George Peppard

Question: What did the B.A. in B.A. Baracus, aka Mr. T, stand for?

Answer: Officially, the A-Team master mechanic's initials stood for "bad attitude," but most fans hold to the belief that they were really for "bad ass." Depending on which day you caught him, either could be accurate. If you'd asked any of the show's producers or the reporters who interviewed the mercurial star at a bad time, however, my guess is the consensus would lean toward the former.

The first time TV Guide sent a reporter to spend six days on the set of the hit action show, which ran on NBC from January 1983 to June 1987, the writer was stonewalled by T's equally formidable brothers, who explained that an interview wouldn't happen unless it was a matter of life or death. Asked if another time was more appropriate, perhaps lunchtime or later in the afte read more

Question: We all know that the late George Peppard played John "Hannibal" Smith on The A-Team, but I seem to remember that there was another show that he starred in where he played an insurance investigator. I think I saw it on A&E a little while ago, but I cannot remember the name of the show. Can you help?

Answer: That I can, Cliff.

Peppard played Polish-American (and I specify ethnicity here because it was a big part of the show's flavor) private-eye Thomas Banacek in the series, which was called (surprise!) Banacek. In it the Boston-based detective went after vanished goods and then claimed the reward money from insurance companies when he solved the capers. Ralph Manza and Murray Matheson were also regulars on the show, and Christine Belford came on board in the second season to add a little romance.