"The Incredible Hulk" Classic Live-Action Television Series Talkback (Spoilers)

[wonderfly]

The Incredible Hulk is back!!!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/20/TIHcredits.jpg/280px-TIHcredits.jpg

Let's discuss this classic series!

And, just in times for the new movie, Sci-Fi channel is running a marathon of the classic The Incredible Hulk show all this week, Monday through Friday! Catch the episodes during the day, or set your Tivo's, (or VCR's, whatever works for you) to watch these classic episodes! The pilot episode kicks things off tomorrow morning at 8 am, Eastern Standard Time, 7 am Central Time!

Check out Sci-Fi's website for showtimes and episode guide! (http://www.scifi.com/hulk/)

Comments? What are your thoughts?

[Bones Justice]

Thanks for the heads up. I can't seem to get the link to open, though, so I'll just ask -- are any of the movies on the schedule? Though they were a bit goofy, I liked the Daredevil and Thor movies anyways.

I'm actually not a big Hulk fan but the television show has a certain something that makes me want to watch it.

[wonderfly]

The link is slow, but it does work for me.

And no, I don't see that they're airing the late 80's/early 90's movies. They are, however, airing kind of a "best of the TV show", it seems, judging by the schedule. They're starting with the original pilot episode mini-series this morning, followed by some of the best of Season 1, tomorrow it looks like they're showing some of the best of Season 2, and so on...

They are showing all of the two part episodes though, including "Married", the tragic episode which won the show an Emmy, "Mystery Man", which is the perhaps the best of the episodes featuring Jack McGee, (the reporter hunting for the Hulk), and "The First", which is as close as the old show ever got to showing a super villain fight, I believe. Good stuff all around!

[Silly McGooses]

I honestly don't see what the big deal with the show was--I'm watching it right now. I guess I would have to see it in the context of the time, but it's pretty durn boring!

[Jon T]

I honestly don't see what the big deal with the show was--I'm watching it right now. I guess I would have to see it in the context of the time, but it's pretty durn boring!

The best episodes you could check out if you're after more action would be the "Prometheus" two-part story that opened the fourth season. This was the closest the show ever came to the comics. Aside from that story and a handful of other episodes, the show wasn't so much about the Hulk himself but more Banner's trials and tribulations and the people he gets to meet and help on his ever-lasting journey for peace. It is a product of its time, but more in the sense that no one would ever attempt a super-hero like that these days.

[Silly McGooses]

Sounds a whole lot like the original The Fugitive series.

[wonderfly]

Sounds a whole lot like the original The Fugitive series.

That's a pretty accurate comparison. Except "The Fugitive" had a happy ending, as I recall...

[Jon T]

Yes, the series is very much patterned after The Fugitive and like that show, Hulk was also supposed to have a happy ending. Supposedly, the series would've ended with McGee finally catching up with "John Doe", finding out Banner was actually alive, him going to trial over the death of Elena from the pilot, and eventually being cured.

I would have much preferred the series to end there rather than the three low-budget TV movies made years later. Oddly enough, even those weren't supposed to end where they did (with The Death of the Incredible Hulk), with a fourth movie planned which would have featured a resurrected Banner and Hulk, with the Hulk actually retaining some of Banner's intelligence and finally being able to speak!

[Old Guy]

I saw this show a few years ago. It was alright I guess.

[Russkafin]

Oddly enough, even those weren't supposed to end where they did (with The Death of the Incredible Hulk), with a fourth movie planned which would have featured a resurrected Banner and Hulk, with the Hulk actually retaining some of Banner's intelligence and finally being able to speak!

I have heard things about that planned fourth film from time to time. Do you know if there was ever a script written for it? I am guessing it never got to that stage. I would love to know more about what they had planned for that next installment.

[Jon T]

I have heard things about that planned fourth film from time to time. Do you know if there was ever a script written for it? I am guessing it never got to that stage. I would love to know more about what they had planned for that next installment.

There was a script (not sure of how many drafts it got to), and there's a brief picture of the cover of said script and discussion on its contents from Lou Ferrigno himself on one of the DVD extras on the TV movie two-pack from Anchor Bay (at least I think that's the set it was on!).

Very little is known about the actual story. It had been known that cloning would be the method of resurrection, but the first I heard about the Hulk being able to talk was on the DVD. Understandably, Lou Ferrigno was very much looking forward to finally being able to speak on camera and sad that the movie was never made due to Bill Bixby's failing health.

As far as I know, no one on the internet has ever been able to get a copy of the script to check out exactly what the story was, although it probably wasn't too far-reaching considering the modest budgets of the last two movies.

[Bones Justice]

I honestly don't see what the big deal with the show was--I'm watching it right now. I guess I would have to see it in the context of the time, but it's pretty durn boring!

Check out the movies with Daredevil and Thor. They are probably cheesy by today's standards but still fun to watch anyways. I was really disappointed with Thor (he's not much like comic-book Thor) but actually had some good humor. I thought both characters were good enough for spin-offs at the time but nothing came of them. Of course, this is all just my memory of them. I'm not sure how well they would hold up today.

[wonderfly]

I would have much preferred the series to end there rather than the three low-budget TV movies made years later. Oddly enough, even those weren't supposed to end where they did (with The Death of the Incredible Hulk), with a fourth movie planned which would have featured a resurrected Banner and Hulk, with the Hulk actually retaining some of Banner's intelligence and finally being able to speak!

And it doesn't end there. There were already plans for a fifth TV movie, in which they were planning on introducing She-Hulk!

They already had Brigitte Neilsen lined up to play the part.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a0/LiveSheHulk.jpg/180px-LiveSheHulk.jpg

Judging by the costume, I think they were leaning towards giving the Hulk's some measure of intellegence.

I frankly would've preferred they got one of the female gladatiors from American Gladiators in the 90's...

Sadly, these last two films never made it past the production phase, I believe due to Bill Bixby falling ill from cancer, and eventually dying from it.

[Soul]

Was this episode on currently at 3PM CST on Wednesday
The Hunter character as in the story is based on The most Dangerous Game, but is he supposed to be Kraven the Hunter?

[Michael24]

And it doesn't end there. There were already plans for a fifth TV movie, in which they were planning on introducing She-Hulk!

They already had Brigitte Neilsen lined up to play the part.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a0/LiveSheHulk.jpg/180px-LiveSheHulk.jpg

Judging by the costume, I think they were leaning towards giving the Hulk's some measure of intellegence.

Actually, I believe that was supposed to be a solo She-Hulk feature film and not just a fifth Hulk TV movie. I think it's mentioned in the Marvel: The Characters and Their Universe book.

[Old Guy]

I checked an episode or two today. Not bad.

[Burgundy Ranger]

I'll never stop being wow'ed at how powerful, yet simple, each week's ending was. One camera shot. One musical instrument.

[veemonjosh]

Understandably, Lou Ferrigno was very much looking forward to finally being able to speak on camera and sad that the movie was never made due to Bill Bixby's failing health.

At least now he'll be able to finally speak as the Hulk (kinda...) in the new movie. :sweat:

[Soul]

At least now he'll be able to finally speak as the Hulk (kinda...) in the new movie. :sweat:
Which kicks butt.

[Robin2099]

At least now he'll be able to finally speak as the Hulk (kinda...) in the new movie. :sweat:

Well, he already has technically since he voiced him in the 90's animated series.

Anyway this was a great series and even though I have all the season sets, it's fun to watch it on TV. Bill Bixby was perfect as Banner and he did a wonderful job carrying the series. I always felt bad for anyone he had to try and play Bruce Banner in live action after Bixby got done with him.

I also agree that the lonely man's theme is an amazing piece of music, and the ending of each episode was always so simple, yet powerful.

[wonderfly]

Was this episode on currently at 3PM CST on Wednesday
The Hunter character as in the story is based on The most Dangerous Game, but is he supposed to be Kraven the Hunter?

No, it's not Kraven. As you mention, it's just another tribute to "The Most Dangerous Game". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Dangerous_Game)


Actually, I believe that was supposed to be a solo She-Hulk feature film and not just a fifth Hulk TV movie. I think it's mentioned in the Marvel: The Characters and Their Universe book.That's not the way I heard it, but you could be right. I just can't imagine them doing a feature film (in theaters) staring She-Hulk in the late 80's/early 90's. I heard it was planned to be a continuation of the Bill Bixby series.

[Michael24]

That's not the way I heard it, but you could be right. I just can't imagine them doing a feature film (in theaters) staring She-Hulk in the late 80's/early 90's. I heard it was planned to be a continuation of the Bill Bixby series.
I got the Marvel book down earlier and found the passage I was thinking of:


The actual creation of the character was mandated for a different reason. "After Lou Ferrigno did The Hulk on TV, they were afraid [Universal] might come out with a female Hulk," says artist John Buscema, who designed the character. "So before the series produced one, they figured they would produce one at Marvel. They were protecting themselves." Initially there was talk of a "She-Hulk" television series as well as feature film to star statuesque actress Brigitte Nielsen, but neither materialized (though a makeup test of Nielsen was shot).According to She-Hulk's Wikipedia entry (yeah, yeah, I know), Carl Gottlieb was attached as the film's writer, and New World Pictures was to provide financial backing. I'd also read the same account in an early-90s issue of Wizard: The Guide to Comics.

[wonderfly]

The actual creation of the character was mandated for a different reason. "After Lou Ferrigno did The Hulk on TV, they were afraid [Universal] might come out with a female Hulk," says artist John Buscema, who designed the character. "So before the series produced one, they figured they would produce one at Marvel. They were protecting themselves." Initially there was talk of a "She-Hulk" television series as well as feature film to star statuesque actress Brigitte Nielsen, but neither materialized (though a makeup test of Nielsen was shot).

I just want to point out that quote is a little bit misleading: Yes, John Buscema and Stan Lee created the She-Hulk for the comics, to keep the trademark for Marvel. But that was back in 1979. The Brigitte Nielson photographs and talk of actually making a film came in the late 80's, (or possibly early 90's). Quite some time passed from the character's creation before Hollywood started toying with the idea of filming a She-Hulk film.

It was my understanding that the She-Hulk film was in development around the time the Thor/Daredevil/"Death of the Hulk" films in the late 80's/early 90's. Thus, I thought they were tied in with the Bill Bixby/TV show continuity.

EDIT:
And I finally found where I got my information: From the old "Incredible Hulk TV Show FAQ", (http://www.incrediblehulktvseries.com/FAQ/HulkFAQ5.htm) (which, admittedly, is a few years old).


In the original series, the Hulk never met up with any other Marvel Comics characters (though the villain in "The Snare" is similar to Kraven The Hunter). Ken Johnson "had trouble with people in funny costumes" and sought to make the series a bit more mature than this. However, upon relaunching the Hulk into a series of TV movies, Marvel Comics sought to bring several other characters to the small screen. In "The Incredible Hulk Returns", the Hulk met Donald Blake and his alter-ego Thor. Following the success of this film, Marvel signed a deal with NBC to bring at least two more television movies to the screen, starring the Hulk and another character. Daredevil, Iron Man, and the She Hulk were expected to meet up with David in subsequent adventures. Rex Smith (of "Street Hawk" fame) played the blind super-hero Daredevil in "The Trial Of The Incredible Hulk", which also featured John Rhys-Davies as the criminal Wilson Fisk (known as the Kingpin in Marvel comics). Marvel had hoped for a Daredevil series to spin off, but it never materialized.
The film with Iron Man never happened, perhaps because of the costs involved, and the She Hulk never got beyond a few promo shots with Brigitte Nielsen wearing the green makeup. Apparently, both projects were seriously hindered by the lack of a good script in which to carry the new characters.There's also this tidbit about the 4th movie:



Was "The Death Of The Incredible Hulk" The Last TV Movie That Was Planned?



No. Though the Hulk was killed at the end of "Death Of", there were plans to bring him back to life in a fourth movie. Gerald DiPego (who scripted "Trial" and "Death Of") had written a script for "The Rebirth Of The Incredible Hulk." (also referred to as "The Revenge Of The Incredible Hulk"). NBC had aired the first three reunion movies but, while all had been successful, THE DEATH OF THE INCREDIBLE HULK didn't generate the ratings that the first two had and NBC passed on producing a fourth adventure.Bill Bixby had put the project into pre-production and was negotiating with CBS and ABC to produce it. Bixby became ill during this time and the project was set aside. When prostate cancer claimed his life, the project was dropped. There is reportedly a script of "REVENGE OF THE HULK" floating around the collector's circuit, but I have yet to see it. You know, this sounds like a job for "Comic Book Urban Legends" (http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/06/05/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-158/) over at Comic Book Resources!!!

[Russkafin]

You know, this sounds like a job for "Comic Book Urban Legends" (http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/06/05/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-158/) over at Comic Book Resources!!!

Good call! I love that column. I just fired off an e-mail to Brian Cronin inquiring about it. Hopefully he will address it in an upcoming edition! If anyone can get to the bottom of this mystery I'm sure it's him.

[Jon T]

Good call! I love that column. I just fired off an e-mail to Brian Cronin inquiring about it. Hopefully he will address it in an upcoming edition! If anyone can get to the bottom of this mystery I'm sure it's him.

Should certainly make for an interesting discussion as I'm genuinely shocked that further details of the Rebirth/Revenge script, or indeed the script itself, has still not been seen by fans even to this day!

Also on the subject of Hulk TV movies, I have heard that there was supposedly an earlier attempt at making one in the mid-80s, a few years before The Incredible Hulk Returns. This was supposed to have also featured Nicholas Hammond as Spider-Man, complete with the Black version of the costume that was in the comics of the time. I'm not so sure on the validity of these claims, as I've never seen this idea referenced anywhere other than the odd discussion on the internet, and it does sound like a fan's wishful thinking.

Anyone have anything solid on this possible proposed TV movie? It certainly would have made for interesting viewing, at the very least! :)

[Russkafin]

Also on the subject of Hulk TV movies, I have heard that there was supposedly an earlier attempt at making one in the mid-80s, a few years before The Incredible Hulk Returns. This was supposed to have also featured Nicholas Hammond as Spider-Man, complete with the Black version of the costume that was in the comics of the time. I'm not so sure on the validity of these claims, as I've never seen this idea referenced anywhere other than the odd discussion on the internet, and it does sound like a fan's wishful thinking.

I had heard that there was talk of doing a crossover with the Nicholas Hammond Spider-Man series, but I thought that was later on, not prior to "Returns," and this is the first I'd heard of the black costume being involved. Could just be a fan's wild imagination, but who knows! I know I would have liked to see it!

[Soul]

This episode "Dark Side", I'm' enjoying it quite a bit.
This whole Jekyll & Hyde Banner is really interesting.

[Russkafin]

This episode "Dark Side", I'm' enjoying it quite a bit.
This whole Jekyll & Hyde Banner is really interesting.

I'm glad you caught that one, it's one of my favorites.

[Russkafin]

One of my favorite transformation scenes is at the end of "The First - Part Two," when the Dell Fry Hulk smashes the last vial of the cure. Those few moments where David's eyes are white but we don't hear the music spike yet, and he's standing there in shock with tears in his eyes as he sees his last hope of a cure shattered in front of him.... wow, that is powerful. I get chills from it. Awesome scene.

[Antiyonder]

One of my favorite transformation scenes is at the end of "The First - Part Two," when the Dell Fry Hulk smashes the last vial of the cure. Those few moments where David's eyes are white but we don't hear the music spike yet, and he's standing there in shock with tears in his eyes as he sees his last hope of a cure shattered in front of him.... wow, that is powerful. I get chills from it. Awesome scene.

That and Jack McGee thinking that he found the one who he was pursuing for years was a favorite scene of mine. I was still surprised that he pulled a gun on Dell.

Btw, I hear that around the end of the show, Jack was considering the possibility that David Banner was still alive. Could you elaborate on that detail?

[Russkafin]

Btw, I hear that around the end of the show, Jack was considering the possibility that David Banner was still alive. Could you elaborate on that detail?

Well, as Jon T said in an earlier post, Kenneth Johnson's original plan was to end the series with a big finale where McGee learned the secret, Banner went to trial for Elaina Marks' death, and Banner finally found a cure. The series was canceled before that could happen, and we got the three follow-up movies instead...

Oddly enough, in "The Incredible Hulk Returns," they never even make reference to the fact that McGee knew that an ordinary man ("John Doe" as he called him) transformed into the Hulk... and McGee didn't even come back for "Trial Of..." or "Death Of...". Shame.

But, I don't think there were any specific episodes where McGee believed Banner to be alive, with the exception of the third season episode "Broken Image," where Bill Bixby plays the dual role of Banner and a criminal named Mike Cassidy who happens to look just like Banner. McGee actually runs into Banner in this episode and finds out that he is still alive... but by the end of the episode he is led to believe that it was actually Mike Cassidy that he ran into and not Banner.

[Antiyonder]

Well, as Jon T said in an earlier post, Kenneth Johnson's original plan was to end the series with a big finale where McGee learned the secret, Banner went to trial for Elaina Marks' death, and Banner finally found a cure. The series was canceled before that could happen, and we got the three follow-up movies instead...

Oddly enough, in "The Incredible Hulk Returns," they never even make reference to the fact that McGee knew that an ordinary man ("John Doe" as he called him) transformed into the Hulk... and McGee didn't even come back for "Trial Of..." or "Death Of...". Shame.

Anyway, is there any detail that can be provided about script mentioned on an earlier post.

[Russkafin]

Anyway, is there any detail that can be provided about script mentioned on an earlier post.

Not yet, but I asked Brian Cronin of Comic Book Resources' "Urban Legends" column about it, and he said he will look into it. We'll see what he comes up with!

[Stu]

Here's further evidence about a possible She Hulk spin off.

Source. (http://www.incrediblehulktvseries.com/InterviewsAndArticles/Press11.html)


With Sunday's broadcast of "The Death of the Incredible Hulk" the green behemouth may have finally met his maker. But he's leaving a wide open field for comic book stars to fill.

Like, say, She-Hulk. Yes, Beauty and the Beast all in the same body.

A two-hour ABC movie pilot introducing that character begins shooting later this month--with Hulk star Bill Bixby expected to appear, to donate the tainted blood that sets this distaff version in motion.

Is this a sign that network programmers, who we all know are arrested adolescents, are flipping through comics for inspiration these days?


I knew they were planning an Iron Man back door pilot like they did with Thor and Daredevil. I believe I read somewhere that Iron Man would be featured in the movie which would resurrect the Hulk, but that might honestly be me misremembering.

I'm hoping to pick up some of the DVDs of the show when they drop down in price. I've only seen a handful of episodes but have enjoyed what I saw.

[Jon T]

Oddly enough, in "The Incredible Hulk Returns," they never even make reference to the fact that McGee knew that an ordinary man ("John Doe" as he called him) transformed into the Hulk... and McGee didn't even come back for "Trial Of..." or "Death Of...". Shame.

Funny, when I first saw The Incredible Hulk Returns, I hadn't yet seen beyond "Mystery Man", so to me nothing seemed out of place with McGee! Essentially, they reverted his character back to his season 1 persona, presumably to make it easier for viewers who didn't remember that he eventually found out that the Hulk transformed back into a man, "John Doe".

Back in the original series, there are a few episodes like "Mystery Man" and "Proof Positive" that delve more into McGee's character, and it's clear by then he was convinced that Banner knew the true secret of the Hulk, but took it to his 'grave'. His relationship with Banner/John Doe as the series went on grew to be quite interesting, and it is indeed a shame that they never made a proper conclusion to the series back in the day.

The later TV movies are fun, but they're not particularly true to the spirit of the series, plus the last two in particular do come off as being pretty cheap!

[Bones Justice]

Are the movies available on DVD? Or are they part of the season sets?

[Russkafin]

They are available on DVD. "The Incredible Hulk Returns" and "The Trial of the Incredible Hulk" are available together as a two-disc set, and "The Death of..." is sold separately. Evidently you can get them very cheap on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Incredible-Hulk-Returns-Trial/dp/B0000844JI/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1213541068&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Death-Incredible-Hulk-Lindsay-Bourne/dp/B00009ATIM/ref=pd_bxgy_d_text_b

[Dogbert]

Are the movies available on DVD? Or are they part of the season sets?The three follow up movies are released separately from the series, as they aren't owned by Universal. The movies made as pilots for the series, and those broken down into two part episodes, are part of the season sets. Essentially, if you want all the episodes & movies, you'll need these sets and only these sets:

The Incredible Hulk - The Complete First Season
The Incredible Hulk - The Complete Second Season
The Incredible Hulk - The Complete Third Season
The Incredible Hulk - The Complete Fourth Season
The Incredible Hulk - The Complete Fifth Season (So far no news on when or if this is coming out)
The Incredible Hulk Returns / The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (a two-in-one release)
The Death of the Incredible Hulk

Edit: Beat to the punch by Russkafin...

[Jay]

I enjoyed this show back then and i enjoy it now,the special effects weren't all that great but the drama was there thanks to bill bixby.

[stephane dumas]

my main regret is some of the unfilmed scripts for the tv series who wasn't filmed. One of them was "The trial of Jack McGee", the reporter McGee had been arrested for a crime he didn't commit and the only person who can prove his innocence is David Banner.

[wonderfly]

After setting up the DVR to record several episodes throughout the week, I sit down Friday night to start watching them. Only to find out they've all been erased!!! My dad, (whom my wife and I live with currently) thought he had accidently set it up to record every episode, (when he was just wanting to record one episode the other day) and he didn't realize I was recording most of the marathon. So he deleted them all!!! :crying::crying::crying:

And it doesn't help that it's probably going to be some time before Sci-Fi brings the show back on the air. Though why they only brought the show back for one week, is beyond me...c'mon, Sci-Fi, it's the Hulk's time to shine!!! Bring back the show!!!

[Wounded_Dragon]

SCIFI's very slash and burn with any shows they run during the day. About the only shows you can be sure will be around will be anything they own/produced/took over/currently running new episodes.

[Antiyonder]

Fould a couple unfilmed scripts:
http://www.incrediblehulktvseries.com/FanLounge/Unfilmed Scripts/UnfilmedScripts.html

Double Exposure and David Banner R.I.P.

[stwasm]

imdb.com reported that, two years after the show's cancellation, Bixby and Ferrigno would return in a movie with Nicholas Hammond's Spider-Man, which also ran on CBS. According to the plot, the two would team up and Banner would eventually find a cure for his affliction.