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On the Jazz - Vol 03 Issue 07
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The totally unofficial A-Team electronic mail newsletter
***** Now in it's THIRD year of publication !! *****
Reflector submission address: onthejazz
Administrivia: Nicole Pellegrini
PLEASE use the following address for subscribe/unsubscribe
and back issue requests (do NOT send them to onthejazz!!):
*** pellegri ***
Also use that address if you wish to change your subscription status
to receive the newsletters only (or go from newsletter to news + reflector).
The A-Team Homepage: http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~pellegri/ateam.html
*The A-Team On the Web: http://www.xs4all.nl/~jmm/a-team/
*The A-Team Hawaii Page: http://www.poi.net/~dcover
*Homes of the On the Jazz Newsletter Archives
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DATE: January 3, 1997
ISSUE: 7
VOLUME: 3
Current newsletter + mailing list subscribership: 152
Current newsletter subscribership: 175
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HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
Another "jazzy" year is here, and so it's time to pick up with all the
latest related to the Team...
CONTENTS:
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Upcoming fanzine release/Web page in the
news/Mailing list survey
THE MARLA HEASLEY INTERVIEW
REVIEW: 'PLAY IT AGAIN, MURDOCK"
THE GIVE H.M. A NAME POLL!
-----
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
UPCOMING FANZINE RELEASE: By next issue, schedule permitting, I should
have final release information on PLANS SCAMS AND VANS 3, our latest 'zine
of original A-Team fan-fiction. This is definitely our best and most
diverse issue to date. An electronic version will also be available,
although it may not be ready at the same time as the print version (I need
to work out the details of my conversion software first!) There will also
be more information on tentative deadlines for submissions to our other
upcoming 'zines for '97.
--
WEB PAGE IN THE NEWS: Two national publications made mention of the A-Team
Homepage recently, as listed here.
NEW YORK POST (Sunday, December 22, 1996) - "TV Sites that get you with the
program"
Photograph: Mr. T and George Peppard, from the episode "Pros and Cons"
(yes, you
can call me crazy for recognizing which episode). Caption reads: "So what
do A-Team page creators think of one who doesn't like George Peppard and
Mr. T? They pity the fool!"
"As the number of cable channels slowly creeps up toward the 500-channel
utopian goal, the dilemna of what will fill the hours of programming time
has created a resurgence of what I like to call cult, or kitsch, TV.
"Shows that haven't been seen in years are suddenly airing daily on
channels like fX and Nick at Nite. If you're feeling a bit rusty on the
plot twits and characters of your former favorite shows, chances are you
can learn all you want to know, and then some, on the Web.
"Most current shows have their own official sites, and many cult shows
have several unofficial homes. A sample range of them and what you can
expect to find on these sites follows:
"A-Team Homepage http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~pellegri/ateam.html
"Who could forget the underground commando team that brought us our
weekly cup of Mr. T?"
"Obviously not the diehard fan who created this site. If you're rusty
on theplotline, go to FAQ for the character stories, titles of episodes,
and even their order. 'Behind the scenes' includes gossip from on-set
fights and why the show was cancelled, as well as the present fate of
several characters.
"Marla Heasley, who played Tawnia, sent in an e-mail one day when she
accidentally surfed onto the site. Not content with mere trivia-swapping,
the site creators staged a Columbia House Campaign Page and succeeded
[Well, not yet - n] in making the distribution company carry A-Team videos
- a model case of online activism."
(Article goes on to continue with 4 other pages described...)
theWEB MAGAZINE (January 1997, page 105)
Listed in the TV/Radio Hot Five section
THE A-TEAM HOMEPAGE (with URL again)
"Remember when a man named Mr. T won a bouncer competition back in the
early 1980s, propelling him to international stardom and eventually, onto
'The A-Team'? Now fans can band together to discuss past episodes, swap
pictures, suggest new plot lines, and read timely news about the cast. Did
you know that an 'A-Team' movie is planned for 1988? That Mr. T has been
ill for some time? Bet you didn't even know you cared. Here's fan homage
at its best."
--
MAILING LIST SURVEY:
The first of two surveys in this issue. Those of you on the message
reflector list are aware of the discussion of how/whether/and when this
list might switch from its current set-up at umich to a fully automated
"listserv"-type list. While still holding out some hopes that we might
find a sponsor for free somewhere, I have also investigated what sort of
options might be available via commercial services for doing this.
Personally, I am in no rush to change the current set-up, provided JJ at
umich-or in his absense in the future, someone else - is willing and able
to maintain the subscription list. However, I feel it is important to look
at other alternatives for the future, or if people *really* feel it is
worthwhile going automated. The benefits, of course, are the abilites to
offer digest-mode for the reflector (having all messages for a day sent in
one message, instead of instantaneously), and also automated sub/unsub
requests. The minus is, if we don't get a free service, we would be
looking at a fairly hefty (likely $100-200/year) fee, which I would want to
somehow raise via either subscription costs or preferably small, voluntary
but not mandatory donations.
So, I would really appreciate people telling me their opinions on this
topic. Simply cut out the following survey and e-mail it back to me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Please mark an "X" by any statements you agree with, and feel free to add
additional comments if you desire.
FOR REFLECTOR LIST SUBSCRIBERS:
- I think the list, as currently operated, is just fine. I don't think
anything should be changed.
- I think it would be a good idea to switch to an automated list server, and
would be willing to donate at least $2-3/year to finance the list.
- I would support switching to an automated list if neccessary, and donate
$2-3/year, but I do not think we need to change the current set up right
now.
- I would not support changing the list to an automated server if it would
involve a charge of any kind (either voluntary donations or a mandatory
subscription fee.)
FOR NEWSLETTER ONLY SUBSCRIBERS:
- If a digest-mode of the mailing list was offered, I would switch from
newsletter-only to digest.
- I would be willing to pay (again, $2-3/year) for having this service
available
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-----
THE MARLA HEASLEY INTERVIEW
This editor would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Marla for not only
agreeing to be interviewed for this newsletter, but for providing such
thoughtful and extensinve replies to the questions posed by myself - and
suggested by some of our subscribers. And now, on to the interview...
OTJ: In the years since "The A-Team," what other projects/work have you
been involved in?
MARLA: After "The A-Team," I did the "Love Boat," and I starred in a
feature called "Born to Race" with Joseph Bottoms and Mark Singer. I was in
the "Marrying Man" as Paul Reisers wife and I did a television show called
the "Highway Man." I guess you could say that I neglected my career for an
eight year relationship, in which I was living out of California, so during
that time my work was infrequent and very sporadic. I then returned to Los
Angeles and got in the jewelry business, which I design and manufacture. I
am planning to create a website in the near future to show my line.
OTJ: Did you find it difficult entering a popular, well-established hit
show like "The A-Team" as a new character?
MARLA: No, at first I did not find it difficult, I was too excited about
getting work. However on my first day of shooting I did become a bit
nervous (to say the least) due to George Peppard - God rest his soul. My
call was for 8:00am for makeup and hair, I arrived at the set at around
7:45 and I arrived in the makeup trailer at 8:03. George was sitting
getting his makeup done and he said to me "you are 3 minutes late." Then he
asked me to come to his trailer after I finished makeup and hair, he wanted
to talk to me. So when I was done, I went to his trailer and he proceeded
to tell me how the he and the rest of the Team does not want a girl on the
show and that the show does not need a girl. He told me that the only
reason I was on the show is because the network believed the show needed a
girl for the ratings. He said we all have very strong and well-developed
characters and if you want to keep up with us you better be just as strong.
He said he did not believe that a woman could keep up with them and he will
still try to convince the network of that. After that, for about a week, he
watched every scene that I was in, even when he was not in it, which was
very discomforting for me. After that first week, George was very sweet to
me. It was a delight working with him.
OTJ: Can you describe a bit about what it was like working with each of
your co-stars - George, Dwight, Dirk, Mr. T? Any outstanding memories about
each of them: Or about Stephen Cannell and the production crew?
MARLA: Most of them kept pretty much to themselves but they were all very
nice.
Mr. T loved children, he was great with them. He was very religious. He
would listen to religious tapes every day. He was very a very nice man,
even though he played tough.
Dwight is incredibly talented. I believe he had the most difficult
character to play and he did it extremely well. He was very quiet, which
many actors are.
Dirk, very talented as well, has a great sense of humor. As I am sure you
already know, he fought cancer and beat it. He has a great outlook on life.
He was on a life-long macro-biotic diet. He is very committed to his health
and well being. What he has accomplished takes a very strong will.
After the first week on the show, I never had any difficulty with George
again. On my last day of filming, George took me aside and for about a half
hour he reminded me what he said to me the first day and he told me that if
they were going to have a regular girl on the show it would be me. He told
me it was nothing against me. He said that I had been very professional but
again, a girl was not needed as a regular. He was actually so nice about
it. I guess it was his way of apologizing.
The stuntmen were amazing. The crew was great. I could not have asked for
a better crew to work with. The makeup artist on the show, Vee Neal went on
to receive an Academy Award for makeup on a feature film.
After the show, I became close with John Ashley and his lovely wife Jan.
John is a great man. He was wonderful to me. My first audition for the
A-Team was with John. He and his wife are remarkable people.
Stephen Cannell had a boat very close my parents boat in Newport Beach,
California. I would see him every once in awhile and say hello. He was
always a very kind person. Everything he has achieved, it is greatly
deserved. He has been blessed with talent.
OTJ: Have you stayed in contact with any of the crew or cast?
MARLA: I still keep in contact with John and Jan Ashley, but I have not
kept up with anyone else. I have run into some of the crew and stuntmen on
other shows since then. I ran into Dirk twice in a period of two weeks,
about three years ago at health food restaurants. He seemed to be doing
great. I ran into T in a jewelry store a few years ago.
OTJ: Do you feel that your character, Tawnia, was given a fair chance to
develop on the show? Were you happy with the way her character was
portrayed, and what might you have liked to have seen changed/developed?
MARLA: I guess you could say that they did not give me a fair chance and
visa-versa. What I mean by that is, at the same time I got the part, I fell
in love with someone who lived in another state. Every second that I was
not working, I was traveling, which is very tiring. So I was definitely
partly to blame. I was torn between my work and someone I loved. When I had
the chance to put my all into a part, I didn't. That was my fault. Live and
learn! However, because they did not want a girl on the show, my part was
very limited, I was not able to develop the character, so I really was not
given a chance. I do believe that if my part was larger, I would have put
more into it. I would have liked to be more an integral part of the "Team."
At the same time I enjoyed the time that I did have.
OTJ: In most action shows today, writers build a romantic/sexual
undercurrent between the lead characters, an ongoing story of "will they or
won't they" (i.e. from David & Maddie on "Moonlighting" to Mulder & Scully
on "X Files"). What are your thoughts on, if Tawnia had stayed with the
Team and if the writers had pursued this line, which one of the team might
Tawnia have ended up with and why?
MARLA: I think the obvious would be Dirk. The first show I did, in my
apartment, we flirted with the idea. However, Tawnia knew Dirk was a
ladies man, so I don't believe it would have gone very far. Although it
would have been a fun flirtation.
OTJ: Are there any outstanding memories or recollections about being on the
show that you would like to share?
MARLA: Well one thing that your subscribers probably do not know is that
before I joined "The A-Team," I did a very small part in another episode of
the show. I do not remember the name of the episode. I had a very small
part. I do remember though that it was on a sail boat and a motor boat. [It
was the episode "Bad Time on the Border" - ed.] Soon after, I was called in
to read for a regular role. I had around five auditions and then I read for
the network, which was a tense and exciting day for me. After I got the
part, but before I started filming A-Team, I did one episode of "Riptide",
which was also a Cannell production.
One great memory was around Christmas time, my call times for work were
always incredibly early, sometimes 5:00am. We were generally on location,
so every morning I would freeze. I had a jacket, but not quite warm enough.
One day George showed up to work with Christmas gifts for everyone. He gave
me a very warm Eddie Bauer down jacket. I was extremely happy.
OTJ: Finally, several people have asked whether you have a contact address,
where they might be able to write you for an autograph or to send you a
letter.
Marla has asked that - for privacy reasons as she does not currently have
an agent receiving mail for her, that if you would like to send her a
letter or an autograph request to do so through me. I will be glad to pass
it along to Marla, who extends her apologies at this time for not having a
more direct route to be contacted.
Most of you know my mailing address already but just in case you need it again:
-----
REVIEW: 'PLAY IT AGAIN, MURDOCK"
As promised, this issue I'm presenting a review/synopsis of one of two
unaired A-Team scriped I received recently. This first one is called "Play
it Again, Murdock" and is written by Tom Blomquist. The script is dated
Sept. 4, 1986, with a revision date of Sept. 11, 1986 listed as well. This
episode would have been set during the 5th season.
In the opening scene, we observe the strange sight of several officials in
the Kremlin, watching an old episode of "The Rockford Files". One man
named Colonel Molotov promises that the TV program is part of a plan to
ruin Americna foreign policy in the third world.
After the opening credits, we return to the A-Team compound in Virginia,
where the guys are busy giving Stockwell's security more trouble until
Stockwell himself arrives. He descirbes an upcoming mission, involving
contacting a man who was the former Turkisk Ambassador to the United
Nations, and who promises to have important information for "our side."
However, he will only agree to meet with "our best agent." Stockwell,
unwilling to risk actually sending someone he considers his best agent into
what could possibly be a trap, announces that he plans to send Murdock
instead - much to the other guys' amazement. The men are resistant to the
idea of sending in someone solo, so Stockwell agrees to letting Murdock
have one backup along as they travel to Casablance for the meeting.
Face is Murdock's backup, and the captain quickly becomes wrapped up in the
mystery and aura of his surroundings. Soon enough they end up in a Cafe
that is a "modern day clone" of Rick's Cafe Americain from "Casablanca,"
and it doesn't take long for Murdock to go into a full Humprey Bogart
impersonation...
Murdock lights a cigarette and it takes Face a moment to notice.
FACE
If Ambassador Kemal doesn't show
up pretty soon, we're going to
miss that flight.
MURDOCK
Maybe he met with an unfortunate
"accident"
(another Bogart)
They say accidents have a way of
happening in Casablanca.
FACE
What are you doing? You don't
smoke.
MURDOCK
There's a lot you don't know about
people in... Casablanca.
FACE
Are you going to keep this up the
whole trip?
MURDOCK
(as himslef)
Party pooper.
The story continues with several interesting twists and developments,
including the arrival of a mysterious lady named Carmen - sent to contact
Murdock by Kemal - who develops a quick and strong interest in Murdock, who
also becomes quite smitted with the beautiful woman. Things go awry at the
meeting with Kemal and the Ambassador is mortally wounded (or so we think).
Murdock gets a bump on the head that causes him, for the rest of the
episode, to flash back and forth between the present day surroundings and a
"black and white, 1942-style" Casablanca, right out of the movie. Carmen
tells Murdock/Rick that she cannot see him anymore - because of reasons she
cannot reveal - but Murdock isn't ready to give up.
At the end of the second act, it is revealed that the ending of the episode
is to be voted upon by a 900 number audience poll. The question is
whether, once Murdock learns Carmen's secret, "Should he stay with the
A-Team? Or, should he go after Carmen?"
By the third act, the rest of the Team shows up, bewildered at a case that
now involves "Dead diplomats, Russian operatives, and movie studios."
HANNIBAL
This isn't shaping up into your
run of the mill assignment.
FACE
Er ... what 'til you see Murdock.
FRANKIE
Why? What's goin' on with him?
FACE
Let me put it this way - if he
shows up here and calls you Peter
Lorre, don't worry. That's
probably who you are.
Frankie, Hannibal and B.A. go off to investigate at Casablanca Film Studios
while Face and Murdock try to find out what's going on with Carmen and why
certain men are after her. Carmen confesses to Murdock how she betrayed
Kemal and feels responsible for his death. Meanwhile, back at the film
company, the guys discover the "Rockfod Files" tapes and find subliminal
messages have been edited into the tapes with anti-American propaganda
added. One of the men after Carmen turns up dead, and Face and Murdock are
placed under arrest for suspicion of their involvment by the shady Captain
Chouinard, who appears to have some connections with the KGB. Hannibal
bargains Murdock and Face out of prison by promising Chouinard Kemal's real
killer.
That evening the Team gathers with Chouinard at a Hotel where a gathering
of "International Broadcasters" is meeting. The Russian Colonel from the
opening scene is talking on stage, promising "exciting new programs your
audiences will enjoy." Hannibal interrupts, accusing Molotov of the
subliminal messaging, when all of a sudden Ambassador Kemal appears, alive
and well and at Molotov's side. He accuses Hannibal and the Team of being
American spies sent to assinate him. B.A. and Frankie force their way to
the projection booth, pulling a reel off and putting it into a splicer
while Kemal continues speaking, accusing the Americans now of being
responsible for adding pro-American subliminal messages. But instead of
the film he expects to see, BA and Frankie have added their own instead,
causing much confusion. Molotov and Kemal attempt to flee, and Molotov
ends up killing Kemal in a struggle as they argue about their failed plan.
As B.A. and Frankie continue in persuit, Face and Murdock arrive, just as
Carmen does, in the clutches of one of Molotov's associates. They see the
men leave for the airport and give pursuit.
At the airport, Molotov tries to keep the Team at bay by holding Carmen at
gunpoint. Nurdock advances on Molotov, engaging him in a tense
confrontation until the Team manages to diffuse the situation with a
distraction. Chouinard, also on the scene, commends the Team for their
work.
Another plane is firing up on the runway, in a recreation again of a scene
out of "Casablanca." Carmen tells Murdock she is leaving now, and asks him
to come with her. Unable to decide, a phone in a nearby booth rings. At
this point, the script splits into 2 different endings. Both times it's
Stockwell on the phone:
(1) Stockwell tells Murdock, "Go with her. you've earned it." With the
rest of the Team watching, Murdock leaves with Carmen and as the plane
takes off we hear his voice, "Here's looking at you, kid."
(2) Stockwell tells Murdock, "Let her go. I have another mission for you.
Don't forget your friends' pardon." Again, we end with Murdock giving in
famous line, but this time it's with a tear in his eye as he watches her
plane leave.
Overall, this is a really interesting, extremely funny script. Some of the
dialogue is outrageous, a great parody and take-off on "Casablanca" very
similar to the James Bond parody of the episode "The Spy Who Mugged Me."
The use of the phone-in to decide the ending is the main sour point - it
leaves me wondering who would vote for actually having Murdock *leave* the
A-Team for a woman he just met - something that seems totally
out-of-character (and if this was because Dwight was going to leave the
show, then it wouldn't have made sense to have the other ending as an
option!)
Still, with the black and white sequences I would have loved to have seen
this episode actualy filmed and aired. There are good bits in the story
for all of the guys, not just Dwight - even Mr. T, who seemed to be highly
ignored in the writing of most of the 5th season episodes aired, has some
very funny lines.
If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this script, Script City sells
scripts for many if not all A-Team episodes, at a pice generally in the
range of $15-20. To get a Script City catalog, call 800 - 676 - 2522.
Next time, a review of another unaired script, "New in Town, Sailor?"
-----
THE GIVE H.M. A NAME POLL!
We had a few - but only a handfull - of responses to our survey for picking
the best suggested name for H.M. So, here's the list again, with people's
reasons for their ideas, I'll take your votes for the next few weeks still
before posting the results:
(1) Howard Merv
Because: Howard is so perfectly normal that no one would think of it to see
him and Merv because that is the namesake of the Fastest, kick-*ssest
missles ever to nail an armoured support vehicle.
(2) Harvey Mondolin
Because: I like Harvey, because of "Harvey the Wonder Hamster". As for
Mandolin,that's a neat-sounding instrument.
(3) Her Majesty's
Because: Given his excellent "fake" British accent, couldn't Murdock have
been exposed to British culture because one his parents was British? So
the H.M. Could stand for "Her Majesty's" as in "Her Majesty's Ship (HMS)."
(4) Hot Muchacho
Because: He is.
(5) Harpo Marx
Because: His parents loved the Marx brothers.
(6) Harlan Malkavian
Because: I always liked the name Harlan, but it's odd enough that I could see
HM not wanting to use it. Malkavians are the looniest clan of Vampires.
They are all insane.
(7) Hank/Henry Michael
Because: I think Murdock wants to be different, unfortunately he was stuck
with two normal names. To add mystery, he only goes by the initials H.M.
(8) Henry/Harold Murdock
Because: Murdock is one crazy individual, H.M. stands for Henry (or Harold)
Murdock. He was born Henry Murdock, but chooses to go by the name H.M.
Murdock. Which, said in full, would be Henry Murdock Murdock.
(9) Humphrey Mudge
Because: Back in the 80's when the show was originally on, my best friend
and I asked the Ouija board what HM stood for. It said Humprey Mudge.
(10) Herman Melville
Because: Perhaps that cockroach he named was Murdock's namesake.......And
Murdock would make a great Melvillian character--think Ahab, or Bartleby
the Scrivener (tho' that character reminds me more of Barclay, but I
digress...)
(11) Harold Maude
Because: Everyone must know the inherent insanity behind Harold and Maude....
(12) Happy Monster
Because:??
(13) The obvious - just HM
Because: He introduced himself to assembled baddies in "Bend in the River"
with something like, "You can call me H.M., Hmm, or Hmm Mmm." He *was*
born in the era of Harry S (and S only) Truman.
(14) Harley Marlboro
Because: Wasn't there a movie a few years back called "Harley Davidson and
The Marlboro Man? That's probably how that popped into my mind.
(15) Holmes Morrison
Because: okay A-Team trivia buffs, give me that one!
(16) Horatio MacArthur
Because: With the British Accent however, the H could stand for Horatio as in
Horatio Nelson a naval hero....
-----
That's all for this issue - until next time, stay on the jazz!
nicole
---------------------------------------------------------------
Quote of the week:
"I knew it; I just knew you had a plan."
"Comforting, isn't it?"
"I'll get the van..."
Murdock, Hannibal and B.A. from the end of "The Grey Team"
---------------------------------------------------------------
sockii, aka nicole
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"Having had a personal life, I found it vastly over-rated." -jms
----------------------------------------------------------------
Proud member of the Narn Bat Squad <<Whack!>> and the C.o.M.
