Max Headroom

Blipverts

Season 1, Episode 1, Aired 3/31/87

Episode Summary

In the near future, it will be illegal to have a television that can be shut off. Ratings are all that matters. To improve ratings, Network 23 creates "Blipverts." Blipverts are high speed commercials condensed into a few seconds and embed themselves into the viewers mind. Unfortunately, a few viewers have exploded while watching them. Network 23 star reporter, Edison Carter, discovers that the Network executive Ned Grossberg is aware of the problem and is covering up the issues. Ned decides to replace Edison with a computer stimulated version of Edison. Bryce Lynch creates this computer simulated version, who calls himself Max Headroom.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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Jeffrey Tambor

Murray
George Coe

Ben Cheviot
Amanda Pays

Theora Jones

Fan Episode Reviews (1)

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So cool.

10

"Perfect"

By sfviewer, Aug 21, 2006 Report Abuse

Max headroom is perhaps one of the best sci fi shows during the 80s. It's a look at a distant future that maybe happening right now. It had a very cool premise, what if the world is controlled by tv corporations. TVs are banned from being turned off. Edison Carter is a cool character and his computer generated sidekick Max makes a good supporting character. Edison and Max makes a really cool duo. The effects might be outdated in this show, since it was the 80s, but the stories are really well written. The plot is really enticing, it's a very watchable show.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Max Headroom was the first show filmed at 30 frames per second rather than 24. This reduces production costs. Edit
- In this episode subliminal messages were explored. It is ironic that this show actually used subliminal images on each episode. This episode gives Fred Raimondi and Cliff Ralke subliminal credits in the Zik-Zak montage. Their names superimposed over an Asian man's face. This happened after Max says, "two minds, but with one single memory". Edit
- In a day and age when we make computer images to look like humans. When Max Headroom was being produced, they had to make a human actor look like a computer image. Edit
Notes
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- Max's image was actually actor Matt Frewer in latex and foam rubber prosthetic makeup with a fibreglass suit, superimposed over a moving geometric background. Edit
- Zik Zak is the corporate owner of Network 23. A corporate owner is responsible for most of the network's advertising. The network owner of each station has control of the revenue and uses the network for political purposes. It is a powerful position. Edit
- Tele-elections are how the politicians in the future are selected. Every network has a candidate. The person with the highest rating wins the political office. Edit
Quotes
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- Max Headroom: This is Max Headroom on Network 23 and I and I and I know that right now you're looking at me and you're thinking: "Wow! Wow! He could become a star!" So so before you get the wrong idea about me, let me just say very humbly: "You're right, I could!" Edit
- Theora: Murray, I'm going to need a live news feed override with an open air queue sometime in the next forty-five minutes. Murray: What's up? Theora: I've got a story that's going to blow this network! Murray: Well, who's in the field? Theora: Edison Carter. Murray: Theora... he's dead. Grossberg is holding a press conference this morning. Theora: Well, then, I guess Edison will be broadcasting from the grave. How's that for a story? Edit
- Max: How can you tell when our president is lying? His lips move. Edit
Allusions
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- The President of Network 23 is named Ped Xing. It could be a Chinese name. It is also a common American traffic sign. It is the abbreviation for pedestrian crossing. Edit
- The character Max Headroom got his name because, in the original story, Edison Carter crashed into a traffic gate labelled "MAX HEADROOM 2.3m." When Edison's was knocked unconscious and his brain was digitized. The last image on his mind was the traffic gate labell. When Max was created his first words were Max Headroom. Edit
- Theora says: I know all about little boys. Carter turns this into an innuendo. Theora means something else that we found out about in episode two. She is referring to her younger brother. Edit