During the opening title sequence of The A-team, they were supposedly convicted of a crime they didn’t commit. What was the crime? Better yet, does anyone know any specifics?
I seem to recall (it’s been a long time since I watched the show) a few episodes with this guy that had set them up. I’m not real sure on that, especially with all the TV I watched as a kid.
The “Bitter Creek Massacre,” maybe?
The murders of Mrs. Richard Kimble or Dr. David Banner?
OK, wrong programs.
Google is your friend:
More importantly, did they ever clear their names by the end of the show’s run?
What, and kill all chance of a reunion episode?
I don’t know the details of the alleged crime, but their convictions were for murder. I think it was the Colonel, Face, and Baracus who were convicted…and I don’t know how Murdoch figured into it, except that he was in a mental hospital on and off.
If you’ll recall, there was an episode where they were to be executed, but the execution was thwarted and they end up working for some super secret government intelligence organization, headed by Robert Vaughn. The premise was that if the A-Team agreed to work for the government on these secret missions for the Vaughn character (General Stockwell), they would be pardoned. But if they somehow blew their cover or screwed up on one of the missions, the pardoned would be nullified.
The show was not on much longer after this–maybe a season or two.
ISTR something about robbing a bank, the bank of Hanoi? But perhaps I’m getting it mixed up with something else.
IIRC they robbed a Bank in Hanoi under orders of a superior. But something went wrong and they got caught and the officer who ordered them to do it turned up missing and therefore they had no proof they were following orders. I think a later episode of the show had them meeting up with this officer during their trial.
The show still airs on 2 p.m. weekdays on TV Land. And just my 2 cents, but I think The A-Team is a better show than people give it credit for. Consider it a parody of the genre. Yes, it’s cliched and over-the-top, but I believe this was done so intentionally. Rather than being another stupid, violent, action show, it’s a smart parody of stupid, violent, action shows.
No. They were never cleared. The Fifth Season (which was actually more of a half-season) found them working for some shadowy government figure portrayed by Robert Vaughn. They were still officially guilty. In fact, the Fifth Season started with a three-parter in which the gummint finally caught up with them, and reaffirmed their guilt, IIRC. There was no series finale. It was just canceled.
BTW, Robert Vaughn himself played spy Napoleon Solo in the old “Man from UNCLE” series. All the episodes of “Man from UNCLE” were titled “The [whatever] Affair.” In one episode of “A-Team,” Vaughn is reunited with “UNCLE” co-star David McCallum. The title of that A-Team episode was “The Say UNCLE Affair.”
The thing that gets me, is that every time I tuned into the news documentary show “Discover”, hosted by Robert Vaughn, it was always the Helsinki Formula episode.
During the Fourth Season, their main pursuer was General Bull Fulbright, portrayed by Jack Ging. The Season Four Finale featured General Fulbright himself enlisting the A-Team to go back to Viet Nam to retrieve the son he never knew he had. It was only during that mission that he realizes that he has been pursuing innocent men.
The program ends with General Fulbright being shot to death by the Viet Commies. His child (now fully grown) goes back to the States with the A-Team, and there are hints that “he” will be joining the team in the forthcoming season, but that did not happen.
Another interesting feature of this episode is Tia Carrere in a role similar to the one she would portray four years later in the Viet Nam part of “The Leap Home” episode of “Quantum Leap,” that of a Vietnamese native that is not all she seems.
Have you noticed Mr. T is making a come-back in commericals? In a couple of years, he will have his own show as a Sky Marshal.
I think Cafe Society is a better place for this thread now.
bibliophage
moderator GQ
I have fond memories of this show. Ok, I have few memories of the show’s plot, but fond memories of watching the show. My dad and I watched it every week when I was in first grade, and I remember liking it. I wonder if I’d like it now…There’s supposed to be a movie this year, perhaps they’ll clear their names in it? http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120580
A Sky Marshal?
“I ain’t gettin’ on no plane, Hannibal!”
There have been rumors of an A-Team movie in the works for years.
MY CHOICE OF CAST (an affordable cast):
Hannibal- Bruce Willis (not exact, but need some star power)
Face- Pierce Brosnan (he can play an American)
Murdock- Harry Connick Jr.
BA- Ving Rhames
General in Pursuit- James Brolin (why not? Keep him away from Streisand)