The Incredible Hulk: Why the Spin-Offs Failed

[@crym77]

I never knew I missed out on a Rex Smith Daredevil series. That would have been AMAZING.

[@dennisanderson3895]

It had promise, as offered within the Hulk TV-film.

[@Mongo_Only_Pawn]

I was at the Hollywood Christmas Parade in 1983. In those days, towards the end of the parade line, you could walk up to your favorite movie star and shake their hand. That night i shook hands with Lou Ferigno, William Shatner, and Ted McGinley. It was an awesome night.

[@TitularHeroine]

That IS awesome!!

[@ReachForTheSkyVideo]

Everyone makes fun of these, but if you were a Marvel comics fan back then THESE WERE ALL WE HAD and they will always hold a special place in my heart.

[@jasonmullinder]

MCU changed everything, back then Marvel fans got bullied, now "Marvel fans" are bullies

[@MaskedMan66]

And in many ways, they're truer to the spirit of the original comics.

[@AHalevonEric]

Cue the GIF of Steve Carell pointing and holding a drink

[@MaskedMan66]

@@AHalevonEric Why?

[@MaskedMan66]

@@AHalevonEric Make sense next time.

[@shaolinXtreme]

I remember watching the Hulk movie with Thor with my mother back in the day she really liked Hulk, she has passed now and I completely forgot about that movie,... watching this made me remember her and put a smile on my face, I wish I knew how lucky I was back then watching it with her.

[@barryallenflash1]

Ha! I did the same thing with my Grandpa. He wasn't into superhero stuff..comics, shows, etc, but I told him Bill Bixby was in it and he said-"oh, well maybe we can watch one episode." He was hooked! Always asking what time, day, etc. Those were great times we shared. He died in 1992, but it's the little things in life that make us remember our loved ones.....

[@jenniferthomas999]

Same hear. We watched the show together every week also.

[@dennisanderson3895]

Bless you and the mom memory!

[@shaolinXtreme]

@@dennisanderson3895 Thank you.. I appreciate that

[@defundhollyweird8675]

At least the TV version of Thor wore his helmet!

[@TESORO-b1x]

That was to protect his Asgardian noggin'.

[@MaskedMan66]

@@TESORO-b1x That's what it's always been for.

[@MaskedMan66]

And come right down to it, the Kramer Thor ends up more dignified than the Hemsworth Thor.

[@MGower4465]

But no beard. A Norseman who is clean-shaven?

[@MaskedMan66]

@@MGower4465 He had been clean-shaven in the comics since 1962.

[@redstreak9430]

10:18 fun fact, before it went mainstream, it was indeed implied the turtles belonged to none other than Matt Murdock himself and that was the same stuff that mutated them. Of course they rewrote it when they published the comics later

[@Eyembooks]

I really liked that version of Daredevil as a kid. John Rhys-Davies as Willson Fisk

[@PREGO1966]

I'm assuming you mean "You (as a kid) liked the movie". Your wording could be misinterpreted as "that version of Daredevil as a kid" and everyone knows Matt Murdock as played by Rex Mason was a grown attorney when he had the accident that would make him become Daredevil.

[@retroid7830]

@eyembooks so did I 💯 @prego1966 Based on the context of your comment, you incorrectly used assume in place of presume. 🥸

[@PREGO1966]

In this case, my friend 6 of one, half a dozen of the other

[@drbonesshow1]

@@PREGO1966 Rex Smith was a better Daredevil than Ben AssCrack.

[@PREGO1966]

​@@drbonesshow1I never saw the big screen Daredevil. Wanted to. My only experience with Ben Affleck was a PBS series he did as a kid 'The Voyage of The Mimi"

[@Supremmo]

I would’ve wanted to see a Hulk and Spider Man team up. I think that’s what the fans REALLY wanted to see.

[@BigAL68xyz]

From what I've heard, Bill Bixby and Nicholas Hammond both really wanted this to happen. But the network suits just couldn't agree and it never came together.

[@mserinquinn]

John Rhys-Davies as Kingpin is really wonderful casting, just needs a better look and script, but what a great actor for that role. Oh, what could have been

[@fluxcapacitor007]

Fun fact: The origin of the Ninja Turtles is based on Daredevil. Many things TMNT are. For example: The evil ninjas in TMNT are called "The Foot" in tribute to the Daredevil evil ninjas called "The Hand". Kevin and Peter (TMNT creators) are huge Daredevil and Frank Miller fans. :)

[@jakeblack212]

the Hulk was from the Colossal man Films

[@fluxcapacitor007]

@@jakeblack212 Stan Lee also claims he was inspired by Frankenstein's monster as well. Both he and the Hulk ultimately don't want to hurt anyone and just want to be left alone.

[@mikemesser4326]

I remember when TMNT first came out. I just thought "kiddie comics" and never bothered to collect them. Ah well...

[@matthewmarcinko9157]

Reportedly, there was a real effort at one point to get the Nicholas Hammond "Spider Man" show into a crossover with Bill Bixby's "The Incredible Hulk", but that too, went by the boards...

[@kyliethelittlecouragegirl94]

That would’ve been cool, definitely would’ve gave me a chance to watch it even if I don’t like that Spider-Man show. Tho granted I’ve seen worse Spidey shows. (Cough) Ultimate Spider-Man (Cough)

[@kyliethelittlecouragegirl94]

That would’ve been cool, definitely would’ve gave me a chance to watch it even if I don’t like that Spider-Man show. Tho granted I’ve seen worse Spidey shows. (Cough) Ultimate Spider-Man (Cough)

[@garretts874]

Steve Levitt, who played Donald Blake was in a movie called Hunk where he played a nerdy guy who transforms into a muscular man. Guess that was good practice for the Thor stuff!

[@MSG685]

That movie was on HBO alot. Always after 11.

[@VicRodMolCO]

Fond memories about those movies.

[@darkwoods1954]

The Hulk series always frustrated me that Hulk never fought anyone super powered or interesting. Just local bullies and thugs which quickly got boring. The movies finally gave me what I wanted. Hulk vs Thor. Daredevil and Kingpin. I loved how Thor was portrayed in the 80s movie too. Shame neither got their own series

[@atomicabe]

It's true, the original series never had any major foes for the Hulk. But there is a two-part episode called "The First" where Banner meets the original Hulk.

[@Akkatlah]

I remember the Hulk fighting a Ghost or a possesed house to save a kid

[@jeffbenjamin7186]

Speak for yourself, the only thing his battles lacked was not being so damn pg. He always threw them and never seriously harmed them lol.

[@Akkatlah]

@@jeffbenjamin7186 because the Hulk is actually an extension of David Banner and Banner is not a killer so the monster doesn't kill either.

[@jeffbenjamin7186]

@@Akkatlah Doesn’t mean he wouldn’t throw a punch or two ever lol. The hulk is a rage monster, it was said that some sort of agreement was made to keep violence to a minimum. So i’m pretty sure that’s the only real reason lol

[@villain5873]

8:21 that "Yep, Harry Hamlin." Line is hilarious, i had to pause the video until I stopped laughing.❤

[@atomicabe]

Thanks!!

[@EdHelms1]

Very enjoyable video, always like learning about these back door pilots. I used to watch The Incredible Hulk all the time on CBS, but don’t think I ever saw these movies. Great to see Lou Ferrigno show up recently in the miniseries The Offer playing the actor Lenny Montana who played Luca Brasi in The Godfather.

[@michaelparylak5649]

I knew that was a dream sequence as soon as the hulk started choking the lawyer. The Hulk don't do that kind of thing.🙂 Very good informative video 👍

[@timnoble1385]

I remember really enjoying the Hulk and Thor tv movie when I was a kid. My father really enjoyed the scene where Thor encounters the Jack McGee reporter character from the original TV series played to perfection by Jack Colvin. Such a fun scene.

[@dougvanminnen7537]

Yeah, and if I'm not mistaken that's the last time we ever see Jack McGee. because I don't remember seeing him after that.

[@doug2078]

I remember watching all the made for TV Hulk Movies !! Great Video !! 👍

[@RobertGoldman-o2p]

My only complaint about Death of the Hulk was that Magee wasn't in it to finally realize the Hulk didnt kill Banner in the lab explosion.

[@Andrewmasters-e3v]

Great video Atomic Abe Productions I totally enjoying watching your the first MCU shows

[@butchar2006]

Super premium content. Keep up the great work 💫

[@thomasbarlow5666]

Gabriella Reese as She Hulk would have been awesome

[@MrVariant]

Fun channel idea. Didn't know about Smallville and hulk doing these backdoor pilots. Makes sense when a show goes on long enough as some spinoffs work. 10:19 tmnt used the foot which was a parody of the hand from daredevil lol.

[@jons.6216]

The courtroom scene must have been a dream sequence because right off the bat I noticed how Hulk could hurl a whole witness stand railing at the wall of book shelves and not disturb a single one! Haha!

[@maxordman4100]

Very cool video and thank you for sharing this with us! The initial idea for each spinoff sounds fantastic and I l particularly liked the Daredevil series idea since it is very rare and unique. I definitely need to check out these stories myself someday in the future!

[@willisapril]

There was supposed to be a fourth and final movie called Revenge of The Incredible Hulk which would have aired in 1992 where the Hulk was going to speak and have Banner's brain and they were going to introduce Iron Man however Bixby was in poor health so it was scrapped.

[@chrisbeer4233]

I remember these well. To a 10 year old it was amazing Thor & Daredevil both appearing. These were our Marvel hero’s in the 80s.

[@starmnsixty1209]

While these may draw laughter today, for those of us who followed the xby/Ferrigno Hulk, they were a fan's delight in those days. Rex Smith did a fine Daredevil, and his costume was a little closer to the original 1960's version by a bit. Thought Eric Kramer's Thor was a blast as well; it's a crime the "suits" thought there was only room for one superhero on TV then. "Though I enjoyed John Wesley Shipp's "Flash" a great deal, too. Had She-Hulk shown up, I would've preferred Gabrielle Reese -- green! -- by far. Bittersweet thinking how the world's changed in so many other ways, and of what could have been...

[@villain5873]

4:42 "I am what I always will be, and I need to drink!"❤

[@MrMllx]

Thor, Chuds, Mummenschanz...this one's got it all!

[@barryallenflash1]

Great Video! As a kid in the 80's THIS was one of a few GREAT comic adaptations on TV, so yeah, we watched them, regardless if you were a Marvel OR DC fan. Yes, that's me to the left and YES, I'm a HUGE Flash fan! I met Lou at a couple comicons and yes, he's one of the coolest guys out there! He did a Q&A and basically told his life story...WOW! Anyway, it's shows like this that keeps the superhero shows on TV...today(2024)!

[@candidgamera]

It's not clear from the video if you already know, but Eastman and Laird intentionally cribbed Daredevil's origins for the Ninja Turtles. Hell, the Turtles comics originally implied in a copyright friendly way that it was the same truck.

[@godmagnus]

Cribbed? It was a straight up parody, basically. Foot instead of the Hand. And the teenage mutant part was a reference to the X-Men.

[@007JNR]

Ok so the black daredevil suit was way before its time and calling Kingpin Wilson Fisk was dope to me🤷🏾‍♂️

[@carlomacchiavello]

In the trial you can see ones of first StanLee cameo when David was judged and Stan is in the Jury. 😮

[@philipdefibaugh5683]

Many people forget that Disney wasn't the first movie studio to own Marvel, as New World Pictures owned Marvel beforehand.

[@jg41187]

Thank you for a positive fun video on some sentimental favorites!

[@mysticx0]

little known fact: the same barrel of toxic stuff that blinded daredevil went into the sewers and also created the ninja turtles. look it up.

[@charlesballard5251]

The CIA has known about it for years!!!!

[@Alejandroigarabide]

If the Thor spinoff had been a success, maybe Thor and Dr. Blake would have become separate characters in the comics or the MCU.

[@Maniac536]

Wow that was cool to see The Man and King cameos

[@ChyroneMcThunderschlong]

Well, it can never be, now. But, Dr. Strange, Spider-Man, the Hulk, Captain America, Daredevil, Nick Fury and even Banshee and Emma Frost all appeared on TV. Add the unreleased Fantastic Four movie, the never made SheHulk movie, you got a 1980s shared Marvel Televised Universe. There was a decent Capt America movie in 1990. Villains: Dr.Doom, an Italian Red Skull, Wilson Fisk, Hydra, Viper...great enemies that all appeared.

[@jeremyknight9980]

15:08 Whoa Whoa! She Hulk with gold skin and red hair?! and they thought green wasn't a pretty color?! I never knew that. It's kinda sad that they used the Hulk as a springboard to get other Marvel Super heroes their own shows, I think they could've worked well on their own.

[@idstealer000]

That multiverse idea would never fly, they could've used Nicholas Hammond as a Peter B. Parker type character in the Doctor Strange multiverse movie, but they didn't!

[@freddy8479]

As a kid watching The INCREDIBLE HULK TV SERIES, I often wondered if there could have been A CROSSOVER EPISODE(S), PART 1 AND 2) with THE WONDER WOMAN SERIES.

[@starmnsixty1209]

Oh! So many of us wished!!

[@b4tron]

Well for the death of the Hulk, Banner did say the damage had to be catastrophic. 1st being onboard a plane that explodes, then falling a great distance to the ground before your body can recover will do that.

[@AlexSpalex1]

Could you talk about the last two episodes of Green Acers. Both were failed city based sitcoms, since CBS was going through the "Rural Purge".

[@KevinGeeksOut]

yes, I need to see those!

[@theblueoctopus4494]

8:48 it's cool seeing the Hulk wearing purple pants like in the comics.

[@deanfranz]

I love how Netflix did "the Turk": "I'm Turk Barrett, baby. The door ain't been built yet that can hold me back!"

[@KevinMiller-xn5vu]

8:57. The guy Big Louie's choking looks like Ray Stevens.

[@edwardbloecher4563]

New to channel and thoroughly enjoying it!

[@thadevilzadvocate]

Didn't John rys Davies also voice kingpin in the animated series?

[@juanrobles4814]

Lou Ferigno also voiced the Hulk in the 90's cartoon.

[@samson7842]

The Trial Of The Incredible Hulk was actually pretty good for it’s time. The Thor back door pilot? Not so much.

[@adamkane7513]

That big blond actor has certainly played a _back door Man_ in some other films or TV shows.

[@guardiane]

I had no idea about any of these either. I knew of the Incredible Hulk 70's series but didn't know about the 80's movies and attempt at spin-off's. At least they tried, because had they not, then we might not have seen the amazing Marvel movies that came out several years later.

[@misterprickly]

I'd love to see them make an "Immortal HULK" mini series, starring Lou Ferrigno. The show could focus on the *body horror* and less on the hulk requiring a uber-jacked look. They could say that, without banner, the hulk has an altered look BUT is still just as much a threat.

[@knight2976able]

You know , one thing i mever understood was the the change to the donald blake/ thor . In the comics donald black with strike his cane on the ground becoming thor . Here he holds the hammer calling odin .i mean the whole interaction thing but still... It was weird

[@TheVampirePredator]

Stone Cold Steve Austin with a Ballpeen Hammer playing Thor? I’m in!

[@middleagenerd]

No

[@TheVampirePredator]

@@middleagenerd Yes

[@animespotbarbados82]

I thought in the death of the hulk it would work better if Black Widow was in it

[@GrymsArchive]

As someone who got to see Mummenschanz live back in the late 70s I hurt myself laughing.

[@GuyTheArtist]

I’m surprised you didn’t make a Thor Shazam comparison

[@NeoN-PeoN]

Oh wow. Thad Castle is an EXCELLENT choice for Aqua Man.

[@blossomfirefan123]

I liked that old daredevil too and him with hulk woulda been 🔥 fire

[@TitularHeroine]

Jasmine was a LOT like Black Widow. I was certain they were the same character. Loved these movies! Edit: typo

[@philipdefibaugh5683]

How much do you want to bet that the 1989 Daredevil black suit was inspired by the 89 black Batman suit.

[@atomicabe]

Seems very possible.

[@Fighting31406]

I remember watching the premier of Death of the Hulk as a little boy. Seems cheesy now but that death scene made me cry lol

[@mrbransformer4184]

Silver Sable was supposed to be in Death of Hulk.

[@paulsarnik8506]

I wonder how Rhys Davies career would have gone had the series gone long term. 🤓😎✌🏻

[@robgronotte1]

Good video, but you didn't mention that Captain America guested on some Incredible Hulk episodes - I assume that was in hopes of another TV series.

[@ApothecaryGrant]

I thought Daredevil had a chance because the character is interesting both as a civilian and a costumed crime fighter . Thor ? Nah .

[@PREGO1966]

This should be retitled. These 3 movies that aired in 1988, 1989 and 1990 were "sequel films" to the original series NOT "spin offs". The television world definition of a spin off is taking a character (or more) from a regular series and giving them their own series. It (a spin off) is NOT AND NEVER WAS a continuous of the original regular series which is what these 3 films were.

[@Guitarplayer724]

Thor and Daredevil were failed spinoffs of the Hulk movies.

[@PREGO1966]

@@Guitarplayer724 Thor and Daredevil appeared in the first 2 sequel films of the Hulk, but if anything they were "backdoor pilots for spin offs". However, the actual spin offs themselves DID NOT surface. QED the term is incorrect TV world speaking. The characters would make it to the big screen after the turn of the century.

[@STB-jh7od]

Spider-man VS Chud, the crossover we absolutely needed.

[@TruthnautBegins]

Strange how the MCU Thor seemed based on this one.

[@jonfowler7182]

Death of the Incredible Hulk featured a Russian female spy who was, essentially, Black Widow.

[@edwardwright2989]

He fought the old hulk once in a double episode. Also, they didn't have the budget or the special effects to have hulk fight other super heros as you suggest.

[@timelliott4117]

Your right the character is so much more diverse and complex today. In the day the entire character was up to Lou to sell. HULK concept was mean and green and good flexing without shitting him self. The to date hulk is something I choose not to consider and maybe it will go away. Lou and Arnold were such competitors I always thout it be great to see them go at it the Marvel world.

[@jondunmore4268]

4:05, 4:11 - I like the way that dork just nonchalantly keeps handing Thor his hammer.... so much for the mythology...

[@atomicabe]

ha ha, excellent point!

[@marionlawless]

Don't forget they almost teamed the Hulk and Spider-Man on Tv too

[@atomicabe]

I would've loved to see that. (Well, in theory)

[@dhenderson1810]

​@@atomicabeNicholas Hammond (who played "Spiderman) " said that in an interview

[@noelhernandez363]

An extra for the American ninja pt 4!! Turtle power!! 🤣🤣 HILARIOUS, dude!!!

[@kyliethelittlecouragegirl94]

This series was pretty good for the time! Although granted I’m assuming they didn’t have that big a budget due to not having the Hulk fight well known Hulk villains.

[@Sebas-i3c]

If Daredevil exists in Lou Ferrigno's Hulk universe, there must also be a version of the Punisher because as far as Daredevil has been, they have always faced him and I don't doubt that they haven't also included a more realistic version of Bullseye, it's a shame we never saw it. a daredevil show by rex smith

[@adamofgrayskull7735]

Your forgetting Captain America 1978

[@ScottyKirk1]

Yesssssss! That awesome freaking motorcycle I wanted as a toy! 😅 Loved how it launched out of the van like a rocket!

[@PaulGualtieri-m6v]

It was never a series. just 2 crappy TV movies.

[@RasAzriel]

Glad that you reference that daredevil was the inspiration of TMNT

[@amcaesar]

Kramer had a great turn in “True Romance.”

[@markelijio6012]

Eric A. Kramer also did well in the 1990 low-budget flick, "Madonna: A Case of Blind Ambition."

[@steevrawjers]

16:11 and maybe we can finally see Nicholas Hammond reprise his role as peter Parker / Spider-Man I have read that bill bixby and Nicholas Hammond wanted to do a crossover feature featuring The incredible Hulk and The amazing Spider-man Can you see into this and do some more vids. Thanks for a great documentary

[@das81]

I remember watching these two on Space around early 2000's.

[@edwardbloecher4563]

Kramer is also in American Wedding and TNT's Rough Riders

[@serenitynow85]

You unlocked a childhood memory in me with that Mummenschanz comment

[@lpdog82]

i love when actors and writers go on strike , entertainment gets BETTER hahaha

[@RealmMan]

There was a backdoor pilot in the original series as well. Oddly it starts as a sequel to an earlier episode with a San Fran dojo. In the BDP, David returns to that dojo and meets wounded cop Rick Springfield.

[@atomicabe]

Oh wow! And Rick Springfield also appeared on an episode of WONDER WOMAN. He's the DC/ Marvel cross-over element. Just like Hostess Fruit Pies.

[@adamkane7513]

I remember that. Rick Springfield also starred in the original pilot of *Forever Knight* AKA *Midnight Cop* as Nick Knight, the vampire cop who fights against evil and his own dark nature.

[@oldmanonyoutube]

I watched The Hulk TV series when it aired but missed the movies. If you didn't have a family member record these specials on the VCR you were just out of luck, with no way of telling when or if they would air again. I looked up what was on TV May 22, 1988 when The Incredible Hulk Returns aired at 8pm on NBC. It was The Gary Shandling Show on Fox, Baby M TV movie on ABC and My Father My Son TV movie on CBS. As a side note, The Tracey Ulman Show aired at 10pm so you could see shorts staring an early incarnation of The Simpsons.

[@jasonbryant1552]

Loved these TV movies as a kid. I remember that Thor was the guy John Goodman popped in the mouth on an episode of Roseanne, and used to watch Street Hawk with the guy who played Daredevil. Wish they would have had a hero for the Death Of The Incredible Hulk

[@MSG685]

Streethawk was great.

[@dennisanderson3895]

The TV adapts did the best they could, granting not merely the then-current social norms but also available FX. (In fact, they actually did pretty good!)

[@scottstallings5029]

Oh my God. I have never laughed 😅 so HARD!! THANK YOU ❤😊

[@phillips2683]

Sadly I was able to watch reruns in the 80's (I was D.J.ing in clubs) and missed this second series!!!

[@KevinMiller-xn5vu]

10:45. For a guy that's blind, Daredevil sure does a great job fighting the bad guy.

[@kennymik1509]

Cool video!!! Thanks!!!

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Can we go back to these days

[@fjccommish]

Why the bad background music throughout the video?

[@steevrawjers]

9:12 The real King and greatest creator and founder of the Marvel comics universe Jack Kirby

[@charleslennon1]

Wait, what about the quasi-Iron Fist episode season 2, episode 17 'The Disciple," during the series' original run with Rick Springfield, or season 2 episode 6, "Another Path," a rough version of Dare Devil's mentor "Stick" or season 2 episode 19 "Kindred Spirits" a quasi-Sasquach/Wendigo being similar to the character(s) in Alpha Flight comics or season 3 episode 18 "The Psychic" introduces mutants to the small screen or the backdoor quasi-SHIELD episode season 4 episode 1 and 2 "Prometheus" or the 1st iteration of Savage Hulk in season 4 episode 4 "Dark Side" and season 4 episode 5 "Deep Shock" we see aspects of the Hulk's precognitive abilities, separate from his comic book 'talents.' Then there is the two-parter "The First" in season 4, episodes 12 and 13. A reimagined version of Frankenstein monster and the comic character "The Abomination." Prometheus and The First are my favorite Sci-Fi episodes, and one more I didn't mention before. It's a two-part episode that is very tragic and brings Dr. Banner's sorrow to bear. Season 1 episodes "The Bride" and "Bride of the Incredible Hulk." The performance from the guest star Mariette Heartly was so good that she was nominated for and won an Emmy for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama!" All but unheard of in a Sci-Fi show or movie, even some forty years later. If you don't tear up after watching it, you ain't human.

[@charleslennon1]

Speaking of multiverses, WHY THE HECK hasn't Nicholas Hammond been introduced into the multiverse? He's still alive and kicking and was the first live-action Spider-Man! Not to mention, the show had a funk/jazzy theme song (that, for some reason, can't be downloaded anywhere). I'm just saying.

[@brandonhall4547]

No way that Rex Smith music video is real 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣