WTF Happened to Max Headroom? (1987)

66,279

2,199 0

Published 2022-05-16

One of the oddest pop culture favourites of the eighties has to have been Max Headroom. Played by Matt Frewer, Max Headroom was supposed to be a computer-generated, wisecracking being of pure television. In reality, it was Frewer in a mask, shown against a crazy background, that made him look computer animated - at least by eighties standards. The character made his debut in a British short film called Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future. It was a massive hit in Britain, and Max became an unlikely star, with him hosting music video countdown shows and chat programs in the UK.

Eventually, the idea was hatched to spin Max off into a legit, live-action TV show. The short film was essentially remade for American TV, with Matt Frewer and co-star Amanda Pays recreating their roles. The result show was a big enough hit to get a second season, but it was cancelled due to heavy competition for hit shows such as Miami Vice. Yet, the show remains a cult classic, and indeed, it’s a brilliant program for its era. Join us on this episode of Gone But Not Forgotten as we examine this cult hit.

This episode is written by Jessica Dwyer, narrated by Travis Hopson, and edited by Michael Robenault. David Arroyo is the producer. Watch previous episodes below and let us know in the comments if you remember Max Headroom!

For more MOVIE NEWS, visit: www.joblo.com/

SUBSCRIBE for more of all the LATEST JoBlo Videos here: goo.gl/R9U81J

#MaxHeadroom #MattFrewer #GoneButNotForgotten

All Comments (21)

@JoBloOriginals 2 years ago

Hey guys! This episode of GBNF was made from suggestions from fans who emailed us demanding this show be covered on this series. If you want to make suggestions for future episodes of GBNF then e-mail GBNFSeries@gmail.com/ and maybe we’ll cover your show!
@thespicemelange.1 2 years ago

They were trolling us before there was such a thing because they were basically telling us what they were doing and are still doing to us today. And we just can't get enough of it.
@MickeyKnox 2 years ago

I remember seeing this as a 10-12 year old kid in the late 80s over here in Germany ... it was so absolutely different from anything else I'd seen so far, and probably that's why it was so fascinating.
@SanFran51 2 years ago

Fun fact. Even ABC's Standards and Practices at the time loved the show.... to the point they turned up to the wrap party congratulating them!
@tec5x5 2 years ago

Matt Frewer is a legend
@TLVR_007 2 years ago

What a week for Max Headroom fans! First a great homage to Max in Ami Yamato's video, and now a full history essay!
@Silver-rx1mh 2 years ago

Oh god this takes me back! I ended up working on the UK Max headroom chat shows back in the day and helped make some of his 'computer' outfits including the smoking jacket and scarf for the Christmas special. Frewer was a great and patient guy. Great times! ETA Oh and I thought the American 'copy' was bloody awful! lol
@saltytexasranger6301 2 years ago

Matt Frewer was awesome in the remake of Dawn Of The Dead (2004). Where as your ideas of a re-born Max Headroom taking on the horrid corporate media machine is totally awesome, it would only happen independently. No YouTube, NETFLIX or HULU would ever green light something that would fight against the narrative.
@glazdarklee1683 2 years ago

Just a few days ago I was in a meeting at work and mentioned Max Hedroom. Most of my coworkers had no idea who this was. This is what I get for working in tech.
@stanhenderson9928 2 years ago

That's it, Ryan Reynolds should start a production company and remake Max Headroom as a mini/ reg series. It would weirdly quippy and awesome.
@rob832 1 year ago

I'm always amazed by the accurate predictions of the future that occur, such as Max Headroom. The downside, of course, is you never realize it at the time. You only ever see the accuracy of the prediction in the..... future.
@asifkhan4822 2 years ago

I remember watching Max Headroom on Channel 4 starting with this TV movie that started it all in 1985. It was kind of a weird futuristic hybrid. It was also one of Character actor Matt Frewer in the lead role. It was sort of the pioneer of the internet.
@ministerofdarkness 2 years ago

So glad I was a kid in the 80s! Bring back Max!
@MadDragon-lb7qg 2 years ago

I was lucky enough to meet W.Morgan Sheppard before he passed away. Really great fella!
@cartoonfan959 2 years ago

please consider - Street Hawk - Captain power and the Soldiers of the Future - Sledge Hammer
@wstine79 2 years ago

I only saw few of the episodes, but I remember seeing Max Headroom all over the place in 1987. Even seeing the MAD parody "Max Hogroom."
@GregsGameRoom 2 years ago

Kept expecting the Back to the Future 2 parody that was in the Cafe 80’s. “You must try the anchovy special!”
@archer1949 2 years ago

I was too young to be aware of the TV show, but I remember the Coke Commercials featuring Max Headroom vividly. Matt Frewer was very good as a villain on Orphan Black.
@Phoenix250 1 year ago

I loved Max so much that I used to beg my parents to record him on both beta max and vhs so I could rewatch him sometimes!
@JessicaDwyer 2 years ago

This was one of the most fun to have written guys, I hope you enjoyed it. I loved this show growing up and there was some crushing on Matt Frewer, no lie. W Morgan Sheppard though was a king.