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Airwolf press release from July 1984
Program Notes
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PROGRAM NOTES
AIRWOLF
Saturdays 8:00-9:00 PM, CNYT
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Jan-Michael Vincent as the reclusive but highly-skilled pilot, Stringfellow Hawke, is back for his second full season of high adventure in AIRWOLF. Together, with his best friend, Dominic Santini (Ernest Borgnine), he will be controlling the most ferocious chopper ever built as they carry out secret and unsanctioned high-risk missions against overwhelming odds. AIRWOLF takes to the airwaves each Saturday night from 8:00 to 9:00 PM, CNYT on the CBS Television Network.
Hawke and Santini will continue to carry out assignments for Michael Archangel (Alex Cord), head of the Central Intelligence Agency and the uneasy truce between Hawke and the C.I.A. will remain in effect with Hawke holding AIRWOLF, the government's experimental helicopter, as security for the continued cooperation of the C.I.A. So, we will be seeing less of Archangel this year. But this time around, viewers can anticipate more missions undertaken on behalf of individuals in need of AIRWOLF's extraordinary, high-tech capabilities.
Dominic Santini will continue to be the same good-natured, rough and ready daredevil we've come to know and love, his easy-going effusiveness offsetting the strong, silent and intense Hawke. Hawke will be as reclusive and highly-principled as ever, but this season's stories will explore his more human characteristics. The reason for Stringfellow Hawke's emerging vulnerability just might be Caitlin O'Shannessy (Jean Bruce Scott), a spunky redhead who pilots choppers and comes to work as a stunt flyer with Santini and Company. She will be introduced on the series this year and only time will tell whether this relationship develops into more than a flirtation.
We can expect the tenacious Mr. Archangel to continue his U.S. government-backed crusade to regain control of AIRWOLF. He and Hawke seem fated to play the devious games of friendly enemies, each of whom has his own hidden goal to achieve. Just as much a star as Stringfellow Hawke is the super copter so aptly dubbed AIRWOLF. Not only is it a fierce-looking bird of prey, it is also formidable in action with its fourteen deadly firepower options; its ability to move faster than the speed of sound and its stealth capability that renders it invisible to detection by radar. Put them all together and you have the most awesome weapon that ever took to the clouds. Soar with AIRWOLF as the valiant Stringfellow Hawke and his good-natured pal, Dominic Santini, fly the unfriendly skies to face a new season of challenge and dangers ahead.
Jan-Michael Vincent was a familiar face even before his portrayal of the ever-cool Stringfellow Hawke in AIRWOLF. For many years he has been one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading men, turning in perspective performances in "Buster and Billie," "Bite the Bullet," "Hooper," "The Mechanic" and in Disney's "The World's Greatest Athlete". For his role in "Going Home," Vincent was honored with a Golden Globe nomination. He was outstanding in the smash television mini-series, "The Winds Of War," in a featured role. Vincent has a lot in common with the character he plays in AIRWOLF - an appreciation of fine art; an agile athletic grace; and a love of fishing. If he appears in his element as a fighter pilot it could be due to the fact that his dad was a United States Army pilot.
In the same year, Ernest Borgnine won the Oscar and the New York Film Critic's Award as Best Actor for his sensitive portrayal of "Marty." He also won a special citation from the International Film Festival at Cannes for his performance as the lonely butcher from the Bronx. Few actors are able to move as easily from loveable to loathsome. Consider for a moment the bully he portrayed in "Bad Day At Black Rock," goading a one-armed Spencer Tracy into a brawl, or his role as the sadistic "Fatso" in "From Here To Eternity." In contrast to these unsavory characters, he has exuded warmth and good humor as the leader of "McHale's Navy" and as Dominic Santini of AIRWOLF. These are but a few of the memorable characters Borgnine has etched for us among hundreds of fine performances.
After his training at the famed Actors' Studio in New York and years of dramatic work in the theatre there, Alex Cord made his way to the west coast where he starred in the movie, "Synanon." Other memorable characterizations followed in "The Brotherhood," "Stiletto," "Sidewinder One" and many performances in television series and movies. All that hard-won experience is evident in his portrayal of CIA chief, Michael Archangel in AIRWOLF.
AIRWOLF is a Universal Television production in association with Belisarius Productions. Donald P. Bellisario is not only the creator of the series, but its executive producer and writer. Supervising producer is Alan J. Levi. Burton Armus and Clyde Ware are the series producers.
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