The Incredible Hulk (US TV series)

> *"Mr. McGee, don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."*
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***The Incredible Hulk*** is an American television series based on the Marvel Comics character The Hulk that first aired on the CBS television network.

In the TV series, Dr. David Banner, a widowed physician and scientist, who is presumed dead, travels across America under assumed names (his false surnames always begin with the letter "B", but he keeps his first name), and finds himself in positions where he helps others in need despite his terrible secret: in times of extreme anger or stress, he transforms into a huge, incredibly strong green creature, who has been named "The Hulk". In his travels, Banner earns money by working temporary jobs while searching for a way to either control or cure his condition. All the while, he is obsessively pursued by a tabloid newspaper reporter, Jack McGee, who is convinced that the Hulk is a deadly menace whose exposure would enhance his career.

The series began with two, two-hour made-for-TV movies on November 4, 1977 and November 27, 1977. Regular one-hour episodes began on March 10, 1978 and ended on May 12, 1982. It was created by Kenneth Johnson, produced by CBS, and ran for 82 episodes.

After the series ended, the fate of David Banner was a cliffhanger until 1988. The filming rights were purchased from CBS by rival NBC. They produced three television films: The Incredible Hulk Returns (directed by Nicholas J. Corea), The Trial of the Incredible Hulk and The Death of the Incredible Hulk (both directed by Bill Bixby). Since its debut, The Incredible Hulk series has garnered a worldwide fan base.

### Plot

The Incredible Hulk follows the story of David Banner (played by Bill Bixby), a physician/scientist who, traumatised by the loss of his wife, douses himself with dangerously high levels of gamma radiation. He metamorphosizes into a giant, green hulk (Lou Ferrigno) whenever he becomes angry. The series chronicles Banner's attempts to find a cure for himself, as he is pursued across the United States by investigative newspaper reporter Jack McGee (Jack Colvin).

### Music

Joe Harnell, one of Kenneth Johnson's favourite composers, composed the music for The Incredible Hulk. He was brought into the production due to his involvement with the series The Bionic Woman, which Johnson had also created and produced. Some of the series' music was collected into an album titled The Incredible Hulk: Original Soundtrack Recording. The show's main theme, "The Lonely Man"—a sad, solo piano tune—is always heard during the closing credits—which usually shows Banner hitch-hiking.

Listen to the album on Deezer.

### Casting

For Kenneth Johnson, Bill Bixby was his first choice for of Dr. David Banner. Jack Colvin was cast as "Jack McGee", the cynical tabloid newspaper reporter—modelled after the character of Javert in Les Misérables.

Arnold Schwarzenegger auditioned for the role of the Hulk but was rejected due to his inadequate height, according to Johnson. Actor Richard Kiel was hired for the role. During filming, however, Kenneth Johnson's own son pointed out that Kiel's tall-but-under-developed physique did not resemble the Hulk's at all. Soon, Kiel was replaced with professional bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno, although a very brief shot of Kiel (as the Hulk) remains in the pilot. According to an interview with Kiel, who saw properly out of only one eye, he reacted badly to the contact lenses used for the role, and also found the green makeup difficult to remove, so he did not mind losing the part.

Initially the Hulk's facial make-up was quite monstrous, but after both pilots, the first two weekly episodes and New York location shooting for the fourth, the design was toned down. The makeup process used to transform Ferrigno into the Hulk took three hours. The hard contact lenses Ferrigno wore to simulate the Hulk's electric-green eyes had to be removed every 15 minutes because he found wearing them physically painful, and the green fright wig he wore as the Hulk was made of dyed yak hair.

The opening narration was provided by actor Ted Cassidy, who also provided the Hulk's voice-overs (mainly growls and roars) during the first two seasons. Cassidy died during production of season two in January 1979. The Hulk's vocalisations for the remainder of the series were provided by actor Charles Napier, who also made two guest-starring appearances in the series.

### Pilot (1977)

"The Incredible Hulk" was a two-hour pilot movie, which established the Hulk's origins, which is shown in two parts in syndication.

The film, and each episode in the series, begins with this narration by Ted Cassidy:

*"Dr. David Banner—physician, scientist...searching for a way to tap into the hidden strengths that all humans have. Then an accidental overdose of gamma radiation alters his body chemistry.*

*And now, when David Banner grows angry or outraged, a startling metamorphosis occurs. The creature is driven by rage and pursued by an investigative reporter.*

*The creature is wanted for a murder he didn't commit. David Banner is believed to be dead. And he must let the world think that he is dead, until he can find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him."*

An accidental overdose of gamma radiation creates a mutation in David Banner's (Bixby) DNA, and, whenever he becomes angry, it causes him to metamorphose into a seven-foot-tall, 330-pound, green hulking creature (Ferrigno). Tabloid newspaper reporter, Jack McGee (Colvin) begins investigating claims of a giant creature; his investigation leads to the laboratory that Banner was using. An explosion in the lab kills Banner's associate and friend Dr. Elaina Marks (Susan Sullivan); McGee, who dubs the creature "the Hulk", believes it killed David too. Unable to explain the truth, nor control his transformations, David leaves to try to find a cure for himself.

First aired November 4, 1977 (US) and May 26, 1978 (UK, as a two-part story).

### Second TV movie (1977)

"The Return of the Incredible Hulk" was a two-hour TV movie, which is shown in two parts in syndication. When aired as part of the regular TV series, the story was renamed "Death in the Family".

For this movie, the opening narration by Ted Cassidy is different:

*"Dr. David Banner—physician, scientist...searching for a way to tap into the hidden strengths that all humans have. Then an accidental overdose of gamma radiation interacts with his unique body chemistry. And now, when David Banner grows angry or outraged, a startling metamorphosis occurs. The creature is driven by rage and pursued by an investigative reporter.*

*An accidental explosion took the life of a fellow scientist—and supposedly David Banner as well. The reporter thinks the creature was responsible.*

*A murder which David Banner can never prove he or the creature didn't commit. So he must let the world go on thinking that he, too, is dead, until he can find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him."*

David continues on the run from Jack McGee and the authorities, with everyone believing that he was killed along with Elaina. Still trying to find a cure, David 'Benton' accidentally finds himself in the middle of a plot to kill a young, crippled girl named Julie Griffith (Laurie Prange) so her unscrupulous family can inherit the fortune. He manages to save her life and provide her with help so that she can walk again.

First aired November 27, 1977 (US) and June 10, 1978 (UK, as the two-part "Death in the Family").

### Series (1978-1982)

The episode "Final Round" first aired on CBS on March 10, 1978, and, in the UK on June 24, 1978. Guest stars on the show include Martin Kove, Jeremy Brett, Loni Anderson, Andrew Robinson, Mariette Hartley, Lance LeGault, Mako, Pat Morita, Dana Elcar, Ernie Hudson, Rick Springfield, Kim Cattrall, Whit Bissell, June Allyson, Charles Napier, Diana Muldaur, Bradford Dillman, and Anne Lockhart.

### Television movies (1988-1990)

After the cancellation of the television series in 1982, three television movies were produced with Bixby and Ferrigno reprising their roles. Bill Bixby directed all three.

#### The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988)

It has been two years since his last transformation and David 'Banyon' has developed a new gamma transponder at the Joshua-Lambert institute that he hopes will cure him of his inner monster forever. But when a former student unearths the frozen tomb of an ancient Norse God the Mighty Thor (Eric Kramer) is unleashed upon 20th century society. Can the Hulk end the rampage of this mead-crazed barbarian, or will the two raging beasts become allies to save both the transponder and the woman Banner loves?

This television movie acted as a backdoor pilot for an unproduced television series featuring Thor, another Marvel Comics character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name. Much like the television treatment of the Hulk, Thor's backstory has been altered from his original comic book appearance: while in the comics Donald Blake and Thor shared the same body and could transform by use of an enchanted cane, Thor is here depicted as being a servant of Blake and they are two separate entities, though he is still depicted as having been banished on Earth by Odin for being an arrogant and irresponsible warrior. His status as the "god of thunder" is ambiguous (though he does once claim to be the "son of Odin"), his powers are heavily limited and his hammer is not restricted by the "worthiness enchantment".

#### The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989)

While trying to stop a subway mugging, David 'Belson' is arrested for assault and is defended by blind attorney Matt Murdock (Rex Smith). But when the Hulk goes berserk and breaks out of jail, Murdock reveals his own secret to Banner: Blinded by toxic radiation, he stalks the night as the super-sensory acrobatic crimefighter Daredevil. Can two men with uncommon power now join forces to defeat an international crime syndicate led by Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin (John Rhys-Davies)?

As was the case with The Incredible Hulk Returns, this television movie also acted as a backdoor television pilot for a Daredevil series (which was not produced).

This movie was the first live-action Marvel film or television project to feature a cameo appearance from famed creator Stan Lee, as the jury foreman in Banner's imagined trial. During this scene the Hulk also wears his signature purple pants, the first time the Bixby/Ferrigno Hulk did so.

Viewers were less enthusiastic about it than The Incredible Hulk Returns. The most common criticisms were the absence of the Hulk himself from the final act and the misleading title (the "trial" only takes place in a dream sequence).

#### The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990)

Desperately trying to rid himself of his monster-like alter ego once and for all, janitor David 'Bellamy' sneaks into a government research lab run by Dr. Ronald Pratt hoping to find a solution. When Pratt discovers David's plight, he offers to help, but a beautiful spy who's out to steal Pratt's research for terrorists forces Banner to choose between love and loyalty, good and evil, and ultimately, life and death.

This third post-Hulk-series telefilm was initially announced to feature the Marvel Comics character She-Hulk, just as the previous two had featured Thor and Daredevil. As of early July 1989, it was still firmly expected to do so, and to air that autumn, with Iron Man under consideration for a follow-up.

### Revenge of the Incredible Hulk

Despite the apparent death of the Hulk in the 1990 film, another Hulk television movie was planned, Revenge of the Incredible Hulk. It was rumoured that in this film the Hulk would be able to talk after being revived with Banner's mind, and that it was abandoned due to Bill Bixby's death of cancer in November 1993, but Gerald Di Pego (writer/executive producer of The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, and The Death of the Incredible Hulk) revealed that the film was cancelled before Bixby's health began to decline, due to disappointing ratings for Death of, and that Banner was to have been revived without the ability to change into the Hulk at all, only reverting to (still non-speaking) Hulk form in the film's final act.