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The A-Team

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The A-Team was a famous American action television series. It aired on the NBC network from 1983 to 1987. The show follows a group of four former soldiers. These men were part of the U.S. Army Special Forces. They escaped from a military prison after being wrongly accused of a crime. Now, they work as soldiers of fortune to help people in need. Their main goal is to clear their names and prove their innocence.

Ateam
Ateam

The team was made of four very different men. Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith was the leader who made clever plans. Lieutenant Templeton "Faceman" Peck was a smooth talker who could find vehicles. Sergeant B.A. Baracus was the strong mechanic played by the actor Mr. T. Finally, Captain H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock was the team's wild pilot. The team was known for being very resourceful. They often built weapons and tools out of random household items. They also traveled in a famous black and grey GMC Vandura van.

Long Beach Comic Expo 2012 - A-Team van (7186650356)
Long Beach Comic Expo 2012 - A-Team van (7186650356)

Two writers named Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo created the show. They worked with Brandon Tartikoff, who was the president of NBC Entertainment. The idea for the show was a mix of many different stories. It combined ideas from shows like Mission: Impossible and The Magnificent Seven. George Peppard, who played Hannibal, thought it would be a huge hit. He was right, as the show became very popular. The first regular episode aired on January 30, 1983, after Super Bowl XVII. It reached over 26% of the television audience.

Many people remember the show for its unique style. The action was often described as cartoonish because people rarely stayed hurt. The team used heavy weapons, but they almost always escaped without serious injury. The show also had a very distinctive theme song. Fans loved the catchphrases used by the characters. One famous line was, "I love it when a plan comes together." Another popular phrase was, "Hannibal's on the jazz." These lines even appeared on T-shirts and other items for fans to buy.

The show's history is tied to real military terms. The name "A-Team" was actually a nickname used by U.S. Special Forces during the Vietnam War. In the show, the characters were members of the 5th Special Forces Group. They were originally called "ex-Green Berets" by their leader. The series ran for a total of 98 episodes over five seasons. Even though the show ended in 1987, people still talk about it today. In 2003, a survey showed that viewers wanted to see the show brought back. A feature film based on the series was also released in 2010.

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File:Long Beach Comic Expo 2012 - A-Team van (7186650356).jpg
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