More than 40 years after it first hit screens, The A-Team is still one of the most recognisable action shows ever made, from Hannibal's cigar to B.A.'s gold chains and that black-and-red van. It was a top ten hit on NBC for its first three seasons.
Here is the story of the soldiers of fortune who always had a plan. Find tribute designs in our TV series collection.
The A-Team Fact File
| Aired | 23 January 1983-30 December 1986 (final unaired episode shown 8 March 1987) |
|---|---|
| Created by | Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo |
| Network | NBC |
| Production | Universal Television, Stephen J. Cannell Productions |
| Seasons/episodes | 5 seasons, 98 episodes |
| Main cast | George Peppard, Mr. T, Dirk Benedict, Dwight Schultz |
| Theme music | Mike Post and Pete Carpenter |
| Signature item | 1983 GMC Vandura van, black with a red stripe |
| Setting | Los Angeles and missions across the US |
Seasons
| Season/Year | Nielsen rank | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 (1983) | 10th | Debut after Super Bowl XVII |
| Season 2 (1983-1984) | 4th | Peak ratings; Marla Heasley joins as Tawnia Baker |
| Season 3 (1984-1985) | 6th | Still a top ten hit |
| Season 4 (1985-1986) | 30th | Ratings start to slide |
| Season 5 (1986-1987) | 61st | The team works for the military in exchange for pardons |
Nielsen rank is the show's position among all US primetime programmes for that season. NBC cancelled the series in November 1986.
The Team Assembles
Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo created the show for NBC about a crack commando unit convicted of a crime they did not commit. After escaping from a military prison, the team works as soldiers of fortune, helping people nobody else will. The first regular episode aired straight after Super Bowl XVII in January 1983.
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Hannibal, B.A., Face and Murdock
George Peppard led the team as cigar-chomping planner John "Hannibal" Smith, with Mr. T as tough mechanic B.A. Baracus, Dirk Benedict as smooth-talking Templeton "Face" Peck and Dwight Schultz as pilot H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock. Tim Dunigan played Face in the pilot before Benedict took over.
Hannibal's "I love it when a plan comes together" became the show's catchphrase.
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Top Ten Hit
The show was an instant hit, finishing tenth in the ratings in its first season and climbing to fourth in 1983-84. Its black GMC Vandura van and Mike Post and Pete Carpenter's theme became just as famous as the cast, and from 1984 Universal Studios Hollywood ran an A-Team stunt show for four years.
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Final Season and the Film
For season five the team was finally caught and recruited by General Hunt Stockwell for missions in exchange for pardons, but ratings fell and NBC cancelled the show in 1986. In 2010 Joe Carnahan directed a film version with Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Sharlto Copley, with cameos from Benedict and Schultz.
Achievements
Ratings
- Top ten in the Nielsen ratings for its first three seasons
- Peaked at number four in 1983-84
Awards
- Three Primetime Emmy nominations for sound mixing and sound editing (1983, 1984, 1987)
Legacy
- Inspired a 2010 feature film from 20th Century Fox
- A live stunt show at Universal Studios Hollywood from 1984
Behind the Scenes
Much of the series was filmed on the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot, and one episode even used the park's Jaws attraction. George Peppard, born in Detroit in 1928, died in 1994 aged 65, while Mr. T, born Laurence Tureaud in Chicago in 1952, remains a pop culture icon.
FAQs
How many seasons of The A-Team are there?
There are five seasons and 98 episodes, aired on NBC from 1983 to 1987.
Who was in The A-Team?
George Peppard as Hannibal, Mr. T as B.A. Baracus, Dirk Benedict as Face and Dwight Schultz as Murdock.
What van did The A-Team drive?
A 1983 GMC Vandura, black with a red stripe, red wheels and a roof spoiler.
What is Mr. T's real name?
Mr. T was born Laurence Tureaud in Chicago on 21 May 1952.
Who created The A-Team?
Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo.
Is there an A-Team film?
Yes. The A-Team (2010), directed by Joe Carnahan, stars Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Jackson and Sharlto Copley.
Shop the The A-Team Collection
Our A-Team pieces are fan-made tribute designs, printed to order in the UK.
The A-Team Men's Hoodie
£39.99
See more shows in our TV series collection. Want your own name on the back instead? Design a custom name hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Prison Break: Seasons, Cast, Revival and the New Hulu Series and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Seasons, Cast and Legacy.
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