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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jan 27, 2008 23:36:02 GMT -5
SAY IT WITH BULLETS First aired: 1/17/1984 Production Code: 230B The A-Team is hired by the sister of a killed soldier, who was involved in arms trafficking at a military base. This mission almost runs them into Decker's headquarters. Writer: Richard Christian Matheson, Thomas Szollosi Director: Dennis Donnelly Guest star: Marla Heasley (Tawnia Baker) , Lauren Chase (Corporal Brown), Monte Markham (Mason Harnett), Miguel Fernandes (Noche), Patrick Brady (Unknown), Sam Melville (Shaw), Christopher Michael Moore (Soldier), Anthony S. Johnson (Guard), Fred McGrath (Paul Brown) Commentary:I have to give this one three bullets too, but mainly because of Decker being a huge part of the action trying to catch the A-Team. Otherwise, the story and action sequences were pretty bland, even when the A-Team was in the tank. Notes:- There are several references by Murdock to old television shows: OZZIE AND HARRIET; I LOVE LUCY; LEAVE IT TO BEAVER; HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL; CANDID CAMERA; and HOWDY DOODY.
- We also see the Santa Barbara beach house where Pam met Ralph and Bill on their way back from San Francisco reused as the beach retreat of the bad guy in this episode.
Special guest stars:- Miguel Fernandes (I) would only guest star once on the A-Team as Noche in this episode. He had guest starred for SJC once before in the GREATEST AMERICAN HERO episode LIVE AT ELEVEN as Canton.
- This was Patrick Brady's (I) last of three documented roles. He played an unnamed character in this episode.
- Sam Melville would guest star twice in the A-TEAM. Once was in this episode as Shaw. His other appearance would be in the episode BODY SLAM as Rocco.
- Tim Donnelly would play the shooter at the warehouse in this episode of the A-Team, even though it would go uncredited and be his last documented role.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jan 27, 2008 23:36:26 GMT -5
PURE-DEE POISON First aired: 1/31/1984 Production Code: 231B The A-Team helps a southern minister stop the manufacture of lethal moonshine in his parish. Writer: Alan Cole, Chris Bunch Director: Dennis Donnelly Guest star: Marla Heasley (Tawnia Baker) , Tracy Reed (Stephanie), Steve Sander (Burt), Tony O'Neill (Frank), John Amos (Father), Bo Hopkins (Charles Drew), Marsha Haynes (Unknown), Ed Crick (Unknown), John Roselius (Unknown) Commentary:I would give this episode four bullets because it had a great message and some great action sequences for the team, including Tawnia. We got to see the van get souped up to chase down the shiners and a love interest for B.A., which was something that did not happen very often. Notes:- Continuity:When the A-Team crashes the bar where they sell the moonshine, the bartender says that the new shipment will be there tomorrow, but it seems to be the same day since everyone is wearing the same clothes and no night scene was portrayed.
- When Tawnia is trying to destory the moonshine, there are two trucks, but when they pull in, you only see one.
- Five guys leave the bar after the fight with the A-Team, but only three are in the truck in the next scene.
- The farmhouse used at the end of the episode for the battle is used again in the episode BREAKOUT!
Special guest stars:- John Amos (I), probably best known for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the film ROOTS, makes his one and only guest star appearance in this episode as Reverend Taylor.
- Steve Sandor would make two unrelated guest appearances in the A-TEAM. This would be his first one as Burt. His second one would be as Deke Logan in BREAKOUT!
- Tony O'Neil would make two guest appearances in the A-TEAM. This one would be an unnamed role, while his second appearance was in the episode SKINS as Steele.
- John Roselius would make one unnamed appearance in this episode of the A-TEAM. But for those fans of SJC works, you might watch the GREATEST AMERICAN HERO episode CAPTAIN BELLYBUSTER AND THE SPEED FACTORY to see if you can spot him as a passenger.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jan 27, 2008 23:36:50 GMT -5
IT'S A DESERT OUT THERE First aired: 2/7/1984 Production Code: 232B The sophisticated commando tactics used by a gang for robbing busloads of tourists suggests to the A-Team that they're preparing for a bigger score. First the A-Team has to find the mole. Writer: Bruce Cervi Director: Arnold Laven Guest star: Jeannie Wilson (Lila), Anthony James (Flagg), Tony Burton (Burke), Robert Dryer (Al Driscoll), Parley Baer (Unknown), Peg Stewart (Unknown), Arnold Turner (Unknown), Austin Kelly (Bus Driver), Dan Magiera (Croupier) Commentary:This episode gets three bullets from me. While I like the action sequences, the story is very similar in nature to BLACK DAY AT BAD ROCK. It just didn't stand apart as one of the better episodes in my mind. Notes:- Continuity:The bus Hannibal and Face use to transport Al Driscoll from the prison is different from the one used in the shootout with the Scorpions. The Team's extras (armor plate hanging from the ceiling inside and the rotating cupola on the roof) are only visible when Hannibal and Face meet up with Murdock and BA.
- Tony Burton, the man who plays Burke, played the role of a biker in the GREATEST AMERICAN HERO episode HOG WILD. This biker had a bad attitude and is the model for the character B.A.
Special guest stars:- Robert Dryer would make two unrelated appearances on the A-TEAM. In this episode he plays Al Driscoll, the leader of the biker gang. In his second appearance, he plays Jason Webb's henchman in TROUBLE BREWING. Before this, he played Brick in the GREATEST AMERICAN HERO episode IT'S ONLY ROCK AND ROLL.
- Tony Burton(I) (NOT Tony Roberts) played Burke in this episode, similar to his role as Curley in the GREATEST AMERICAN HERO episode HOG WILD.
- Anthony James (I) would make his first of three unrelated appearances in this episode as Flagg. His second appearance would be as a Jason Webb henchman in TROUBLE BREWING. His final appearance would be playing an unnamed character in WAITING FOR INSANE WAYNE.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jan 27, 2008 23:37:20 GMT -5
CHOPPING SPREE First aired: 2/14/1984 Production Code: 233B The A-Team uses their own vehicles, Face's Corvette and B.A.'s van, as bait for a car-stealing ring. Things heat up, when B.A.'s van is stolen and the team looses track. Writer: Stephen Katz Director: Michael O'Herlihy Guest star: Marla Heasley (Tawnia Baker) , Dennis Franz (Sam Friendly), Lee Patterson (Tony Victor), Liberty Godshall (Cindy), Joe Colligan (Davey), Bruce Tuthill (Guy) Commentary:This episode is definitely a five bullet for me. We get to see some great guest stars, including Dennis Franz, and we get to see Face portray a used car salesman, which is a nice joke at his expense. Plus, we get to wonder if B.A.'s van will be chopped up before the Team can rescue it. Notes:- The warehouse where B.A. beats up Tiny is the same warehouse setting used in the WHITE BALLOT where the A-Team was held hostage and finally escaped.
- In the car chase at the end, Murdock shoots out the headlights of the car following them. Yet, in the next several shots, you can see that no damage has happened to them.
- This episode has B.A. driving two rental cars: one a basic car to get around and the other a limo. The van is only driven in the beginning and end of the episode.
Special guest stars:- Dennis Franz (I) of NYPD BLUE fame, would make his first of two unrelated guest star appearances in this episode as Sam Friendly. His second appearance would be as Brooks in BEVERLY HILLS ASSAULT.
- Bruce Tuthill would make his first of three guest star appearances in this episode of the A-Team, all of them unrelated. In this episode he was Guy; in his second appearance he was a cook in CHAMP!; and his final appearance was as Louis in WASTE 'EM! If you are fans of the GREATEST AMERICAN HERO episode MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS, he plays Sam Watson.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jan 27, 2008 23:37:45 GMT -5
HARDER THAN IT LOOKS First aired: 2/21/1984 Production Code: 234B The rescue of a kidnapping victim looks easy until the ransom is left behind and the victim insists on bringing along one of her captors. Hannibal has to decide fast, while he delivers the money. Writer: Frank Lupo Director: Ivan Dixon Guest star: Lori Lethin (Jennifer Teasdale), Kevyn Major Howard (Marcus), Steven Keats (Ramon), Cherie Midren (Kathryn), Anthony De Longis, Suzzane Albershardt (Laura), Frank Annese Commentary:This episode is only a three bullet episode to me. It had a kidnapping and some great fight scenes, but the story was not all that intriguing or novel. The whole mystery aspect is very easy to see through and it gets repetitive. Notes:- The girl hit the alarm button to escape from Hannibal, but the alarm did not go off until a few minutes later after several gun shots had already been fired.
- The back doors of the van were shot in a car chase, but in the next scene, there is no damage as Hannibal opens them to lob grenades.
- SJC fans will recognize Hansen Dam from the HAND-PAINTED THAI on the GREATEST AMERICAN HERO as the place where the terrorists were planting the bomb.
Special guest stars:- Frank Annesse makes his first of two unrelated guest star appearances in this episode as Strickland. He would appear again in the episode MOVING TARGETS as Senbet.
- Michael Prince (I) only guest starred once on the A-Team and it was in this episode as Warren Teasdale. GREATEST AMERICAN HERO fans would recognize him as Prentice Hall from WHO'S WOO IN AMERICA.
- Cherie Michan would guest star twice on the A-Team in unrelated roles even though both characters she played would share the name Katherine. Aside from this episode, her other appearance was in BEVERLY HILLS ASSAULT.
- Suzanne Albershardt would make her one and only credited appearance ever in this episode of the A-Team as Laura.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jan 27, 2008 23:38:09 GMT -5
DEADLY MANEUVERS First aired: 2/28/1984 Production Code: 235B Criminals foiled in the past by the A-Team hire a crew of mercenaries to pick off each member one by one. The plan is to let Hannibal see his men die. Writer: Richard Christian Matheson, Thomas Szolski Director: Mike Vejar Guest star: Marla Heasley (Tawnia Baker) , Ed Lauter (Major Douglas Kyle), Tricia O'Neil (Doctor Maggie Sullivan), Richard Kuss (Harper), John G. Scanlon (Hoffer), Ed Johnson (Sharphook), Michael Ensign (Unknown), Barbara Stock (Unknown), Rene Assa (Unknown), Michael Cavanaugh (King), Randy Patrick (Gateman), John Steadman (Unknown) Commentary:While this has always been one of my favorite episodes, I can only give it four bullets. Some of the background on how the mercenary team got hired, how they found the A-Team and why they didn't just kill them, makes it hard for the episode to mesh. Another problem was that only Hannibal seemed super involved with the action to save the team...and it made it somewhat one sided at points. Notes:- Tricia O'Neil, who played Doctor Maggie Sullivan in BLACK DAY AT BAD ROCK makes her second and final A-Team appearance in this episode.
- The men at the beginning of the episode are supposed to be former victims of the A-Team's goodwill, but the characters are never named so that we know which episodes they are supposed to be from.
- If the A-Team is so good at surveillance and hiding from the military, how did this squad of mercenaries happen upon them when they were taking time out to train?
Special guest stars:- Michael Ensign would guest star in this role as the man who hired mercenaries to kill the A-Team. His character is unnamed in this role, but a previous role he played for SJC in the GREATEST AMERICAN HERO episode THE BEST DESK SCENARIO was as Principal David Kane.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jan 27, 2008 23:38:40 GMT -5
SEMI-FRIENDLY PERSUASION First aired: 5/8/1984 Production Code: 236B The A-Team faces an especially challenging mission when their pacifist clients, a religious community, forbid the use of violence against bigots trying to run their community off its land. Writer: Danny E. Cole Director: Craig R. Baxley Guest star: Geoffrey Lewis (Kale Sykes), Tim O'Connor (Kerl), Sam J. Jones (Eric), Robby Kiger (Ollie), Frank Luz (Traynor), Red West (Unknown), Lindsay V. Jones (Unknown), Ben Rawnsley (Unknown), Donald Thompson (Unknown), Galen Everhart (Nurse) Commentary:This is definitely a five bullet episode, especially with the A-Team trying to not be violent to solve the problem. They even get fired from the case while they are working on it. There is great tension between the client and Hannibal, which makes for great watching. Great action and ending sequences all around. The only forced point is Murdock talking to pecans as though they were fellow nuts. While funny, it was forced at points. Notes:- This episode is only 44 minutes long, while all others in this season are at least 46 minutes long.
- Continuity:When Ollie is kidnapped, he is wearing a grey shirt. But when Sykes ambushes Murdock and B.A., he is wearing flannel, similar to what he was wearing earlier in the episode. Then, in the next shot, he is wearing the grey shirt again as he tries to save B.A. and Murdock.
Special guest stars:- Well known actor Geoffrey Lewis (I) would make his first of two unrelated A-Team appearances in this episode as Kale Sykes. His second appearance would be as Colonel Mack Stoddard in the episode THE DOCTOR IS OUT.
- Robby Kiger would only guest star in the A-Team once and it was in this episode as Ollie. However, SJC fans will recognize him from the pilot episode of the GREATEST AMERICAN HERO. His character had no name that we learned, but he taught Ralph how to fly in an alley. (He was credited as Robbie Kiger in that role).
- Galen Everhart made her one and only credited acting appearance ever as a nurse in this episode of the A-Team.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jan 27, 2008 23:39:15 GMT -5
CURTAIN CALL First aired: 5/15/1984 Production Code: 237B The A-Team reminisces (via flashbacks) about an injured Murdock as they look for a doctor and try to avoid a pursuing Decker. Murdock took the bullet while protecting Hannibal. Writer: Stephen Katz Director: Dennis Donnelly Guest star: Marla Heasley (Tawnia Baker), Carl Franklin (Captain Crane), Lance LeGault (Colonel Roderick Decker) , George Wyner (Richie), Danny Wells (Artie), Steve Tannen (Unknown), Nik Celozzi (Unknown) Commentary:A five bullet ending to the second season. Even though this episode uses a lot of flashbacks, it is still a great episode. We see the first on-screen shooting of a team member when Murdock gets shot protecting Hannibal. They have to try and save him with Decker hot on the trail and no way out of the area. It has a great ending element when the team tricks Decker to get away. Notes:- Features:"The A-Team: Pros and Cons (#1.4)" (1983)
- The Prison escape scene is seen as a flashback "The A-Team: A Small and Deadly War (#1.5)" (1983) - Scene involving Murdock's release from the hospital is seen as a flashback "The A-Team: Black Day at Bad Rock (#1.6)" (1983) - Scenes from this episode are seen during the first flashback "The A-Team: Holiday in the Hills (#1.9)" (1983) - Several scenes from this episode are used as flashbacks "The A-Team: Till Death Do Us Part (#1.12)" (1983) - Helicopter chase scene is used as a flashback "The A-Team: The Beast from the Belly of a Boeing (#1.13)" (1983) - scenes from this episode are used as flashbacks "The A-Team: Diamonds 'n Dust (#2.1)" (1983) - A scene from this episode is featured during a flashback "The A-Team: When You Comin' Back, Range Rider?: Part 1 (#2.5)" (1983) - First appearance of Decker used as flashback "The A-Team: When You Comin' Back, Range Rider?: Part 2 (#2.6)" (1983) - A scene from this episode is used during the final montage "The A-Team: There's Always a Catch (#2.9)" (1983) - Scene used as a flashback "The A-Team: The Maltese Cow (#2.13)" (1983) - A scene from this episode is used during the final montage
- The Joey Scarbury theme OPPOSITES ATTRACT is played at the end of this episode.
Special guest stars:- Steve Tannen would make his first of two unrelated appearances on the A-Team in this episode as an Army M.P. He would appear in MEMBERS ONLY in an unnamed role.
- Nicholas Celozzi would guest star twice in the A-Team in unrelated roles. In this episode, he played an unnamed character (and was credited as Nik Celozzi). His second appearance was in BEVERLY HILLS ASSAULT as Kid.
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