Ferrigno deserves MORE credit for this role. Way more credit. Bixby deserves MORE credit as a television icon. Just as much as Dick Van Dyke, or John Ritter.
I don’t know if you know this, but Ferrigno is completely deaf and always has been since birth. So he definitely deserves MUCH more credit for the role because he performed so well even with being deaf. He has never let that slow him down or block him from getting roles he wanted.
@@CivilEngineerWroxton I don't mean to sound like a know it all, but Lou actually isn't deaf. He was extremely hard of hearing. In 2021 he got Cochlear implants, bringing his hearing to 90%. I only bring it up because it's a bit of a sore spot for him, and he would be the first to correct someone. Still, I see your point and agree 💯
Jack Colvin, who played Jack McGee in The Incredible Hulk Series and the First Reunion Movie, sadly passed away in 2005. May he and Bill Bixby Rest in Peace. To this day, Actor Brandon Cruz from the Courtship of Eddie's Father is still working on getting Bill Bixby a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
@jasontoddman7265 from what I have noticed there were a lot of westerns back in the 60's on TV. Like it was a thing for awhile. What's your opinion about that? Cause you were there.
My favorite episode is the one where Banner is so close to the cure, only for the second Hulk creature to destroy it. You could almost feel Banner's anguish thanks to Bill Bixby's superb acting.
Bixby was incredible in this role. His performance in the episode “The First: Part 2” in S4 is such a standout. You really empathize with his plight at the end.
Bill and Lou did well to mimick each other. Bill at the times when the anger would crack, and Lou when he'd meet someone who was hurt and in need of help, showing kindness and vulnerability
I grew up watching this show when it first aired. I own the entire series and the revival movies on DVD. The Incredible Hulk has always been my favourite Marvel character and to this day I stand by that this series offers the best interpretation of Banner and The Hulk. Bill Bixby was masterful as David Banner, he brought such heart and believability to the character and Lou Ferrigno brought excitement and thrills as the Hulk, while on certain occasions showing that the creature had a childlike innocence about him and gave some very moving performances like in the pilot or Married Part 2. Thank-you Minty for covering this show. Shows like this, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman and Wonder Woman were all a huge part of my and many other peoples childhoods back in the 70's. It was certainly a pleasant surprise to see this. Great job my friend!
As a kid, when I did something wrong and got punishment, my parents did not beat me. Instead they didn´t allow me to watch The Incredible Hulk that friday. And to make it worse, they put up the sound on the TV each time the Hulk roared. So I could hear it from my room.
The idea of Lou Ferigno making a cameo appearance as the Hulk in Marvel movies is GREAT but it would have to be in movie makeup and what is the chances of that happening with all the CGI in movies nowadays? Unless it is Lou pretending to be the Hulk eg in some kind of Super Hero spoof at Halloween.💚😡
I remember watching the show as a small child. It apparently made an impression on me because my dad remembered me picking up my Big Wheels above my head and throwing it across the yard and growling. I also remember Bixby being in my favorite Martian and I remember him doing a TV special about Elvis still being alive. I remember it being a two-part special.
I was born in 72 and I loved all the 70 and 80s shows..and yes I used to cry at the end of the show because he could never find anywhere to go plus that darn music😊
I stand by the fact that this is the greatest television show of all time (super hero, or otherwise). It had elements and themes that most dramas of that era weren’t even addressing. The concept of Dr. Banner being tortured by the raging beast within made for a returnable experience for the viewer. In a strange dynamic we were all hoping he’d find a cure but, selfishly, we wanted to continue to see justice served on the bad guys via The Hulk. The show may be dated in terms of clothing but the depth of the show remains. I’ve often said that if Disney/Marvel really wanted a hit tv show on Disney plus then they’d re-make this version of the character and it’s story arc. In 2023 it would be kinda hard with cameras everywhere for Banner to veil his true identity with a simple last name change. So, why not take a page out of the Joker playbook and set it in the 1980s, or 70s? A toned down cgi version of the Hulk to fit the grounded feel of the show, and finding a superb actor to play Banner. For comic enthusiasts who just can’t shake his name change, then change it back to Bruce. In the show it’s told to us that his middle name was Bruce and so they didn’t completely omit it. If the multiverse is such a popular thing right now, then why couldn’t this version live on? Everyone seems to hate on the camp of the 60s Batman tv series, yet it’s celebrated today (for good reason) with merchandise galore. Speaking of merchandise, why hasn’t this show gotten any love in that department? Every toy company in existence today is making so,e Batman 66 merch! Lou Ferrigno continues to be an ambassador for the Hulk character to this day. And, if we’re talking about pop culture influence then the phrase “don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry” I’d dare say has cemented more of a legacy for the Hulk character than most anything I can think of (my opinion). For people who’ve never watched it, look past the makeup woes and the wig (it does get better as seasons go on) and enjoy the dark and mature nature of the show as it’s interwoven with mystery, conflict, and action. Bill Bixby brought such intensity and complexity to the role. Binge watch the series and then tell me he’s not one of the greatest actors of all time! There’s a scene in season 4 two part episode entitled “The First” where Banner is so close to an actual cure, and the subsequent failure of that, and his response, still sends chills down my spine! Minty, great job in presenting, as always! By the way, Charles Napier also appeared in a couple of episodes of the Hulk, as well as the first revival TV movie. It’s a shame that we didn’t get a proper ending to the show with Banner standing trial for the death of Elaina Marks. Can you imagine David being cleared of all charges as Jack McGhee watches? The lonely man theme could have then been an upbeat, celebratory version as a closing narration of Banner expressing his distain for the years of having been the creature, while also seeing the glass as half full with the lives he helped to touch with his “curse”. Still, Death of the Hulk was a pretty decent movie.
A show like this could never happen today because the comics nerds wouldn't stand for it. Not because of the name (for the record "Bruce" was his middle name in the comics too. His first name was Robert). They would not accept a Banner-centric drama where the Hulk isn't smashing cities or fighting other comic book villains.
This is a great post. While I don't agree that this show was better than other dramas such as Breaking Bad, Hill Street Blues, or the more recent superhero show Daredevil, I would call it one of the most underrated shows in TV history. I bingewatched it with my nephew when he was a kid. He was reluctant due to it being so "old", but he ended up loving it and couldn't believe how good it was.
I totally agree with you in regard to everything that you said here. This show was so deep and emotional for me. During the years that it originally aired, I was in Junior High and High School and I was living in a VERY difficult set of circumstances and not-so-good treatment in my family household. I completely related to Mr. Banner and his “Curse”. I would actually weep a bit during some of the scenes and the music very much drove that because of the very aspects of it that Minty spoke of. I absolutely WOULD NOT miss any episode of the show each week and just couldn’t stand having to wait a whole week for the next one. I made sure my homework was done, my chores done, and that no one was going to bother me for any reason as the hour that the show aired approached. So then I could just lie on my bed and watch the show uninterrupted and in total quiet. I had a TV in my bedroom because I had worked many different odd jobs around the neighborhood over a year or so and I bought myself a brand new Philco 19” color television set. I prized that thing more than I prized my own health, just about. Anyway, so the Hulk show was the pivotal span of my youth that very much affected me. When the show ended I just couldn’t find any other show that did for me what the Hulk did. And those years later when Bill Bixby died, I was so terribly sad for quite a long time. I had watched Bill in so many of his roles and I thought the world of him. I just can’t believe that it’s been 30 years since he passed. That makes me feel so old and outdated. Minty didn’t mention the fact that Lou Ferrigno is completely deaf and has been all his life. Anyway, your comment very much aligned with my opinion of and analysis of the Hulk TV show. I really do miss such good television shows being made and broadcast. That was a very unique time in television history because of the changing culture in America as the 70’s ended and the 80’s became a very different time.
I'm replying before reading the other replies, so pardon me if I repeat something someone else said. There IS a "finale" movie, "The Death of the Incredible Hulk", which I can't find ANYWHERE. I know it exists, as I used to own it on VHS, and saw it on the television several times prior to buying it. I think it was taken out of circulation because of it's "finality". But yes, the series is DEFINITELY worth a watch. I was a kid when it aired, and I loved it back then, even though the stories were "adult" in nature. I am a living contradiction... I was into "adult" stories from a young age onward, yet despite that, I have remained as immature as you can get. Many shows of the time (1970s) took on "deep topics", while still keeping some humour and/or action involved that attracted younger audiences. Many of them/us saw these stories as "life lessons". I don't think this show would "work" these days, but not because of the changes to the character names, etc.... but because the viewing public just can't handle "long term storytelling" anymore. They want instant gratification, and LOTS of action. If I can make a comparison.... The Incredible Hulk is very similar to the Star Wars: Andor series..... in that it tells an overall story narrative that is kinda "dark" in its themes, but has enough "action" to keep many viewers interested. You just KNEW when David had those "bright eyes", that shit was about to get real, and very fast. The reason for the name change (and I paused the video early to look at the comments, so I don't know if Minty covered this yet) was because the name "Bruce" was considered "too gay" at the time. That's another thing about the series.... it IS a product of its time. For better or worse. "David" was considered both "more manly", yet also "an intelligent" sounding name. There may even be some "Biblical" connection, but I can't swear to that. But wasn't one of the Apostles named "David" (yeah, don't even get me started about "white" names in a Middle Eastern story...) But it was the 1970s, and Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno both brought their "A-Games" to the series. I own some of it on iTunes, because it IS still a connection to both my childhood, and still resonates with me to this day, some 40-odd years later. That's another thing... studios would want to CGI the Hulk, rather than find an actor who could fit the role. That would be a mistake. While Lou has probably gotten "too old" to play the role, IF it were to be "remade", or introduced into the Marvel Multiverse... SOMEONE that fits the build of the character should play it, and Lou should definitely get a cameo of some sort. I mean, he did in the series (aside from playing the Hulk itself). He played a character that was based on his real life, and that was awesome! His cameo could even be THAT same character, while someone younger plays the actual Hulk. Bill Bixby, may he rest in peace, did an incredible (pun intended) job playing David. And the "Lonely Man" ending theme is still in my playlists today. It's just that damned good!
I remember watching this on a Saturday night as a kid then, on Monday, all the kids at school would be talking about it and pretending to "Hulk out". Some fighting would ensue. Shows like this, The Six Million Dollar Man, Planet of the Apes, Logan's Run etc. were a fundamental part of our lives as kids back in the 70's. I still remember them fondly. Farewell Mr Bixby, you were loved by an entire generation of children.
Several generations; including Boomers like myself. For me not for just his role in the Incredible Hulk but also in the 1960s TV show My Favorite Martian. Bill Bixby was a top-notch actor who passed away way too soon.
I watched this as reruns as a kid, but mostly for the Lou Ferrigno of it all. But I've seen reruns on H&I and I will say, I appreciate Bill Bixby's interpretation of David Banner more. Him and Ferrigno had really good chemistry portraying both sides of Banner.
Who in the world would dislike Minty's videos? You do thorough research for your videos. Not many RUclipsrs do that! What's more is that you do even MORE thorough research and do "10 More Things You Didn't Know". Cheers from Texas, Minty! 🤠
I so loved those superhero tv shows. I started watching the live action Superman with George Reeves in the mid 70s. Then every superhero show from 70s-80s. Great times to be a GenX kid. Tyvm for bringing back some beloved memories.
My grandpa worked on the show and said it was a great crew, and Bill and Lou were always nice. Bill would joke around with him and my grandma between scenes and always had a good time, even on long shooting nights.
If only the current Marvel films had a tenth of the heart, care and respect of this 1970s show. Great memories. Great video. Well done Minty. Also, Lou Ferrigno making a cameo in the last Hulk film was excellent. “God bless you brother.”
Thanks Minty! This is the version of Hulk that always come to mind first. The two actors were perfectly casts in their Banner/Hulk roles. I loved this show when it originally aired.
When I was about 7 yrs old living in Tennessee, me and my mom briefly saw Lou in Chattanooga outside a restaurant still with a green coloring on his skin as if he had just been filming. I loved the show.
The Incredible Hulk is one of those television shows that will stand the test of time. I think one of the great appeals to the show was the realistic approach this show took to explore what would happen to someone who turned themselves into the Hulk. We have a scientist that was trying to explore the hidden strength that humans exhibit at times of great stress, and sadly in his eagerness to find the answer leads to an unpredictable accident that would forever change his life. The show realistically portrayed the aftermath of the accident gone awry. Think about it, this man if he got angry, even in his sleep, would transform into this creature of rage, where his primal instincts would take over leaving him with no memory of being the creature. Bill Bixby played the role brilliantly because he took it from the point that he feared what could possibly happen when he met a morphed into the creature. Instead of being celebrated as a Superhero he was cursed to become a loner while in search of a cure. Minty, one thing I would like to add, that if Bill Bixby had not passed away, the planned movie was going to have the Hulk speak and even toyed with the idea of introducing Banner as the Grey Hulk. Rumor had it that Spiderman was going to be introduced, and that Peter being a scientist in his own right was going to be helping Banner to find a cure and that Peter's experiments were leading to promising results that hint he would be able to help cure him, leaving the show on sense of optimism which would have been a great way to end the show. It's too bad we never got to see that movie produced.
In many episodes I felt sorry for banner to the hulk was more than a super hero show it had a lot of all of us in the show drama crime romance and everything else
While "Blacke's Magic" was good, that was Hal Linden and Harry Morgan (M*A*S*H*). Bill Bixby was "The Magician". He learned how to perform close-up magic for the series as well as the stage illusions, and kept up the practice until he passed away.
The original Hulk will always be the best, there should never of been other Hulk pro/movies made like the CGI's as it should of been left alone. theres only one Hulk and thats the original.
Just a few things I'd like to say. First, I grew up watching this show, and I almost teared up a few times watching this, both because of Minty's fantastic homage to the show, and because of how wonderfully Bill Bixby played his character. Second, I used to own on VHS at least one, if not two, of those 3 final movies that were mentioned, and I recall that I DID cry while watching the hulk die in that final movie. Third, Minty isn't joking about that theme song getting you in the feels. It always used to make me feel so sad for David Banner, and even hearing it again in this episode added to my nearly tearing up. This brought back a lot of memories for me. Thanks Minty.
I remember watching the reruns on the sci-fi channel I always liked the show even though it was not really close to the comics. I met Lou Ferigno years later at a Comic-Con in the early 2000s he seemed like a pretty cool guy.
If I could love this post I would!! This was one of my favorite shows and I still watch it online. Bill Bixby was the absolute best!! Thanks Minty for another wonderful episode and memories for me!! ❤❤❤
Some other things to point out from this series. One of them being that there were 3 people to physically appear as the Hulk in this series. You have Bill Bixby as Banner and Lou Ferrigno as Hulk respectively, but there was a third person by the name of Ric Drasin who played banner/hulk in half transformation in 2 episodes (Prometheus and Prometheus Part 2). His role is uncredited I believe due to not wanting the audiences to know that it was neither Bixby or Ferrigno playing the half transformed part, otherwise it would've broken the illusion of them being one in the same. If you're counting the 2 voice actors of the Hulk along with these 3 I have described, it would technically be 5 people. I don't really count the voice acting though in this case, but there were 3 different actors all playing the hulk at this time. Another fun fact, the idea of a She Hulk like character was brought up for the show. It was mentioned that David Banner would need to give a blood transfusion to his sister who is dying of a terminal illness and this would have sparked huge interest of someone else taking hulk blood. Of course, they never went with scripting or filming this type of episode. However, Marvel Comics picked up on this idea and created the She Hulk comic book story line in the 80s. So She-Hulk was originally going to be for the TV series, but never happened in that way. Would've been really cool to see if the made something like that compared to the She-Hulk we're getting now lol. That's all I'd like to point out regarding this series you may have missed
i remember watching this show every week with my dad. he drove a hulk colored van. we were such fans of the show we looked into having someone paint the hulk on the side of his van. Ferrigno did an amazing job and was a true trooper with what he went through on the show. the two of them were an incredible team.
I got Bill Bixby's and William Shatner's autograph (as a very young kid) while they were filming a episode of The Magician aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach. The episode was "The Illusion of the Queen's Gambit" Bill was the star of the show. Thanks for posting.
I served with the Army in Korea back in 1996 to '97. Most of my time, I was posted on Camp Stanley. No RUclips then. Watched a lot of movies on VHS and played Sega Genesis on my downtime. Thanks for your service.
My favorite TV show of all time. I've got all the episodes on DVD. I met Lou Ferrigno at the San Diego Comic-Con in 2007 and he is as big as you'd expect. Very nice, too. I told him that he used to scare me as The Hulk when I was a kid and he smirked a little. He knew he was perfect in the role.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has homaged or parodied the show twice. The first time, during the opening credits of the film The Incredible Hulk (2008), Bruce Banner's (Edward Norton) experiment which serves as his origin story as the Hulk is shown as the same as in the television series. The show's opening sequence is parodied in the Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022) during the episode "Whose Show Is This?". It is recreated to focus on Jennifer Walters / She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany), with Banner (Mark Ruffalo) also appearing in place of Jack McGee. Marvel Comics originally created She-Hulk to ensure CBS did not create female Hulk first and acquire the rights to the concept.
Both Hulk and The Incredible Hulk have cameos by Lou Ferrigno and in The Incredible Hulk an episode of The Courtship of Eddie's Father featuring Bill Bixby is shown..
LOVE this show! Thanks 4 this! (for personal reasons....i LOVE the drama as opposed to "Hulking" out moments) This is why I adore the "Hulk" film of 2008. The director was a HUGE fan of the tv series and even had Ferrigno do a guest-spot in the film....
I was 13 when the show premiered on TV and as a teenager I loved watching the show and never missed an episode. So happy when it went into syndication when I could catch it on the TV when I was older, relaxing on a day off of work.. It never disappointed me and the storylines were really well done. I think I like it, because it was done the old fashion way and no CGI is why the show was awesome. It's still one of those shows that I'll always remember watching. Are you sure it premiered in 1977?
The 1st Episode which is a TV movie called: The Incredible Hulk aired on November 4, 1977. That and the 2nd Pilot movie Episode titled: Death in the Family aired a couple weeks later that same year. So yes, the series technically started in 1977 with those 2 Pilot TV films. Many seem to neglect that fact and think the series started in 1978. The episodic portion is what started in March of 1978 and lasted through May of 1982
By far not only the best interpretation of the Hulk but the best interpretation of any comic book character ever! Classic and iconic show. Well done video BTW 👊
One of my all-time favorite shows! The excellent acting, great writing, makeup art, and the overall vibe of the show could never be beaten by all the CGI and over-the-top action that we get nowadays.
I loved the Incredible hulk as a kid back in the 80's and looked forward to it every Saturday tea time when here in the UK it was part of a double with the Hulk and the A-team !!! Ahhh the memories ....
That was very interesting about him wanting a red hulk then 30 years later one emerged in the comics. Another video Gem, Thanks Minty! Lou Ferrigno had a cameo in Edward Nortons Hulk movie as a security guard.
Bill Bixby has a very tragic life and perhaps why he was able to tap into the sadness of the character of David Banner. His 6 year old son died while on vacation and his wife committed suicide soon after. About a decade later, he was diagnosed with cancer and less than a year later his wife divorced him. He got remarried and died just 6 months later. I was never a comic book person and really did not care much for super heroes as a kid but i did watch this show because it was not like the typical super hero story. Even as a young child, you could relate to the struggles Dr. Banner was dealing with and hoped he could find a way to stop the pain.
As a kid I remember seeing Mr. Rogers Neighborhood he visited the set of the Incredible Hulk the interview Mr. Rogers did with Mr. Bixby & Lou was incredible
Great episode. The character aspect rather than just a showcase of power. It can be said that Hulk can represent mental illness struggles, especially maybe those returning from combat in Vietnam. Just a thought
This show and Thundarr the Barbarian were my absolute favorite shows as a kid! My mom and dad had a few rules during dinner: no hats, no tank-tops, and NO TV. The Incredible Hulk TV series was the ONE show they would let me eat downstairs and watch during dinner, since I loved it so much. Thanks for stoking some good memories for me, Minty!
An interesting note that a lot of people don't know is the scene where the Incredible Hulk flips the car down the ravine. The director never actually meant for Lou Ferrigno to pick up the car and roll it, only pretend to do so. However, Lou Ferrigno didn't understand this and actually picked the car up and rolled it. Enjoy that little known fact. By the way, I had to extreme pleasure and honor of meeting Lou Ferrigno at a Chicago Wizard World Comic Con in 2002, and he is every bit as awesome as you would think he would be. Edit: misspelled word
Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno were perfect in the part. Bixby is still my favourite Banner. One of my favourite television shows as well. Getting legit chills thinking about The Lonely Man song.
And I gotta give respect to that episode "The First" When Hulk faced another Hulk. Harry Townes and Dick Durock playing Dell Frye's Creature aka The Skinny Hulk 😂. That was one of my favorite episodes
Mine too. What Duroc lacked in bulk though he made up for in height; he was one tall guy at 6' 6". Also Prometheus, which was in the same season, where Banner gets stuck halfway transforming back. I'd heard at the time tat they'd planned to have other episodes where that happens to him, but those plans fell through apparently.
@jasontoddman7265 yea Prometheus is a great episode. Definitely like that halfway Demi-Hulk. I never knew they planned on doing it again back then. Would have loved to see that
@@KingMasynRules Me too. Overall that fourth season was imo the best one. Too bad it went downhill badly with the fifth season, which were all pretty much the same old potboilers.
@@KingMasynRules Well, presumably you mean back then in the early 1990s, as he'd be in his late 80s were he still alive *now.* But I agree he died all too young at age 59, and that it's a shame that further Hulk adventures were never made.
My wife and I watched all the seasons a few years back. Bill Bixby really was the heart of the show. As a kid, I couldn't wait for David to get angry and turn into the Hulk. As an adult, I was hoping for him to find a cure and finally get his life back.
Bill Bixby is an underrated actor. He appeared in several television series and was great in all of them. He was in "My Favorite Martian" where he showed comic genius; "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" where he revealed the warmth of a father/son relationship; and "The Magician" which was a fun action/mystery series, as well as "The Incredible Hulk" which Minty has covered very well. The series also touched on some very real issues, some of which bordered on melodrama, but there was an episode about child abuse that was very touching and garnered an Emmy nomination, if not a win. It was a very well-done television series, although the movies were too melodramatic (though I liked the introduction of Thor and Daredevil).
One thing most of the movies have never been able to capture was the buildup to Banner's transformation into the Hulk. The Eric Bana film and the Mark Ruffalo movies have the transformation be too sudden, but the series always had the buildup perfectly done. Something would happen that would put Banner in trouble, he'd start getting attacked or otherwise getting in danger, the situation would escalate and tension would rise and then we'd get the close-up of his eyes, which had turned green, at which point the action would pause and we'd see the transformation in slow motion. That was, to me, the best part of the show. The tension would reach its zenith at that point and that's when you knew shit was going to go down. The Incredible Hulk movie with Edward Norton was the only one that recaptured that and it will always hold a special place in my heart just for it.
I never realized that Bixby and Ferrigno made the effort to preserve kayfabe so as not to ruin the illusion for the audience. A display of respect for the fans that today's pro wrestlers could learn from, especially as this was done outside of wrestling and is more focused on the relationship between the audience and the performance.
The clip where the Hulk was fighting a different Hulk, the other Hulk was played by Dick Durock who also played Swamp Thing in two Swamp Thing movies and a TV series.
Loved the series! Better than any MCU movie or show I've seen to this day! I read that the reason Hulk didn't speak in the television series is because Lou Ferrigno's hearing impairment resulted into speech impairment and Lou didn't want hearing impaired children in the nation being mocked for "sounding like the Hulk." Makes sense to me! I also loved the darker, more mature tone of the series and how even my eight-year-old self could grasp the mature conflicts and dramatic scenes without it seeming like a soap opera. I preferred The Incredible Hulk over the Dukes Of Hazzard, Wonder Woman, The Amazing Spiderman and all the other Friday night network shows offered. I can still be engaged watching reruns of the show to this day without it seeming silly, dated or out of touch with society. Sure it's the late 1970s, but the plotlines were quite timeless. I had no idea that Richard Kiel or Ted Cassidy were even involved in the show and had no idea Cassidy voiced the awesome introdution narration. Great show, Minty!
As a kid the Incredible Hulk was my favorite T V show followed by the 6 million dollar Man, in fact I always wanted to see who would win if the Bionic Man went up against the Hulk!! A few years later I kinda got my wish -- remember The Fall Guy, starring Lee Majors there was an episode where Majors had a fight with Lou Ferrigno guest starring as the Hulk, anyways it was a short fight Hulk knocked up Majors, probably as quickly as Hulk would knock out the 6 Million Dollar Man !!! That's about as close to seeing 6 Million Dollar Man vs The Incredible Hulk we'll ever see , but would've been nice to see a real crossover episode, you know what would've been cool as well -- The Incredible Hulk making an appearance on an episode of The X - Files. 👍💪🤢
This is why I love your channel. I can either watch a video about something I wasn’t interested in, and hear interesting stuff about it. Or it’s like this, something I loved as a kid, know a lot about, and you still tell me new stuff, and have interesting takes on the bits I do know.
Ferrigno deserves MORE credit for this role. Way more credit.
Bixby deserves MORE credit as a television icon. Just as much as Dick Van Dyke, or John Ritter.
Mr. Ferrigno DOES show up in cameos; he pops up in the 2003 Hulk and 2008's Incredible Hulk. Both times he shows up as a security guard.
@@Lord_MuggsAnd don't forget, Lou also does the voice of the Hulk in the MCU
Lou is a legend
I don’t know if you know this, but Ferrigno is completely deaf and always has been since birth. So he definitely deserves MUCH more credit for the role because he performed so well even with being deaf. He has never let that slow him down or block him from getting roles he wanted.
@@CivilEngineerWroxton I don't mean to sound like a know it all, but Lou actually isn't deaf. He was extremely hard of hearing. In 2021 he got Cochlear implants, bringing his hearing to 90%. I only bring it up because it's a bit of a sore spot for him, and he would be the first to correct someone. Still, I see your point and agree 💯
Jack Colvin, who played Jack McGee in The Incredible Hulk Series and the First Reunion Movie, sadly passed away in 2005. May he and Bill Bixby Rest in Peace. To this day, Actor Brandon Cruz from the Courtship of Eddie's Father is still working on getting Bill Bixby a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Bill doesn't have a star yet?!!! WTF!
didnt brandon name his child bixby (i think as a middle name)?
@@mammyewok Yes, Brandon's son is Lincoln Bixby Cruz
As a kid in the early 80's, heaven was Friday nights watching The Hulk & Dukes back to back. Ah, those were the days!
I remember them days
To think Bixby introduced DD also there was IRONMAN, Keel went on to do Moonraker jaws.
Man my childhood was goated
As someone who could be your kid, I can imagine what you mean.
That would've been cool if there was a crossover Dukes of Hazzard meet The Incredible Hulk!!!👍💪🤢😎🤠
My childhood completely centered around Friday nights- The Incredible Hulk at 8:00 and of course The Dukes of Hazard at 9:00
Are you from the USA I can’t remember what nights the hulk was on I’m from the uk
Waiting for Banners eyes to turn green was exciting when I was a kid😊
I was born in 1970 and I swear the best TV shows were in the late 70's!!! I loved this show as a kid. Thank you for making this video.
70s kids rule! 😎
@@MrDman21 Damn Right!!!!!!
I was born in 1956 and I think the same of shows made in the 1960s, but those made in the 1970s were the best after that. 😁
@@MrDman21 70's kids do ROCK‼️‼️‼️
@jasontoddman7265 from what I have noticed there were a lot of westerns back in the 60's on TV. Like it was a thing for awhile. What's your opinion about that? Cause you were there.
My favorite episode is the one where Banner is so close to the cure, only for the second Hulk creature to destroy it. You could almost feel Banner's anguish thanks to Bill Bixby's superb acting.
What Bill Bixby used to draw upon that anguish was the death of his son who had passed on recently. Shortlely after, his ex wife commited suicide.
To this day I still watch the show and movies. Lou and Bill deserved way more credit for their work on this show. R.I.P. Bill Bixby
Bixby was incredible in this role. His performance in the episode “The First: Part 2” in S4 is such a standout. You really empathize with his plight at the end.
Agreed. Especially in the scene where Dell's creature destroyes davids cure.
@@MrPleers, heart wrenching. From what I understand, Mr. Bixby used the recent death of his son to draw his sadness for that scene.
@@stewartsmall5816 Yes. He had a lot of bad luck in life. But from what I did hear other actors tell about him. He seemed like a really nice guy.
R.I.P. Bill Bixby.
@rockylionheart884 yes he was the best.
Also RIP Ted Cassidy and Charles Napier 🙏🏽
@@MrDman21 them too.
It'll be 30 Years this November since his passing.
😭💪🏻🐺👍🏻Rip the O.G. Banner
Bill and Lou did well to mimick each other. Bill at the times when the anger would crack, and Lou when he'd meet someone who was hurt and in need of help, showing kindness and vulnerability
I loved that show. Best line of any show over the years was "Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry"
*cut to the lab exploding and dramatic music ramping up* *queue violins*
Awesome!
The Lonely Man closing theme was entirely composed in minor notes. That's why it's so powerful and perfect.
I grew up watching this show when it first aired. I own the entire series and the revival movies on DVD. The Incredible Hulk has always been my favourite Marvel character and to this day I stand by that this series offers the best interpretation of Banner and The Hulk. Bill Bixby was masterful as David Banner, he brought such heart and believability to the character and Lou Ferrigno brought excitement and thrills as the Hulk, while on certain occasions showing that the creature had a childlike innocence about him and gave some very moving performances like in the pilot or Married Part 2. Thank-you Minty for covering this show. Shows like this, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman and Wonder Woman were all a huge part of my and many other peoples childhoods back in the 70's. It was certainly a pleasant surprise to see this. Great job my friend!
Well said!❤
As a kid, when I did something wrong and got punishment, my parents did not beat me. Instead they didn´t allow me to watch The Incredible Hulk that friday. And to make it worse, they put up the sound on the TV each time the Hulk roared. So I could hear it from my room.
@@MrPleers I’d much rather get beat. 🤪
@@CivilEngineerWroxton I thought the same at that time.
I own them all too. Love dipping in from time to time. A fantastic series. Would be interested to hear what your favorite episodes were. 😊
I totally grew up watching this (I’m 49 now so I’m aging myself 😂) I would love to see Lou ferrigno make a cameo as the hulk in Deadpool 3 😂
Right up there close by at 44, and was in the same boat. Huge part of my childhood! :)
He did cameo in the Ed Norton Hulk movie as a security guard
The idea of Lou Ferigno making a cameo appearance as the Hulk in Marvel movies is GREAT but it would have to be in movie makeup and what is the chances of that happening with all the CGI in movies nowadays? Unless it is Lou pretending to be the Hulk eg in some kind of Super Hero spoof at Halloween.💚😡
Still have it on DVD,its great my childhood in a boxset.🤘😆🤘
I remember watching the show as a small child. It apparently made an impression on me because my dad remembered me picking up my Big Wheels above my head and throwing it across the yard and growling. I also remember Bixby being in my favorite Martian and I remember him doing a TV special about Elvis still being alive. I remember it being a two-part special.
Also The Courtship of Eddie's Father. 😉
That awesome sad ending credits song 😎👍
That song still tears me up 😢
@@Humongous420 👍
I was born in 72 and I loved all the 70 and 80s shows..and yes I used to cry at the end of the show because he could never find anywhere to go plus that darn music😊
I stand by the fact that this is the greatest television show of all time (super hero, or otherwise). It had elements and themes that most dramas of that era weren’t even addressing. The concept of Dr. Banner being tortured by the raging beast within made for a returnable experience for the viewer. In a strange dynamic we were all hoping he’d find a cure but, selfishly, we wanted to continue to see justice served on the bad guys via The Hulk.
The show may be dated in terms of clothing but the depth of the show remains. I’ve often said that if Disney/Marvel really wanted a hit tv show on Disney plus then they’d re-make this version of the character and it’s story arc. In 2023 it would be kinda hard with cameras everywhere for Banner to veil his true identity with a simple last name change. So, why not take a page out of the Joker playbook and set it in the 1980s, or 70s? A toned down cgi version of the Hulk to fit the grounded feel of the show, and finding a superb actor to play Banner.
For comic enthusiasts who just can’t shake his name change, then change it back to Bruce. In the show it’s told to us that his middle name was Bruce and so they didn’t completely omit it. If the multiverse is such a popular thing right now, then why couldn’t this version live on? Everyone seems to hate on the camp of the 60s Batman tv series, yet it’s celebrated today (for good reason) with merchandise galore.
Speaking of merchandise, why hasn’t this show gotten any love in that department? Every toy company in existence today is making so,e Batman 66 merch! Lou Ferrigno continues to be an ambassador for the Hulk character to this day. And, if we’re talking about pop culture influence then the phrase “don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry” I’d dare say has cemented more of a legacy for the Hulk character than most anything I can think of (my opinion).
For people who’ve never watched it, look past the makeup woes and the wig (it does get better as seasons go on) and enjoy the dark and mature nature of the show as it’s interwoven with mystery, conflict, and action. Bill Bixby brought such intensity and complexity to the role. Binge watch the series and then tell me he’s not one of the greatest actors of all time! There’s a scene in season 4 two part episode entitled “The First” where Banner is so close to an actual cure, and the subsequent failure of that, and his response, still sends chills down my spine!
Minty, great job in presenting, as always! By the way, Charles Napier also appeared in a couple of episodes of the Hulk, as well as the first revival TV movie. It’s a shame that we didn’t get a proper ending to the show with Banner standing trial for the death of Elaina Marks. Can you imagine David being cleared of all charges as Jack McGhee watches? The lonely man theme could have then been an upbeat, celebratory version as a closing narration of Banner expressing his distain for the years of having been the creature, while also seeing the glass as half full with the lives he helped to touch with his “curse”. Still, Death of the Hulk was a pretty decent movie.
A show like this could never happen today because the comics nerds wouldn't stand for it. Not because of the name (for the record "Bruce" was his middle name in the comics too. His first name was Robert). They would not accept a Banner-centric drama where the Hulk isn't smashing cities or fighting other comic book villains.
This is a great post. While I don't agree that this show was better than other dramas such as Breaking Bad, Hill Street Blues, or the more recent superhero show Daredevil, I would call it one of the most underrated shows in TV history. I bingewatched it with my nephew when he was a kid. He was reluctant due to it being so "old", but he ended up loving it and couldn't believe how good it was.
I totally agree with you in regard to everything that you said here. This show was so deep and emotional for me. During the years that it originally aired, I was in Junior High and High School and I was living in a VERY difficult set of circumstances and not-so-good treatment in my family household. I completely related to Mr. Banner and his “Curse”. I would actually weep a bit during some of the scenes and the music very much drove that because of the very aspects of it that Minty spoke of.
I absolutely WOULD NOT miss any episode of the show each week and just couldn’t stand having to wait a whole week for the next one. I made sure my homework was done, my chores done, and that no one was going to bother me for any reason as the hour that the show aired approached. So then I could just lie on my bed and watch the show uninterrupted and in total quiet.
I had a TV in my bedroom because I had worked many different odd jobs around the neighborhood over a year or so and I bought myself a brand new Philco 19” color television set. I prized that thing more than I prized my own health, just about.
Anyway, so the Hulk show was the pivotal span of my youth that very much affected me. When the show ended I just couldn’t find any other show that did for me what the Hulk did. And those years later when Bill Bixby died, I was so terribly sad for quite a long time. I had watched Bill in so many of his roles and I thought the world of him. I just can’t believe that it’s been 30 years since he passed. That makes me feel so old and outdated.
Minty didn’t mention the fact that Lou Ferrigno is completely deaf and has been all his life. Anyway, your comment very much aligned with my opinion of and analysis of the Hulk TV show. I really do miss such good television shows being made and broadcast. That was a very unique time in television history because of the changing culture in America as the 70’s ended and the 80’s became a very different time.
I'm replying before reading the other replies, so pardon me if I repeat something someone else said.
There IS a "finale" movie, "The Death of the Incredible Hulk", which I can't find ANYWHERE. I know it exists, as I used to own it on VHS, and saw it on the television several times prior to buying it.
I think it was taken out of circulation because of it's "finality". But yes, the series is DEFINITELY worth a watch. I was a kid when it aired, and I loved it back then, even though the stories were "adult" in nature.
I am a living contradiction... I was into "adult" stories from a young age onward, yet despite that, I have remained as immature as you can get.
Many shows of the time (1970s) took on "deep topics", while still keeping some humour and/or action involved that attracted younger audiences. Many of them/us saw these stories as "life lessons".
I don't think this show would "work" these days, but not because of the changes to the character names, etc.... but because the viewing public just can't handle "long term storytelling" anymore. They want instant gratification, and LOTS of action. If I can make a comparison.... The Incredible Hulk is very similar to the Star Wars: Andor series..... in that it tells an overall story narrative that is kinda "dark" in its themes, but has enough "action" to keep many viewers interested. You just KNEW when David had those "bright eyes", that shit was about to get real, and very fast.
The reason for the name change (and I paused the video early to look at the comments, so I don't know if Minty covered this yet) was because the name "Bruce" was considered "too gay" at the time. That's another thing about the series.... it IS a product of its time. For better or worse. "David" was considered both "more manly", yet also "an intelligent" sounding name. There may even be some "Biblical" connection, but I can't swear to that. But wasn't one of the Apostles named "David" (yeah, don't even get me started about "white" names in a Middle Eastern story...)
But it was the 1970s, and Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno both brought their "A-Games" to the series. I own some of it on iTunes, because it IS still a connection to both my childhood, and still resonates with me to this day, some 40-odd years later. That's another thing... studios would want to CGI the Hulk, rather than find an actor who could fit the role. That would be a mistake. While Lou has probably gotten "too old" to play the role, IF it were to be "remade", or introduced into the Marvel Multiverse... SOMEONE that fits the build of the character should play it, and Lou should definitely get a cameo of some sort. I mean, he did in the series (aside from playing the Hulk itself). He played a character that was based on his real life, and that was awesome! His cameo could even be THAT same character, while someone younger plays the actual Hulk. Bill Bixby, may he rest in peace, did an incredible (pun intended) job playing David. And the "Lonely Man" ending theme is still in my playlists today. It's just that damned good!
I wish Hollywood would take the same approach with a new show. It was an all time great to say the least.
I remember watching this on a Saturday night as a kid then, on Monday, all the kids at school would be talking about it and pretending to "Hulk out". Some fighting would ensue. Shows like this, The Six Million Dollar Man, Planet of the Apes, Logan's Run etc. were a fundamental part of our lives as kids back in the 70's. I still remember them fondly.
Farewell Mr Bixby, you were loved by an entire generation of children.
Several generations; including Boomers like myself. For me not for just his role in the Incredible Hulk but also in the 1960s TV show My Favorite Martian. Bill Bixby was a top-notch actor who passed away way too soon.
I watched this as reruns as a kid, but mostly for the Lou Ferrigno of it all. But I've seen reruns on H&I and I will say, I appreciate Bill Bixby's interpretation of David Banner more. Him and Ferrigno had really good chemistry portraying both sides of Banner.
I catched it in the mid 90s on Sci fy channel. Id watch this after mr rogers neighborhood on pbs. Oh boy do i miss those golden afternoons
Who in the world would dislike Minty's videos? You do thorough research for your videos. Not many RUclipsrs do that! What's more is that you do even MORE thorough research and do "10 More Things You Didn't Know".
Cheers from Texas, Minty! 🤠
I so loved those superhero tv shows. I started watching the live action Superman with George Reeves in the mid 70s. Then every superhero show from 70s-80s. Great times to be a GenX kid. Tyvm for bringing back some beloved memories.
My grandpa worked on the show and said it was a great crew, and Bill and Lou were always nice. Bill would joke around with him and my grandma between scenes and always had a good time, even on long shooting nights.
Lou was a roid raging republican! He would’ve been a trumpie today 😂
I watched the complete series on the Sci-fi Channel back in 2003 when HULK was in theaters. Loved it 😎
Bill Bixby was such a good actor
If only the current Marvel films had a tenth of the heart, care and respect of this 1970s show. Great memories. Great video. Well done Minty. Also, Lou Ferrigno making a cameo in the last Hulk film was excellent. “God bless you brother.”
He made a cameo in *both* solo Hulk films; playing a security guard in each.
Proof you don't have to be completely accurate to the source material to respect the source material
That show looks corny ass fuck. I’m sure it was great for its time but nobody would want this now. Gtfoh
Having grown up watching this show, it always left me feeling really sad at the end of each episode because of that lonely man walk.
This show is my childhood. Always remember the end of each episode with Banner walking down the road with the sad piano music 😢
This show was a huge part of my childhood - and between it & the original Superman movie - is what got me into Comic Books. :)
Thanks Minty! This is the version of Hulk that always come to mind first. The two actors were perfectly casts in their Banner/Hulk roles. I loved this show when it originally aired.
I used to LOVE this show as a kid! Thank you for doing a video on this show, Minty.
When I was about 7 yrs old living in Tennessee, me and my mom briefly saw Lou in Chattanooga outside a restaurant still with a green coloring on his skin as if he had just been filming. I loved the show.
The Incredible Hulk is one of those television shows that will stand the test of time. I think one of the great appeals to the show was the realistic approach this show took to explore what would happen to someone who turned themselves into the Hulk. We have a scientist that was trying to explore the hidden strength that humans exhibit at times of great stress, and sadly in his eagerness to find the answer leads to an unpredictable accident that would forever change his life. The show realistically portrayed the aftermath of the accident gone awry. Think about it, this man if he got angry, even in his sleep, would transform into this creature of rage, where his primal instincts would take over leaving him with no memory of being the creature. Bill Bixby played the role brilliantly because he took it from the point that he feared what could possibly happen when he met a morphed into the creature. Instead of being celebrated as a Superhero he was cursed to become a loner while in search of a cure. Minty, one thing I would like to add, that if Bill Bixby had not passed away, the planned movie was going to have the Hulk speak and even toyed with the idea of introducing Banner as the Grey Hulk. Rumor had it that Spiderman was going to be introduced, and that Peter being a scientist in his own right was going to be helping Banner to find a cure and that Peter's experiments were leading to promising results that hint he would be able to help cure him, leaving the show on sense of optimism which would have been a great way to end the show. It's too bad we never got to see that movie produced.
Rest in Peace Bill Bixby. Thanks to lou and you for making my childhood happy.
Such a great show!! I still watch this show 💚💚💚💚💚
“Hulk” and “Wonder Woman” were my favorite series of the end of the 70’s/early 80’s !!! 🤗♥️
Johnson said the character's name was alliterative. That was a dead giveaway for him that it was a comic book. So, he chose the name David.
I loved this show when I was a kid.
The ending theme music was so beautiful and melancholic.
Loved this show as a kid. Excellent writing, acting and action. But of course, always felt sad for Bill Bixby at the end
In many episodes I felt sorry for banner to the hulk was more than a super hero show it had a lot of all of us in the show drama crime romance and everything else
Thank you for doing this tribute. It didn’t need CGI to hold our attention. Everything was just brilliant.
I loved this series along wt Black's Magic and The Courtship of Eddies Father.
While "Blacke's Magic" was good, that was Hal Linden and Harry Morgan (M*A*S*H*). Bill Bixby was "The Magician". He learned how to perform close-up magic for the series as well as the stage illusions, and kept up the practice until he passed away.
I've always preferred the Hulk as a real man rather than the CGI versions in recent years.
The original Hulk will always be the best, there should never of been other Hulk pro/movies made like the CGI's as it should of been left alone. theres only one Hulk and thats the original.
Just a few things I'd like to say.
First, I grew up watching this show, and I almost teared up a few times watching this, both because of Minty's fantastic homage to the show, and because of how wonderfully Bill Bixby played his character.
Second, I used to own on VHS at least one, if not two, of those 3 final movies that were mentioned, and I recall that I DID cry while watching the hulk die in that final movie.
Third, Minty isn't joking about that theme song getting you in the feels. It always used to make me feel so sad for David Banner, and even hearing it again in this episode added to my nearly tearing up.
This brought back a lot of memories for me. Thanks Minty.
I grew up watching this and I have never forgotten about it
Great video Minty! Speaking of 70's TV I would love to see 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman!
I remember watching the reruns on the sci-fi channel I always liked the show even though it was not really close to the comics. I met Lou Ferigno years later at a Comic-Con in the early 2000s he seemed like a pretty cool guy.
If I could love this post I would!! This was one of my favorite shows and I still watch it online. Bill Bixby was the absolute best!! Thanks Minty for another wonderful episode and memories for me!! ❤❤❤
Thank You Minty for covering The Hulk. This was my Friday night world in the late 70’s.
Will always be a great show 💚
I was a little kid back then but I remember this show. 👕
Some other things to point out from this series. One of them being that there were 3 people to physically appear as the Hulk in this series. You have Bill Bixby as Banner and Lou Ferrigno as Hulk respectively, but there was a third person by the name of Ric Drasin who played banner/hulk in half transformation in 2 episodes (Prometheus and Prometheus Part 2). His role is uncredited I believe due to not wanting the audiences to know that it was neither Bixby or Ferrigno playing the half transformed part, otherwise it would've broken the illusion of them being one in the same. If you're counting the 2 voice actors of the Hulk along with these 3 I have described, it would technically be 5 people. I don't really count the voice acting though in this case, but there were 3 different actors all playing the hulk at this time.
Another fun fact, the idea of a She Hulk like character was brought up for the show. It was mentioned that David Banner would need to give a blood transfusion to his sister who is dying of a terminal illness and this would have sparked huge interest of someone else taking hulk blood. Of course, they never went with scripting or filming this type of episode. However, Marvel Comics picked up on this idea and created the She Hulk comic book story line in the 80s. So She-Hulk was originally going to be for the TV series, but never happened in that way. Would've been really cool to see if the made something like that compared to the She-Hulk we're getting now lol.
That's all I'd like to point out regarding this series you may have missed
One of my favorites as a kid...the piano music at the end always made me feel sad for Dr. Banner.
i remember watching this show every week with my dad. he drove a hulk colored van. we were such fans of the show we looked into having someone paint the hulk on the side of his van. Ferrigno did an amazing job and was a true trooper with what he went through on the show. the two of them were an incredible team.
You should get a hulk sticker and place it on your current car. A sorta tribute to the show and dad.
I still get shook up watching episode 1 of the first when the dell fry hulk destroys the cure and bill crys that shit shouldve earned a oscar.
I loved this series!
I used to watch it all the time on the now defunct El Rey Network.
They spoofed the opening in an episode of Family Guy!
Bill Bixby will always be my favorite "Bruce" Banner.
Yep, theres only one Banner and that was Bill Bixby.
Speaking of Wonder Woman, Shazam and Greatest American Hero. 10 things for all of them.
I got Bill Bixby's and William Shatner's autograph (as a very young kid) while they were filming a episode of The Magician aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach. The episode was
"The Illusion of the Queen's Gambit" Bill was the star of the show. Thanks for posting.
Thanks Minty, love your video. As an Army Soldier alone without my family in Korea Minty got me through many a lonely Saturday.
Thank you for your service, fellow TIH fan! 👍💚
I served with the Army in Korea back in 1996 to '97. Most of my time, I was posted on Camp Stanley. No RUclips then. Watched a lot of movies on VHS and played Sega Genesis on my downtime. Thanks for your service.
My favorite TV show of all time. I've got all the episodes on DVD. I met Lou Ferrigno at the San Diego Comic-Con in 2007 and he is as big as you'd expect. Very nice, too. I told him that he used to scare me as The Hulk when I was a kid and he smirked a little. He knew he was perfect in the role.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has homaged or parodied the show twice. The first time, during the opening credits of the film The Incredible Hulk (2008), Bruce Banner's (Edward Norton) experiment which serves as his origin story as the Hulk is shown as the same as in the television series. The show's opening sequence is parodied in the Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022) during the episode "Whose Show Is This?". It is recreated to focus on Jennifer Walters / She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany), with Banner (Mark Ruffalo) also appearing in place of Jack McGee. Marvel Comics originally created She-Hulk to ensure CBS did not create female Hulk first and acquire the rights to the concept.
Both Hulk and The Incredible Hulk have cameos by Lou Ferrigno and in The Incredible Hulk an episode of The Courtship of Eddie's Father featuring Bill Bixby is shown..
LOVE this show! Thanks 4 this! (for personal reasons....i LOVE the drama as opposed to "Hulking" out moments) This is why I adore the "Hulk" film of 2008. The director was a HUGE fan of the tv series and even had Ferrigno do a guest-spot in the film....
I was 13 when the show premiered on TV and as a teenager I loved watching the show and never
missed an episode. So happy when it went into syndication when I could catch it on the TV when
I was older, relaxing on a day off of work.. It never disappointed me and the storylines were really well done.
I think I like it, because it was done the old fashion way and no CGI is why the show was awesome.
It's still one of those shows that I'll always remember watching. Are you sure it premiered in 1977?
The 1st Episode which is a TV movie called: The Incredible Hulk aired on November 4, 1977. That and the 2nd Pilot movie Episode titled: Death in the Family aired a couple weeks later that same year. So yes, the series technically started in 1977 with those 2 Pilot TV films. Many seem to neglect that fact and think the series started in 1978. The episodic portion is what started in March of 1978 and lasted through May of 1982
Hell yes!!!!
Looking forward to this one. About to binge my Hulk boxset. (1977-1982)
It was one of my favoirite shows when I was a kid.
The wandering David Banner reminds me of The original show "The Fugitive"
I agree; in fact I think the resemblance was not entirely coincidental.
By far not only the best interpretation of the Hulk but the best interpretation of any comic book character ever! Classic and iconic show. Well done video BTW 👊
One of my all-time favorite shows! The excellent acting, great writing, makeup art, and the overall vibe of the show could never be beaten by all the CGI and over-the-top action that we get nowadays.
💯
This Hulk could kick MCU's Hulks butt!!👍💪🤢
@@randybarnett2308 hell yeah!
Great job minty and I love the episode where David banner hulk's out on the phone both 😂 I can't stop laughing every time I remember that seen📜👈🤠🪓
The amount of times I cried as a kid when the show ended and he walked off with the lonely man playing
I loved the Incredible hulk as a kid back in the 80's and looked forward to it every Saturday tea time when here in the UK it was part of a double with the Hulk and the A-team !!! Ahhh the memories ....
I watched this with my grandparents when it was originally on. It was really the best super hero show made.
That was very interesting about him wanting a red hulk then 30 years later one emerged in the comics. Another video Gem, Thanks Minty!
Lou Ferrigno had a cameo in Edward Nortons Hulk movie as a security guard.
Bill Bixby has a very tragic life and perhaps why he was able to tap into the sadness of the character of David Banner. His 6 year old son died while on vacation and his wife committed suicide soon after. About a decade later, he was diagnosed with cancer and less than a year later his wife divorced him. He got remarried and died just 6 months later. I was never a comic book person and really did not care much for super heroes as a kid but i did watch this show because it was not like the typical super hero story. Even as a young child, you could relate to the struggles Dr. Banner was dealing with and hoped he could find a way to stop the pain.
LOVED Bill's quiet gentle interviews😇
One of the most influential tv series for body builders, ever.
This tv show was my fav in 70s and 80s rip bill bixby💚💪
Love the work Minty!
As a kid I remember seeing Mr. Rogers Neighborhood he visited the set of the Incredible Hulk the interview Mr. Rogers did with Mr. Bixby & Lou was incredible
Great episode. The character aspect rather than just a showcase of power. It can be said that Hulk can represent mental illness struggles, especially maybe those returning from combat in Vietnam. Just a thought
This show and Thundarr the Barbarian were my absolute favorite shows as a kid! My mom and dad had a few rules during dinner: no hats, no tank-tops, and NO TV. The Incredible Hulk TV series was the ONE show they would let me eat downstairs and watch during dinner, since I loved it so much. Thanks for stoking some good memories for me, Minty!
Somewhere there's a parallel universe where Richard Keil is the Hulk.
An interesting note that a lot of people don't know is the scene where the Incredible Hulk flips the car down the ravine. The director never actually meant for Lou Ferrigno to pick up the car and roll it, only pretend to do so. However, Lou Ferrigno didn't understand this and actually picked the car up and rolled it. Enjoy that little known fact.
By the way, I had to extreme pleasure and honor of meeting Lou Ferrigno at a Chicago Wizard World Comic Con in 2002, and he is every bit as awesome as you would think he would be.
Edit: misspelled word
There were many problems on set and was taking forever to shoot, so Lou got mad and just rolled the car himself.
Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno were perfect in the part. Bixby is still my favourite Banner. One of my favourite television shows as well. Getting legit chills thinking about The Lonely Man song.
And I gotta give respect to that episode "The First" When Hulk faced another Hulk. Harry Townes and Dick Durock playing Dell Frye's Creature aka The Skinny Hulk 😂. That was one of my favorite episodes
Mine too. What Duroc lacked in bulk though he made up for in height; he was one tall guy at 6' 6".
Also Prometheus, which was in the same season, where Banner gets stuck halfway transforming back. I'd heard at the time tat they'd planned to have other episodes where that happens to him, but those plans fell through apparently.
@jasontoddman7265 yea Prometheus is a great episode. Definitely like that halfway Demi-Hulk. I never knew they planned on doing it again back then. Would have loved to see that
@@KingMasynRules Me too. Overall that fourth season was imo the best one. Too bad it went downhill badly with the fifth season, which were all pretty much the same old potboilers.
@jasontoddman7265 I just wish Bill was alive and in good health to make that Revenge of The Incredible Hulk TV movie
@@KingMasynRules Well, presumably you mean back then in the early 1990s, as he'd be in his late 80s were he still alive *now.* But I agree he died all too young at age 59, and that it's a shame that further Hulk adventures were never made.
My favorite show as a kid. Bill and Lou projected a kind of decency that you could tell wasn’t purely acting. RIP Bill.
My wife and I watched all the seasons a few years back. Bill Bixby really was the heart of the show. As a kid, I couldn't wait for David to get angry and turn into the Hulk. As an adult, I was hoping for him to find a cure and finally get his life back.
I loved this show. Bill Bixby was my first crush ❤
minty,,, you just made me realize im getting old... great job as usual,, can you do battle star galactica ??
Bill Bixby is an underrated actor. He appeared in several television series and was great in all of them. He was in "My Favorite Martian" where he showed comic genius; "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" where he revealed the warmth of a father/son relationship; and "The Magician" which was a fun action/mystery series, as well as "The Incredible Hulk" which Minty has covered very well. The series also touched on some very real issues, some of which bordered on melodrama, but there was an episode about child abuse that was very touching and garnered an Emmy nomination, if not a win. It was a very well-done television series, although the movies were too melodramatic (though I liked the introduction of Thor and Daredevil).
One thing most of the movies have never been able to capture was the buildup to Banner's transformation into the Hulk. The Eric Bana film and the Mark Ruffalo movies have the transformation be too sudden, but the series always had the buildup perfectly done. Something would happen that would put Banner in trouble, he'd start getting attacked or otherwise getting in danger, the situation would escalate and tension would rise and then we'd get the close-up of his eyes, which had turned green, at which point the action would pause and we'd see the transformation in slow motion. That was, to me, the best part of the show. The tension would reach its zenith at that point and that's when you knew shit was going to go down. The Incredible Hulk movie with Edward Norton was the only one that recaptured that and it will always hold a special place in my heart just for it.
Heck yeah. The ripping shirt, the boots falling off.
Except for that transformation (In The Incredible Hulk movie) where Banner is on the bed in the laboratory. That one looked really amazing.
I’m 43, I remember as a kid being home from school sick and watching this show on tv.
I never realized that Bixby and Ferrigno made the effort to preserve kayfabe so as not to ruin the illusion for the audience. A display of respect for the fans that today's pro wrestlers could learn from, especially as this was done outside of wrestling and is more focused on the relationship between the audience and the performance.
Ferrigno
@@matthewblackwood4704 Fixed. Thanks.
Well done Minty! I loved the show. Thank you for the tribute!
Another outstanding video!!
The clip where the Hulk was fighting a different Hulk, the other Hulk was played by Dick Durock who also played Swamp Thing in two Swamp Thing movies and a TV series.
Loved the series! Better than any MCU movie or show I've seen to this day!
I read that the reason Hulk didn't speak in the television series is because Lou Ferrigno's hearing impairment resulted into speech impairment and Lou didn't want hearing impaired children in the nation being mocked for "sounding like the Hulk."
Makes sense to me!
I also loved the darker, more mature tone of the series and how even my eight-year-old self could grasp the mature conflicts and dramatic scenes without it seeming like a soap opera.
I preferred The Incredible Hulk over the Dukes Of Hazzard, Wonder Woman, The Amazing Spiderman and all the other Friday night network shows offered.
I can still be engaged watching reruns of the show to this day without it seeming silly, dated or out of touch with society. Sure it's the late 1970s, but the plotlines were quite timeless.
I had no idea that Richard Kiel or Ted Cassidy were even involved in the show and had no idea Cassidy voiced the awesome introdution narration.
Great show, Minty!
As a kid the Incredible Hulk was my favorite T V show followed by the 6 million dollar Man, in fact I always wanted to see who would win if the Bionic Man went up against the Hulk!! A few years later I kinda got my wish -- remember The Fall Guy, starring Lee Majors there was an episode where Majors had a fight with Lou Ferrigno guest starring as the Hulk, anyways it was a short fight Hulk knocked up Majors, probably as quickly as Hulk would knock out the 6 Million Dollar Man !!! That's about as close to seeing 6 Million Dollar Man vs The Incredible Hulk we'll ever see , but would've been nice to see a real crossover episode, you know what would've been cool as well -- The Incredible Hulk making an appearance on an episode of The X - Files. 👍💪🤢
Yeah, he had lost I think 80% of his hearing when he was younger but he can now speak a lot better thanks to a cochlear implant😊
Lou also voiced the hulk in the 1990s cartoon.
Excellent choice for a video, at least for me. This is the one my cousin and I watched reruns of, as kids in the 80s.
Bill Bixby RIP from this Tv series 📺
This is why I love your channel. I can either watch a video about something I wasn’t interested in, and hear interesting stuff about it. Or it’s like this, something I loved as a kid, know a lot about, and you still tell me new stuff, and have interesting takes on the bits I do know.
I loved this show as a kid, but I understand it better as an adult.