The Incredible Hulk
Never Give a Trucker an Even Break
TV Flash files “Never Give a Trucker an Even Break” as hour 9 of 82 in the TV Flash guide — The Incredible Hulk (1977–1982) on CBS, season 1, episode 9, aired 1978-04-28, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E09: listed hour 9 of 82 in the The Incredible Hulk guide, hour 9 of 12 in season 1. It aired 1978-04-28 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “The Hulk Breaks Las Vegas” (S01E08). Next is “Life and Death” (S01E10).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
In Nevada, a group of hijackers led by Ted and Mike steal a semi-truck from the father of a young woman named Joanie as she makes plans to steal it back. David 'Bradford' becomes mixed up in her plans, and is forced to transform into the Hulk to save both of their lives.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Never Give a Trucker an Even Break sit in the The Incredible Hulk guide?
S01E09 is listed hour 9 of 82 — hour 9 of 12 in season 1, season 1 episode 9.
When did The Incredible Hulk S01E09 air?
Never Give a Trucker an Even Break aired 1978-04-28 and is listed at 60 minutes.
Why is he David Banner, not Bruce?
The CBS series used David in a looser comics adaptation. It is classic TV continuity, not later film continuity.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Bill Bixby's David Banner hunts a cure while Lou Ferrigno's Hulk does the misunderstood smash, then the credits send him hitchhiking again. CBS Marvel as tragic road drama: lonely piano, fugitive endings, no quip army. Don't make him angry — the walkaway still hits.
CBS dropped a Marvel property into the 1977 night and programmed it as tragic road drama, not a quip army. The Incredible Hulk (1977–1982) ran five seasons, 82 episodes, loosely adapted by Kenneth Johnson. Bill Bixby is the pathos; Lou Ferrigno is the muscle. The television version used David Banner rather than the later-common Bruce, leaned into fugitive drama, and often ended with Banner hitchhiking onward after the Hulk saved the day. Jack Colvin's Jack McGee pursued. Piano-sad theme replaced comic-book jokes.…
Filed against
- Bill Bixby as Dr. David Banner
Bill Bixby’s Tim O’Hara hid a Martian in a 1960s catalog reporter household, then The Incredible Hulk recast the nice-guy face as David Banner’s tragic road. TV Flash files him as the straight man who learned how to hitchhike: antennae…
- Lou Ferrigno as The Hulk
Lou Ferrigno did the misunderstood smash as the Hulk on The Incredible Hulk — Bill Bixby’s David Banner hunting a cure, CBS Marvel as tragic road drama, lonely piano, hitchhiking credits, no quip army. Don’t make him angry. TV Flash files…
- Jack Colvin as Jack McGee
Jack Colvin’s Jack McGee chased the Hulk with a notebook and no sense of when to quit — tabloid hunger on a CBS road drama that preferred lonely piano to quips. Bill Bixby’s Banner runs; Lou Ferrigno smashes; McGee is the scoop that will…