"Max Headroom" (1987) TV series 1987-1988

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Directors:

Janet Greek
Victor Lobl

Writers:

Howard Brookner (writer)
David G.B. Brown (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

31 March 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Plot:

In the near future, an intrepid investigative TV reporter does his job with the help of his colleagues and a computerized version of himself.

Plot Keywords:

Television | Totalitarianism | Television Flop | Cyberpunk | Artificial Intelligence

Awards:

Won 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Matt Frewer	...	Edison Carter / ... (14 episodes, 1987-1988)
Amanda Pays	...	Theora Jones (14 episodes, 1987-1988)
Chris Young	...	Bryce Lynch (14 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Murray (14 episodes, 1987-1988)
George Coe	...	Ben Cheviot (14 episodes, 1987-1988)
Lee Wilkof	...	Edwards (14 episodes, 1987-1988)
William Morgan Sheppard	...	Blank Reg (7 episodes, 1987-1988)
Concetta Tomei	...	Blank Dominique (7 episodes, 1987-1988)
Virginia Kiser	...	Mrs. Formby (6 episodes, 1987)

Also Known As:

Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into the Future (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

60 min (14 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L (season 1)

Company:

Chrysalis/Lakeside

Trivia:

The "Max Headroom" sign is the British equivalent of "Maximum Clearance".

Quotes:

Breugel: The loudest sound in the universe is the last heartbeat.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Chuck: Chuck Versus the Sizzling Shrimp (#1.5)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Golf

The most brilliant TV series ever made

Anyone who has Taped episodes, contact me. This was on FX?? When?

This was the most clever, prescient, witty, well produced, and subversive TV series ever created. I saw some of the shows, but then was expeditioning and missed many. MAX HEADROOM (the 85-86 TV series- I'm not familiar with the other permutations)was brilliant on 5 levels at once, like old Firesign Theatre skits, where one can watch again and again and see different levels each time. The money and production values were unprecedented (now each ER costs $14mil, God nows what Friends runs) in it's sly depiction of a media controlled hilarious nightmare world. Gonzo droll Matt Frewer did bang-up work as both a real TV reporter, controlled by the lush Amanda Pays via continuous links, and the sly double-entendreing computer generated Max. This was a searing critique of media run amok- everything was some brilliant trashing of some current or future trend (with Fear Factor losing me forever at the bull penis eating portion, they were prophetic). It saddens me that Frewer is trapped in lame para-psychological claptrap when he was so good in this unknown gem. Mike Hammerschlag