Blue Thunder
Created by Guy Magar
On ABC
A 1980s action-adventure procedural built around a high-tech helicopter, blending crime-fighting spectacle with ensemble camaraderie in a format designed for weekly episodic resolution.
Blue Thunder is a 1984 ABC television series based on the movie of the same title featuring the Blue Thunder helicopter. The series uses the converted Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopter and large portions of stock footage from the 1983 film. A ground unit named "Rolling Thunder" backed up the helicopter in the television series. This was a large support van with a desert camouflage off-road vehicle stored inside. The television series cast includes James Farentino, Dana Carvey, and former professional American football players Bubba Smith and Dick Butkus. The series was canceled by ABC after they felt the similar Airwolf on CBS would win the ratings battle. Also, the series aired at the same time as the CBS soap opera Dallas on Friday nights, and lost. Eleven episodes were made before the series was cancelled.
Essence
Ensemble
Like Blue Thunder
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Blue Thunder
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Blue Thunder, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Blue Thunder, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Blue Thunder, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
