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Long forgotten and short running TV-series is based on John Badham's 'Blue Thunder' starring Roy Scheider. The title is the only thing common between film and TV-series. The series didn't take over where film ended, but it rather created alternate universe or storyline how the Blue Thunder helicopter will serve in the forces. Characters are different - super cool Murphy has been replaced by Chaney (James Farentino), who still has enough charm and coolness in him to carry the show. Also, compared to the film, the show is much more lighthearted - besides Chaney and captain Braddock, all the other characters are there for comic relief. Show also lost all the seriousness and message of the film, turning 'Blue Thunder' series typical '80s action show.

And a typical action show 'Blue Thunder' is. If you're familiar (and grown up with) shows like 'The A-Team', 'Airwolf', 'Magnum P.I.', or any other that kind, 'Blue Thunder' can offer a nice juicy '80s nostalgia boost. Cheesy stories and ridiculous villains (mostly played by well known character actors from that time). Cheap effects and reused aerial shots from the film.

Blue Thunder is a special federal air unit based in Los Angeles. Frank Chaney (James Farentino) is the pilot. Joining him in the cockpit is computer tech observer Clinton 'JAFO' Wonderlove (Dana Carvey). Captain Braddock (Sandy McPeak) is their commander. Former NFL players Richard 'Ski' Butowski (Dick Butkus) and Lyman 'Bubba' Kelsey (Bubba Smith) are their ground support.

It's funny that this came out at the same time as Airwolf. While the pilot of Airwolf is far superior, I like the rest of episodes of this show better. It's an 80's action comedy episodic series. I would have expected better for its fortune but this mid-season replacement never got renewed. Carvey is doing his voices for comedy and the football buddies are a bit campy. Where else do we get two football greats on network TV? This show kinda works. The comedic elements combine with the action elements which inevitably involves air to air combat. Never has there ever been so many bad guys with air support. It's overkill especially on city streets. It would have been more prudent to move the location to the border where the crew can battle the drug cartels in an ongoing serial. It would have made this a more serious show which would be fine. The comedy makes this more campy which does fit 80's TV. It would have been interesting to treat the material more seriously.

Was in Grade 9 when this show was on. It's ok but typical tv, did not watch to much, rather watch Air wolf. The part I hate it, and I watched it at my buddies place Tony & Wilfred, and we would all laughf at this, they would shoot the gun out of the hand of bad guy every time, with this super powerfull attack chopper. Dam where thoes guys good. The only other thing I can remember one of the cast made sure they would get cassarole after Bubba and Dick ate it for a week in sum prision. It would have been a better show if they made the guy eat it than the typical ending I mention earlier. One point to be taking this show with a chopper had a bigger set budget, and include the stunt than any of todays on the cheap shows. Friend's , Sienfield what kind of budget is that, 2 room, and now with reality TV shows with no director script, or even professional actor. Boy, TV budgets sure have gone down the toilet no wonder I only watch movies.

Blue Thunder was a fun TV series inspired by the 1983 movie of the same title. That movie was an edgy adult thriller with an R rating that was impossible to emulate in a kid friendly 80's made for TV action series. Instead the Blue Thunder TV series was similar to other 80's kid friendly action shows such as the Dukes of Hazzard, the A Team, Knight Rider, and Street Hawk. Each episode featured aerial dogfights, car crashes, fist fights, explosions, shootouts, lots of 80's TV FX, and nasty/hammy bad guys. The brave heroes of the series were played by James Farentino, Bubba Smith, Dick Butkus, and - Dana Carvey! Plus the true star of every episode was the cool Blue Thunder 'copter! How could I not like this show? I'm having a great time watching it on DVD. Blue Thunder the series is an entertaining 80's action show. Good fun!

I remember watching a few episodes of this TV series when it first came out, and liking what I saw. So when I found out that the entire eleven episodes of the series had been released on DVD, I rented the entire set to see if the show would still hold up. And the answer is, for the most part, no. With the exception of a pre-fame Dana Carvey, who manages to show off his comic skills and charm, the cast gives pretty forgettable performances, most likely because the scripts don't give their parts multi-dimension. The other parts of the scripts also fail to interest, with bland, simplistic stories. The Blue Thunder Helicopter does look cool, and there is some impressive aerial photography as well as choreography. But it seems that the expense to do so resulted in some shabby cost-cutting elsewhere, with obvious stock footage and footage repeated - sometimes in the same show! And while the helicopter looks cool, its movements and abilities come across as sluggish - unlike Airwolf, from a different helicopter show broadcast around the same time. In fact, you'd be better off watching "Airwolf" than watching the "Blue Thunder" TV series.