http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=5310
INCREDIBLE HULK -- Season 1 Set (Finally!) This Summer
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AndyDursin
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INCREDIBLE HULK -- Season 1 Set (Finally!) This Summer
I enjoyed the "best of" compilation box, but that's no substitute for the whole series
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=5310
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=5310
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Eric Paddon
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This is Universal though, and a Season 1 announcement is as far from a guarantee of the whole series on DVD as you could ask for when it comes to them! (Just ask the fans of Night Gallery, Dragnet, Adam-12, McCloud, McMillan And Wife, Hardy Boys etc.)
Still, I guess it's good that a show that Universal abandoned as far as DVD goes three years ago is going to get some new life. The "Best Of" set was actually for me a good primer to the entire series, and since there would only be three items in a Season 1 set duplicated from previous releases (the first two pilot movies and the episode "747"), the "Best Of" set should be held on to until all seasons are released.
In going through the show, the one thing I did not like was that they never moved the storyline momentum forward, and by that, I mean Jack McGee should have figured out that Banner was alive and was the Hulk, but just couldn't prove it. The game of Banner ducking McGee and the two never running into each other really wore thin after awhile (not to mention McGee not realizing Banner wasn't dead).
Still, I guess it's good that a show that Universal abandoned as far as DVD goes three years ago is going to get some new life. The "Best Of" set was actually for me a good primer to the entire series, and since there would only be three items in a Season 1 set duplicated from previous releases (the first two pilot movies and the episode "747"), the "Best Of" set should be held on to until all seasons are released.
In going through the show, the one thing I did not like was that they never moved the storyline momentum forward, and by that, I mean Jack McGee should have figured out that Banner was alive and was the Hulk, but just couldn't prove it. The game of Banner ducking McGee and the two never running into each other really wore thin after awhile (not to mention McGee not realizing Banner wasn't dead).
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AndyDursin
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Eric Paddon
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I honestly don't know who to rate as worse when it comes to TV on DVD, Universal or Sony. Universal is bad enough with their lack of Season 2 releases for so many shows and their defective sets, but Sony has a pretty long trail of abandoned shows too, with "Barney Miller" the most notorious example (13 episodes of an abbreviated Season 1 only!).
Fox is getting much better in this department. Resuming "Mary Tyler Moore" after two plus years, and now titles they start they're bringing along now (the one exception being "Dynasty").
Fox is getting much better in this department. Resuming "Mary Tyler Moore" after two plus years, and now titles they start they're bringing along now (the one exception being "Dynasty").
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DavidBanner
IMHO, the 6 Disc set pretty much gives you the best of the series.
This new first season set will include the same Lou Ferrigno introduction and Kenny Johnson commentary as was on the original release of the pilot film and "Married". Kenny is trying to see if he can get the gag reel he made put on a later season of the series, if Universal gets that far. (I seem to recall Universal saying they were going to put out season sets of Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman, but those never happened...)
BTW, if Kenny had been allowed to do it, he would have completed the series at the end of the 5th season with another 2 hour ep he would have directed, in which Banner (my namesake) would be cured. Unfortunately, he ran into problems with the network executive above him, and the 5th season wound up simply being the few episodes he had shot during the 4th season and "banked" for the next year, and a bunch of repeats.
I pride myself on being one of only two people who has ever heard Kenny's commentary for "Prometheus", the only other episode of the Hulk that he directed after "Married"...
This new first season set will include the same Lou Ferrigno introduction and Kenny Johnson commentary as was on the original release of the pilot film and "Married". Kenny is trying to see if he can get the gag reel he made put on a later season of the series, if Universal gets that far. (I seem to recall Universal saying they were going to put out season sets of Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman, but those never happened...)
BTW, if Kenny had been allowed to do it, he would have completed the series at the end of the 5th season with another 2 hour ep he would have directed, in which Banner (my namesake) would be cured. Unfortunately, he ran into problems with the network executive above him, and the 5th season wound up simply being the few episodes he had shot during the 4th season and "banked" for the next year, and a bunch of repeats.
I pride myself on being one of only two people who has ever heard Kenny's commentary for "Prometheus", the only other episode of the Hulk that he directed after "Married"...
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Eric Paddon
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I keep hearing conflicting stories on this point, but did Kenny actually write a script that would have wrapped up the series? If he did, this would be something I'd love to see because just reading it would lend a proper sense of closure to the show that never happened.
While the Ultimate set was a great introductary primer to the series for me, there were a few episodes left out that should have been included such as the one where David sees his father, and also "Interview With The Hulk", the last episode in the series where David opens up about his past to someone.
While the Ultimate set was a great introductary primer to the series for me, there were a few episodes left out that should have been included such as the one where David sees his father, and also "Interview With The Hulk", the last episode in the series where David opens up about his past to someone.
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AndyDursin
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David,
Welcome aboard!
It's a shame Johnson didn't have anything to do with the TV-movies. I always hated how DEATH OF THE INCREDIBLE HULK went down...a terrible end to a story that deserved a more optimistic or at least dramatic ending. I think Banner, Bixby & Big Lou deserved better (though I assume that's how Bixby wanted it to end?).
Side question -- you wouldn't happen to have the Mr. Rogers footage when he visited the set of the Hulk? I've been looking for that show FOREVER, it really stuck in my mind as a kid!
Welcome aboard!
It's a shame Johnson didn't have anything to do with the TV-movies. I always hated how DEATH OF THE INCREDIBLE HULK went down...a terrible end to a story that deserved a more optimistic or at least dramatic ending. I think Banner, Bixby & Big Lou deserved better (though I assume that's how Bixby wanted it to end?).
Side question -- you wouldn't happen to have the Mr. Rogers footage when he visited the set of the Hulk? I've been looking for that show FOREVER, it really stuck in my mind as a kid!
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AndyDursin
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I should also mention that HULK box set offers one of the wackiest, most unintentionally funny episodes of the series -- DARK SIDE.
That show scared me as a kid, but as an adult, it's amazing that they let that kind of story end up on a show that was always pretty family-friendly.
Paul MacLean and I fell off the couch one night watching that about 10 years ago -- from Banner's flirting with the girl to when he WANTS to be beaten up in the disco ("you don't want to make me angry!"), to the awkwardly-shot cave people, that one ranks as a hysterical, demented masterpiece!
I still can't get over some of the dialogue, like when Banner steals the car from the girl's high school friend ("hey that's my car" and Banner's gleeful laugh as he drives off), or when he chews out the wandering dad for never giving his daughter the commitment she needs ("You're just a boy, Schulte, a boy in a man's body but she needs more than that. She needs commitment and that's what I'm going to give her....commitment!!").
Well worth every penny of that box set for me at least!
That show scared me as a kid, but as an adult, it's amazing that they let that kind of story end up on a show that was always pretty family-friendly.
Paul MacLean and I fell off the couch one night watching that about 10 years ago -- from Banner's flirting with the girl to when he WANTS to be beaten up in the disco ("you don't want to make me angry!"), to the awkwardly-shot cave people, that one ranks as a hysterical, demented masterpiece!
I still can't get over some of the dialogue, like when Banner steals the car from the girl's high school friend ("hey that's my car" and Banner's gleeful laugh as he drives off), or when he chews out the wandering dad for never giving his daughter the commitment she needs ("You're just a boy, Schulte, a boy in a man's body but she needs more than that. She needs commitment and that's what I'm going to give her....commitment!!").
Well worth every penny of that box set for me at least!
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Eric Paddon
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I so hated the TV movies (if you were going to have David "die" at the end, at least have Jack McGee there too!) that I felt compelled to write my own fanfic story wrapping up the series just so I could then watch the episodes with a clearer conscience about how things turned out.
Interesting that Universal chose to roll out Amazing Stories for the same release date as S1 of this. If they were really smart, they'd go for a sci-fi trifecta and finally release S2 of Night Gallery on the same day too (I fear alas, that Scott Skelton's bad-mouthing of the first season set, which wasn't that bad hurt that show's chances for subsequent releases).
Interesting that Universal chose to roll out Amazing Stories for the same release date as S1 of this. If they were really smart, they'd go for a sci-fi trifecta and finally release S2 of Night Gallery on the same day too (I fear alas, that Scott Skelton's bad-mouthing of the first season set, which wasn't that bad hurt that show's chances for subsequent releases).
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DavidBanner
Kenny never actually wrote the closing script. He proposed the episode to the aforementioned CBS exec who said he didn't want to spend any more money on the series. (Kenny was actually proposing doing maybe ten episodes total and making an abbreviated season, but allowing him to end the series in an appropriate way.)
There are always going to be eps that get left out in these collection sets, but I really think they got the overwhelming majority of the key ones: The second pilot, all the big two-parters (which have the biggest events of the series), and a few other odds and ends. And they at least had the decency NOT to inflict the episode "Half Nelson", which is about a short wrestler... (that's not a joke - it's a real episode. A real BAD one.)
I have never seen Mr. Rogers meeting the Hulk. I imagine getting roared at by a giant green man would not make for a beautiful day in anyone's neighborhood. On the other hand, I have seen the gag reel done for the Hulk, which is very silly. Most of it is repeated takes of actors flubbing lines, but you still get the occasionally inspired stuff. I don't know that this will actually get put on any DVD sets, but it would be a nice touch.
Kenny didn't like the TV movies either. If he had done anything, it would have likely been the wrap-up movie he had wanted to do in the first place, but by the time these were happening, I believe he was already starting to work on "Alien Nation". BTW, "The Death of the Hulk" was not supposed to be the end of the movies. The Hulk was supposed to be resurrected for another really bad TV movie called "The Revenge of the Incredible Hulk", but it wound up stalling into development hell, and before Bixby could get anywhere with it, he contracted cancer and died. Aside from the really appalling writing, directing and acting in the TV movies, I really missed Joe Harnell's music. Although they would use his "Lonely Man" theme for the very end of each movie, the movies really could have used the anger music and transformation sound effect from the series - those were always highlights of each episode.
Andy, you are right that "Dark Side" is really funny. But there are many many other gems like that in the set and in the series. Like the bad guy in "747" pushing David out of the plane and yelling "You're gonna land a lot sooner than the rest of us!" Or David driving a car while paralyzed in the episode "The Harder They Fall" and getting rear ended by a mean trucker who yells "You IDIOT!" while David begins Hulking out. Or David inexplicably sticking his hand into a newspaper press in "Stop The Presses". There are many more such moments. I actually made a list of these when I was bored once during the 1990s and I got up to over 100 different reasons they had devised to make David angry enough to Hulk out... But I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the show.
There are always going to be eps that get left out in these collection sets, but I really think they got the overwhelming majority of the key ones: The second pilot, all the big two-parters (which have the biggest events of the series), and a few other odds and ends. And they at least had the decency NOT to inflict the episode "Half Nelson", which is about a short wrestler... (that's not a joke - it's a real episode. A real BAD one.)
I have never seen Mr. Rogers meeting the Hulk. I imagine getting roared at by a giant green man would not make for a beautiful day in anyone's neighborhood. On the other hand, I have seen the gag reel done for the Hulk, which is very silly. Most of it is repeated takes of actors flubbing lines, but you still get the occasionally inspired stuff. I don't know that this will actually get put on any DVD sets, but it would be a nice touch.
Kenny didn't like the TV movies either. If he had done anything, it would have likely been the wrap-up movie he had wanted to do in the first place, but by the time these were happening, I believe he was already starting to work on "Alien Nation". BTW, "The Death of the Hulk" was not supposed to be the end of the movies. The Hulk was supposed to be resurrected for another really bad TV movie called "The Revenge of the Incredible Hulk", but it wound up stalling into development hell, and before Bixby could get anywhere with it, he contracted cancer and died. Aside from the really appalling writing, directing and acting in the TV movies, I really missed Joe Harnell's music. Although they would use his "Lonely Man" theme for the very end of each movie, the movies really could have used the anger music and transformation sound effect from the series - those were always highlights of each episode.
Andy, you are right that "Dark Side" is really funny. But there are many many other gems like that in the set and in the series. Like the bad guy in "747" pushing David out of the plane and yelling "You're gonna land a lot sooner than the rest of us!" Or David driving a car while paralyzed in the episode "The Harder They Fall" and getting rear ended by a mean trucker who yells "You IDIOT!" while David begins Hulking out. Or David inexplicably sticking his hand into a newspaper press in "Stop The Presses". There are many more such moments. I actually made a list of these when I was bored once during the 1990s and I got up to over 100 different reasons they had devised to make David angry enough to Hulk out... But I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the show.
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AndyDursin
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And I as well, David! The HULK was always one of my favorite series and I still hold in that regard. As an adult I do find amusement in the unintentional humor in those shows (747 is hilarious -- isn't it stock footage from one of the AIRPORT movies?), and just off the top of my head I can recall another memorable moment that sticks out in my mind (I believe it was in the episode where Banner is fighting for a child being abused -- isn't that the one where he flips over the railing outside the house, then turns into the Hulk after getting into a confrontation with the guy?). Either way I love it!DavidBanner wrote:Andy, you are right that "Dark Side" is really funny. But there are many many other gems like that in the set and in the series. Like the bad guy in "747" pushing David out of the plane and yelling "You're gonna land a lot sooner than the rest of us!" Or David driving a car while paralyzed in the episode "The Harder They Fall" and getting rear ended by a mean trucker who yells "You IDIOT!" while David begins Hulking out. Or David inexplicably sticking his hand into a newspaper press in "Stop The Presses". There are many more such moments. I actually made a list of these when I was bored once during the 1990s and I got up to over 100 different reasons they had devised to make David angry enough to Hulk out... But I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the show.
Are you related/good friends with Kenneth Johnson? I believe he gave a commentary somewhere about how he re-named the character after a "David" Banner (nephew or the son of a friend?) in tribute.
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Eric Paddon
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DavidBanner
I worked with Kenny on another television series three years ago, and I stay in touch with him. BTW, he recently told me he had launched a web page with a bunch of pictures of his various TV shows on it. I was actually able to give him my list of "Reasons to Make David Banner Angry", and he enjoyed it.
I was also able to work with Gerald McRaney, who guested on the show more than a couple of times. When he showed up on my show about 6 years ago, I couldn't resist asking him about the Hulk. My question: If you've found this really annoying guy who keeps asking too many questions and poking his nose into stuff, and you beat him up a whole bunch and then you throw him into a closet, and there's no other doors into the closet and no windows and nothing in the closet but him, and about 30 seconds later, a giant green monster comes out of the closet wearing the guy's clothes, WHY would you then say "Hey! Where'd that thing come from?" Both Kenny and McRaney had great answers to this that I hadn't expected...
Regarding the use of footage from big movies from the time, this was all over the Hulk and other series. The Hulk used stuff from any movie it could, including Spielberg's "Duel" for one episode.
I was also able to work with Gerald McRaney, who guested on the show more than a couple of times. When he showed up on my show about 6 years ago, I couldn't resist asking him about the Hulk. My question: If you've found this really annoying guy who keeps asking too many questions and poking his nose into stuff, and you beat him up a whole bunch and then you throw him into a closet, and there's no other doors into the closet and no windows and nothing in the closet but him, and about 30 seconds later, a giant green monster comes out of the closet wearing the guy's clothes, WHY would you then say "Hey! Where'd that thing come from?" Both Kenny and McRaney had great answers to this that I hadn't expected...
Regarding the use of footage from big movies from the time, this was all over the Hulk and other series. The Hulk used stuff from any movie it could, including Spielberg's "Duel" for one episode.
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Eric Paddon
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I'd love to know just what the response on that was! When you see that happen after awhile, you can't help but recall Cleavon Little in "Blazing Saddles," going "They are so DUMB!" 
I always regretted that Kenny didn't get a chance to continue with "V" as well, since I found the first miniseries to be quite effective. The second miniseries was a barely tolerable affair and the less said about the series the better!
I always regretted that Kenny didn't get a chance to continue with "V" as well, since I found the first miniseries to be quite effective. The second miniseries was a barely tolerable affair and the less said about the series the better!
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DavidBanner
Kenny's response was: Because of bad writing!
Mac's response was a bit more complex. Initially, he answered, "Because I'm a dummy!" But he qualified that by saying that the only other person who had ever asked him that question before was his son. When he was 8 years old.
BTW if you check on Kenny's website, you will see information about a sequel to "V" which he has been trying to launch for the past few years. This would be a direct sequel to the original miniseries, completely bypassing the "Final Battle" and the series that flopped back in 1984. We'll have to see if the fates permit him to make it...
Mac's response was a bit more complex. Initially, he answered, "Because I'm a dummy!" But he qualified that by saying that the only other person who had ever asked him that question before was his son. When he was 8 years old.
BTW if you check on Kenny's website, you will see information about a sequel to "V" which he has been trying to launch for the past few years. This would be a direct sequel to the original miniseries, completely bypassing the "Final Battle" and the series that flopped back in 1984. We'll have to see if the fates permit him to make it...