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MeTV's SuperSci-Fi Saturday Night

Land of the Giants: “Graveyard of Fools”: The final episode of the series is kind of a mess. The title seems to allude to the idea from “Land of the Lost” earlier in the season that the other side of the planet is a mysterious realm nobody has ever returned from (which contradicts the origin story of the teleporter inventor from “Panic”), although it doesn’t really do much with the idea, at least not coherently. Steve, Dan, Val, and Fitzhugh are captured by evil scientists Melzac (Albert Salmi), who sends them in a radio-controlled plane to the mysterious other side of the planet, where his more laid-back twin brother Bryk (also Salmi, obviously) has already traveled through unexplained means. They’ve found an all-powerful alien device called the Servo Actuator -- which is a silly name for an all-powerful alien device, since it just means a small electric motor that rotates a machine part. Anyway, they intend to use its nigh-godlike powers to Conquer The World, but they first need the Little People to install a replacement part deep inside the device. (Okay, so how did they get the original damaged part out in the first place?) Those powers include teleporting the plane to the other side of the planet, which is handy, since there’s no way a gas-powered model plane could make it that far.

But for some reason, rather than just putting the LP into the machine, Bryk first puts them through a dreamlike series of “tests” that are too nonsensical to explain. It’s unclear whether the bizarre, semi-hallucinatory experiences they have are a function of the alien machine or of the natural conditions on that side of the planet that make it a “Graveyard of Fools” who dare to venture there. But once in the alien machine, Steve somehow instantly becomes an expert on nuclear furnaces and is able to diagnose merely from the sound of the device that it’s going to explode. He and the others manage to tap into its mind control response to send themselves to safety, but Bryk, who has much more practice mind-controlling it, is somehow unable to do the same and gets himself blown up, while Melzac cooperatively gets himself blown up through some sort of feedback. And the model plane is conveniently teleported back before it blows, so the gang can get back together. It’s teleported right back to the spot it was launched from. So why the hell did the twin scientists even need a model plane to transport the Little People?

Basically, this season has had two modes -- the focused mode that was true to the original premise and ideas of the series, and the unfocused mode that just flung in a bunch of random, weird sci-fi that could’ve gone in any Irwin Allen show. Most of the middle season was in the latter mode, but we had a run toward the end that got back to basics, and then these last two episodes were back in unfocused mode -- although last week’s “Wild Journey” managed to tie pretty directly into the core premise by revisiting the events of the pilot. But “Graveyard of Fools” was perhaps the most unfocused, incoherently Irwin Allen-ish episode of the bunch. It would’ve been better if “Wild Journey” had been the finale as originally intended, since it would’ve brought the series full circle to the beginning.

This kind of episode was (and is) par for the course with a so-called 'talent' like Irwin Allen, though, and why he left TV to go back to movies. What else was new with this man and his bullshit?
 
This week, no thanks to MeTV, we visit the last new episode of The Incredible Hulk to air in 1981, or in the show's longtime Friday night timeslot:

"Triangle"
Originally aired November 13, 1981

Yep, and into an all too short couple of weeks in 1982.


At #1 for the second of two weeks:

"Private Eyes," Daryl Hall & John Oates
(Charted Aug. 29; #1 US the weeks of Nov. 7 and 14; #33 AC; #33 Rock; #32 UK)

Not as great as their early-mid 70s work, but it was okay, if I was in the right mood for their 80s production standards..

"Working for the Weekend," Loverboy
(#29 US; #2 Rock; song @ 2:23+)

Horrible. Fry every copy, then send the ashes into the sun.

"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)," Daryl Hall & John Oates
(#1 US the week of Jan. 30, 1982; #12 AC; #1 Dance; #1 R&B; #28 Rock; #8 UK)

I might have criticized this era earlier, but to be honest, its a very well written song.


"Shake It Up," The Cars
(Nov. 21; #4 US; #14 Dance; #2 Rock)

Eh. Never one my favorite Cars tracks. Just okay.

"Waiting on a Friend," The Rolling Stones
(Dec. 5; #13 US; #8 Rock; #50 UK)

Along with 1983's "Undercover of the Night", this is the last quality Rolling Stones song, from albums stuffed with (more often than not) "in name only" filler.
 
This kind of episode was (and is) par for the course with a so-called 'talent' like Irwin Allen, though, and why he left TV to go back to movies. What else was new with this man and his bullshit?

..and this perception would have been avoided if the penultimate episode--"Wild Journey" was the series finale as intended. Even with senseless stinkers like "Graveyard of Fools", LOTG was Allen's best sci-fi series, with a greater consistency about its established points (trying to find a way back to earth / hunted and/or exploited by the giants) than the other three series, which all (sooner or later) fell into the alien/explosion of the week, or in the case of Lost in Space, how many minutes into any episode before most of the cast (and any goal-oriented plots) taking a back seat to Dr. Smith screaming, the robot insulting, Will in the middle of It all.
 
..and this perception would have been avoided if the penultimate episode--"Wild Journey" was the series finale as intended. Even with senseless stinkers like "Graveyard of Fools", LOTG was Allen's best sci-fi series, with a greater consistency about its established points (trying to find a way back to earth / hunted and/or exploited by the giants) than the other three series, which all (sooner or later) fell into the alien/explosion of the week, or in the case of Lost in Space, how many minutes into any episode before most of the cast (and any goal-oriented plots) taking a back seat to Dr. Smith screaming, the robot insulting, Will in the middle of It all.
When I was a kid, I watched only a handful of episodes of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and, coincidentally, it was almost always an episode where some alien/creature/ghost/whatever tried to take control of the ship. I remember thinking: "Why do they bother to sail off at all?". I mean, they had nuclear warheads on board.
 
When I was a kid, I watched only a handful of episodes of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and, coincidentally, it was almost always an episode where some alien/creature/ghost/whatever tried to take control of the ship.

It seems to be a law of television that if you only watch a syndicated show occasionally, you always end up catching the same reruns whenever you happen to watch. I read a comment to that effect just the other day, and I was interested to realize that others had noticed the pattern too. For me, there was a time back in the '80s or '90s when I only occasionally caught an episode of Star Trek on TV and it seemed like it was always "The Cloud Minders" every single time. I got so damn sick of that episode.
 
L.Q. Jones (Jake) has a familiar list of credits in the non-fantasy genres, including The Young Lions (Fox, 1958) with Marlon Brando & Dean Martin, episodes of Wagon Train, such as "The Robert Harrison Clarke Story" (1963--written by Gene Coon), Hang 'Em High (UA, 1968), Peckinpah's Major Dundee (Columbia, 1965) and The Wild Bunch (Warner Brothers, 1969) . His notable fantasy credits--

  • ...his first role opposite Bill Bixby--an episode of My Favorite Martian (CBS, 1965) - "The Time Machine is Waking Up to That Old Gang of Mine"
  • The Witchmaker (LQ/JAF Productions, 1969)
  • The Brotherhood of Satan (LQ/JAF Productions, 1971)
  • Another role opposite Bill Bixby in The Magician (NBC, 1974) - "The Illusion of the Curious Counterfeit" (2 parts)
  • The Strange and Deadly Occurrence (NBC, 1974)
  • A Boy and His Dog (LQ/JAF Productions, 1975)
  • The Beast Within (MGM/UA, 1982)
  • Timerider: The Adventures of Lyle Swann (Jensen Farley Pictures, 1982) - with Fred Ward
  • Voyagers! (NBC, 1983) - "All Fall Down"
  • The Mask of Zorro (Tri-Star/Amblin, 1998)
  • Route 666 (Lions Gate Films, 2001) - Its probably coincidence that Jones one guest starred on an episode of the classic Route 66.
Add Kung Fu, "The Last Raid" (1975).
 
MeTV's newsletter informs me that MeTV now has free streaming online. Looks like some good stuff on there, too. I haven't actually tried it, so I don't know if there's a catch, but this is nice to see if it really is what it appears to be.
 
The Incredible Hulk--
"Triangle"

JORDANTOWN - named for its owner, logging magnate and man of generally inflated ego, Ellis Jordan, which also happens to be site where day crewman David Beller has just been upgraded to a permanent lumberjacking position. David has to pass on a free beer from co-worker George, as he has a date with his steady girlfriend, Gale Weber. As the couple relax in a rowboat, Gale wonders about her er...mystery man...who is clearly educated, has no ties and just shows up in a small town for work. David opens up enough to refer to his sister & father, and deceased wife, but not much else.

Gale: "I want to know who you are, 'cause I care."
David: "I'm uh....I'm sorry Gale, it just...it hasn't been easy for me. It's uh...just that I haven't been close to anyone in such a long time. I haven't cared for anyone in such a long time."

George runs into the couple, but the moment he sees Gale, he freezes up, acting as if something was wrong. Later, Gale ells Banner she's thinking of using her MBA to pursues other opportunities, and that finishing business tied to her father's estate--and David--are the only things keeping her in Jordanville.

David and Gale's intimate moments are being photographed by a man outside of Gale's window....

The photos are delivered to Jordan, who despises his photographer from "the gutter", but pays for the illicit pictures. Later, Jordan speaks with Gale about her future, then turns up his creepy nature by asking about her relationship with David, which Gale reminds him is none of his business. Not knowing when to stop, Jordan speaks of how fond he was of her late father, and how he's never asked her to pay back the financial help he provided for her education. Gale is grateful, but gets to the point: she only sees Jordan as a friend, never a romantic interest. Grumbling with anger, Jordan instructs Bert (one of his henchmen) to pay off David--enough so he will leave town. If Banner refuses the offer, Bert is to do whatever is necessary to get rid of him...

David settles in on his off day, thinking back to his 1st meeting with Gale--how natural their connection was. His pleasant daydream is interrupted by Jordan's henchmen, who order Banner to forget Gale and leave town--or else--an outcome the surly Bert looks forward to. With no way out, Banner collects his belongings and allows the henchmen to drive him to the outskirts of town, with yet another threat of violence from Bert.

Completely frustrated by this strong-arming, but consumed with memories of his time with Gale, David eventually tries to make his way back into Jordantown, but is cut off by Bert and his flunky, who chase Banner through the hills, until they catch and beat Banner. Kicking him down a short hill, the thugs leave--not witnessing Banner transform into the Hulk. The creature makes his way to the logging site, his shocking appearance sending the crew running in all directions--except Bert, who tries to chain whip the Hulk. Bad idea, as the creature yanks the chain--and Bert--forward, then sends the man flying.

In town, Gale questions Jordan about David's whereabouts, with the conversation escalating to anger when he accuses David of being bought off by a few dollars. Rejecting this story, Gale decides to leave town, but is taken prisoner by Jordan's thugs, all the while professing his years of love for her, and how she will never leave Jordantown.

Gale's landlady (acting as if she's not a gossip) tells David that two men cleaned out her apartment, giving her the impression that should not be retuning. Back at the logging site, Jack McGee tries to grill the logging site foreman--

Foreman: "I told you on the phone, Mr. McGee, I got nothing to say to you!"
McGee: "Well, you can hardly ignore the damage."
Foreman: "Watch me."
McGee: "Oh, come on. A dozen men must have seen the Hulk!"
Foreman: "I didn't. I didn't see anything."
McGee: "What're you doing? You're stonewalling? Are you trying to protect somebody in this?"
Foreman: "Look--don't railroad me, Mr. McGee! And don't go around making up a story out of thin air!"
McGee: "If you're so anxious to stick to the truth, why don't you try to help me, here?"
Foreman: "You're a reporter. That means publicity--Mister Jordan don't like either. You think I'm gonna risk my but just so you an get a story?? You gonna get me job if I lose this one? (sarcastically) Sure you will."
Sure."

McGee: "There's no reason for you to lose your job over this!"
Foreman: "Well, if Mr. Jordan says so, I'll believe that. If you want me to talk, you see Mr. Jordan first. "
McGee: "Okay now, who is this Mr. Jordan?"
Foreman: (sarcastic, with the Jordan Lumber logo on the truck door in front of McGee) "For a reporter you're real observant. He owns the company."

David reports Gale's disappearance to the police, but is angered by their apparent support of Jordan's interests--including warning Banner to be mindful of his own safety. Running into George, David learns several disturbing things--

George: "David, you just better get out of here. Word is out and you ain't welcome!"
David: "That girl that I was with the other day--Gale Weber. You know her, don't you?"
George: "David, it don't matter!"
David: "George, I need to know what you know! She's disappeared!"
George: "Look David, there's a man who's crazy about her. A man that you don't mess with in this town. She's probably at his place."
David: "Who is he?"
George: "Ellis Jordan. See, he's always cared about her. It's just that, in the last year or so, since his wife died, he's...he's gotten weird. He keeps to himself. He's hired bodyguards... and they don't mind bustin' heads. There's nothing you can do about it."
David: "There has to be!! He's kidnapped her and he could hurt her!!"
George: "Look, Jordan owns this town, and damn near everyone in it...police included! Forget it, David!"

Unsurprisingly, David tries to sneak into the Jordan mansion, fueled by memories of Gale and David admitting they were falling in love. At the front gate, McGee arrives, but is instructed to leave. Inside, David slips past a maid (pretending to be an electrician) and finds Gale. The emotional reunion is marred by Jordan and his chief henchmen walking in on the couple. Gale is removed from the room, while Jordan boasts of his power, and his belief that--

Jordan: "She's mine. I will not live without her. Not anymore."

Jordan orders his men to "do it right this time"--meaning kill David. Knocked out, Banner is transported to another work site, where Bert uses a crane to drop a cut tree on David. Regaining consciousness in time, David rolls out of the way, but the thought of nearly being crushed to death triggers a Hulk out. Bert tries to crush the Hulk between the crane's claw, but its easily twisted by the Hulk, who promptly rockets a tree into the crane's cab, with Bert narrowly missing a crushing death. Bert tries to escape in a truck, but the Hulk flips the vehicle over. Running away, the Hulk passes McGee (who followed Bert's car earlier), leaving the reporter empty-handed once again.

At the Jordan home, the businessman presses his desire to "help" Gale, but his pawing pressure is stopped by the Hulk busting into the room; the growling creature slaps Jordan into a table, and prepares to carry Gale away, when Jordan pleads with the creature to not hurt his daughter. Understanding in his own way, the Hulk complies, then runs away. Jordan's revelation leaves Gale in a state of shock.

A day later, David--travel bag in hand--has one last reunion with Gale. It turns out that her mother was involved with the married Jordan, but her mother dies in childbirth. Feeling responsible, Jordan had Gale adopted by the Webers, but in the wake of Jordan's wife dying, he wanted to reconnect with Gale. She believes the entire drama has triggered change in Jordan, in turn, moving her to stay in town to learn more about her hidden past. With both overcome with emotion, Gale begs David to stay, but as always, he has to move on--something she seemed to know would happen from the start. Reluctantly, David pulls away from Gale, separated from someone he loves once again.

NOTES:


This is not a cure-related episode.

Jack McGee makes his one and only fifth season appearance, and his last of the series.

The issue of the Hulk not killing (or having a desire to, in this case) because David will not is challenged here, as he send a tree into the cab of a crane clearly occupied by Bert. The Hulk knew what he was aiming at, and it cannot be argued that he expected Bert to scramble out of the way in the nick of time. Considering the emotions of the situation (within the Hulk's mind was David threatened, and the entire Gale affair), this Hulk attack suggests he has a darker side.

David usually avoid making direct contact with the police, but in this rare case, he calls using his current alias, with details about his town connections, which--if pushed in the wrong direction--could compromise his freedom.

Continuity nod: David tells Gale he has a father & sister in Colorado. He also mentions a deceased wife, but its not clear if he's referring to Laura Banner or Caroline Fields.

The pilot's romance themes for Laura and Elaina Marks is reused for David & Gale.

Of the messages this series sent about its characters, the strongest was that David was doomed to be alone, since his relationship with Gale--seemingly solid for quite some time--is completely dissolved by the episode's end, with not even a thread of hope that a reunion was possible.

A first-run viewer once wondered why Jordan was not brought up on kidnapping & attempted murder charges, but he would skate by with Gale not pressing charges (how forgiving of her), and David leaving town (not that he would go so far as to risk exposure by charging Jordan in any case).

This episode features two performers who each appeared in a version of The Canterville Ghost, separated by two (release) years.

GUEST CAST:

Peter Mark Richman
(Ellis Jordan) cut a very long path in fantasy TV--
  • Suspense (ABC, 1953) - "The Duel"
  • Kraft Theatre (NBC, 1958) - "Death Wears Many Faces"
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (CBS, 1958 & 1960) - "Man with a Problem" & "The Cure"
  • Moment of Fear (NBC, 1960) - "Fire by Night"
  • The Twilight Zone (CBS, 1964) - "The Fear" (in production order, the last series episode written by Rod Serling)
  • The Outer Limits (ABC, 1963 & 1965) - "The Borderland" & "The Probe"
  • Dark Intruder (Universal, 1965) - produced by Alfred Hitchcock's Shamley Productions, with uncredited voice work by longtime Hitchcock actor / collaborator, Norman Lloyd
  • Agent for H.A.R.M. (Universal, 1966)
  • Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (ABC, 1966 & 1968) - "The Monster's Web" & "Secret of the Deep"
  • The House on Greenapple Road (ABC, 1970) - pilot movie of the Burt Reynolds series, Dan August
  • Land of the Giants (ABC, 1970) - "Panic"
  • Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (ABC, 1976) - recurring as The Pharaoh
  • The Bionic Woman (NBC, 1977) - "Escape to Love"
  • The Six Million Dollar Man (ABC, 1978) - "Date with Danger: Part 2"
  • Galactica: 1980 (ABC, 1980) - "The Night the Cylons Landed" (two parts)
  • PSI Factor (Sandler Institutional Films, 1980)
  • Knight Rider (NBC, 1984 & 1985) - "Goliath Returns" & "Many Happy Returns"
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation (Syndicated, 1988) - "The Neutral Zone"
  • Judgment Day (Delta Productions, 1988)
  • Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (Paramount Pictures, 1989)
  • Defenders of the Earth (King Features Entertainment, 1986-90) - voice of The Phantom / Kit Walker
  • Swamp Thing (FOX, 1990) - "Falco"
  • Batman: The Animated Series (Fox Kids, 1994) - "Riddler's Reform"
  • Spider-Man (Fox Kids, 1996) - "Neogenic Nightmare Chapter 14: The Final Nightmare" (voice of old Peter Parker / Spider-Man) & "Sins of the Father Chapter 1: Doctor Strange"
  • Superman: The Animated Series (Kids' WB, 1999) - "In Brightest Day" - voice of Abin Sur
  • Batman Beyond (Kids' WB, 2000) - "Inqueling"
  • After the Wizard (Breaking Glass Pictures, 2011)
Season three's "The Slam" was the first of two physical appearances for Charles Napier (Bert), but in TIH's production, he is best known for replacing the late Ted Cassidy as man behind the Hulk's growls. Napier's fantasy credits begin with his unforgettable performance as the naïve , musically gifted Adam from TOS' "The Way to Eden" (NBC, 1969) and continued with--
  • Alien Attack (ITC, 1976) - Two episodes of Space:1999 ("Breakaway" & "War Games") were combined to make this "movie".
  • The Incredible Hulk (CBS, 1981) - "Triangle"
  • Tales of the Gold Monkey (ABC, 1983) - "High Stakes Lady"
  • Body Count (Overseas Film Group, 1986)
  • Deep Space (TransWorld, 1988)
  • The Incredible Hulk Returns (NBC, 1988)
  • Alien from the Deep (Dania Film, 1989)
  • Future Zone (Winters Hollywood Entertainment Holdings Corporation, 1990)
  • Maniac Cop 2 (Medusa Pictures, 1990)
  • Frogtown II (York Pictures, Inc. 1992)
  • Body Bags (Showtime, 1993)
  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (ABC, 1995) - "Target: Jimmy Olsen"
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (syndicated, 1995) - "Little Green Men"
  • The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest (Cartoon Network, 1996) - "Without a Trace"
  • Alien Species (American Interactive Pictures, 1996)
  • Steel (Warner Brothers, 1997)
  • Superman: The Animated Series (Kids WB, 1997-2000) -"The Prometheon", "Legacy" & "Legacy: Part II" - recurring as General Hardcastle"
  • Men in Black: The Series (Kids' WB, 1997-2001) - recurring as Zed
  • Roswell (WB, 2000) - "Summer of '47"
  • The Legend of Tarzan (ABC, 2001) - "Tarzan and the Poisoned River: Part 2"
  • The Mummy: Secrets of the Medjai (Kids WB, 2003) - "Like Father, Like Son"
  • Dinocroc (New Concorde Home Entertainment, 2004)
  • Justice League Unlimited (Kids WB, 2004) - "Fearful Symmetry" - as General Hardcastle
  • The Batman (WB, 2005) - "The Laughing Cats"
  • Life Blood (August Heart Entertainment, 2009)
Mickey Jones (George) makes his third and final TIH appearance after guest starring in "Ricky" (1978)and "Long Run Home" (1980). Jones' fantasy credits include the pilot for the Glen Larson schlock Automan (ABC, 1983), and working for Kenneth Johnson in the 80s, appearing as Chris Farber in V: The Final Battle (NBC, 1984) and the spinoff V TV series (NBC, 1984-85). In between dealing with the Visitors, Jones landed a role in John Carpenter's acclaimed Starman (Columbia, 1984).

Andrea Marcovicci (Gale Weber)--
  • Thriller (ITV, 1975) - the Brian Clemens anthology series - "Nurse will Make it Better"
  • The Concorde ... Airport '79 (Universal Pictures, 1979)
  • The Hand (Orion Pictures / Warner Brothers, 1981)
  • The Phoenix (ABC, 1982) - "One of Them" - starring Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan's Judson Scott
  • Voyagers! (NBC, 1982) - "Cleo and the Babe"
  • Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (Columbia Pictures, 1983)
  • The Stuff (New World Pictures, 1985)
  • The Canterville Ghost (Columbia Pictures Television, 1986)
  • Amazing Stories (NBC, 1986) - "Boo!"
Lewis Arquette (Les Creaseman)--
  • Man from Atlantis (NBC, 1977) - "The Naked Montague"
  • Challenge of the Go-Bots (Syndicated, 1984) - various voices
  • Down to Earth (TBS, 1985) - "A Valentine for Valentino"
  • The Real Ghostbusters (ABC, 1987) - "Loathe Thy Neighbor" & "Hanging By a Thread"
  • The Canterville Ghost (Orkin-Flaum Productions, 1988)
  • Akira (Akira Committee Company Limited, 1988) - various voices
  • Quantum Leap (NBC, 1989) - "The Right Hand of God - October 24, 1974"
  • The Horror Show (United Artists, 1989)
  • Chopper Chicks in Zombietown (Troma Entertainment, 1989)
  • Syngenor (American Cinema Marketing, 1990)
  • Tales from the Crypt (HBO, 1990) - "Lower Berth"
  • Gravedale High (NBC, 1990) - various voices
  • Attack of the 50ft. Woman (HBO, 1993)
  • Seaquest 2032 (NBC, 1995) - "Something in the Air"
  • Babylon 5 (PTEN, 1996) - "Point of No Return"
  • Hypernauts (ABC, 1996)
  • The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest (Cartoon Network, 1996) - "The Ballad of Belle Bonnet"
  • Sleepwalkers (NBC, 1997) - Pilot
  • Scream 2 (Dimension Films, 1997)
  • Spawn (HBO, 1997-99) - various voices
 
Hulk: “Triangle”: It has been a while since David’s had a romance -- the last one I can recall was in the dreadful “Deathmask,” and before that was in “Sideshow,” both third-season episodes. And those are the only ones I can think of since “Married.” I guess that, of the three post-Caroline romances, this is the most effective one, though that’s faint praise. It’s not bad as fifth-season episodes go, but even for one of David’s rare romances, it feels like kind of a routine story -- particularly McGee’s role, which is sadly ordinary given that it’s his only appearance this season and his final one in the series. (His second-last overall, since he’s in the first revival movie.)

The revelation at the end that Jordan is actually Gale’s father doesn’t really absolve him or make his treatment of her any less creepy. He should be in jail at the end, but it sounds like he’s just been forgiven for kidnapping and attempted murder.

The tree stump the Hulk throws through the air in the first Hulk-out is the exact same one he tore out of the ground in “Sanctuary” last week. It’s following him!

In the scenes where the Hulk is throwing the henchman Bert around, I guess Charles Napier is supplying both characters’ voices at the same time. I thought that was the first time that had happened, but IMDb says that Napier had already taken over doing the Hulk’s voice by his first appearance in “The Slam.” Anyway, the Hulk is unusually violent toward Bert in the climax. When he threw that log at the crane cab, if Bert had been a little slower in dodging, he would’ve surely been killed.
 
Putting David in what appears to be a romantic triangle for most of the episode is soap opera-ish but different for the show.

David Beller
Second use.

David settles in on his off day
His digs seem a little too nice for a drifter doing lumberjack work.

Kicking him down a short hill, the thugs leave--not witnessing Banner transform into the Hulk.
-25:22.

The creature makes his way to the logging site, his shocking appearance sending the crew running in all directions--except Bert
A little growling doesn't scare him!

The riverbed location in the FHO looked familiar to me, like they'd shot there before...maybe in the prison camp episode.

Foreman: (sarcastic, with the Jordan Lumber logo on the truck door in front of McGee) "For a reporter you're real observant. He owns the company."
I transcribed it as "For a reporter you're not very observant." But whichever way he said it...yeah, the series premise relies on that.

Somewhere in here is a part about which I wrote, "Do we really need to re-hear dialogue in David's head in the very next scene?"

When McGee parked outside of Jordan's place, I was hoping that David might steal his car one last time for old time's sake.

Regaining consciousness in time, David rolls out of the way, but the thought of nearly being crushed to death triggers a Hulk out.
-07:38.

Running away, the Hulk passes McGee (who followed Bert's car earlier), leaving the reporter empty-handed once again.
McGee just watches the Hulk go by? No hot pursuit?

Reluctantly, David pulls away from Gale, separated from someone he loves once again.
We'd seen this LM recently in "Veteran," but it seems like it was filmed for this episode (which is supported by production order).

This is not a cure-related episode.
Schlepping with that special someone.

The issue of the Hulk not killing (or having a desire to, in this case) because David will not is challenged here, as he send a tree into the cab of a crane clearly occupied by Bert. The Hulk knew what he was aiming at, and it cannot be argued that he expected Bert to scramble out of the way in the nick of time. Considering the emotions of the situation (within the Hulk's mind was David threatened, and the entire Gale affair), this Hulk attack suggests he has a darker side.
Anyway, the Hulk is unusually violent toward Bert in the climax. When he threw that log at the crane cab, if Bert had been a little slower in dodging, he would’ve surely been killed.
I'd made note of this, too. I don't think there's a story justification for it, it's just inconsistency with the Hulk's level of violence. A far cry from tossing Paul Carr on a canopy bed.

Christopher said:
The revelation at the end that Jordan is actually Gale’s father doesn’t really absolve him or make his treatment of her any less creepy.
I don't think it absolved him, but it did make his interest in her seem less creepy to me.

_______

Continuing into the final hiatus, we forge ahead into 1982:
January 7 – The Commodore 64 8-bit home computer is launched by Commodore International in Las Vegas (released in August); it becomes the all-time best-selling single personal computer model.
January 8 – AT&T Corporation agrees to break up and divest itself of 22 subdivisions.
January 11 – Mark Thatcher, son of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, disappears in the Sahara during the Dakar Rally; he is rescued January 14.
January 11 – January 17 – A brutal cold snap sends temperatures to all-time record lows in dozens of cities throughout the Midwestern United States.
January 13 – Shortly after takeoff, Air Florida Flight 90 crashes into Washington, D.C.'s 14th Street Bridge and falls into the Potomac River, killing 78. On the same day, a Washington Metro train derails to the north, killing 3 (the system's first fatal accident).
January 17 – Cold Sunday sweeps over the northern United States.
January 18 – 1982 Thunderbirds Indian Springs Diamond Crash: Four Northrop T-38 aircraft of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration Squadron crash at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, Nevada, killing all 4 pilots.
January 26
  • Mauno Koivisto is elected President of Finland.
  • Unemployment in the United Kingdom increases by 129,918 to 3,070,621, a post-war record number.
January 27 – The Garret FitzGerald government of the Republic of Ireland is defeated 82–81 on its budget; the 22nd Dáil Éireann is dissolved.
January 28 – United States Army Brigadier General James L. Dozier is rescued by the Italian anti-terrorism Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza (NOCS) force after being held captive for 42 days by the Red Brigades.
January 30 – The first computer virus, the Elk Cloner, written by 15-year old Rich Skrenta, is found. It infects Apple II computers via floppy disk.

February 1 – Senegal and Gambia form a loose Senegambia Confederation.
February 2 – The Hama massacre begins in Syria.
February 3 – Syrian president Hafez al-Assad orders the army to purge the city of Harran of the Muslim Brotherhood.
February 5 – London-based Laker Airways collapses, leaving 6,000 stranded passengers and debts of $270 million.
February 7 – Iraqi club Al-Shorta win the 1982 Arab Club Champions Cup with a 4–2 aggregate win over Al-Nejmeh in the final.
February 9 – Japan Airlines Flight 350 crashes in Tokyo Bay due to thrust reversal on approach to Tokyo International Airport, killing 24 among the 174 people on board.


New on the charts in those weeks:

"Tainted Love," Soft Cell
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(Jan. 16; #8 US; #4 Dance; #12 Rock; #1 UK)

"867-5309/Jenny," Tommy Tutone
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(Jan. 23; #4 US; #1 Rock)

"We Got the Beat," Go-Go's
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(Jan. 30; #2 US; #7 Rock)

"Do You Believe in Love," Huey Lewis & The News
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(Feb. 6; #7 US; #12 Rock)

"I Love Rock 'n Roll," Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
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(Feb. 6; #1 US the weeks of Mar. 20 through May 1; #31 Dance; #1 Rock; #4 UK; #484 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time)

_______

Next week on Heroes & Icons (H&I):
  • "Half Nelson" (originally aired Apr. 17, 1981)
  • "Danny" (originally aired May 15, 1981)
  • "Patterns" (originally aired May 22, 1981)
  • "The Phenom" (originally aired Oct. 2, 1981)
  • "Two Godmothers" (originally aired Oct. 9, 1981)
_______
 
^For once, I've actually heard the majority of those songs. I think they played "Tainted Love" a lot on the PA at the university bookstore where I worked for a year back in the '90s. And wasn't it featured as "classical music" in Doctor Who: "The End of the World?"
 
I'll leave that for somebody who watched Doctor Who to answer.

ETA: A bit of Goggling confirms that it was.
 
"Tainted Love," Soft Cell

(Jan. 16; #8 US; #4 Dance; #12 Rock; #1 UK)

"867-5309/Jenny," Tommy Tutone

(Jan. 23; #4 US; #1 Rock)

"We Got the Beat," Go-Go's

(Jan. 30; #2 US; #7 Rock)

"Do You Believe in Love," Huey Lewis & The News

(Feb. 6; #7 US; #12 Rock)

"I Love Rock 'n Roll," Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

(Feb. 6; #1 US the weeks of Mar. 20 through May 1; #31 Dance; #1 Rock; #4 UK; #484 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time)
I know and love all of those songs! Was crazy about the Go-Gos. My girlfriend at the time looked a lot like Belinda Carlisle.
 
^ Damn you, man, they've got That Girl! :brickwall: :lol:
Haha, so they do. :rommie:

Ooh, they've got Gumby.
mellow.gif


Peter Mark Richman (Ellis Jordan) cut a very long path in fantasy TV--
And everywhere else. He was one of those character actors who would pop up everywhere, and was always a welcome sight. He even played Chrissy's father on Three's Company.

"Tainted Love," Soft Cell
Not bad. It wasn't one of my favorites at the time, but it's got a pleasant nostalgic tinge to it now.

"867-5309/Jenny," Tommy Tutone
Haha. One of the all-time great 80s one-hit wonders. :rommie:

"We Got the Beat," Go-Go's
This is also a classic-- as was that whole album.

"Do You Believe in Love," Huey Lewis & The News
Here's somebody else I'm afraid to say anything bad about for fear of incurring my Sister's wrath. :rommie: But I actually like Huey Lewis. He's not great, but he was carrying the torch for classic Rock and he does decent work.

"I Love Rock 'n Roll," Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Another fantastic 80s Rock classic, even better than "We Got The Beat."
 
Intrigued to see that SVENGOOLIE is showing "Medusa Vs. Son of Hercules" tonight.

I think I remember watching that as a kid . . . .
 
It's nice to see Sven getting the prime-time slot. I'm not really into Sword-and-Sandal stuff, though.

I watched the first episode of My Favorite Martian and it was fine. There was one commercial (maybe two) and there seems to be a Hulu connection. I'm tempted to watch an episode of Space: 1999 now. I'm not sure if that would be considered masochism....
 
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