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( The Incredible Hulk (TV series))
The Incredible Hulk was an American television series based on the Marvel comic book character of the same name. Two TV movies aired on CBS in 1977, and the show followed, airing from 1978 to 1982. It starred Bill Bixby as Dr. David Bruce Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk. The concept was developed for television by Kenneth Johnson, who also developed the Alien Nation TV series. In early 1977, Frank Price, head of Universal Television, offered producer and writer Kenneth Johnson a deal to develop a TV show based on any of several characters they had licensed from the Marvel Comics library. Johnson turned down the offer at first, but then, while reading the Victor Hugo novel, Les Miserables, he became inspired and began working to develop the Hulk comic into a TV show. Johnson first changed the name of Dr. Bruce Banner to Dr. David Banner. This change was made, according to Johnson, because he did not want the series to be perceived as a comic book series, so he wanted to change what he felt was a staple of comic books, and Stan Lee's comics in particular, that major characters frequently had alliterative names. On the DVD commentary of the pilot of The Incredible Hulk, Johnson also says that it was a way to honor his late son David. However, according to Stan Lee, Universal changed the name because the name "Bruce Banner" sounded, in the eyes of the network, like a "gay character" name, and "David Banner" sounded better for the character. (However, "Bruce" was used as his middle name, as that was the case in the comics, except in the comics his first name is "Robert," not "David." "Bruce" is visible on the tombstone at the beginning of the series.) Moreover, he dropped the major supporting characters from the comic (e.g. Betty Ross, Rick Jones, Thunderbolt Ross, Doc Samson, and Glenn Talbot). And, rather than being exposed to gamma rays from an atomic explosion, this version of the character received his overdose in a more mundane laboratory accident for the sake of realism. Another significant modification to the character was changing him from a nuclear physicist to a medical researcher/physician. Also, though the comic-book Hulk speaks, more often than not but not always, in a kind of childlike pidgin English ("Hulk smash!"), the TV Hulk does not speak at all, but merely growls and roars. Finally, despite its Marvel Superheroes roots, fantasy and science fiction elements were kept to a minimum in the series. The majority of episodes had absolutely none except for the Hulk himself. For the role of Dr. David Banner, The producers originally considered Larry Hagman, of I Dream of Jeannie fame, to play Banner.[citation needed] However, Hagman won the part of J.R. Ewing on Dallas. Johnson cast veteran television actor Bill Bixby, the man Johnson himself viewed as his personal first choice. At first, Bixby hadn't wanted to do the series; after reading the script, he quickly signed on. Next, character actor Jack Colvin was cast as Jack McGee. Modeled after the character of Javert in Les Miserables, McGee was a tabloid reporter who relentlessly pursued the Hulk. The most daunting task, however, was finding someone to play the Hulk. Arnold Schwarzenegger auditioned, but was turned down due to his inadequate height.[citation needed] Actor Richard Kiel was hired for the role and production commenced on the pilot movie. However, during filming, Kenneth Johnson's own son pointed out that Kiel's tall but non-muscular physique (due to his excess bodyfat) did not resemble the build of the comic book Hulk. The Hulk had to be believable, strong, and scary. Soon, Kiel was dropped and bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno replaced him, though a very brief shot of Kiel as the character remained in the pilot (according to Johnson in his commentary on a DVD release). The origins of the Hulk in the TV series differ greatly from the original comic book. David Banner is a physician/scientist who has been traumatized by the loss of his wife in a fatal car accident and his guilt over his inability to save her from the burning wreckage. He begins to conduct research into strange phenomena in which human beings temporarily display superhuman levels of strength, trying to understand why others faced with a traumatic experience similar to his own were able to save themselves or their loved ones while he was not. He concludes that high levels of gamma radiation from sunspots are the cause. To prove the theory, he bombards his body with gamma radiation to see if he can endow himself with temporary superhuman strength.
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