Max Headroom (Season 0)

Television networks battle one another in an unrelenting ratings war. Whoever controls the airwaves controls the dystopic world in which they broadcast. So when Network 23's star reporter, Edison Carter, uncovers a deadly secret that could shake up the station's dominion over its viewers, the only option is to eliminate Carter before he can make his story public. After Carter's "accident," his mind is uploaded to create the world's first self-aware, computer-generated TV host — Max Headroom! But will Max bow to his creators? Or will he be the key to his human alter ago bringing down a network superpower?

  • Poster for Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future

    Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future (Episode 1)

    Writer: Steve Roberts

    Air date: 1985-04-04

    Runtime: 57 min

    Overview: In the post-apocalyptic future where television sets are more important than food, TV ratings are the all important currency of the nation. A new technique of preventing viewers from channel surfing proves somewhat detrimental to particularly sedentary couch potatoes. The top studio becomes concerned: dead viewers make for low ratings. Edison Carter, top news reporter, is sent to find out more. After a motorcycle accident, his mind is preserved by wizz-kid Bryce and becomes his wise cracking, computer generated alter-ego: Max Headroom, who manages to boost ratings above those of any live hosts to date. This made for TV movie was later remade (sanitized version) as the first episode of the series.

  • Poster for Live on Network 23: The Story of Max Headroom

    Live on Network 23: The Story of Max Headroom (Episode 2)

    Runtime: 60 min

    Overview: The biography of Max Headroom, including interviews with creators George Stone, Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton, executive producer Peter Wagg, producer Brian Frankish and writers Steve Roberts and Michael Cassutt.

  • Poster for Looking Back at the Future: A Cast Round Table

    Looking Back at the Future: A Cast Round Table (Episode 3)

    Runtime: 36 min

    Overview: An intimate roundtable discussion including cast members Amanda Pays, Jeffrey Tambor, Concetta Tomei and Chris Young focusing on Max Headroom - the character, the series and beyond!

  • Poster for The Big-Time Blanks

    The Big-Time Blanks (Episode 4)

    Runtime: 12 min

    Overview: Cast members Morgan Sheppard and Concetta Tomei reflect on Max Headroom and their lasting friendship over 20 years later.

  • Poster for The Science Behind the Fiction

    The Science Behind the Fiction (Episode 5)

    Runtime: 12 min

    Overview: Cocreator George Stone discusses real technology's place in the history of Max Headroom.

  • Poster for The Writers Remember

    The Writers Remember (Episode 6)

    Runtime: 11 min

    Overview: Steve Roberts and Michael Cassutt explain the process of writing for Max Headroom.

  • Poster for Producing Dystopia

    Producing Dystopia (Episode 7)

    Runtime: 8 min

    Overview: Brian Frankish recalls the trials and rewards of creating a world set 20 minutes into the future.

  • Poster for Karl-Lorimar Max Headroom Sweepstakes

    Karl-Lorimar Max Headroom Sweepstakes (Episode 8)

    Runtime: 5 min

    Overview: When originally broadcast on British television, the one-hour Max Headroom TV movie was preceded by Max narrating an introduction teaser for a contest. After the movie, Max returned with the contest rules. These snippets were included on the original Lorimar videotape of the British movie.

  • Poster for Paranoimia Music Video by the Art of Noise

    Paranoimia Music Video by the Art of Noise (Episode 9)

    Runtime: 4 min

    Overview: The Paranoimia music video from English synth-pop group The Art of Noise was a remix of an original song featured on the band's second album, "In Visible Silence." It was released in 1986 and featured Max Headroom.

  • Poster for Coke Commercial

    Coke Commercial (Episode 10)

    Runtime: 1 min

    Overview: As the global spokesperson for New Coke, Max Headroom made a series of commercials featuring the tagline, "Catch the Wave!"

  • Poster for Car Parts Commercial

    Car Parts Commercial (Episode 11)

    Runtime: 1 min

  • Poster for Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future - Extended Cinemax Version

    Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future - Extended Cinemax Version (Episode 12)

    Writer: Steve Roberts

    Air date: 1985-04-04

    Runtime: 60 min

    Overview: In the post-apocalyptic future where television sets are more important than food, TV ratings are the all important currency of the nation. A new technique of preventing viewers from channel surfing proves somewhat detrimental to particularly sedentary couch potatoes. The top studio becomes concerned: dead viewers make for low ratings. Edison Carter, top news reporter, is sent to find out more. After a motorcycle accident, his mind is preserved by wizz-kid Bryce and becomes his wise cracking, computer generated alter-ego: Max Headroom, who manages to boost ratings above those of any live hosts to date.

Max Headroom

Seasons