Max Headroom 

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

Stars:

Matt Frewer, Amanda Pays, Chris Young

Won 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
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 13 episodes, 1987-1988
Hank Garrett	...	Ashwell / ... 12 episodes, 1987-1988
William Morgan Sheppard	...	Blank Reg 7 episodes, 1987-1988
Concetta Tomei	...	Blank Dominique 7 episodes, 1987-1988
Sharon Barr	...	Lauren 7 episodes, 1987-1988

Storyline

20 minutes into the future, the world has become imbued network-television. It's illegal to turn off your TV, and televisions are given to the needy. In this world, Network 23 has a highly-rated news program with a roving reporter named Edison Carter. But Carter uncovers a plot to cover up lethal "blipverts" and is almost killed. In the process his mind is copied into a computer and the computer-generated personality "Max Headroom" is born. Together, Max and Edison, along with Edison's controller (Theora), their boss (Murray), their boss' boss (Ben Cheviot), and Network 23's boy-genius (Bryce) combat crime, placate sponsors, defeat rival networks, and turn in stories. 14 episodes.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as series title | max headroom character | two word series title | g4tv | future | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Did You Know?

Trivia

After the show was initially canceled in the second season (after drawing minimal ratings after being moved to Friday nights, against Dallas (1978) and Miami Vice (1984)), Max Headroom made a final announcement, paraphrasing (and imitating) Winston Churchill: "We will fight them on the streets of Dallas... We will fight them on the streets of Miami... Vice... and if the ratings book lasts for a thousand years, they will say this is Max Headroom's finest hour."

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Quotes

Edison Carter: Bryce, what are you doing?
Bryce Lynch: Well, I've discovered a new color and I'm working on a magnet that attracts wood.
Edison Carter: What are you doing right *now*?

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Alternate Versions

The first episode is a remake of the British film Max Headroom (1985) (TV).

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Connections

Spoofed in Spaceballs (1987)

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Soundtracks

Golf
Words and Music by Michael Bramon
Performed by Matt Frewer and Michael Bramon

User Reviews

The Granddaddy of Post-Apocalyptic TV

Before "Revolution" ... Before "Dark Angel" ... Before "Falling Skies" and "The Walking Dead" ... There was Max.

"Max Headroom" was the first cyberpunk, post-apocalyptic TV show EVER (way back in 1987).

Max was decades ahead of its time. The show predicted such things as identity theft, the Internet, the webcam, and the fusion of media and government. (One episode even mourned the closure of movie theaters. Today, thanks to Netflix and video-on-demand, that has now come to pass.)

In a word, Max was prophetic. The hip, trendy post-apocalyptic shows that you're seeing today owe a great debt to Max Headroom.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 March 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into the Future

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chrysalis/Lakeside, Lorimar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min (14 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1