Max Headroom
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Max Headroom
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| Episodes: | 14 |
| Year: | 1987-1988 |
| Country: | United States |
| Seasons: | 2 |
| Seasons Breakdown: | (1) 6, (2) 8 |
| Category: | Earth Future |
| Colour: | Yes |
| Format: | Series |
| Company: | Chrysalis/Lakeside and Lorimar-Telepictures |
| Creator: | George Stone, Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel |
| Run Time (mins): | 45-48 |
| Language: | English |
| Type of Show: | Live Action |
| Status: | Ended |
| Broadcaster: | ABC |
| First Aired: | March 31, 1987 |
| Last Aired: | May 5, 1988 |
Summary
Set twenty minutes into the future, the narrative portrays a deteriorating urban landscape in which television has become the dominant and fastest‑growing industry. A fierce ratings war is underway, with Network 23 maintaining a commanding lead through its deployment of blipverts, high‑intensity, subliminal advertisements that compress thirty seconds of commercial content into a three‑second burst, preventing viewers from changing channels. Developed by the network’s teenage computer prodigy Bryce Lynch, blipverts possess a dangerous side effect: under certain conditions, they cause susceptible viewers to explode. Determined to safeguard both profits and ratings, Network 23 president Grossman attempts to suppress any disclosure of the phenomenon.
The situation escalates when the network’s star investigative journalist Edison Carter uncovers evidence of the lethal consequences of blipverts. In response, Grossman and Bryce enlist two disreputable body‑snatchers to apprehend him. A technologically driven pursuit ensues, with Carter’s systems guide, Theora Jones, and Bryce competing for control of the building’s computer‑operated infrastructure. Carter is ultimately injured after colliding with a car‑park barrier. Seeking to conceal Carter’s disappearance, Bryce proposes digitising his memory and physical likeness to generate a computer‑simulated persona for broadcast. This process results in the creation of Max Headroom, named after the final words Carter saw, MAX HEADROOM, on the car‑park sign before losing consciousness.
Carter eventually exposes the truth behind blipverts, while Max is acquired by the financially struggling pirate broadcaster Big‑Time Television, where his glitch‑like stammer, rapid‑fire humour, and distinctive personality quickly make him a major sensation.
Cast
Edison Carter/Max Headroom MATT FREWER, Theora Jones AMANDA PAYS, Ben Cheviot GOERGE COE, Bryce Lynch CHRIS YOUNG, Murray JEFFEREY TAMBOR, Ms. Formby VIRGINIA KISER (1), Ashwell HANK GARRETT (except Eps. 4, 10, 12) , Edwards LEE WILKOF (except Eps. 4, 8, 10, 12) , Blank Reg WILLIAM MORGAN SHEPPARD (except Eps. 1-2, 5, 8-9, 13) , Dominique CONCETTA TOMEI (Eps. 3-4, 6-7, 10, 12 and 14).
Tags: Earth Future, United States, 1987, English
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