Is It True That The Late Bill Bixby Refused to Star in The Hulk If He Was Named Bruce - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-29-2011, 03:56 PM

I always wondered why in the comics The Hulk's real identity was Bruce Banner, but in the Incredible Hulk series, he was named David Banner. Somebody had said to me that Bill Bixby was fearful that the name "Bruce" sounded too "gay." He insisted the name be changed. Hence, David came about. Is this true?

Retro4Life · 09-29-2011, 05:15 PM

From Wikipedia...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Inc...28TV_series%29

Johnson changed the name of the Hulk's comic book alter ego, Dr. (Robert) Bruce Banner, to Dr. David Banner for the TV 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.[9] According to Lou Ferrigno, it was also changed because CBS thought the name Bruce sounded "too gay-ish," a rationale that Ferrigno thought was "the most absurd, ridiculous thing I'd ever heard."[10]

TV Knowledge Fan · 09-29-2011, 08:59 PM

...didn't want Banner to be referred to as "Bruce" for television, but Marvel Comics insisted that name be retained. So, a compromise was reached- on TV, his full name was "David Bruce Banner", but Johnson rarely used the "middle name" in the scripts.

Zoneboy · 09-29-2011, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...didn't want Banner to be referred to as "Bruce" for television, but Marvel Comics insisted that name be retained. So, a compromise was reached- on TV, his full name was "David Bruce Banner", but Johnson rarely used the "middle name" in the scripts.

Source?

tiredmike59 · 09-29-2011, 10:25 PM

That name didn't bother Adam West.

Brian Damage · 09-29-2011, 11:42 PM

Interesting, so Bruce was considered a "gay" name in the 70's? That is so stupid! I actually thought Bill Bixby was gay. It certainly doesn't matter what his orientation was, just thought that.

Mr. Television · 09-29-2011, 11:42 PM

The Name David Bruce Banner was seen in the opening credits when David was visiting his grave.

old grouch · 09-30-2011, 10:03 AM

Of course this was all before Bruce Willis became famous.

MikeLutton · 10-03-2011, 10:53 PM

this been on my mind to sorry to be off topic,but is this true that i think it was Bill Bixby,almost quit the Incredible Hulk.because he was being Bullied by Bullies in an alley and they keept expecting him to become the Incredible Hulk cause of the show he was on.

tv star collector · 10-04-2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Interesting, so Bruce was considered a "gay" name in the 70's? That is so stupid! I actually thought Bill Bixby was gay. It certainly doesn't matter what his orientation was, just thought that.

For the record: Bill Bixby was married three times and had a son by his first wife, actress Brenda Benet (who guest starred in the episode "The Psychic").

Mr. Television · 10-04-2011, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tv star collector

For the record: Bill Bixby was married three times and had a son by his first wife, actress Brenda Benet (who guest starred in the episode "The Psychic").

Bill Bixby was going through some sad times during The Incredible Hulk too. His 6 year old son died unexpectedly in 1981 and his ex-wife Brenda Benet committed suicide in 1982.

TV Knowledge Fan · 10-04-2011, 11:54 AM

Remember the opening title, where David looks at his own grave [from the two-hour pilot episode], 'Zoneboy'? It read, "David Bruce Banner".

DJM77 · 05-26-2013, 11:09 AM

My mom wanted to name me Bruce. I've thanked my dad on many occasions for talking her into naming me David instead.

TVFactFan · 05-26-2013, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

My mom wanted to name me Bruce. I've thanked my dad on many occasions for talking her into naming me David instead.

You would have had the nickname "BRUCIE" as a little boy

DJM77 · 05-27-2013, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

You would have had the nickname "BRUCIE" as a little boy

I'd rather be Davy than Brucie!

09-29-2011, 03:56 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Is It True That The Late Bill Bixby Refused to Star in The Hulk If He Was Named Bruce I always wondered why in the comics The Hulk's real identity was Bruce Banner, but in the Incredible Hulk series, he was named David Banner. Somebody had said to me that Bill Bixby was fearful that the name "Bruce" sounded too "gay." He insisted the name be changed. Hence, David came about. Is this true?
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09-29-2011, 05:15 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	From Wikipedia... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Inc...28TV_series%29 Johnson changed the name of the Hulk's comic book alter ego, Dr. (Robert) Bruce Banner, to Dr. David Banner for the TV 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.[9] According to Lou Ferrigno, it was also changed because CBS thought the name Bruce sounded "too gay-ish," a rationale that Ferrigno thought was "the most absurd, ridiculous thing I'd ever heard."[10]
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09-29-2011, 08:59 PM	#3
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Perhaps Kenneth Johnson... ...didn't want Banner to be referred to as "Bruce" for television, but Marvel Comics insisted that name be retained. So, a compromise was reached- on TV, his full name was "David Bruce Banner", but Johnson rarely used the "middle name" in the scripts.

09-29-2011, 11:42 PM	#7
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	The Name David Bruce Banner was seen in the opening credits when David was visiting his grave.
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10-03-2011, 10:53 PM	#9
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,881	this been on my mind to sorry to be off topic,but is this true that i think it was Bill Bixby,almost quit the Incredible Hulk.because he was being Bullied by Bullies in an alley and they keept expecting him to become the Incredible Hulk cause of the show he was on.
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09-29-2011, 10:25 PM	#5
tiredmike59 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 05, 2010 Location: OUTLAW STATE {MO} Posts: 1,868	That name didn't bother Adam West.

09-30-2011, 10:03 AM	#8
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	Of course this was all before Bruce Willis became famous.

10-04-2011, 11:54 AM	#12
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Source? Remember the opening title, where David looks at his own grave [from the two-hour pilot episode], 'Zoneboy'? It read, "David Bruce Banner".

05-26-2013, 11:09 AM	#13
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,560	My mom wanted to name me Bruce. I've thanked my dad on many occasions for talking her into naming me David instead.
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