On this day in 1977, CBS aired Kenneth Johnson's first Incredible Hulk television
movie, which led to a five year, 82 episode weekly series. My thirteen year-old mind was blown... and I've never been quite
right since.
I picked one episode at random to watch recently (and now I've forgotten which one) and was very surprised to see it packed to the rafters with rather obviously gay characters. That seems pretty progressive for a late Seventies network show.
In this day of multi-million dollar superhero motion picture extravaganzas, it may be hard for some people to realize what a big deal the Incredible Hulk TV series was for fans in the 70s. It was the first successful dramatic, prime time adaptation of a comic book series since George Reeves' Superman of two decades earlier, and the first ever live action Marvel Comics adaptation. I grew up on 1960s Marvels, and to see a series based upon a Lee/Kirby creation was a dream come true. I recently watched the 2008 Hulk movie for the first time and was pleased to see Lou Ferrigno in a cameo role; an affectionate tribute to the man who was the Hulk to millions of viewers.
During the show’s production, a family friend gave me an intact styrofoam brick from one of Hulk’s break-away walls! I probably didn’t care about 95% of the show since I was only in it to see the Hulk, but my folks found the melodrama entertaining. Looking at it today, I see how well Bill Bixby sold it.
I remember when I was 7 or 8 years old in the late '70s, I would be at the newsstand reading comic books while my Mom did the grocery shopping. I would then get to pick out one comic book to buy for being "good" (It was easy; I was just reading the whole time). That's when I started collecting Hulk and other Marvel Comics. Imagine my amazement when I noticed this EXACT ad in the TV Guide! Around this same time, we also got the Spider-man and Captain America TV movies/shows. To a little kid familiar with comic book characters, it was like a dream come true. Back then, we kids had Star Wars movie/toys, the Six Million Dollar Man show/toys, Marvel Comics books/shows, Marvel (among others) Mego figures, Hot Wheels cars, John Berkey King Kong posters, etc., etc., etc. Man, we were both lucky and spoiled back then, it seems! Good Times!
Blew my mind as well! Thanks for noting this anniversary.
ReplyDeleteI picked one episode at random to watch recently (and now I've forgotten which one) and was very surprised to see it packed to the rafters with rather obviously gay characters. That seems pretty progressive for a late Seventies network show.
ReplyDeleteIn this day of multi-million dollar superhero motion picture extravaganzas, it may be hard for some people to realize what a big deal the Incredible Hulk TV series was for fans in the 70s. It was the first successful dramatic, prime time adaptation of a comic book series since George Reeves' Superman of two decades earlier, and the first ever live action Marvel Comics adaptation. I grew up on 1960s Marvels, and to see a series based upon a Lee/Kirby creation was a dream come true.
ReplyDeleteI recently watched the 2008 Hulk movie for the first time and was pleased to see Lou Ferrigno in a cameo role; an affectionate tribute to the man who was the Hulk to millions of viewers.
During the show’s production, a family friend gave me an intact styrofoam brick from one of Hulk’s break-away walls! I probably didn’t care about 95% of the show since I was only in it to see the Hulk, but my folks found the melodrama entertaining. Looking at it today, I see how well Bill Bixby sold it.
ReplyDeleteguest starring the delightful susan sullivan!
ReplyDeleteNow available on Blu-ray in the U.K.!
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was 7 or 8 years old in the late '70s, I would be at the newsstand reading comic books while my Mom did the grocery shopping. I would then get to pick out one comic book to buy for being "good" (It was easy; I was just reading the whole time). That's when I started collecting Hulk and other Marvel Comics. Imagine my amazement when I noticed this EXACT ad in the TV Guide! Around this same time, we also got the Spider-man and Captain America TV movies/shows. To a little kid familiar with comic book characters, it was like a dream come true.
ReplyDeleteBack then, we kids had Star Wars movie/toys, the Six Million Dollar Man show/toys, Marvel Comics books/shows, Marvel (among others) Mego figures, Hot Wheels cars, John Berkey King Kong posters, etc., etc., etc. Man, we were both lucky and spoiled back then, it seems! Good Times!