TV: Complete Series DVD sets of THE INCREDIBLE HULK and KNIGHT RIDER (Oct 21)

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Two popular, modern sci-fi TV series arrive this Tuesday (Oct 21) in special edition DVD sets from Universal Studios. For the first time, both THE INCREDIBLE HULK (1978-82) and KNIGHT RIDER (1982-86) are being released in complete form (every episode), with deluxe box sets showcased in collectible packaging and including many hours of bonus features.

> The Incredible Hulk was produced by Kenneth Johnson, and starred Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. Trivia (IMDB): Because the character of David Banner (Bixby) never has any recollection of his actions as the Hulk, Bill Bixby did not watch Lou Ferrigno perform on set, and Ferrigno was never present for Bixby's scenes.

When the TV series was on the air, Bill Bixby was very careful never to be photographed with Lou Ferrigno in his Hulk makeup because he felt for photos to get out of the two of them together would destroy the illusion to children and fans of the show that they were not the same person. The tabloids of that era were always trying to get a picture of David Banner and the Hulk creature together but were unable to do so.

The word "anger" is the first thing seen onscreen in every episode. The camera pulls out to reveal that it is the word "danger" on the Gamma Ray device. Bill Bixby wouldn't allow his son to watch the show, fearing that it would scare the boy to see his own father transforming into a green-skinned creature.

CBS initially did not want to continue with the series for the fall of 1981, even though the show's ratings were still respectable. Kenneth Johnson claimed that Harvey Sheppard, then head of CBS programming, felt that the series had run its course, and canceled it. With seven new episodes already filmed, Johnson tried unsuccessfully to persuade Sheppard to buy more episodes; also, according to Lou Ferrigno's book My Incredible Life As the Hulk, Bill Bixby talked to other networks about picking up the show, but no deal could be reached in time to keep the series in production. Nevertheless, CBS aired those seven episodes sporadically during the 1981-82 season. Due to the sudden cancellation, the producers never had a chance to plan a series finale, in which David Banner would have been successfully cured of the Hulk.

Creation of the HULK (from Wikipedia): The Hulk (often called "The Incredible Hulk") is a fictional character, a protagonist that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 in May 1962. As one of the most prolific and longstanding personas for the company, Wizard magazine named the Hulk Marvel Comics' 7th "Greatest Character of All Time" in 2008.

The Hulk is cast as an emotional and impulsive alter ego of the withdrawn and reserved physicist Dr. Bruce Banner. The Hulk appears shortly after Banner was accidentally exposed to the blast of a test detonation of a gamma bomb he invented. Subsequently, Banner will often involuntarily transform into the Hulk, depicted as a giant, raging monster, leading to extreme complications in Banner's life. In Hulk: The Incredible Guide, Stan Lee revealed that the Hulk was a combination of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Frankenstein.

While the coloration of the character's skin varies during the course of its publication history, the Hulk is most often depicted as green. As the Hulk, Banner is capable of immense feats of strength, which increases with his feelings of rage and anger. Anger is a common trigger of Banner's transformation. A common storyline is the pursuit of both Banner and the Hulk by the police or the armed forces, due to the destruction he causes.

BONUS FEATURES: The Incredible Hulk
* Presented on 20 single-sided discs
* Original Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono sound
* Collectible HULK packaging
* DISC 1: (Pilot) The Incredible Hulk Audio Commentary by writer, director & producer Kenneth Johnson
* DISC 5: Introduction with Kenneth Johnson
* DISC 5: Married episode Audio Commentary wtih Kenneth Johnson
* DISC 9: Homecoming Bonus Episode (from Season 3)
* DISC 14: Remembering The Incredible Hulk - an American Classic
* DISC 14: The Incredible Hulk (2008 film) Sneak Peek
* DISC 15: Audio Commentary On 2-Part Season Premiere episode Prometheus with Creator/Producer Kenneth Johnson
* DISC 18: Creating an Iconic Character: The Hulk
* DISC 18: Inside An Episode: Prometheus Photo Gallery
* DISC 20: Behind the Success: Story of The Incredible Hulk
* DISC 20: Gag Reel
(Suggested Retail Price - $149.98)

> Knight Rider was created, written, and produced by Glen A. Larson, and starred David Hasselhoff, William Daniels (voice), Edward Mulhare, Richard Basehart, and Patricia McPherson.

Creation of KNIGHT RIDER (from Wikipedia):
"Knight Rider" is an American television series that originally ran from September 26, 1982, to August 8, 1986. The series was broadcast on NBC and starred David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight, a high-tech modern-day knight fighting crime. Michael Knight drove a sentient talking car with artificial intelligence. Conceived and produced by Glen A. Larson, the show was an instant hit. "I wanted to do The Lone Ranger with a car", Larson said in The Last Great Ride. "Kind of a sci-fi thing, with the soul of a western."

In 2008, following the broadcast of a TV movie used as a backdoor pilot, it was announced that a new season of Knight Rider will be put into production with the first new episode to be broadcast in September 2008.

Trivia (IMDB): "KITT" (the Knight Industries Two-Thousand), was a customized 1982 Pontiac Trans-Am. The 1982 model year was the first year of the third-generation (1982-1992) F-bodies (Chevrolet's Camaro and Pontiac's Firebird share the same platform), and was a complete redesign of the second-generation (see Smokey and the Bandit (1977) for a 2nd-gen Trans-Am).

Pontiac, who supplied the Trans Am for the series, found itself swamped with customer requests for black Firebird Trans Ams with T-tops, tan interiors, and red lights on the front bumper, just like the show car.

In many of KITT's jump scenes, the screen jumps to another angle (such as Michael driving) before landing. This is because more often than not, the front end of the stunt car is totaled upon landing.

The second season saw the extensive use of miniatures provided by Jack Sessums for most of the really impossible stuff like jumping over trains, over helicopters, crashing into Goliath and "walking on water". The miniatures of KITT were made to 1/8th scale, modified from the existing commercially available Monogram kit of the 1982 Camaro Z-28 to the same scale.

According to Brandon Tartikoff, the head of programming at NBC during the 1980s, the inspiration for the series came about when NBC executives started complaining about the problems of casting handsome leading men in TV series, because many of them couldn't act. Tartikoff and his assistant came up with a concept for a TV show called, "The Man of Six Words". Each show would begin with the leading man getting out of a woman's bed and saying, "Thank you." Occasionally, throughout the show, the leading man would say, "Okay," when receiving orders from his boss. Then he would chase down some villains and say "Freeze!" Finally, when the people he had saved from death would thank him, he would say, "You're welcome." For the rest of the show, the car would do all the talking. Although Tartikoff had meant the pitch to be a joke, the NBC executives liked the idea of a TV show about a man with a talking car, and approved it for development.

BONUS FEATURES: Knight Rider
* Presented on 24 single-sided discs
* Original Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono sound
* Collectible Packaging - K.I.T.T. Gift Box with Flashing Lights & Sound Chip of the Knight Rider theme (24 Slim Snap-Cases in Outer Box)
* DISC 1: Knight of the Phoenix's episode Audio Commentary with David Hasselhoff and writer/creator Glen Larson
* DISC 6: Knight Moves
* DISC 6: Knight Sounds
* DISC 6: Knight Rider 2000
* DISC 6: Knight Rider: Under the Hood
* DISC 6: Photo Gallery
* DISC 6: Blueprints Gallery
* DISC 6: K.I.T.T. Owners Manual
* DISC 18: bonus episode from Season 4: Knight of the Rising Sun
* DISC 24: The Great 80's TV Flashback
* DISC 24: K.I.T.T. Original Car Blue Prints
(Suggested Retail Price - $139.98)

Synopsis: KNIGHT RIDER
A lone crimefighter battles the forces of evil with the help of an indestructible and artificially intelligent supercar.

Michael Long, a policeman, is shot and left for dead. The shot is deflected by a plate in his head, but ruins his face. He is saved and his face reconstructed. He is reluctant, but agrees to use K.I.T.T. to help the Foundation for Law and Government fight criminals who are 'beyond the reach of the law'.

Shift into high gear as all four season as 85 action-packed episodes of KNIGHT RIDER come together for the first time in one amazing collection! David Hasselhoff is back as charismatic crime fighter Michael Knight, the driver of the world' most dynamic, high-tech talking car, K.I.T.T.

As this brave duo takes on criminals, crooks and those eager to exploit K.I.T.T.'s impressive technology for their own evil purposes, you'll be blown away by their explosive adventures that set the standard for all TV action series to come. With 24 discs tricked-out with an impressive array of bonus features (including a cool collectible gift box featuring the K.I.T.T. light and the Knight Rider theme song!), it's one complete DVD trip you can't afford to miss!

Synopsis: THE INCREDIBLE HULK
Bill Bixby stars in this classic television series inspired by the Marvel comic book, which ran from 1978 to 1982. When withdrawn research scientist David Banner is accidentally exposed to toxic radiation, even the smallest agitation transforms him from man to monster. Bright green and enormous, the Incredible Hulk (Lou Ferrigno) crushes anyone in his path, defeating his enemies left and right. As Banner wanders the open road in search of a cure, he frequently bumps into surprising guest stars and infuriating situtations.

"Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

EVERY THRILLING EPISODE FROM ALL FIVE SEASONS ON DVD! Featuring an amazing slate of guest stars! With over 6 hours of DVD exclusive bonus content featuring show creator Kenneth Johnson. The 82-episode (on 20 discs) Complete Series comes in a Hulked-out collectible box.

NOTE: These collections will be limited and available only while supplies last.

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