We pity the fool that didn’t grow up loving
The A-Team
, which ran on NBC for five seasons beginning in 1983. The show followed the adventures of a group of wrongly convicted and imprisoned former U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers; after escaping, the soldiers used their military expertise to help those in need, while also constantly evading capture by the military police.
The team was led by the charismatic Hannibal Smith, played by the equally charismatic
George Peppard
. The team also included
Dirk Benedict
‘s smooth-talking Faceman; eccentric pilot “Howling Mad” Murdock, portrayed by
Dwight Schultz
; and of course, the tough and loyal B.A. Baracus, brought to life by the toughest actor of them all,
Mr. T
. With every mission, they faced dangerous adversaries, showcased incredible teamwork, and always found a way to escape their pursuers.
Oh, and did I mention that during the first 24 episodes of that series, the fellers were aided and abetted by journalist Amy Amanda Allen, better known as “Triple A,” played by the very talented Melinda Culea? From the outside looking in, things seemed fine. But I remember at the time hearing stories about Melinda — or, more specifically, about how Melinda wasn’t exactly satisfied with how her character’s development was being handled.
So, what was it? Was it Melinda? Well, from everything that I’ve read, it really seems like a primary reason that Melinda departed from the series so quickly was, simply, George Peppard. He reportedly felt there was no need for a female character in this testosterone-heavy television show.
And in the mid-nineties, Melinda again found steady work, this time on the sitcom
B
rotherly Love
, which starred all of the Lawrence brothers. Alas, she was once again surrounded by guys. Poor Melinda! Well, at least they weren’t a bunch of mercenaries.
More recently, Melinda has begun a second career as a novelist and illustrator. Her first novel,
Wondago
, released in 2016, has received rave reviews and appears to be a clever and innovative first outing from this actress-turned-author.
While her chapter with the
The A-Team
may have concluded sooner than many would have liked, fans undoubtedly still wish she had somehow been able to stick around just a little bit longer. But what the heck? At least we got a season and a half to appreciate the unique energy and character Amy Amanda Allen brought to the team.
When fans ask where he’s been, the actor replies that ‘I never went away.’
