The A-Team 1.01,02 Mexican Slayride (1983, TV) – 4/10 review

George Peppard: John "Hannibal" Smith Melinda Culea: Amy Amanda Allen Tim Dunigan: Templeton "Face" Peck Dwight Schultz: "Howling Mad" Murdock Mr. T: Bosco "B.A." Baracus Executive Producer: Stephen J. Cannell Co-Executive Producer: Frank Lupo Writer (Series’ Creator): Frank Lupo Writer (Series’ Creator): Stephen J. Cannell Writer: Frank Lupo Writer: Stephen J. Cannell Director: Rod Holcomb William Lucking: Colonel Lynch Philip Sterling: Grant Eldridge Sergio Calderon: Valdez Ron Palillo: Melody Anderson: Avon – Airplane Salesgirl William Windom: Al Massey Stunt Coordinator: Craig R. Baxley Second Unit Director: Craig R. Baxley

A-Team, The 1.01,02 Mexican Slayride (1983) Reporter Al Massey gets himself kidnapped in Mexico but friend and fellow reporter Amy Allen can’t get anyone to help or take her seriously when he doesn’t report in. She hears about a team of mercenaries called the A-Team and sets out to find if they really exist and if she can hire them. 4/10 It’s rather difficult to see what made the A-Team such a successful show from this pilot. It doesn’t have an interesting or even convincing story and the script is regularly so awful, it is as if the makers presume audiences don’t watch their show with the sound on. George Peppard doesn’t even play himself all the way through enlisting a back-of-wig double even for some dialogue scenes. The two things that do stand out about this pilot episode are a number of terrific vehicle stunts and, unforgettably, Mr T. He delivers the gruff exterior / sweet interior character with considerable charm and charisma and would be rewarded by becoming an international icon. This A-Team, The episode contains bad language and violence. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.