MeTV's SuperSci-Fi Saturday Night
- Thread starter JD
- Start date
Interesting. Only time will tell. The 1974 series only produced 14 episodes, so if added to the Saturday line-up, it would only stretch a few months before rinse and repeat time. If ME-TV created a special summer block (ex. The Summer of ME, etc.), only for fantasy, there's a number of very short-lived series that would be welcome additions, such as the Hammond Spider-Man, The Time Tunnel or V. ME-TV ran The Green Hornet (26 episodes) in the wee hours of Saturday mornings over a year ago, and never found a good slot--but it would be a prefect fit for a summer fantasy block.
Notice the Super Sci-Fi Saturday tag on the page...it's pretty similar to what they did with TIH a few months back.
It was a good show. It actually premiered the same night as The Night Stalker, and I believe there was an episode of Six-Million-Dollar Man in between (not all on the same network). That was a good night for the 13-year-old me.
Planet of the Apes was actually the very first TV show that I bought on DVD. They had brought it out to coincide with the release of the horrible remake, I think.
Planet of the Apes was actually the very first TV show that I bought on DVD. They had brought it out to coincide with the release of the horrible remake, I think.
I haven't watched Kolchak myself, but it's on Netflix streaming.
I've got that in my Netflix queue, but I haven't watched it because I want to start at the beginning with the movies, and they aren't on Netflix.
If you can deal with them being in segments, this youtube channel has both of the movies and some of the series episodes.
https://www.youtube.com/user/naysgrace/videos
"Life and Death"---
NOTE: writer James D. Parriott's script was of such a serious, potentially controversial nature that for the first time in Incredible Hulk history, the first act of the episode came with an all caps, on-screen warning usually reserved for end credits:
With that, the cure-related episode begins with hitchhiking "David Bernard" meeting Carrie Taylor--a pregnant woman also making her way on the road. Hitchhiking once again, David and Carrie arrive in Marysville, Oregon.
In conversation, David mentions he has a younger sister, although we will not see her in the flesh until season three's "Homecoming."
David also mentions that he misses his wife very much. After all this time on the run, and would-be romances here and there, its a nice nod to the series history (and David's character) that Laura might be gone, but not forgotten.
Carrie unknowingly tips off her emotional state and possible intent when she says:
Carrie arrives at a gated property called Matrix, and buzzed in by someone sounding not too friendly.
David reaches his destination--a hospital called Blanchard where he seeks the help of Dr. Stan Rhodes to perform an experimental separation of the additional adenine-thymine link in his DNA--in theory, a link to "excessive aggression."
Continuity nod: this is the third time adenine-thymine had been mentioned after "The Incredible Hulk" pilot, and "The Beast Within".
Rhodes notes that the dangerous experiment has not been approved by the AMA (American Medical Association), the hospital or any government agency ( to perform it would be illegal), but David--despite that and the dangers of injecting a mutant cell into his brain, agrees to be their 1st human test subject.
Working with a single strand of David's DNA, Rhodes explains--
All seems promising, with Rhodes going on to say that his work might (one day) be able to correct congenital defects before the baby is born. Again, all seems promising until a woman is admitted with blood loss, claiming Matrix--Carrie Taylor's destination--took her baby. Rhodes feigns ignorance about Matrix.
Alarmed, David goes to Matrix looking for Carrie, and learns that Carrie--under the idea that she cannot take of a child alone--intends to give it Matrix--which serves as a black market facilitator of babies to those who can afford them. David suggests state homes and aid for mothers in her situation, but she disregards his advice.
Unbeknownst to David, Rhodes arrives and complains to Ellen--head of Matrix--of the accidental release of the girl he just treated. Rhodes--tied to this organization (supplying babies used in experiments) considers backing out, if not for the illegal operation providing support for his genetic experiments. Ellen and Rhodes see David talking to Carrie, become suspicious that they might be blackmailers or the police, so Ellen presses Rhodes to get rid of David--through the risky experiment.
David signs a notarized patient release (taking all responsibility from the hospital) and under x-ray guidance, David is strapped into a device too keep him immobile while receiving the injection--only David sees that the needle is too short to reach the hypothalamus, and struggles to free himself, only it is too late; Rhodes injects him with an intended lethal dose of morphine sulphite. Rhodes explains his actions, even apologizing, before leaving...and Banner transforms into the Hulk.
Still under the influence of morphine, the Hulk wanders the halls in a semi-daze, jumps down an elevator shaft, and finally reaches the outside lawn of the institute. Transforming back to David, he's still greatly affected by the morphine. At Matrix, Carrie is set to deliver her baby at the hands of Rhodes, who intends to giver her a lethal injection.
Meanwhile, at Blanchard, young Dr. Crosby orders the woman who--in her delirium, said Matrix took her baby--off of the sedatives ordered by Rhodes earlier. The woman manages to reveal info about Rhodes' involvement in the selling of her child, prompting Crosby to alert the police.
Carrie reconsiders giving up her child, but Rhodes & Ellen continue with the procedure, while the still-dazed David reaches Matrix, entering, but triggering another Hulk-out when he falls. Breaking into the delivery room, the Hulk attacks Rhodes and Ellen's lackey, hands Carrie her newborn daughter, but is run off by the police.
Safe at the hospital, Carrie--now with her daughter--bids farewell to David, who needs to leave before McGee arrives to interview her. Carrie asks if he found success with his reason for coming to the hospital, and he replies, "No, but this time it was for the better."
Banner narrowly misses being spotted by McGee, but his usual quick thinking saves him again.
Placing the warning at the beginning of the episode becomes clear in this sobering, darker story exploriing themes that are still relevant today. "Life and Death" dealing with experimentation on infants all for the name of medical progress, black market selling of infants was not the common prime time story, and certainly heads and shoulders above most TV superhero scripts written up to that time (and many in the decades to follow). Frankly, from the care in handling the Rhodes / Carrie side of the story, to the continued, intelligent exploration of the cause/cure for the Hulk introduced in the pilot, "Life and Death" ranks as one of the best episodes of the series.
Andrew Robinson (Dr. Stan Rhodes) is best remembered as "Scorpio," the Zodiac Killer-inspired gunman/rapist from the classic Clint Eastwood crime drama, Dirty Harry (1971). Star Trek: Deep Space Nine fans will easily recall his performance as Garak in many episodes of the spin-off.
Like other TIH guest stars, Robinson would face another CBS comic book hero in "The Con Caper," a September, 1978 episode of The Amazing Spider-Man.
Diane Cary (Carrie) had a long association with both Kenneth Johnson & James D. Parriot; she guest starred on three episodes of The Bionic Woman, had a recurring role in Johnson's V & V: The Final Battle and an episode of Johnson's Alien Nation. She found her way into episodes of Parriot's Voyagers!, Misfits of Science, and Forever Knight.
Carl Franklin (Dr. Crosby) might be best remembered as Dr. Fred Walters on the short-lived sci-fi series The Fantastic Journey opposite Roddy McDowall, Jared Martin and Ike (Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan) Eisenmann.
Of course, Julie Adams (Ellen) became of the most celebrated female heroines of classic Hollywood horror in her role as Kay Lawrence--the object of attraction for The Creature from the Black Lagoon (Universal, 1954), and also appeared in episodes of Rod Serling's Night Gallery ("The Miracle at Camafeo") & Kolchak: The Night Stalker ("Mr. R.I.N.G").
NOTE: writer James D. Parriott's script was of such a serious, potentially controversial nature that for the first time in Incredible Hulk history, the first act of the episode came with an all caps, on-screen warning usually reserved for end credits:
With that, the cure-related episode begins with hitchhiking "David Bernard" meeting Carrie Taylor--a pregnant woman also making her way on the road. Hitchhiking once again, David and Carrie arrive in Marysville, Oregon.
In conversation, David mentions he has a younger sister, although we will not see her in the flesh until season three's "Homecoming."
David also mentions that he misses his wife very much. After all this time on the run, and would-be romances here and there, its a nice nod to the series history (and David's character) that Laura might be gone, but not forgotten.
Carrie unknowingly tips off her emotional state and possible intent when she says:
Carrie arrives at a gated property called Matrix, and buzzed in by someone sounding not too friendly.
David reaches his destination--a hospital called Blanchard where he seeks the help of Dr. Stan Rhodes to perform an experimental separation of the additional adenine-thymine link in his DNA--in theory, a link to "excessive aggression."
Continuity nod: this is the third time adenine-thymine had been mentioned after "The Incredible Hulk" pilot, and "The Beast Within".
Rhodes notes that the dangerous experiment has not been approved by the AMA (American Medical Association), the hospital or any government agency ( to perform it would be illegal), but David--despite that and the dangers of injecting a mutant cell into his brain, agrees to be their 1st human test subject.
Working with a single strand of David's DNA, Rhodes explains--
All seems promising, with Rhodes going on to say that his work might (one day) be able to correct congenital defects before the baby is born. Again, all seems promising until a woman is admitted with blood loss, claiming Matrix--Carrie Taylor's destination--took her baby. Rhodes feigns ignorance about Matrix.
Alarmed, David goes to Matrix looking for Carrie, and learns that Carrie--under the idea that she cannot take of a child alone--intends to give it Matrix--which serves as a black market facilitator of babies to those who can afford them. David suggests state homes and aid for mothers in her situation, but she disregards his advice.
Unbeknownst to David, Rhodes arrives and complains to Ellen--head of Matrix--of the accidental release of the girl he just treated. Rhodes--tied to this organization (supplying babies used in experiments) considers backing out, if not for the illegal operation providing support for his genetic experiments. Ellen and Rhodes see David talking to Carrie, become suspicious that they might be blackmailers or the police, so Ellen presses Rhodes to get rid of David--through the risky experiment.
David signs a notarized patient release (taking all responsibility from the hospital) and under x-ray guidance, David is strapped into a device too keep him immobile while receiving the injection--only David sees that the needle is too short to reach the hypothalamus, and struggles to free himself, only it is too late; Rhodes injects him with an intended lethal dose of morphine sulphite. Rhodes explains his actions, even apologizing, before leaving...and Banner transforms into the Hulk.
Still under the influence of morphine, the Hulk wanders the halls in a semi-daze, jumps down an elevator shaft, and finally reaches the outside lawn of the institute. Transforming back to David, he's still greatly affected by the morphine. At Matrix, Carrie is set to deliver her baby at the hands of Rhodes, who intends to giver her a lethal injection.
Meanwhile, at Blanchard, young Dr. Crosby orders the woman who--in her delirium, said Matrix took her baby--off of the sedatives ordered by Rhodes earlier. The woman manages to reveal info about Rhodes' involvement in the selling of her child, prompting Crosby to alert the police.
Carrie reconsiders giving up her child, but Rhodes & Ellen continue with the procedure, while the still-dazed David reaches Matrix, entering, but triggering another Hulk-out when he falls. Breaking into the delivery room, the Hulk attacks Rhodes and Ellen's lackey, hands Carrie her newborn daughter, but is run off by the police.
Safe at the hospital, Carrie--now with her daughter--bids farewell to David, who needs to leave before McGee arrives to interview her. Carrie asks if he found success with his reason for coming to the hospital, and he replies, "No, but this time it was for the better."
Banner narrowly misses being spotted by McGee, but his usual quick thinking saves him again.
Placing the warning at the beginning of the episode becomes clear in this sobering, darker story exploriing themes that are still relevant today. "Life and Death" dealing with experimentation on infants all for the name of medical progress, black market selling of infants was not the common prime time story, and certainly heads and shoulders above most TV superhero scripts written up to that time (and many in the decades to follow). Frankly, from the care in handling the Rhodes / Carrie side of the story, to the continued, intelligent exploration of the cause/cure for the Hulk introduced in the pilot, "Life and Death" ranks as one of the best episodes of the series.
Andrew Robinson (Dr. Stan Rhodes) is best remembered as "Scorpio," the Zodiac Killer-inspired gunman/rapist from the classic Clint Eastwood crime drama, Dirty Harry (1971). Star Trek: Deep Space Nine fans will easily recall his performance as Garak in many episodes of the spin-off.
Like other TIH guest stars, Robinson would face another CBS comic book hero in "The Con Caper," a September, 1978 episode of The Amazing Spider-Man.
Diane Cary (Carrie) had a long association with both Kenneth Johnson & James D. Parriot; she guest starred on three episodes of The Bionic Woman, had a recurring role in Johnson's V & V: The Final Battle and an episode of Johnson's Alien Nation. She found her way into episodes of Parriot's Voyagers!, Misfits of Science, and Forever Knight.
Carl Franklin (Dr. Crosby) might be best remembered as Dr. Fred Walters on the short-lived sci-fi series The Fantastic Journey opposite Roddy McDowall, Jared Martin and Ike (Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan) Eisenmann.
Of course, Julie Adams (Ellen) became of the most celebrated female heroines of classic Hollywood horror in her role as Kay Lawrence--the object of attraction for The Creature from the Black Lagoon (Universal, 1954), and also appeared in episodes of Rod Serling's Night Gallery ("The Miracle at Camafeo") & Kolchak: The Night Stalker ("Mr. R.I.N.G").
"Life and Death": The legal disclaimer at the start is certainly surprising. I suppose it was to let it be known that private clinics aren't really in the baby-selling business, so as not to scare people away from such places.
A lot of familiar faces here, Andrew J. Robinson being the top of the list, along with the Gill-Man's main squeeze and one-piece swimsuit popularizer Julie Adams. Plus Kenneth Johnson repertory player Diane Civita, and the screen debut of Sarah Rush -- who would shortly thereafter begin a recurring stint as Flight Corporal Rigel on Battlestar Galactica -- as the young mother in the hospital.
This is probably the best episode James Parriott has done yet, with some nice callbacks to the pilot and one of the most cure-oriented plots yet. The science discussed by Dr. Rhodes and David is relatively plausible, or at least no worse than the pilot's. There are some interesting directorial touches by Jeffrey Hayden, notably in the transformation scenes. The Hulk's-eye view of his vision whiting out as he changes back to David is a nice variation, and it's an inspired idea to show the stages of David's second transformation by progressively changing hands climbing the stairs. I wouldn't say the middle part with a zombie-esque David staggering mutely around is all that compelling, but it was an interesting variation seeing the Hulk's most laid-back rampage yet as he struggled against the poison's effects in the hospital. (They kind of cheated the symptoms of a morphine sulfate overdose, as well as mispronouncing it as "sulfite," perhaps deliberately. Symptoms may include breathing difficulties, low blood pressure, drowsiness, constipation, nausea, vomiting, seizures, or coma. No mention of blurry vision specifically. The Hulk and David were certainly drowsy, but there was no sign of respiratory or digestive difficulties or seizures.)
Worth noting, though, that the Hulk is following his comics counterpart's fashion sense for once -- yes, he has purple pants! Also note the shot where Bill Bixby's stunt double Frank Orsatti rather blatantly tries (and fails) to hide his face before a stunt fall down a hill. Lou Ferrigno's stunt double Manny Perry is also visible in the Hulk's clearly wire-assisted fall down the elevator shaft and his subsequent jump off the clinic balcony.
David's getting a sense of humor about his condition. He tells Carrie that it's "nothing to get worked up about." And even though he's willing to risk death to cure his "excess aggression," I've never been more sure that he was deliberately trying to agitate himself into a Hulk-out after Rhodes injected him. I mean, why else would he have fought so hard against the restraints instead of just holding still and screaming for help at the top of his lungs? He knew his regenerative processes are accelerated when he Hulks out, and he probably realized it was his only chance of fighting the poison. That's consistent with what he said to Carrie at the end, that his procedure failed but this time it was for the best. He does recognize that being the Hulk sometimes does some good.
A lot of familiar faces here, Andrew J. Robinson being the top of the list, along with the Gill-Man's main squeeze and one-piece swimsuit popularizer Julie Adams. Plus Kenneth Johnson repertory player Diane Civita, and the screen debut of Sarah Rush -- who would shortly thereafter begin a recurring stint as Flight Corporal Rigel on Battlestar Galactica -- as the young mother in the hospital.
This is probably the best episode James Parriott has done yet, with some nice callbacks to the pilot and one of the most cure-oriented plots yet. The science discussed by Dr. Rhodes and David is relatively plausible, or at least no worse than the pilot's. There are some interesting directorial touches by Jeffrey Hayden, notably in the transformation scenes. The Hulk's-eye view of his vision whiting out as he changes back to David is a nice variation, and it's an inspired idea to show the stages of David's second transformation by progressively changing hands climbing the stairs. I wouldn't say the middle part with a zombie-esque David staggering mutely around is all that compelling, but it was an interesting variation seeing the Hulk's most laid-back rampage yet as he struggled against the poison's effects in the hospital. (They kind of cheated the symptoms of a morphine sulfate overdose, as well as mispronouncing it as "sulfite," perhaps deliberately. Symptoms may include breathing difficulties, low blood pressure, drowsiness, constipation, nausea, vomiting, seizures, or coma. No mention of blurry vision specifically. The Hulk and David were certainly drowsy, but there was no sign of respiratory or digestive difficulties or seizures.)
Worth noting, though, that the Hulk is following his comics counterpart's fashion sense for once -- yes, he has purple pants! Also note the shot where Bill Bixby's stunt double Frank Orsatti rather blatantly tries (and fails) to hide his face before a stunt fall down a hill. Lou Ferrigno's stunt double Manny Perry is also visible in the Hulk's clearly wire-assisted fall down the elevator shaft and his subsequent jump off the clinic balcony.
David's getting a sense of humor about his condition. He tells Carrie that it's "nothing to get worked up about." And even though he's willing to risk death to cure his "excess aggression," I've never been more sure that he was deliberately trying to agitate himself into a Hulk-out after Rhodes injected him. I mean, why else would he have fought so hard against the restraints instead of just holding still and screaming for help at the top of his lungs? He knew his regenerative processes are accelerated when he Hulks out, and he probably realized it was his only chance of fighting the poison. That's consistent with what he said to Carrie at the end, that his procedure failed but this time it was for the best. He does recognize that being the Hulk sometimes does some good.
The Incredible Hulk
"Life and Death"
Originally aired May 12, 1978
Definitely a cure-related episode with some undercover doctor play in it (though it's not crucial to David figuring out what's going on, he just happens to be in the right place at the wrong time).
I have to wonder if the disclaimer wasn't to avoid legal issues because they loosely based the episode on a real-world account? There's also the conspicuous use of a specific place name onscreen immediately following the disclaimer, as if to say, "See? This happened someplace else!"
IMDb said "Barnard," but the way Bixby pronounced it and multiple Google hits support "Bernard".
Yes, a nice touch of continuity to be...and Diana Muldaur is indeed four years younger than Bixby.
Dr. Garak's role in enthusiastically facilitating David's cure (prior to David crossing paths with Matrix) reminds me a lot of Samuel Sterns in the TIH movie. It's also a relative novelty for the series to have David so overtly seeking help with his condition.
Sort of reminds me of Thunderball.
-24:53, keeping the trains on time.
Hulk...STONED! "Hulk in an elevator"...Aerosmith could probably do something with that.
The Hulk fluttering down the shaft looked very fake.
It's a nice touch that one Hulk-Out doesn't enable David to fully bounce back from something that should have killed him...and consistent with how David will deal with serious injuries later in the series. Of course, everything taking two Hulk-Outs suits the format.
The first mentions of McGee having gotten wind of the Hulk's appearance at the hospital seem way too soon...David is still stumbling around outside after changing back.
I thought it was an interesting touch how Dr. Crosby unraveled the scheme without any involvement from David.
-7:52
It would have been a hoot if the creature had picked up and carried Julie Adams instead of the lackey!
And in case you hadn't already gotten the memo that Ferrigno's Hulk was all warm and fuzzy, here he's gently picking up babies! Speaking of fuzzy, though, what's with some of the shots in that scene, where you can see the Hulk and the detectives in the same shot? You'd think there'd been some effects work involved.
The end of the episode establishes that David will be traveling North from Oregon...we'll see if there's any continuity with the next episode.
And we get another painfully long goodbye scene when McGee should be popping into the room at any second...but also one of the more memorably clever evasion moments with David ducking into the drinking fountain.
Note that we seem to have gotten a stock Lonely Man scene this episode, as David is not only wearing different clothes, but seems to be dressed for warmer weather than he was at the hospital, in a turtleneck and jacket.
I thought she looked a little familiar!
And how did I miss that!?!
That I did notice!
I also like the subtle dark humor of:
"Life and Death"
Originally aired May 12, 1978
Definitely a cure-related episode with some undercover doctor play in it (though it's not crucial to David figuring out what's going on, he just happens to be in the right place at the wrong time).
I have to wonder if the disclaimer wasn't to avoid legal issues because they loosely based the episode on a real-world account? There's also the conspicuous use of a specific place name onscreen immediately following the disclaimer, as if to say, "See? This happened someplace else!"
IMDb said "Barnard," but the way Bixby pronounced it and multiple Google hits support "Bernard".
Yes, a nice touch of continuity to be...and Diana Muldaur is indeed four years younger than Bixby.
Dr. Garak's role in enthusiastically facilitating David's cure (prior to David crossing paths with Matrix) reminds me a lot of Samuel Sterns in the TIH movie. It's also a relative novelty for the series to have David so overtly seeking help with his condition.
Sort of reminds me of Thunderball.
-24:53, keeping the trains on time.
Hulk...STONED! "Hulk in an elevator"...Aerosmith could probably do something with that.
The Hulk fluttering down the shaft looked very fake.
It's a nice touch that one Hulk-Out doesn't enable David to fully bounce back from something that should have killed him...and consistent with how David will deal with serious injuries later in the series. Of course, everything taking two Hulk-Outs suits the format.
The first mentions of McGee having gotten wind of the Hulk's appearance at the hospital seem way too soon...David is still stumbling around outside after changing back.
I thought it was an interesting touch how Dr. Crosby unraveled the scheme without any involvement from David.
-7:52
It would have been a hoot if the creature had picked up and carried Julie Adams instead of the lackey!
And in case you hadn't already gotten the memo that Ferrigno's Hulk was all warm and fuzzy, here he's gently picking up babies! Speaking of fuzzy, though, what's with some of the shots in that scene, where you can see the Hulk and the detectives in the same shot? You'd think there'd been some effects work involved.
The end of the episode establishes that David will be traveling North from Oregon...we'll see if there's any continuity with the next episode.
And we get another painfully long goodbye scene when McGee should be popping into the room at any second...but also one of the more memorably clever evasion moments with David ducking into the drinking fountain.
Note that we seem to have gotten a stock Lonely Man scene this episode, as David is not only wearing different clothes, but seems to be dressed for warmer weather than he was at the hospital, in a turtleneck and jacket.
I thought she looked a little familiar!
And how did I miss that!?!
That I did notice!
I also like the subtle dark humor of:
"Then you're alone, too."
"Sort of."
"Sort of."
Yes, I noticed those shots. They had the kind of graininess that results from doing an optical zoom/enlargement of a portion of a larger frame of film (like the shot of David at the end of the titles that split-screens with the Hulk). They must've shot the scene with a wider angle and then decided in editing that they needed a closer shot, or maybe they intended to shoot both wide and close but didn't have time to get the coverage, so they cheated by zooming in optically on the wide shots they had. Or maybe there was a flaw in the wide shots that they had to zoom in to hide because they didn't have time to retake them. I remember some similar editorial cheats in "Of Guilt, Models, and Murder." It wasn't uncommon in '70s Universal shows, I think.
Nope. Remember, next week is our third movie-footage episode, "Earthquakes Happen," built around footage from Earthquake and therefore set in Los Angeles.
Oh, I didn't notice. In fact, I thought the light-colored sportscar that zoomed by David in the closing "Lonely Man" scene was the same sportscar that zoomed by David and Carrie at the beginning.
Oh! Took me a moment.
That's on DVD, too, which I have. But I'd love to see MeTV show some of these old one-season wonders, just for the sake of potentially exposing them to a new audience.
Well, worth it. It's one of my all-time favorite shows. Darren McGavin is fantastic, and each episode is like a mini movie.
I've never thrown anything--I kept mine bottled up. My skipping heart loves it.
I'd be down with that.
Way back when, before DVDs, I used to wish that some channel would organize some kind of "Showcase" scheduling block where they'd show short-lived SF shows that got a season or less (as was the case with most SF shows back then). Maybe even adopt a "wheel" format where they'd cycle through several different series in the same time slot. I think the early SciFi Channel did rerun a lot of short-lived, long-lost genre shows, but by the time I got cable, they were doing less of it.
I would love to see it, but I don't know if this means anything. I'm pretty sure I've seen them post stories about shows they don't air. I guess this could be a way to subtlety see if there is enough interest in the show to make it worth picking up.
I would love to see pretty much any of the shows you guys mentioned up thread.
