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The Incredible Hulk (1977 TV series)
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The Incredible Hulk is an American television series based on the Marvel comic book character of the same name. The pilot episodes were a pair of TV movies on the CBS network beginning on November 4, 1977; the series soon followed, airing from March 10, 1978 to June 2, 1982. It starred Bill Bixby as Dr. David Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk. The concept was developed for television by Kenneth Johnson. The series still has a fanbase around the world, making it a cult classic.
arly 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.
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Encyclopedia
The Incredible Hulk is an American television series based on the Marvel comic book character of the same name. The pilot episodes were a pair of TV movies on the CBS network beginning on November 4, 1977; the series soon followed, airing from March 10, 1978 to June 2, 1982. It starred Bill Bixby as Dr. David Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk. The concept was developed for television by Kenneth Johnson. The series still has a fanbase around the world, making it a cult classic.
Development
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 Misérables, he became inspired and began working to develop the Hulk comic into a TV show.
Johnson saw fit to change the name of the Hulk's comic book alter ego, Dr. (Robert) Bruce Banner, to "Dr. David Banner" for the t.v. series. 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 "Bruce Banner" sounded, in the eyes of the network, like a "gay character" name, and David sounded much better ("Bruce" ultimately became the TV Banner's middle name, as it had been in the comics. It is visible on David's tombstone at the end of the pilot episode).
In season 2's interview with Kenneth Johnson, he also wanted Hulk to be colored red, because he stated that green is not the color of rage. Stan Lee, the creator of the Hulk comics, explained that Hulk himself was originally gray and the printer couldn't a do good gray. Kenneth explained that Hulk remained green thereafter.
Johnson also omitted the comic book's supporting characters from his TV adaptation. Instead, he opted for a variety of more realistic, 'regular person' characters -- most of whom changed with each episode. Additionally, Johnson changed the character's origin story. Rather than being exposed to gamma rays while saving someone who had wandered on-grounds during a botched atomic testing explosion, "David" Banner was gamma-irradiated in a laboratory mishap. Yet another significant change was altering Banner's occupation, from nuclear physicist (in the comics) to medical researcher/physician. Although the comic-book Hulk's degree of speaking ability has varied over the years, the television Hulk did not speak at all -- he merely growled and roared repeatedly. Finally, despite its Marvel Comics roots, fantasy and science fiction themes were minimized in the series. In the majority of episodes, the only supernatural element was the Hulk himself.
Casting
For the role of Dr. David Banner, producers originally considered Larry Hagman of I Dream of Jeannie fame. However, Hagman turned it down and instead signed to portray J. R. Ewing on Dallas. Kenneth Johnson then cast veteran television actor/director Bill Bixby — Johnson's first choice. At first, Bixby resisted accepting the part; but, after reading the script, he quickly signed on. Next, character actor Jack Colvin was cast as "Jack McGee", the series' recurring antagonist. Modeled after the character of Javert in Les Misérables, "Mr. McGee" was a cynical, tabloid newspaper reporter who relentlessly pursued the Hulk after personally witnessing the "urban legend" in action. Though initially skeptical of the Hulk's existence, McGee comes to endure endless ridicule from both his peers and the authorities for believing that "the Jolly Green Giant" is real.
The most daunting task, however, was finding someone to play the Hulk. Arnold Schwarzenegger auditioned, but was rejected due to his inadequate height (according to Johnson in his commentary on a DVD release). 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-under-developed physique did not resemble the Hulk's at all. Soon, Kiel was replaced with professional bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno, although a very brief shot of Kiel (as the Hulk) remained in the pilot (according to Johnson, in his DVD commentary). According to an , Kiel, who sees properly out of only one eye, also reacted badly to the contact lenses used for the role, and found the green makeup difficult to remove, so he did not mind losing the part.
Initially the facial make-up for the Hulk was quite monstrous, but after both pilots, the first two weekly episodes and New York location shooting for the fourth, the design was toned down.
Ted Cassidy, also known as Lurch from The Addams Family, provided the voice for the Hulk in the pilots and first two seasons. Ted died in 1979 and Charles Napier provided the Hulk's roars for the remaining episodes.
Premise
Doctor David Banner (played by familiar actor/director Bill Bixby) is a physician/scientist who is traumatized by the tragic car accident that killed his beloved wife Laura. Haunted by his inability to save her, Banner studies incidents of people who, while in danger, summon superhuman strength in order to save their threatened loved ones. He concludes that high levels of gamma radiation from sunspots are the cause. In a tragic twist, it is revealed that while his own body would have been the most receptive to the sunspot augmentation, the car accident that claimed his wife occurred on a day with the least sunspot activity. To test his theory, he bombards his own body with gamma radiation. Unknown to Banner, his equipment has been upgraded, causing him to administer a far higher dose than he intended. During a rainstorm later that evening, he suffers a flat tire and injures himself while trying to change it. The anger resulting from the pain triggers his first transformation into the Hulk (played by bodybuilder/character actor Lou Ferrigno), the first sign of which is Banner's eyes turning greenish white. The Hulk destroys Banner's car and wanders through the woods all night. The next morning, the Hulk stumbles upon a girl who is camping with her father, and attempts to befriend her (a la The Monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein). In the ensuing confusion, the Hulk is shot by the girl's father, but manages to escape. Once calm and unharrassed, he eventually transforms back into Banner -- who has no memory of the tire-changing incident, or the events thereafter. Unsure of how to proceed, Banner seeks out his research partner, Dr. Elaina Marks (played by Susan Sullivan). Her amazement at Banner's healing powers (his gunshot wound is nearly healed) is replaced by shock and horror when Banner tells her that he bombarded himself with gamma rays.
While Banner and Dr. Marks (the only other person who knows what happened to him) try to reverse the process, the interference of a reporter named Jack McGee (played by Jack Colvin) results in the fiery destruction of their laboratory. Banner transforms into the Hulk, who carries Elaina away from the inferno, but she soon dies from injuries she sustained in the explosion; McGee witnesses the Hulk carrying her away, and surmises that the Hulk started the fire and killed both Banner and Marks. In point of fact, McGee, unnoticed by all, knocked over a chemical container when he was found hiding in the lab and is the true culprit. Banner, now presumed dead, is forced to go into hiding while trying to find a cure for his condition. In a manner vaguely similar to the popular series The Fugitive, this forms the basis of the TV series: Banner endlessly drifts from place to place, assuming different identities and odd jobs to support himself and his research. Along the way, Banner finds himself feeling obliged to help the people he meets out of whatever troubles have befallen them. Often Banner's inner struggle is paralleled by the dilemmas of the people he encounters, who find in Banner a sympathetic helper. As Kenneth Johnson states, "what we were constantly doing was looking for thematic ways to touch [-on] the various ways that the Hulk sort of manifested itself in everyone. In Bixby and his character, David Banner, it happened to be anger. In someone else, it might be obsession, or it might be fear, or it might be jealousy or alcoholism! The Hulk comes in many shapes and sizes. That's what we tried to delve into in the individual episodes." Despite his attempts to stay calm no matter how badly he is treated, Banner inevitably finds himself in dangerous situations that trigger his transformations into the Hulk. Meanwhile, McGee continues to pursue the incredible story of the mysterious monster, whom he believes got away with a double-murder. Ultimately, Banner changes (or even saves) someone's life for the better. Nonetheless, he (almost always) flees town, scared that publicity over the Hulk's 'rampages' will eventually bring unwanted scrutiny of him from the local authorities and/or McGee. The story (almost always) ends with Banner hitch-hiking down some outbound highway or road -- a strikingly haunting and sad piano song playing in the background (as the ending credits visualize). The mood conveys Banner's inner sense of hopelessness: the quest of a man desperate to one day find the cure that will bring him peace, an end to his endless running, and the ability to reclaim a normal life.
Unlike Marvel's Hulk, the television Hulk is not indestructible. This means that bullets or other weapons can kill him (evident in the episode "The First part 2" when Del Fry's Hulk was killed by a sheriff at the climax of the episode). Glass can also pierce his skin. However, he still possesses a accelerated-healing ability which allows him to recover from injuries very quickly(like in the comics, though not as powerful.) The TV Hulk is also weaker than his comic counterpart. He is strong enough to topple down cars, smash down doors and walls and hold a helicopter. Also, in the episode "Of Guilt, Models and Murder," the Hulk just manages to hold a car compresser to make sure he and another person don't get crushed.
Opening narration
The opening narration to the show (performed by Ted Cassidy, who also provided the vocal growls and roars of the creature in the show's first two seasons.) reads as follows:
Dr. David Banner: physician; scientist. Searching for a way to tap into the hidden strengths that all humans have. Then an accidental overdose of gamma radiation alters his body chemistry. And now when David Banner grows angry or outraged, a startling metamorphosis occurs. The creature is driven by rage and pursued by an investigative reporter. (Bixby: "Mr. McGee, don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."--a clip from the first pilot) The creature is wanted for a murder he didn't commit. David Banner is believed to be dead, and he must let the world think that he is dead, until he can find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him.
The original narration for the second pilot episode, Death in the Family, had some differences:
Dr. David Banner: physician; scientist. Searching for a way to tap into the hidden strengths that all humans have. Then an accidental overdose of gamma radiation interacts with his unique body chemistry. And now when David Banner grows angry or outraged, a startling metamorphosis occurs. The creature is driven by rage and pursued by an investigative reporter. (Bixby: "Mr. McGee, don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.") An accidental explosion took the life of a fellow scientist and supposedly David Banner as well. The reporter thinks the creature was responsible. (McGee: "I gave a description to all the law enforcement agencies; They got a warrant for murder out on him.") A murder which David Banner can never prove he or the creature didn't commit. So he must let the world go on thinking that he, too, is dead, until he can find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him.
Broadcast history
The Incredible Hulk was the beginning series of the highly-rated Friday-night block on CBS, where it was followed by The Dukes of Hazzard and Dallas. The series lineup began as such in 1979 and remained that way until 1981, when the Hulk moved to a new night during the abbreviated fifth and final season. The series aired on reruns on the Sci-Fi Channel.
Episode plots
The Hulk's animalistic personality still reflects Banner's good and compassionate nature, which means he typically restricts his wrath to villains threatening him, but will also restrict himself to just simply tossing them aside, instead of killing them. Although the Hulk's intelligence is low, he apparently retains the same motivations and priorities as Banner, always managing to protect people or objects that Banner deems important as well as attacking those he feels fear or hostility toward. However, as Banner's normal personality becomes dormant to the Hulk's in that form, and he has no memory of the creature's actions, Banner lives in constant worry of what damage the Hulk does during those episodes. The fear is often justifiable because the Hulk will often cause extreme property damage.
In the episode "Dark Side", Banner's experiment with a mood altering chemical goes disastrously wrong with himself becoming psychotically violent, which makes his next transformation into the Hulk an extremely dangerous experience to everyone around him. Fortunately, Banner was able to inject an antidote right before transforming into the Hulk again in a crisis and the creature reverts to his good nature to save the day.
In the two-part episode "Married" (which originally aired as a two-hour special in September 1978), David approaches Dr. Carolyn Fields (Mariette Hartley) about a new form of hypnotic therapy. He learns that Carolyn has devised the therapy because she is terminally ill with a syndrome "similar" to ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, and has been given no more than eight weeks to live. David reveals his true identity to her, and both agree to help each other, using a tissue sample from the creature to possibly cure Carolyn of her illness. They fall in love and eventually marry. After Carolyn obtains the sample while David has metamorphosed into the creature, she prepares the sample for her own use. The day the procedure to cure Carolyn is to take place, a hurricane hits the island. While the pair are driving to the hospital, Carolyn suffers from another painful episode, this time leading her to flee their moving car. David stops the car and rushes after her, morphing into the Hulk once more. The creature catches her in his arms, and as she attempts to fight him in her pain-induced hysteria, she turns around and sees the creature, and stops struggling. Knowing her time has come, Carolyn embraces the creature, telling him (as David) she'll miss him as she dies in his arms. Mariette Hartley won an Emmy Award the following year for this performance.
In the two-part episode "The First", David discovers that hulk-making had been discovered 30 years before. In this case, a doctor used it in an attempt to heal a man named Del Frye in poor health, who was embittered by bullying from the local townspeople. Because of this difference in personality, this previous creature had killed people. Dr. Jeffery Clive, long dead, had discovered the cure, but Frye, now old and arthritic, and still bullied, wants to have the power again. David discovers Dr. Clive's laboratory, which contains a machine that can harness the sun's gamma radiation. Looking through Clive's journals, he realizes that he needs to take the antidote developed by Clive and then bombard himself with gamma rays for the cure to work. Before he can do so, however, Frye knocks him out and straps himself into the machine. As David awakens and attempts to stop him, Frye is bombarded with gamma radiation, which turns him into a Hulk-like creature. After metamorphosing back, Frye discovers that after one transformation, his arthritis has vanished. Seeking revenge for the years of taunts he has endured, Frye goes into town and provokes some of the town bullies into attacking him. He once again transforms into the Hulk-like creature, and proceeds to kill one of the bullies. Realizing that the Frye Hulk is extremely dangerous because of Frye's murderous nature, David manages to subdue Frye and strap him into the machine to reverse the process. Unfortunately, Frye comes to and transforms into the creature, and in the process destroys the last vial of the cure that Dr. Clive had developed. As he literally sees the cure dripping from his fingers, a distraught David transforms into the Hulk. The two creatures fight, with the much more powerful Banner Hulk getting the better of the Frye Hulk, who is eventually shot dead by the sheriff. "The First" is the only episode of the TV series to feature another superpowered character.
In the next episode, "Kindred Spirits", Dr Gabrielle White Cloud, played by Kim Cattrall, comes across evidence that a hulk-type metamorphosis had occurred at the dawn of mankind in America 30,000 years ago. This evidence included a cave painting of a transformation and a skull that Gabrielle claims to be two skulls at once, and which David suggests died while metamorphosing. Gabrielle tries to help David, but the plant that they thought had cured the prehistoric hulks has since become extinct.
Meanwhile, McGee continues pursuing the story of the mysterious monster whom he believes killed Banner and his associate. As a result, he often personally investigates sightings of the monster, forcing Banner to move on before the reporter can learn too much. A pivotal episode in this regard is "Mystery Man: Part 2" (second season). Here, an injured McGee is trying to escape a forest fire, aided by a man known only as "John Doe," whose face is covered by a gauze mask (actually Banner, who has lost his memory and burned his face in an auto accident, surviving only by "Hulking out"). During their ordeal, McGee reveals to "John" that he wants the Hulk to win a Pulitzer Prize so he can escape working for the National Register newspaper and go back to writing serious journalism. He later sees the mystery man transform into the Hulk in front of him and realizes that this is how the Hulk gets from one distant place to another without being seen in between. As a result, while McGee wants the creature captured, he does not want the creature killed for the sake of the human contained within the Hulk. Throughout the entire series run, McGee never learns that Banner is the "John Doe" he is pursuing, though he actually comes face to face with Banner in the episode "Broken Image," but Banner manages to convince him he is a hood named Mike Cassidy.
In "The Hulk Breaks Las Vegas", Banner and an unconscious McGee are dumped in a hole in the desert by gangsters and covered over with sand. Banner transforms into the Hulk and breaks free, then saves McGee by jumping out of the hole with him. After the villains are disposed of, McGee begins to realize that the creature may not be as dangerous as he previously believed. As the Hulk calms down, McGree talks to him and asks about Dr. Banner. Hulk begins to glow (the sign he is about to revert to Banner), but is interrupted by the final villain shooting him in the shoulder, and he runs away enraged after throwing a rock at the mobster, before McGee can learn the truth.
In the Season 4 two-parter "Prometheus", David rescues and befriends Katie Maxwell (Laurie Prange), a young woman recently blinded by an accident. While helping her through the woods near her home, a meteor lands near them. David investigates, and feels sickened by the radiation emanating from the meteorite fragment. An attacking swarm of bees triggers his transformation into the Hulk, and in the process of fighting off the bees the Hulk touches the meteorite. He retreats back to Katie's cabin, but in metamorphosing back into David, the process stops midway, with David retaining some of the Hulk's bulk and irradiated features (including his white eyes), but with the ability to speak. Additionally, David had also received most of the Hulk's child like intellect. Horrified at realizing that his transformation has gone wrong, David enlists Katie's help. The military, however, arrives and after attempting to evade them, David transforms back into the Hulk. The Hulk and Katie are captured and taken to a military installation, where a group of scientists working for the Prometheus Project mistakenly believe that the Hulk is an alien. After seeing a tape of David's transformation, however, they realize that the Hulk is actually a man who transforms into the creature. McGee, meanwhile, finagles his way onto the base and finds Katie, attempting to get her to give him more information on "John Doe". The Hulk escapes from his confinement and finds Katie. After the Hulk's transformation back into David again stops midway, Katie theorizes that the radiation from the meteorite is affecting David's unique body chemistry and that they need to escape from the base and get away from the meteorite. McGee, meanwhile, convinces the brass to let him talk to "John" and convince him to surrender. McGee finds them, but due to David's altered appearance, doesn't realize that he is, in fact, talking to David Banner. It's a double-cross, however, as soldiers move in on David and Katie. David transforms into the Hulk once again and breaks out of the installation with Katie. Far from the meteorite fragment, the Hulk transforms back into David Banner with no ill-effects.
The series wraps up with a standard 50-minute episode ("A Minor Problem"). Colvin does not appear in this last episode or a few other episodes in the short, last season.
Music
Joe Harnell composed the music for The Incredible Hulk. He was brought into the production due to his involvement with the series The Bionic Woman. The score used at the beginning and closing credits was a piano piece called "The Lonely Man". Portions of "The Lonely Man" can be heard in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk. Some of the series music was collected into a soundtrack.
Cancellation
In 1981, with a major entertainment union strike on the horizon, the production team continued filming episodes for the show's 5th season directly upon completion of the fourth. However, with seven of these "in the can," CBS cancelled the show due to a slight change in the ratings and budget. Rumors were going around at the time that Bill Bixby's contract was up, and that he wanted to move on. Bixby had wanted to see his character being cured from being the Hulk. Also, both executive producer Kenneth Johnson and producer Nicholas Corea had gone to Harvey Shepard, who was president of CBS entertainment at the time, to ask for clearance to shoot nine unfilmed scripts for the series to give the show a mid-season run. They were turned down, and the pilot and the first four seasons were released into general syndication. By that time the union had gone on strike as expected, and that autumn CBS aired five of the seven "5th season" episodes made, running the last two and repeating three of the others the following summer. That fall, all seven were added to the rerun package. The nine unfilmed scripts included, "Los Indios," Parts 1-2 (Season 3), "Double Exposure," (Season 3), "The Trial of Jack McGee," (Season 5), "David Banner, RIP," (Season 5), "The Steel Mill," (Season 5), "The Survivors," (Season 5), "Killer on Board," (Season 5), and "Eyes of the Beholder," (Season 5). Also, Johnson and Corea had wanted to do a two-hour series finale in which Banner is caught and is found out to be alive, goes on trial for the death of Elaina Marks, resolves things with McGee, and gets cured from his hulk-outs.
Made for TV movies
Two episodes of the series appeared first as stand-alone movies, but were later re-edited into one-hour length (two-parters) for syndication. They were produced as pilots before the series officially began in 1978.
- The Incredible Hulk (pilot) - 1977 (also seen overseas as a feature)
- The Incredible Hulk: Death in the Family - 1977 (retitled Return of the Incredible Hulk for overseas release)
Six years after the cancellation of the television series in 1982, three television movies were produced with Bixby and Ferrigno reprising their roles. All of these aired on NBC.
- The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990) - David Banner falls in love with an Eastern European spy (played by Elizabeth Gracen) and saves two kidnapped scientists. The film ends with the Hulk taking a fatal fall from an airplane, reverting to human form just before he dies, and allowing Banner to make a dying declaration.
Despite the apparent death of the Hulk in the 1990 film, more Incredible Hulk television movies were planned, including a proposed Rebirth of the Incredible Hulk, where the Hulk would actually be able to talk. (to help launch a pilot for Iron Man) and another television movie featuring She-Hulk. In the mid-1980s, there was also talk about doing a television movie with the cast from the 1977-1979 live action Spider-Man television series. However, all such projects were cancelled when Bill Bixby died of cancer in November 1993.
DVD releases
All three of the NBC TV movies (The Incredible Hulk Returns, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk and The Death of the Incredible Hulk) have been available on DVD since 2003; the first two were released by Anchor Bay Entertainment, while The Death of the Incredible Hulk was released by 20th Century Fox home video. A double-sided DVD entitled The Incredible Hulk - Original Television Premiere, which contained the original pilot and the "Married" episodes, was released by Universal Studios DVD in 2003 to promote Ang Lee's Hulk motion picture. A six-disc set entitled The Incredible Hulk - The Television Series Ultimate Collection was released by Universal DVD later in 2003. This set includes several notable episodes including "Death in the Family," "The First," and "Prometheus".
On July 18, 2006, Universal released The Incredible Hulk - Season One on DVD. This set contains the original pilot movies, the entire first season, and a "preview" episode ("Stop the Presses") from Season Two.
On July 17, 2007, Universal released The Incredible Hulk - Season Two on DVD as a 5-disc set. The set included the entire second season, the Married episodes (AKA Bride of the Incredible Hulk), and preview episode (Homecoming) from season three.
On June 3, 2008, Universal released The Incredible Hulk - Seasons Three and Four on DVD in time to promote Louis Leterrier's film The Incredible Hulk.
On October 21, 2008, Universal released "The Incredible Hulk" - Season Five on DVD as a 2-disc set. The set contains all seven Season Five episodes and interviews by Ken Johnson and various members of the Production & Writing teams, as well as a Gag Reel., Additionally, a complete series DVD Set was released as well. The Complete Series was released in the UK on DVD on September 30 2008
Cameos
- Jack Kirby - the artist that created the Hulk makes a cameo in "No Escape" from Season II
- Stan Lee - the writer that created the Hulk makes a cameo in "Trial of the Incredible Hulk" (second post-series TV-movie)
A roster of guest stars
During the series' five and 1/2-season run, many unfamiliar actors and/or actresses have made guest appearances, and others were newcomers who have gone on to become well-known, among them appearing in Incredible Hulk episodes: John Witherspoon, Charles Siebert, Dabbs Greer, Rosemary Forsyth, Ernie Hudson, Caroline McWilliams, Rosalind Chao, David White, Kene Holliday, Rick Springfield, Gordon Jump, Elaine Joyce, Charles Napier, Mariette Hartley, Judith Chapman, Sally Kirkland, Mary Frann, Jennifer Holmes, Jared Martin, Pat Morita, Dana Elcar, Cameron Mitchell, Gerald McRaney, William Daniels, William Windom, Martin Kove, Kathleen Lloyd, Frank Dekova, Sheila Larken, Henry Polic II, Whit Bissell, Austin Stoker, Jerry Douglas, Lonny Chapman, John McIntire and his wife Jeanette Nolan, Mickey Jones, Robert Hogan, Ned Romero, Peter Breck, Debbi Morgan, Earl Billings, Robert Donner, Loni Anderson, Monte Markham, Jeremy Brett, Robert Alda, Sondra Currie, Mackenzie Phillips, Dick O'Neill, Meshach Taylor, Nicolas Coster, Bob Hastings, Anne Schedeen, Eddie Barth, Don Stroud, Wesley Thompson, Michael Conrad, June Allyson, Alan Toy, Dennis Patrick, Robin Mattson, Craig Stevens, James B. Sikking, Denny Miller, Shelley Fabares, John Anderson, Michael D. Roberts, Don Roberts, Robert F. Lyons, Stacy Keach, Sr., Lewis Arquette, Peter Mark Richman, Diana Muldaur, Edie McClurg, Kathleen Nolan, Penny Peyser, Anne Lockhart, among many others.
Future Falcon Crest star Susan Sullivan had a major role in the original pilot and Brett Cullen, also of that prime-time soap opera, made a guest appearance on the show as well. Bixby's best friend's (James Garner) longtime friend, Jack Kelly, made a guest appearance on one episode. The respective co-stars of Bixby's first two series, Ray Walston (My Favorite Martian) and Brandon Cruz (The Courtship of Eddie's Father), also made guest appearances on separate episodes, while Lou Ferrigno, who along with starring as the Hulk, appeared in one episode as a different character. Bixby's ex-wife Brenda Benet also made a guest appearance on the show.
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