unwavering support for the team, although his membership is a closely guarded secret. Murdock's trademarks are: his brown leather jacket, baseball cap and black sneakers, his usefulness as a pilot, his many personalities, his banter with B.A., his love for animals, his enthusiasm for the team's many missions, and his love for winding Face up.

Full name: Templeton "Faceman" Peck

Rank: Lieutenant

Actor: Dirk Benedict

Known for: Unarguably the smoothest member of the team, Face is the perpetual con-artist, making him the ideal tool for obtaining equipment, access to just about anywhere, and also for springing Murdock from the loony bin when required. Face is most noted for his good looks, being able to talk his way out of any situation, his involvement with countless ladies, wearing pristine suits, his beloved Corvette and his skill with numbers.

Full name: John "Hannibal" Smith

Rank: Colonel

Actor: George Peppard

Known for: The A-Team's leader, Hannibal is most famous for smoking cigars, always having a plan (and loving it when it comes together!), wearing disguises, playing the Aquamaniac, making smart remarks when in trouble, wearing black leather gloves, and (most annoyingly to the other A-Team members) being 'on the jazz' (i.e. getting high on excitement and danger)!