Max Headroom was the most brilliantly written show ever to be be put on television. Set in the not to distant future amidst a semi post apocalyptic world. Reporter Edison Carter has uncovered a very scary secret. The network he works for has produced and aired commercials that kill people due to their sedentary lifestyle. This show not only hit hard against the greed and politics of network television but bit the hand that fed as well. Tackling issues such as censorship and manipulating the news to fit whatever slant the network feels fit. Matt Frewers double duty as both Edison Carter and Max Headroom was excellent and I am extremely surprised his career didn't boom because of this show ( or maybe it was doomed because of it). This was a show that was way ahead of it's time in film style, topics, and dialog and I applaud ABC for having the guts to air it at the time (it was after all the late 80's, a time when the networks pretty much dictated what you liked and didn't like). Spoiler warning During the first episode Edison Carter, a reporter for Network 23, has made a startling discovery during a news story. His network has been airing commercials that have been compressed into 30 second intervals. These "Blipverts" cause such a massive sensory overload that the viewers head literally explodes. While being chased by network thugs Edison befalls the accident that results in the creation of Max Headroom. While fleeing these thugs he hits a parking barrier that reads " Max. Headroom 5m." The executive chairman takes Edisons body to his boy genius to hook him up to a computer to search his mind to find out how much he really knows and by doing so inadvertently creates Max Headroom. By the end of the first episode Edison finally recovers to deliver the truth to the viewing audience and thus begins the next 13 episodes. This is a show that begs to be revived and taken out of the body-banks (those of you who are fans get the reference). It's content warned us about so many societal pitfalls and network manipulations that have surprisingly come to pass. Max Headroom himself went on to become something of a "15 minute" variety icon due to his quirkiness but never the less this show deserved better and I can truly say that if it was aired on a cable network it's possible it may still be on the air. Mainly because modern times have provided such great source material. If you are looking for a completely original and intelligent show to watch I can highly recommend this to anyone.
Review of Max Headroom
Max Headroom
(1987–1988)
Max Headroom...The original talking head.
6 September 2007
Warning: Spoilers