“In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire…the A-Team.”
It was an iconic introduction to an iconic show. And if you’re not already humming along to composer Mike Post’s theme tune, then you definitely need to catch up on some classic ‘80s TV viewing.
Running from 1983 to 1987, The A-Team starred George Peppard (Hannibal Smith), Battlestar’s Dirk Benedict (Face) Mr T (BA Baracus), and Dwight Schultz (Howling Mad Murdock). Face was played by Tim Dunigan in the pilot—and it’s interesting to have that included in the box set.
So, how has one of the ’80s biggest hits survived the test of time? Pretty well.
To modern audiences, it might seem overly sanitised—despite the gun-fights and car-crashes few people ever die on-screen. But that does make it perfect family viewing and the 12 certificate could easily have been a PG. Yes, there’s the same lack of real-world representation that dogs a lot of older TV shows. And the storylines can seem pretty formulaic for audiences used to the cut and thrust of Game Of Thrones. However, as Dirk Benedict has often said, The A-Team was a show made by guys for guys and a huge part of its charm is its unabashed boy’s-own-adventure style. It’s not clever, or challenging, but it is huge fun. So, stick your brain in neutral, break out the beer and nachos, and let the nostalgia wash over you.
The all-new box set includes all five seasons on 22 discs–that’s a whopping 4690 minutes of viewing. More than enough to get you through another month of lockdown. There are welcome audio commentaries on selected episodes by Dirk Benedict and Dwight Schultz along with a nice selection of additional extras including:
- Rumours of Soldiers of Fortune: Interview with Stephen J. Cannell.
- The Great 80’s TV Flashback.
- Behind the scenes featurettes from the audio commentary session with Dirk and Dwight Schultz.