It’s easy to forget, honestly. In a world where we get a massive, $200 million Marvel movie every six months, the 1970s feel like ancient history. Back then, there were no "universes." There was just a guy on a lonely road. The Incredible Hulk, which ran from 1977 to 1982, wasn't a superhero show in the way we think of them now. It was a tragedy. It was a fugitive drama. It was basically The Fugitive but with more green paint and less hair.
If you grew up watching Bill Bixby walk away to that depressing piano theme—"The Lonely Man"—you know exactly what I mean. That song haunted a generation. It wasn't about saving the world from aliens. It was about a man who just wanted to be normal but was cursed to become a monster every time he got a flat tire or someone pushed him too far. This original Hulk TV show didn't rely on digital trickery. It relied on sweat, torn shirts, and some of the most effective practical effects of the era.
The Massive Gamble of Kenneth Johnson
Kenneth Johnson, the guy who created the show, actually hated comics. He didn't want to make a "comic book" show. He famously wanted to change the Hulk's color to red because red is the color of anger, but Stan Lee shot that down. Stan won that battle, obviously. But Johnson won the war on the tone. He changed the lead character's name from Bruce Banner to David Banner. Why? He thought "Bruce" sounded too much like a stereotypical name associated with the gay community at the time, which is a weird bit of 70s trivia, but it shows how much he wanted to distance the show from its pulp origins.
He wanted a serious drama. He looked at Les Misérables. He looked at Frankenstein.
The result was something that felt surprisingly grounded. David Banner wasn't a billionaire. He didn't have a team. He was a drifter. He worked at car washes. He worked in fields. He used fake names like "David Brenner" or "David Blaine" (long before the magician) to stay under the radar of Jack McGee, the reporter from the National Register who was obsessed with proving the Hulk was a killer.
Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno: The Perfect Split
You can't talk about the original Hulk TV show without talking about the chemistry between two guys who almost never shared the screen together. Bill Bixby was an acting powerhouse. He brought this quiet, desperate dignity to David Banner. When David was in the middle of a transformation, Bixby made you feel the physical agony. He wasn't just "turning into a monster"—his body was failing him.
Then you had Lou Ferrigno.
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Lou wasn't just a bodybuilder; he was the personification of raw, unbridled power. Today, the Hulk is a CGI creation that can jump into space and punch gods. Ferrigno’s Hulk was different. He was tangible. When he threw a prop car, it had weight. When he growled (voiced, funnily enough, by Ted Cassidy and later Charles Napier, because Lou didn't do the voice), it felt like a wild animal. The show worked because of this duality. Bixby was the soul, and Ferrigno was the id.
Interestingly, Lou Ferrigno almost didn't get the part. Richard Kiel, the 7-foot-tall actor who played "Jaws" in the James Bond movies, was actually cast first. They even filmed scenes with him! But the producers realized Kiel wasn't "bulky" enough. He was tall, sure, but the Hulk needed muscles that looked like they were bursting out of his skin. So, they brought in the young Mr. Universe.
Breaking Down the Formula
Every episode followed a pretty strict pattern, but it worked.
- David arrives in a new town.
- David finds a job and meets someone in trouble (usually a single mom, an underdog athlete, or a kid).
- Someone bullies David or puts his new friend in danger.
- "Mr. McGee, don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
- The First Transformation: Usually happens around the 20-minute mark.
- The Second Transformation: The "Big Fight" at the end.
- David hitches a ride on the highway as the piano music plays.
It sounds repetitive. It was. But because Bixby was so good at making you care about the person David was helping, it felt fresh every week. It wasn't about the fight; it was about the sacrifice David made. He could never stay. If he stayed, McGee would find him. If he stayed, he might kill someone.
The Pilot Movie: A Masterclass in 70s Sci-Fi
If you haven't seen the pilot movie in a while, go back and watch it. It’s surprisingly dark. It starts with David Banner obsessed with the idea of why some people have "hysterical strength" during emergencies while others don't. He’s grieving the death of his wife in a car accident. He couldn't save her because he wasn't strong enough.
The gamma radiation experiment isn't an accident in the TV show—it’s a deliberate choice. He’s trying to tap into that hidden strength. He accidentally overdoses on the radiation because the equipment was recalibrated. The scene where he transforms for the first time in the rain, trying to change a tire, is still one of the best-directed sequences in television history. There’s no roar. Just the sound of the rain and the terrifying sight of a man growing out of his clothes.
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Why it Still Matters in 2026
We are currently in an era of "superhero fatigue." People are tired of the Multiverse. They are tired of needing to watch ten other movies to understand the one they are currently sitting in. The original Hulk TV show is the antidote to that. It’s a character study.
The show tackled things that were heavy for the time:
- Child abuse (the episode "A Child in Need" is still gut-wrenching).
- Drug addiction.
- Physical disabilities.
- Grief and PTSD.
It used the Hulk as a metaphor for the things we can't control. Everyone has a "Hulk" inside them—a temper, a secret, a trauma that they’re afraid will break out if they get too stressed. That is universal. It’s why the show was a hit in dozens of countries. You don't need to know Marvel lore to understand the pain of a man who can't go home.
The Practical Magic of the "Hulk-Out"
The transformation sequences were a blend of editing and practical effects that hold up better than you’d think. They used white contact lenses to show the change starting in the eyes. That's iconic. Then you'd see the "ripping" clothes—usually pre-cut shirts that were pulled by off-camera wires.
They also used "bladder effects" under a prosthetic "skin" to show muscles expanding. It looked gross. It looked organic. It looked real.
Lou Ferrigno would spend hours in the makeup chair. They used green greasepaint that would rub off on everything. If he leaned against a wall, that wall was now green. If he hugged a guest star, they were green. He was literally miserable most of the time—cold, covered in sticky paint, and wearing uncomfortable dentures. But that discomfort probably helped his performance. He looked genuinely pissed off because he probably was.
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The Jack McGee Factor
Jack Colvin played the antagonist, Jack McGee. He wasn't a "villain" in the traditional sense. He wasn't trying to take over the world. He was just a reporter looking for a headline. But his presence added a layer of constant tension. He represented the world's inability to understand David. To McGee, the Hulk was a "John Doe" monster. To the audience, he was the tragic hero.
This cat-and-mouse game sustained the series for five seasons. It eventually ended not with a bang, but with a series of TV movies in the late 80s (where we got to see the first live-action versions of Thor and Daredevil). But fans usually agree that the original series was the peak.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive back into the world of the original Hulk TV show, there are a few things you should know. The series is widely available on Blu-ray and 4K remasters now, and the jump in quality is massive. Seeing the 1970s film grain in high definition actually makes the show feel more like a gritty cinema piece.
- Watch the "Essential" Episodes: If you don't have time for all 80+ episodes, start with "The Pilot," "Married," (which won an Emmy), and "Prometheus."
- Check Out the Books: Kenneth Johnson wrote a novelization of the pilot that goes deeper into David's psychology. Also, look for The Incredible Hulk: A Visual History for behind-the-scenes photos of the makeup process.
- Look for the Cameos: Stan Lee famously had his first-ever Marvel cameo in the TV movie The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989), which spun off from this series.
- Appreciate the Score: Listen to Joe Harnell’s soundtrack. It’s one of the few TV scores from that era that relies on legitimate orchestral melancholy rather than funky 70s disco beats.
The legacy of David Banner isn't about how hard he could punch. It’s about the fact that he kept walking. Even when he lost everything—his wife, his career, his identity—he kept trying to do the right thing. That’s a hero. No cape required. Just a lot of purple pants and a very long road.
To truly appreciate the craftsmanship, find the episode "The Psychic." It features a guest performance by Brenda Vaccaro and shows exactly how the show balanced the "monster" elements with high-stakes human drama. It’s the perfect example of why this show survived the 70s and became a permanent part of pop culture history. Check your local streaming listings or physical media collections to track down the remastered versions for the best experience.