TV Guided: You Won't Like Me When I'm Angry!

Redartz:  What were you doing on Friday nights in 1978? If you're like many of us, you were tuning in CBS to watch "The Incredible Hulk". Marvel was attempting to invade the small screen, with "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "Incredible Hulk" both having TV movie pilots airing in the fall of 1977. The Hulk was popular enough in the ratings to justify a series starting in '78. The show starred Bill Bixby as David Banner (yes, Dr. Banner gets another name), Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk, and Jack Colvin as investigative reporter Jack McGee.

Martinex1:  I think the casting was inspired.  I think Bixby played the tormented introvert quite well.  And at the time, without CGI, Ferrigno made a good Hulk.  Who else could have played that role?  Schwarzenegger maybe.  There were some decent guest stars along the way also, like Mariette Hartley as a love interest for Banner, and Bradford Dillman as a hunter of men in the episode "The Snare"

Redartz:The show was a departure from the comic in more than just Banner's name. Hulk's four color supporting cast was nowhere to be seen. The Leader, Abomination and the rest of Hulk's rogues gallery were likewise absent. Yet the show was very enjoyable, focusing on David Banner and his quest for control of the Hulk (while trying to stay ahead of the reporter). Each week would find David meeting a new group of supporting characters, and becoming involved with their difficulties. Of course, when crunch time came, something always 'broke the straw on the camel's back' and the Hulk would appear. The Hulk would take matters into his own giant hands, generally eliminating the cast's problem one way or another. But the downside- David's secret was now at risk again, and he has to keep moving on. 

Martinex1: I really had hoped the Marvel prime time shows would have incorporated more of the villainy from the comics.  I just don't think they knew how to handle the over-the-top lunacy from the comics, so they geared the live-action shows toward the standard dramas or detective shows of the era.  The Hulk was more like a story of a hitchhiker making his way through various locations and acquaintances, even though he turned large and green for about seven minutes out of any episode.

Redartz: The show was essentially an anthology, with the Hulk/Banner the common focus for an ever-changing story. And it worked; Bixby's Banner was very sympathetic, earnest, concerned and helpful, yet always keeping a wall up (I wonder why?). Ferrigno's Hulk was kept fairly human, he never seemed too much the monster. And again, it worked. He sometimes reminded me a bit of Karloff's Frankenstein Monster, almost childlike and just looking to find a place. 

Martinex1:  I recently viewed the pilot for the series, and I was interested in the opening scenes and the revelation that Banner was married and lost his wife in a tragic accident.  The scene was somewhat hindered by the late 70s technology and style, but it reminded me greatly of the opening to the Pixar film Up and the interaction of that husband and wife.  This scene too was essentially wordless as the gentle interactions of the characters told the story.   It was interesting that the loss of his wife, pushed Banner to study the Gamma Rays and indulge in self-experimentation.  I liked that his powers were the result of guilt, loss, and failure. The early scenes with Ferrigno's Hulk were definitely reminiscent of the Frankenstein monster, especially in a scene where the Hulk interacts with a young girl at a lake.

Redartz: "Marvel's TV Sensation" was plastered over every issue of the Hulk's comics, which was only to be expected. Marvel hadn't had much television action since the 60's cartoon series. Now they had a bonafide hit, and were going to make the most of it. The show did run for several years, until 1982. It also lived on in syndication for many years after. Marvel, during this time, also had several episodes of "Amazing Spider-Man" and a Dr. Strange TV movie. These had notably less success than did the Hulk. But it was all good- our heroes were finally on TV. Another twenty years and they would be almost ubiquitous.

Martinex1: You mention the 60's cartoon, and I have to say despite its limited animation I enjoyed that series better than this attempt at live action Marvel.  It may be the times, but I found it too slow moving.  Bill Bixby was a fine actor and actually held the series together, but some episodes were paced so slowly with minutes after minutes of Banner walking along roads, into forests, and through towns.  Because he was a bit of a loner there often were long periods of silence (or silent actors with the moody Hulk instrumental theme playing).  It was not the most exciting television, when it really could have been. 

Redartz:  I agree, the 60's Marvel cartoons were quite enjoyable. The Marvel Super-Heroes show, and the Spider-Man and Fantastic Four programs, helped introduce me to the Marvel Universe at a young age. And you make a good point regarding the show's pacing. It was (especially for 70's television) often pretty slow. To me though, it just seemed to emphasize Banner's solitude. 

Martinex1:  In later years, special Incredible Hulk TV movies would appear.  Sometimes they would include Marvel guest stars like Daredevil and Thor.  But those characters were always somewhat askew and really not that recognizable as the four-color comic entities. 

Martinex1:  But the Hulk has made many appearances on the small screen other than the memorable CBS program.  I definitely prefer his animated antics and adventures.  Surely if you want to see  more of the Marvel comic book storylines, try these programs out: 

The Marvel Super-Heroes -The Incredible Hulk (1966): Grantray-Lawrence Animation produced this program as part of a wheel series - along with Cap, Namor, Thor, and Iron Man - using the comic book graphics and limited animated movement to recreate the original tales.  I particularly like the theme song:

Doc Bruce Banner,

Belted by Gamma Rays,

Turned into the Hulk!.

Ain't he unglamor-rays!

Wreckin' the town

With the power of a bull!

Ain't no monster clown.

Who is as lovable

As ever-lovin' Hulk? HULK! HULK!

I thoroughly enjoyed how they stretched "unglamorous" to somehow rhyme with "rays."  I'd give anything to see one of the Marvel Cinema Universe stars like Hawkeye teasing and humming this ditty to Banner.  This early series had everything from the Circus of Crime, to Tyranus, to Boomerang, and the Watcher. 

The Incredible Hulk (1982): The second animated series, a Marvel production, ran for 13 episodes on NBC.  It included characters like Betty Ross, Talbot (here Ned instead of Glenn), She-Hulk, and Rick Jones.  The Hulk fought villains like Quasimodo and the Puppet Master.

The Incredible Hulk (1996): This offering on UPN was even more faithful to the characters in its two seasons of 21 episodes.  Lou Ferrigno voiced the Hulk on this cartoon.  Characters such as the Leader, Doc Samson, the Gargoyle, Abomination, General Ross, and MODOK all made appearances.

An occasional episode of The Simpsons references the Hulk.  Homer once turned into the Ingestible Bulk,  And the 'real' Hulk fought in favor of St. Patrick's Day in a brief appearance.

Thanks for tuning in today!