The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) Proof Positive (1980) User Reviews

Good episode that focuses exclusively on Jack McGee

[ODDBear · 7/10 · 31 October 2008]

Obsessed with finding out the Hulk's true identity, National Register reporter Jack McGee may even loose his job due to his relentless pursuit of every possible clue that delivers nothing in the end. Now he must convince his new editor that the pursuit is worth it or else...his ass is grass.

You gotta feel bad for Jack McGee. Although his motives are somewhat selfish, he's the only one who really really wants to discover the truth about the Hulk's human alter ego. On his endless quest for a cure, David Banner has revealed his true identity to a number of people but the one who's most interested is always in the dark. Granted, McGee's investigative intelligence is somewhat limited as most viewers agree he really should have figured this out by now.

Well, discussing this particular episode "Proof Positive" is an oddity in "The Incredible Hulk" as it's the only episode of the entire series not to feature Bill Bixby. Instead we get to follow Jack McGee and see just how much his pursuit of the Hulk has affected his life.

It's a solid episode which really gives the excellent Jack Colvin a chance to shine. He's a first rate actor and you really couldn't imagine the series being complete without him. Now, as most people know, the series had an open ending (that is; it was canceled) and McGee never found out the truth about David Banner being the Hulk.

"Proof Positive" is an interesting episode, not one of the best but a definite must-see for a fan 'cause this is the only episode that focuses exclusively on McGee.

The Obsession

[AaronCapenBanner · 7/10 · 20 November 2014]

Unusual episode in which star Bill Bixby does not appear, as instead Jack McGee(Jack Colvin) takes center stage as the National Register is temporarily taken over by the publishers daughter(played by Caroline Smith) whose first change is to remove Jack from the Hulk story, which she considers a waste of time. Jack, who is obsessed with the Hulk at the exclusion of all else, tries to change her mind as he ignores his new assignment to track down the latest lead on the Hulk. Walter Brooke makes his first appearance as his editor friend Mark Roberts. Interesting episode that does work without Bill this time, as Colvin proves up to the challenge here, though Bixby is still missed!

Good Jack McGee episode but sad for other reasons.

[teekay71 · 6/10 · 31 December 2013]

This is a very good episode that brings Jack McGee (Jack Colvin) to center stage and centers around his obsession with finding the Hulk. It's also an episode where McGee shows admiration for the Hulk and doesn't always refer to him as a killer. This was also the only episode that Bill Bixby was not in for the entire 5 season run. They used "flashback" sequences to include Bixby's character and used a disguised stand-in for the one time you see David Banner in the steel mill (no close-up and wearing welding goggles). All in all, the episode is very good due to how it opens up the McGee character the most of any of them.

From a real life perspective, this episode is kind of sad because it marks the beginning of a tragic series of events in Bill Bixby's life. Bixby wasn't available for filming of the episode due to his divorce proceedings with his first wife, Brenda Benet. Bixby and Benet had one son, Christopher. Later in season 3, after the divorce was final, Bixby and Benet did a TIH episode together, The Psychic. They did it for the sake of Christopher to show to him that his mom and dad could still get along. Both this episode and The Psychic aired in 1980. In the winter of 1981, Christopher died while on vacation with Brenda. He was only 6 years old. Then, in early 1982, Brenda Benet took her own life, unable to cope with the loss of her son.

It's been said that Bill Bixby never really fully recovered from these tragic events that happened in relatively short order. I guess that would be understandable.

Bill Bixby's day off

[Chase_Witherspoon · 6/10 · 9 December 2011]

When Patricia Steinhauer (Smith) is appointed publisher of her father's newspaper, she quickly discovers that resident Hulk-chaser Jack McGee's (Colvin) one-eyed obsession with uncovering the Hulk's origins are costing the paper its rank and file stories, and his antics have ostracised him from his peers at the paper. McGee is painted here as a man possessed by the Hulk, akin to an alcoholic whose life ambition has deteriorated to a single-minded mission to uncover the Hulk's origin.

It's an interesting premise focusing exclusively on the Jack McGee character to the extent that Bill Bixby doesn't appear in the episode, albeit through a couple of brief flashbacks. Caroline Smith playing the feisty publishing exec is an attractive and engaging actress, and so it surprised me to learn that her filmography had been so limited. Colvin is given his only opportunity at centre stage in the series, and gives his character some much needed depth, even hinting at a romantic interlude.

Might not appeal to those who tune in exclusively to see the green man show up for his two set-destroying scenes, but a useful character diversion in the context of the series.

My 2 cents.

[kevoneeye2 · 8 April 2011]

This is a strange but quite good Hulk episode with some strong acting from Jack Colvin (Jack McGee). We actually see a more positive side to McGee than the sometimes annoying reporter who turns up too late and just annoys the people who've met Banner. He actually has some sort of positive vendetta regarding catching "John Doe" than the front page headline we were always lead to believe he was after. We see him admit that he is always just one step behind catching him and his true goal is to prove that McGee himself isn't crazy in this cross state goose chase. At one point he even quits his job in protest which i quite admired.

This episode does not feature Bill Bixby (bizarrely enough!)so what they did is just include a lot of stock footage of previous episodes in the form of McGee looking back on his quests.

One part that did make me question the writers hurried episode without Bixby was the first Hulk out. We see Banner (AKA a man in the distance with a hard hat and goggles on) at a steel works run when he sees McGee then trip over. Now i don't think tripping over justifies a Hulk out but that's what they did. I mean David usually takes a few good punches before he turns but this was a trip on level ground. It's also obvious that this Hulk out was done without Bixby as it was really lame and just included a set of overlapping green eyes on the screen hmmm...

Anyway i'm a true Hulk fan so i'm only being honest but still a good solid episode by Colvin's input.

McGee loses control

[flarefan-81906 · 4/10 · 2 May 2017]

After strutting his acting chops in dual roles last episode, Bixby takes a break, with Banner appearing only in footage of past episodes and a cameo in which he is portrayed by a stunt double. McGee takes center stage... a McGee who has become so obsessed with the Hulk that he's dropped all other investigations, has daily nightmares, and even hallucinates that people he sees are the Hulk. His obsession has not escaped the attention of the National Register's new publisher, the old publisher's attractive daughter, and she orders McGee off the Hulk.

Initially it seems this episode will be a clip show as McGee explains the Hulk to his publisher with lots of stock footage playing. This ends before too long, though, and it's actually used pretty effectively as the clips are well integrated with an often thought-provoking narration. The rest of the ep has some good exploration of McGee's character, and as usual Jack Colvin is excellent in his role.

The climax, sadly, drops the ball. The bulk of the episode emphasizes that McGee has taken his obsession with the Hulk to unhealthy levels - again, the man is *hallucinating* - but the resolution to his conflict with his publisher is that they track down Banner, she witnesses him change into the Hulk, and becomes a believer in Jack's quest. This, even after she stated in very clear terms that even if the Hulk exists, McGee should not be pursuing him to the exclusion of all else. It's not a fitting resolution to what the episode was building, and it does nothing to alleviate our new concerns about McGee.

Incidentally, what's up with pretty young women and McGee? In "The Confession" he had one proclaiming that he's her hero, and in this ep we have one who wants to get in his pants.

Nice idea but very weak implementation

[whatch-17931 · 5/10 · 22 April 2021]

It's a pretty good and reasonable premise, but ultimately severely lacking. It just goes in such repetitive circles between the boss and McGee. It probably would have been better if they had trimmed that and put in more clips.

There is a funny shot in the plant where the Hulk just goes bounding by. I think it's funny because it's pretty far out of the blue compared to how we usually witness the Hulk.

There's a stand in for Bixby as Banner that is surprisingly bad. He jumps frantically around in ways Bixby never does. He was probably directed to do this, as a standard TV double technique, but it's way too much. I suppose we can wank it as McGee or his boss's perception of Banner.