Why Stephen Spielberg Hated This Hulk Episode

The first season episode of the Incredible Hulk, “Never Give a Trucker an Even Break” was a great episode that one of the greatest directors of all time, Steven Spielberg hated.

Why did Spielberg hate it? The episode used footage from Spielberg’s TV movie the Duel which he made him angry, and you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry. He couldn’t do anything about it though, since, Universal owned both the Hulk TV show and “The Duel” starring Dennis Weaver.  

He did learn something though. After that he always insisted a clause be in his contracts to protect his movies from being used as stock footage. Regardless, of Spielberg’s feelings toward the episode, it was one of the best of the series.

The scenes in question are related to the red Plymouth shown in the episode and the old beat up big rig truck. On the movie Dennis Weaver is harassed by a truck driver the entire movie and pretty much scared out of his mind.

 Duel originally aired as a part of the ABC Movie of the Week series on November 13, 1971 and then a international theatrical release.

The Incredible Hulk episode, “Never Give a Trucker an Even Break” aired on April 28, 1978, on CBS.

The title, of the episode is a play on the 1941 W.C. Fields movie, “Never Give a sucker an even break.

In this episode, Jennifer Darling guest stars. She had just finished the Bionic Woman and Six Million Dollar Man series where she played Oscar Goldman’s secretary, Peggy Callahan.