"The Incredible Hulk" (1978) TV series 1978-1982

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

10 March 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry

Plot:

A fugitive scientist has the curse of becoming a powerful green monster under extreme emotional stress.

Plot Keywords:

Stress | Green | Scientist | Incredible Hulk | Fugitive

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Lou Ferrigno	...	The Incredible Hulk / ... (82 episodes, 1978-1982)
Bill Bixby	...	Dr. David Bruce Banner / ... (81 episodes, 1978-1982)
Jack Colvin	...	Jack McGee (56 episodes, 1978-1981)

Runtime:

60 min (87 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG | Australia:PG | Netherlands:6 (DVD rating) | Argentina:Atp | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Marvel Productions

Trivia:

In the comic book, the Hulk's alter ego is named Bruce Banner (although his full name is Robert Bruce Banner). For the show, however, the character was renamed David, in part because the name "Bruce" was considered too homosexual. A contributing factor was series producer Kenneth Johnson's dislike for alliterative names, which are typically used in comic books; Johnson decided that "David" (his son's name) was more solid.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Hulk breaks through a brick wall, (typically at the end of the show) the clothing that he wears changes between his approach to the wall, and to the view of him running down the alley, and this is repeated in several different episodes, which clearly looks like the same stock footage being re-used.

Quotes:

David Banner: Damn! Car, you're making me angry, now if you get me angry, you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna turn you into a tin sandwich!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Robot Chicken: In a DVD Factory (#4.4)" (2008)

Don't Make Me Angry...Or Else!

I did a review for the original pilot episode of this drama and I put down my thoughts about the Hulk and Banner as characters and how the themes in the original movie gave us things to think about. The series was the same.

The Hulk was a good family show. The late Bill Bixby did a wonderful job as Dr. Banner. Throughout the entire series I felt myself feeling really sorry for Banner like he was a close friend. Banner was a character who the audience could empathize with. He was a good man who travelled across the United States trying to avoid conflict for he knew that when he became the Hulk he was uncontrollable. He was pursued by ambitious reporter Jack McGee who wanted to capture the Hulk in order to become a star reporter.

Throughout the series Banner would encounter various characters who were having trouble in their lives. He would do his best to help but it would always fall to the Hulk to save the day. In a way I think this series was telling us that reason and diplomacy will only take us so far and that in the end it's down to strength to save the day.

Lou Ferrigno did a good job as the Hulk. There was an important lesson in this series;never judge anyone by what they look like. The Hulk was a good guy who always saved the day but as far as the likes of McGee were concerned the Hulk was a bad guy. In fact, McGee believed that the Hulk had killed Elaina Marks and David Banner in the original movie. So Banner did his best to avoid McGee for confrontation with him would reveal his secret.

The Hulk was in fact a good role model. He had the strength to do real damage to anyone or anything but he never killed throughout the series. On occasion he even saved the lives of bad guys who were trying to kill him. But still he was judged as a monster to be destroyed.

Philosophical thinking aside, the Hulk was a great action show. The Hulk did some amazing things throughout such as surviving a fall from a plane or tangling with a huge grizzly bear. He could not be hurt apart from the odd bullet he took.

The entire series was great. My personal favourite episodes were "The Hulk Breaks Las Vegas", "The Beast Within", "The Psychic", "The Snare" and "747."