500:"Much effort has gone into putting together a cast of colorful characters, but except for Mr. Peppard, who establishes a goodhumoredly hard-boiled team leader, the rest, including the formidable Mr. T. as B.A., display more color than character. Directorial control of the internationally undistinguished cast is lax. Dwight Schultz overacts like mad as the crazy pilot, and that Mexican bandit leader (Sergio Calderon) turns in a performance that seems aimed at offending the Mexican-American Anti-Defamation League, if there is one."
520:, ITV's new comedy and violence show, is already a hit in America and is likely to become a cult here. The first episode was a 90-minute special which combined (with that lurid enthusiasm only Americans can muster) every blockbuster movie and TV adventure series in living memory into a single package. And it did so brilliantly; the politics that underlie this story of a group of Vietnam veterans turned desperadoes may be dangerous, but it's an exhilarating show to watch."
618:
mission. The death of Col. Morrison and this mission is referred to extensively in the opening three episodes of the show's fifth season, dealing with the team's court martial. Throughout the rest of the series, the team's military antagonists would occasionally make reference to the team's crime, but the exact nature of it was rarely mentioned until the fifth season.
545:
To be aired on television in syndication, the pilot had to be cut up in two separate episodes of approximately 40 to 45 minutes. As such, they are referred to as two distinct episodes, namely; "Mexican
Slayride: Part 1" and "Mexican Slayride: Part 2". As the pilot episode itself is the combination of
636:
A common device used to weed out the actual clients from government agents, this tactic would be referenced throughout the show, sometimes referring directly to a "Mr. Lee" (and his being the owner of a laundromat), who is first introduced here. Other disguises have
Hannibal dress up as a bus driver
262:
With the A-Team captured by the
Mexican gang leader, they escape when Hannibal knocks out one of the guards, and they attempt to flee by truck but are chased down by the guerrillas. Luckily for the A-Team, local villagers come to help them, led by Murdock and Face, who had evaded capture previously.
617:
In this episode, Amy's colleague explains to her the A-Team's "crime", namely the robbing of the bank of Hanoi during the closing days of the war under the order of a Col. Morrison. These orders could not be verified because Col. Morrison died in an enemy shelling while the A-Team were on their
662:
The term "on the jazz" is first used in this episode by B.A. to describe to Amy Allen the adrenaline kick
Hannibal receives from the team's adventures. In following episodes it is referred to when civilians question the seemingly insane risks the team takes or the tactics they employ. With the
263:
They come out and ambush the guerrillas, allowing the A-Team to get on an airplane and get back home. After the escape, Amy Allen expresses her desire to join the A-Team. She effectively blackmails her way onto the team promising to put a positive light on their exploits in her articles.
582:, they were not enthused with the character of Murdock, whom they found too over-the-top. His character was either to be scaled down or removed altogether. When the pilot was shown to a test audience, they favored Murdock out of all the other characters. Per Dwight Schultz's account in
590:- a show meant to reunite the surviving cast members of the show in 2006 - whenever Murdock appeared the audience showed their approval by dialing their test dials all the way to their maximum, to the surprise of the executives. Schultz recounted the story again on the Dutch talk show
259:, which they use to spray the marijuana fields and destroy the crops. The A-Team build an armored bus and drive the gang leader and his gang out of the village. While chasing the gang, the A-Team are ambushed by Mexican guerrillas who are friendly towards the gang leader.
284:
50:
566:, but in syndication, the season 1 introduction is tagged on, with a segment depicting Tim Dunigan as Face replacing the part of Dirk Benedict. The DVD boxset of season 1 features the pilot in its original version, without introduction.
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for the first time in this pilot episode. The role is referred to numerous times throughout the rest of the series. A scene shot with
Hannibal in the Aquamaniac costume is included in the opening credits for the first
224:
are being chased by
Colonel Lynch, who has Amy followed as she works her way towards hiring the team. Despite Lynch's interference and several chases, Face manages to release the fourth member of the A-Team,
673:
B.A.'s fear of flying is first introduced in this episode and is referenced time and time again when the team uses a plane in its missions. It is notably referenced, among other occurrences.
716:, (1976-1983) is mentioned by one of Col. Lynch's men when he informs his commanding officer that he crashed into "Quincy's living room" while pursuing the A-Team on the studio lot.
1053:
1048:
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696:(1956), this movie is referenced when the A-Team escapes from Col. Lynch on the studio lot by splitting open the fake ocean used for the film.
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jet. Rendering B.A. unconscious due to his fear of flying, they travel with Amy to Mexico in a plane piloted by their fearless but clinically
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Files on (clockwise from top): John "Hannibal" Smith, Bosco "B.A." Baracus, Col. Lynch and
Templeton "Faceman" Peck.
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The reporter who assists the A-Team during the show's first season and the first half of the second season.
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193:
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tour recreation of the 1975 film's set can be seen in the background during the chase on the studio lot.
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these two parts and was originally aired such, the pilot is kept intact on the DVD boxset of season 1.
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on
January 23, 1983. In syndication the pilot has been cut up into two parts, creating two episodes.
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During the start of the flight, the original broadcast version features a soundalike version of
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The use of
Hannibal in disguise to learn about prospective clients, most notably as "Mr. Lee":
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cultivator and gang leader named
Malavita Valdez. Face and Murdock acquire a crop duster and
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convicted of a crime they did not commit in 1972 and now working on the side of the law as
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608:
As the pilot episode this episode introduces a number of concepts into the A-Team series:
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departure of Amy Allen from the show in the second season, the term was largely dropped.
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793:"The A-Team - Season One" DVD boxset, Region 2, released on September 13, 2004 or 2005.
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In Mexico, the team discovers that Amy's reporter friend has been kidnapped by a
248:". On the DVD version, this is changed to a generic track for copyright reasons.
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Leader of the A-Team. Part of show's main cast for the rest of the series.
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pilot of the team. Part of show's main cast for the rest of the series.
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806:"Mexican Slayride: Part 1" and "Mexican Slayride: Part 2",
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Hannibal's acting career, most notably as "The Aquamaniac":
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The pilot aired in its complete form originally, airing in
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Conman of the team. Replaced after the pilot episode by
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throughout the series, is played in the pilot by actor
355:. Part of show's main cast for the rest of the series.
351:
Strong man and mechanic of the team. Also known as
276:"Mexican Slayride" introduces the following regular
23:
1st and 2nd episodes of the 1st season of The A-Team
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The crime they "didn't commit" and "Col. Morrison":
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554:The part of Face, best known as being played by
578:executives first reviewed the pilot episode of
637:or as a bum (as he also does in this episode).
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8:
688:, the 1933 film, is mentioned by Col. Lynch.
1054:American television episodes about cannabis
229:, from the psychiatric hospital and scam a
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875:
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647:George Peppard portrays Hannibal Smith in
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529:(UK), July 29, 1983, volume 106, p. 133.
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7:
1049:American television series premieres
212:outlaws. The A-Team, consisting of
120:
818:. First aired on January 23, 1983.
14:
1044:1983 American television episodes
724:(1982) is referenced by Murdock.
626:Hannibal in his Aquamaniac suit.
368:Capt. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock
344:Sgt. Bosco Albert "B.A." Baracus
227:Capt. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock
218:Lt. Templeton "The Faceman" Peck
48:
769:"Television: All Our Fantasies"
331:for the rest of the show's run.
58:
1:
839:(Dutch talk show), featuring
320:Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck
744:Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum
415:The team's main antagonist.
391:Amy Amanda "Triple A" Allen
200:— a commando unit from the
16:For the 1967 spy film, see
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931:H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock
742:made by pouring a shot of
721:E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
509:, January 21, 1983, p. 27.
300:Col. John "Hannibal" Smith
214:Col. John "Hannibal" Smith
105:January 23, 1983
15:
678:References to other media
657:The phrase "on the jazz":
472:Avon - Airplane Salesgirl
222:Sgt. Bosco "B.A." Baracus
147:
121:
47:
37:
921:Templeton "Faceman" Peck
847:. Aired on May 11, 2007.
831:. Aired on May 18, 2006.
570:The character of Murdock
160:" is the feature-length
139:"Children of Jamestown"
18:Mexican Slayride (film)
668:B.A.'s fear of flying:
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288:
916:John "Hannibal" Smith
625:
541:"Part 1" and "Part 2"
286:
693:The Ten Commandments
420:Guest starring roles
192:Newspaper reporter,
858:"Mexican Slayride"
829:Justin Lee Collins
816:Stephen J. Cannell
775:on August 11, 2007
628:
550:The role of "Face"
506:The New York Times
490:Television ratings
289:
272:Regular characters
246:Jumpin' Jack Flash
242:The Rolling Stones
117:Episode chronology
88:Stephen J. Cannell
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706:Universal Studios
503:—Walter Goodman,
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172:television series
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102:Original air date
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960:Mexican Slayride
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827:(UK), hosted by
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771:. Archived from
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237:pilot, Murdock.
158:Mexican Slayride
149:List of episodes
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94:Production codes
65:Episodes 1 and 2
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31:Mexican Slayride
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467:Melody Anderson
436:Malavita Valdez
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375:The clinically
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729:In Pop Culture
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823:Bring Back...
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810:. Created by
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586:Bring Back...
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1019:(video game)
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777:. Retrieved
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748:Negra Modelo
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740:boilermaker
588:The A-Team"
560:Tim Dunigan
458:Ron Palillo
454:Col. Flores
313:Tim Dunigan
206:mercenaries
202:Vietnam War
74:Rod Holcomb
70:Directed by
1039:The A-Team
1033:Categories
1008:The A-Team
1000:The A-Team
908:Characters
899:The A-Team
825:The A-Team
812:Frank Lupo
808:The A-Team
801:References
779:August 17,
602:The A-Team
580:The A-Team
564:The A-Team
536:Production
518:THE A-TEAM
409:Col. Lynch
278:The A-Team
231:Gulfstream
198:The A-Team
196:seeks out
176:The A-Team
109:1983-01-23
84:Frank Lupo
80:Written by
40:The A-Team
685:King Kong
596:in 2007.
485:Reception
445:Al Massey
253:marijuana
194:Amy Allen
169:adventure
1011:(comics)
983:Season 5
978:Season 4
973:Season 3
968:Season 2
954:Season 1
946:Episodes
736:cocktail
463:Reporter
131:—
128:Previous
57:Episode
43:episodes
836:Jensen!
652:season.
593:Jensen!
495:Reviews
257:ammonia
210:Mexican
164:of the
137: →
126:←
107: (
1003:(film)
755:Notes
704:, the
604:series
476:
377:insane
235:insane
166:action
992:Other
574:When
337:Mr. T
244:hit "
862:IMDb
843:and
814:and
781:2007
734:The
701:Jaws
267:Cast
188:Plot
135:Next
59:nos.
860:at
576:NBC
1035::
470:as
461:as
452:as
443:as
434:as
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364:as
340:as
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296:as
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958:"
890:e
883:t
876:v
783:.
750:.
584:"
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178:.
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111:)
33:"
29:"
20:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
