On this day April 16, 1984, the final episode of Blue Thunder aired on ABC, ending the short lived television adaptation after just one season and 11 episodes. Based on the 1983 film of the same name, the show followed a high tech helicopter task force battling crime in Los Angeles.
The series starred James Farentino as the lead pilot, joined by a surprising cast of familiar faces including Dana Carvey before his Saturday Night Live fame, former NFL star Dick Butkus, and Bubba Smith of Police Academy fame. Despite its action packed setup and recognizable cast, the show struggled to find an audience and was pulled from the air just weeks after its debut.
Blue Thunder offered fast paced aerial scenes, futuristic tech, and buddy cop energy but couldn't compete with other prime time hits of the era.
Fun fact: Blue Thunder went head to head with the popular show Dallas in its time slot, which played a major role in its cancellation.
Trivia question: What short lived 1984 series based on a high tech police helicopter starred James Farentino and Dana Carvey and was canceled after one season?
The series starred James Farentino as the lead pilot, joined by a surprising cast of familiar faces including Dana Carvey before his Saturday Night Live fame, former NFL star Dick Butkus, and Bubba Smith of Police Academy fame. Despite its action packed setup and recognizable cast, the show struggled to find an audience and was pulled from the air just weeks after its debut.
Blue Thunder offered fast paced aerial scenes, futuristic tech, and buddy cop energy but couldn't compete with other prime time hits of the era.
Fun fact: Blue Thunder went head to head with the popular show Dallas in its time slot, which played a major role in its cancellation.
Trivia question: What short lived 1984 series based on a high tech police helicopter starred James Farentino and Dana Carvey and was canceled after one season?
