Max Headroom

Watch Max Headroom

  • 1987
  • 2 Seasons
  • 7.3  (2,968)

Max Headroom is a science-fiction television series that aired on ABC for two seasons from 1987 to 1988. It starred Matt Frewer as the eponymous character, who is a computer-generated talking head. The show is set in a dystopian future where corporations have replaced governments, and the media has become the dominant force in society.

The series was created by George Stone, Annabel Jankel, and Rocky Morton, and was based on a British TV movie of the same name. The show broke new ground in terms of its use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) to create the character of Max Headroom, who was a pioneer in the field of digital animation.

The show's premise revolves around Edison Carter, a hard-hitting investigative journalist played by Frewer, and his struggles against the might of the massive media conglomerate Network 23. Carter's reporting leads him to uncover a wide-ranging conspiracy that involves the Network's shady practices, including corporate espionage and assassination.

In an effort to silence him, Network 23 engineers a car crash that nearly kills Carter. However, his consciousness is uploaded into a computer system, where it merges with an experimental artificial intelligence program, creating the entity known as Max Headroom.

Max Headroom has the appearance of a computer-generated talking head, with a stuttering, glitchy manner of speech that makes him instantly recognizable. He possesses a quick wit and sharp tongue, and is constantly jumping between humorous quips and biting political commentary.

Throughout the show, Max serves as a sidekick to Carter, popping up on computer monitors and television screens to offer guidance and advice. He also interacts with the other characters, including Theora Jones, Carter's producer, and Bryce Lynch, a rival journalist.

The show's themes revolve primarily around the dangers of corporate media and the struggle for individual freedom in a society that is increasingly dominated by technology. Max Headroom represents a digital voice of dissent, unencumbered by the limitations of the human body and able to operate beyond the reach of the Network's control.

Despite its relatively short run, Max Headroom remains a cult classic and a landmark in the history of science-fiction television. It was highly praised for its commitment to groundbreaking CGI and was lauded for its political commentary, which continues to resonate with audiences today.

Max Headroom was also known for its innovative storytelling, which was ahead of its time. Each episode was structured as a stand-alone story, but there were also recurring subplots and a larger overarching arc that ran through the entirety of the series. This unconventional approach allowed the show to tackle a wide range of issues and themes, from the dangers of corporate greed to the ethics of AI and the nature of consciousness.

In conclusion, Max Headroom was a groundbreaking television show that pushed the boundaries of what was possible with digital animation and storytelling. It remains a cult classic today, and its themes and commentary continue to resonate with audiences.

Max Headroom is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (14 episodes). The series first aired on March 31, 1987.

Max Headroom
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Seasons
Baby Grobags
8. Baby Grobags
April 1, 1997
Edison Carter is on the trail of some rather dark people who are stealing babies from the baby pods where they are grown while Bryce carefully considers working for Grossberg and channel 66.
Lessons
7. Lessons
May 5, 1988
Network 23 censors go a step too far when they try to shut own a secret school in the fringes, because it's using pirated Network 23 instructional programming.
Neurostim
6. Neurostim
April 28, 1988
Zik-Zak introduces Neurostim, a device to directly stimulate the brain and bypass the need to use television for advertising.
Whackets
5. Whackets
October 16, 1987
A video narcotic is causing people to leave their TVs tuned to Big Time Television twenty-four hours a day.
Dream Thieves
4. Dream Thieves
October 9, 1987
Some shady entrepreneurs are stealing people's dreams and selling them to the highest bidders. Edison goes undercover to expose their lethal business.
Grossberg's Return
3. Grossberg's Return
October 2, 1987
Rival Network 66 attempts to defeat Network 23 in a ratings-based election by introducing a "watch while you sleep" device into its programming to cause people to leave their TV sets on all night.
Deities
2. Deities
September 24, 1987
The Vu-Age Church is running a phony resurrection service, claiming to be able to store cortical scans of its members and keep them on-line for the day when cloning is perfected and their personalities can be placed in new bodies. Edison is reluctant to pursue the story because Vu- Age's leading televangelist, Vanna Smith, is an old flame.
Academy
1. Academy
September 18, 1987
Network 23 becomes the victim of signal zipping - illegal interruption of their satellite feed. When Bryce tracks the zipping to Big Time Television, Reg is arrested and sent for trial by gameshow on "You the Jury". Meanwhile Edison and Theora trace the real zippers to the Academy of Computer Sciences, and Bryce's old schoolfriends.
Description
Where to Watch Max Headroom
Max Headroom is available for streaming on the ABC website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Max Headroom on demand at Amazon, Vudu, Microsoft Movies & TV and Apple TV.
  • Premiere Date
    March 31, 1987
  • IMDB Rating
    7.3  (2,968)