The A-Team is an American action adventure television series about a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces who work as soldiers of fortune while being on the run from the military for a "crime they didn't commit". The A-Team was created by veteran writers and producers Frank Lupo (Riptide and Hunter) and Stephen J. Cannell (The Rockford Files, The Greatest American Hero and 21 Jump Street). According to its creators the series was developed as a cross between Seven Samurai (and its western remake The Magnificent Seven) and The Dirty Dozen, with "Mr. T driving the car", at the behest of late Brandon Tartikoff, NBC's Entertainment president According to an interview with Cannell on the fifth season DVD set, it also had vague elements of Mad Max.
Despite being thought of as mercenaries, the A-Team always acted on the side of the good guys and helped the oppressed. The show ran for five seasons on the NBC television network, from January 23, 1983 to December 30, 1986 (with one additional, previously unbroadcast episode shown on March 8, 1987), with a total of 98 episodes. There are talks of a movie.
It remains known in popular culture for its use of over-the-top violence, formulaic episodes and its distinctive opening theme. It has been parodied on numerous websites such as Newgrounds and also on television shows such as Robot Chicken and Family Guy. The show also served as the springboard for the career of Mr. T, who portrayed the character of B.A. Baracus, around which the show was largely written. Some of the show's catchphrases such as "I love it when a plan comes together" and "I ain't gettin' on no plane!" have also made their way onto T-shirts and other merchandise.
The name of the show comes from "A-teams", the nickname for Operational Detachments Alpha (ODA). The US Army Special Forces uses the term ODA for their 12-man direct operations teams.
As well as having huge ratings and being especially popular amongst children, there was countless A-Team merchandise available, including action figures of the characters, as well as their famous van and car. A cola flavored popsicle in the shape of Mr. T was also on the market at the show's height. Marvel Comics even produced a three issue A-Team comic book series. Mr. T has also appeared in his own comic books. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, an A-Team comic strip appeared for several years in the 1980s as part of the children's television magazine and comic Look-In, to tie in with the British run of the series.