Always on in re-runs at my house, The A-Team has to be one of the top 5 television series of all time on whatever list I would consider accurate.
The A-Team told a weekly story about a former commando team in Vietnam who was framed for bad stuff by a shit bag officer. The USAS are trying to track them down but are incompetent fools.
I always imagined that George Peppard's John "Hannibal" Smith was an alias taken by Paul Varjak, as he ran from heartbreak and a failed literary career. Somehow Smith/Varjak become a special forces officer in Viet Nam! Hannibal was the team leader and mastermind.
The Hannibal tagline "I love it when a plan comes together" is quoted by me all the time.
Dirk Benedict would have always been memory-locked as OG BSG's Starbuck, but Templeton "Faceman" Peck is far more fun. I love how struggling, on-the-run former paramilitary fugitives can always find Peck a perfect suit and sportscar.
Dwight Schultz Captain H.M. 'Howling Mad' Murdock is one of televisions finest characters and serves as an inspiration when I face awkward social situations. When in doubt, throw a colander on your head and lead your imaginary troops into battle! Only Howling Mad could keep Mr. T's Bosco 'BA' Baracus in-line.
Mr. T is absolutely the gold-standard for actors who only portray themselves. BA which the series was clear to point out stands for "Bad Attitude" was both the muscle and the mechanical-know mastermind that Hannibal brought to bear on unwilling problems. I always felt that BA was the A-Team's moral center.
It was also unfortunate how frequently they unwillingly forced BA to fly when it clearly made him so uncomfortable.
I would not get in a helicopter with that crazy fool, either!
This series has been off the air for a long time.
