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Airwolf article from Cable Magazine January 1987
Airwolf Takes Off on USA
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Barry Van Dyke Stars in New Version
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By Sheila Carmody
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 USA Network is moving forward in its drive to create new programming. This month cable's flagship network adds, to its already packed schedule, an all-new Airwolf. Originally broadcast on CBS, USA's version stars a whole new cast, including Barry Van Dyke, who will pick up where Stringfellow (Jan Michael Vincent) leaves off, Geraint Wyn Davies, Anthony Sherwood and Michele Scarabelli.
In the premiere episode, which airs Friday, January 23 at 7 PM, Stringfellow rescues his brother St. John (Van Dyke), who was missing in Vietnam throughout the CBS series, setting the underlying purpose for its entire run. Stringfellow held on to the fightercopter Airwolf in order to search for St. John. And now it is he, St. John, who will act as freelance adventurer, working off and on for the CIA. Jan Michael Vincent will join the cast in the transitional episode and end up with an injury, leaving an opening for his possible return in future episodes. Ernest Borgnine's departure is less auspicious. He is killed on the rescue mission.
Up until now, Barry Van Dyke's most notable claim to fame has probably been his talented father, Dick Van Dyke, undoubtedly a hard act to follow. From his living quarters in Vancouver, Canada, where Airwolf is being filmed, Barry spoke about his career, his dad and why he decided to become an actor.
"I used to hang around with Dad when he was working," Van Dyke said, "and he always had a lot of fun. His shows were very loose, especially the first one, The Dick Van Dyke Show. I used to bug him then to put me in something, but I'm grateful now that he didn't. He held me back until I was old enough to really know what I wanted to do."
When asked whether or not the name Van Dyke has helped his career, Barry responds by saying, "It has never really made any difference one way or the other. At the beginning (of his career) it did help me to get an agent after a year or so of trying. It certainly never gets you a job. I can't think of any jobs where I even got in the door because of the name. There's too much at stake in this business to hire someone on their name."
On the other hand, when Barry first started out, with a developmental deal at ABC, "Everything I did for them was comedy, everything," Van Dyke stressed. "They pigeonhole you when you first get into the business. They just saw me as a younger Dick Van Dyke, a comedian. So I did a lot of comedy and really didn't get a chance to do any dramatic acting until someone took a chance on me, and then I did more action drama, which is what I've been doing more of, lately."
While Van Dyke enjoys comedy, he doesn't want to be pegged as a comedian. "A lot of actors say that comedy is the hardest thing. For me it's easier. I've watched my Dad so much and I've been around it all of my life. While the action stuff is as much fun, ideally I like doing a little of both. That's the difference between this Airwolf and the original," Van Dyke claims. "I think we're going to try to do it a little lighter and hopefully add a little humor to it."
Van Dyke was spotted for this role while working on Safe at Home, another original cable series. "I did that show mainly to meet some of the people who were doing it," Van Dyke says, "and to get in on the ground floor. I think original programming for cable is just getting started. It's just going to explode in the next couple of years. I think they'll really give the networks a run for their money."
As for his dad's success Barry says, "The Dick Van Dyke Show had a very rare combination of talent. Between the producers, and the writers and that cast, once in a great while you get the right people together. In situation comedy, to really laugh you have to relate to it. Things that have happened to people or could happen, that's what really makes it funny. And they had really talented people executing that."
And what is Dad doing these days? "He's thinking about doing another series," Barry says. "Everybody's after him. All of the networks are after him, and he's been talking to different writers. We had talked about doing a show together, which still remains a possibility. I'd love to do something with him. I think they'll talk him into doing another series real soon. He's retired several times and likes to sail and be lazy, enjoy himself. If something really interesting comes along, he does it. He works when he feels like it.
As for his uncle, Jerry Van Dyke (also a comedian/actor), Barry says, "He's a nut. My father is more of an introvert. He's funny and a creative man, but he's quiet. Jerry's insane. It's my grandfather who started it all. He was quite a character. They got everything from him. He was never in show business, but he did a little bit of everything, and he was a very funny man. A great wit."
If talent is hereditary, Barry Van Dyke should do well with this cable series. Chances are the show may even improve under its new network. Catch the all-new Airwolf when it begins airing this month on the USA Network.
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