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:

future | reporter | television | one liner | deadpan comedy | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

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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

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

[last lines]
Max Headroom: As, 'tis Max Headroom here, and I quote from the bard, Shakespeare, a writer: "The quality of TV is not strained, it dropeth as the gentle ratings dropeth to a very tiny percentage share and, lo, 'tis gone." Of course, Shakespeare would have loved your rating system. Twelfth Night would have been lucky to have lasted *one*!

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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

Featured in Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown (1994)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

The "future" of media that has now become real

I happened on the "Max Headroom: 20 minutes into the future" film on the cable channel Cinemax by accident in 1986 or so. The story, the setting, and the characters drew me in and I was blown away. Then I found out ABC would be doing a version with 3 of the main characters from the UK film - Matt Frewer, Amanda Pays, and William Morgan Sheppard as "Blank Reg".

While the ABC version was a good copy, like any copy, it just wasn't the same. The UK film, talk show, and ABC version spawned Max as a celebrity. He was everywhere including being a pitchman for Coke.

If you want the best "Max Headroom" experience, see the 1985 UK film. But if they ever broadcast the ABC series, see it.

What is ironic is that the motivation for the evil deeds of the corporate owners of Network 23 is what did in this series. It was put up against ratings giants "Dallas" and "Miami Vice" and canceled midway through their only season.