That "The Lone Ranger" Thread (Now with SPOILERS)) .

[Emerkeith Davyjack]

What it said .

  Early reviews of Johnny's newie that I've seen have NOT been good , with the San Francisco Chronicle's Mick LaSalle giving it that paper's equivalent of zero stars.........

[ClarkKent_DC]

Ron M. said:

True but the Hulk's name should be the same in every medium. Although of course even Stan couldn't keep his name straight. 

 

True; in the early days, Banner was "Bruce Banner" in one story, "Bob Banner" in another, and "Robert Bruce Banner" in a lame attempt to reconcile the mistake. The TV character has a different name ... and a different back story, and less power, and no ablility to speak ...

... and comics are comics and TV is TV, etc., and so forth. 

[Ron M.]

The comic book Hulk did appear on tv. Unfortunately he was horribly animated. But the stories were great.

[Commander Benson]

 Ron M. said:

True but the Hulk's name should be the same in every medium. Although of course even Stan couldn't keep his name straight. He said the tv show made a mistake and called Banner David before he could correct them, which is why his tombstone says "DAVID ROBERT BANNER."

Actually, the name on the tombstone, in the television series, read:  "David Bruce Banner" . . . .

But I take your point, and I agree with you.  In most cases, there is no valid reason to change the character's name when he changes media.  What was possibly gained or improved when Glen Larson/Universal/NBC changed the name of the lead from "Anthony 'Buck' Rogers" to "William 'Buck' Rogers"?  Particularly considering the fact that the only time the audience heard his formal forename was in the opening narration.

[Ron M.]

Ah. It's been a long time since I saw the show and Stan was unclear on whether it was David Robert or David Bruce. By the time he'd written the article I guess he'd already forgotten which it was. It's harder than I thought to keep Hulk's name straight.

I know the intro was by Ted Cassidy, who looked more like Kirby's Hulk than Lou Ferrigno, but was in terrible health at the time and I believe he died while the show was still on the air.

[Mr. Silver Age]

What was possibly gained or improved when Glen Larson/Universal/NBC changed the name of the lead from "Anthony 'Buck' Rogers" to "William 'Buck' Rogers"? 

My guess would be that the guys who sit around all day trying to insert themselves into the creative process to justify why they have a job decided in one of their long dry spells that the name "Anthony" could possibly sound too "ethnic" to some of the audience, and they needed a real American name. 

I would guess that's also why the TV Hulk's name was changed--it's not like it was still a question by the time the TV show began as to what Banner was called. They might have decided that "Bruce" might sound a big "weak" to some of the audience, so they changed it.

-- MSA

[Ron M.]

They could have gone with Robert for the Hulk, but then they might have been unaware that Stan had established Bruce was his middle name.

[Ron M.]

Not sure where to post this, but James Garner found dead of natural causes. Checked wikipedia just a couple of minutes ago and there was no mention of it. Googled his name and during the few seconds that took someone added his death to his wikipedia page.

[ClarkKent_DC]

Ron M. said:

Not sure where to post this, but James Garner found dead of natural causes. Checked wikipedia just a couple of minutes ago and there was no mention of it. Googled his name and during the few seconds that took someone added his death to his wikipedia page.

The thing to do is launch a new thread in the appropriate forum. As James Garner was a TV and movie actor, it would go there, in the Movies and TV forum, with a title along these lines: "Bob Hastings - RIP", "RIP Bob Hoskins" or "R.I.P. David Brenner -- 1936-2014"

Like so: "R.I.P. James Garner -- 1928-2014"

[Randy Jackson]

I'm wondering...

As I recall, back in the 1970's, the name "Bruce" somehow became a derogatory catch-phrase for gays. Perhaps that's why they changed it.  Perhaps.  Perhaps I'm mis-remembering.

[Commander Benson]

Randy Jackson said:

As I recall, back in the 1970's, the name "Bruce" somehow became a derogatory catch-phrase for gays. Perhaps that's why they changed it.  

I remember reading somewhere that the connotation that had developed regarding the name "Bruce" was, indeed, why it was changed to "David Banner" for the series.

I also remember thinking, when I came across that bit of information:  you have Banner given a sensitive, in-touch-with-his-feelings portrayal by Bill Bixby and every episode concludes with that tinny, fey piano score, and the producers are afraid that the name Bruce is the thing that's going to make the show look gay?

[ClarkKent_DC]

Randy Jackson said:

As I recall, back in the 1970's, the name "Bruce" somehow became a derogatory catch-phrase for gays. Perhaps that's why they changed it.  

Commander Benson said:

I remember reading somewhere that the connotation that had developed regarding the name "Bruce" was, indeed, why it was changed to "David Banner" for the series.

I also remember thinking, when I came across that bit of information:  you have Banner given a sensitive, in-touch-with-his-feelings portrayal by Bill Bixby and every episode concludes with that tinny, fey piano score, and the producers are afraid that the name Bruce is the thing that's going to make the show look gay?

I remember that MAD magazine neatly skewered this belief in its spoof of the Incredible Hulk TV series: A character asks Banner why his name in the comics is different than it is on the TV show, and he answers that the producers changed it because "Bruce" was thought to be too weak -- 

-- and in the background, there's a TV set tuned to the Olympics, showing Bruce Jenner winning a gold medal! as the announcer gushes "BRUCE IS THE GREATEST ATHLETE IN THE WORLD!!!" 

[Philip Portelli]

I remember that from MAD too.

And it's not just Bruce Jenner. What about Bruce Wayne? Or Bruce Lee?

I read that the producer didn't want the standard Comic book double initial name while forgetting his star was Bill Bixby!