It's time again for MR. T to pity da fool who don't use 1-800-COLLECT! The scruffy "A-Team" '80s icon is back for a third commercial hawking the merits of collect calling, and we've got the behind-the-scenes scoop!

This time around, the actor's trademark gold chains have turned into buried treasure, as a bunch of kids have buried him in the sand up to his neck on the malibu beach! Of course, T wasn't really buried for this gag -- the 1-800 COLLECT spokesperson stood in a specially designed box to make him look like he's underneath all that sand. Not too tough a gig for a guy who's been out of the media spotlight for quite some time.... "It's like I tell everyone, you gotta have a setback to have a comeback," he growls. "I gotta new rap, it goes like this here: He's big, he's bad, he's black and he's back! Mr. T, aaargh!"

Six years ago Mr.T, whose real name is Lawrence Tureaud, was diagnosed with a rare cancer that took him out of commission. The disease is now in remission, and T tells ET that these days his purpose is to be an inspiration to others. "I want people to take my lead and say, you know, Mr. T didn't kill himself, he didn't go crazy, you deal with it, he's getting better and they can do the same thing."

In the meantime, the mohawk man is happy to poke fun at himself and his tough-guy image in the 1-800-COLLECT commercial that starts airing today. And as for a possible "A-Team" reunion? Mr. T says he doesn't know if it will be a movie or TV special, but either way, it's not going to happen without him!