Doctor Strange (1978)

Following the success of the Incredible Hulk television show that began airing in 1977, American networks tried to find another Marvel superhero who could captivate the viewers at home. Among their selected candidates was Doctor Strange, a heroic wizard whose comics had attracted a cult audience of children, fantasy nerds, and collegiate stoners ever since he was created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee in 1963. CBS commissioned Philip DeGuere to direct a film that would serve as a pilot for a potential series; exploitation film regular Peter Hooten was cast as Doctor Strange while Jessica Walter, who'd later attain wider fame for her performances in Arrested Development and Archer, played the vampy antagonist. Alas, the TV movie was greeted with nasty reviews and miserable ratings (it was set up against the miniseries Roots, which did not help its chances). Ryan is joined by Cheryl for a closer look at this campy relic of a very specific time and place. Discussion topics include the film's minor innovations, its curious decision to remove Doctor Strange's core character arc, and how it approached the source material's appropriative roots. Because he couldn't help himself, Ryan also delves into the various other attempts to make a Doctor Strange film until Marvel Studios finally managed to produce one in 2016.