‘The A-Team’ 40th Anniversary: Star Dirk Benedict Says It Succeeded Because Families Could Watch It Together

Feb 03, 2023 by apost team

"The A-Team" debuted on television in 1983 and was immediately a hit with viewers, but it struck a chord and became a global success for five seasons because it was a show that families could watch together, according to its star Dirk Benedict. 

The television series about four hired guns and ex-members of the U.S. Special Forces was popular from the very first episode's airing. Although "The A-Team" had a formulaic plot with some violent action scenes, it captivated a global audience and became a pop culture phenomenon. Although critics likened the show to the "Tom and Jerry" cartoons for its mindless mayhem, its television ratings kept rising to the Top 10 spot.

Headlining the show was George Peppard as Lt. Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith, the tactical leader of "The A-Team" who was a master of disguise. Benedict played the smooth-talking con man Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck or "Face," who always had his way with the ladies. 

They were also joined by Dwight Schultz as Capt. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock, the pilot who had a mental breakdown in the military that brought on his alter-ego and many imaginary friends. Mr. T played the muscle of "The A-Team" as Sgt. Bosco "B.A." (Bad Attitude) Baracus. 

The cool foursome clicked with the viewers as each brought something different to the show. Benedict said in an interview with Hollywood Outbreak that working on "The A-Team" was a fun, "very male" experience because the four of them traveled to different places, filming on location in the boondocks, far from the comforts of the studio, and bonded at work.

Despite scenes with fist-slugging and explosions, Benedict believes that "The A-Team" was a non-violent series. Speaking in a 2005 interview with Schultz, Benedict said that the show's success was sustained by its fundamental premise of the good guys winning over the bad guys. 

"There was good and there was bad. It was a non-violent show, it was kind of a cartoon show. It was very entertaining so people could watch it with their families."

The actor added that parents watched the series with their children without having to worry about sensitive scenes. Schultz agreed and added that the jokes were written for adults, but there was no need to censor the content.

With "The A-Team" celebrating its 40th year in 2023, talks have ignited over a potential reunion as a movie iteration. However, Benedict, who is in his 70s, said he does not want to see an "old Face" nor leave fans disappointed if the outcome turned bad.

Since "The A-Team" ended, Benedict has done theater in the U.K., starred in the German film "Goldene Zeiten," and appeared in the sci-fi comedy series "Space Ninjas." He had a cameo in the 2010 movie reboot of "The A-Team" with Bradley Cooper and Liam Neeson. 

As for the rest of the cast, in 1992, Peppard, who was a heavy smoker, learned he had lung cancer. He died of pneumonia two years after his diagnosis at the age of 65. Schultz played Reginald Barclay on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek Voyager." He's currently doing voice acting on a lot of animated series. Meanwhile, Mr. T competed in "Dancing with the Stars" in 2017 and has been doing TV advertisements. He is a devoted Christian and has stopped wearing his trademark gold necklace since 2005 so as not to be disrespectful to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

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Were you an avid viewer of "The A-Team" when the show was still on? Who was your favorite of the four men? Tell your friends and any fellow fans of the show about this story!