Past Tense - Catch The Blue Wave Part III




Among my "Max" stuff is this book based on the original program. Man, "Max Headroom" had a long road to become an iconic part of the 1980s.

20 minutes into the future, television is the only growth industry as the networks grapple with one another in an unrelenting ratings battle. Network 23 has become the top station due to the creative genius of its manipulative producers, who have developed the mind-blowing Blipverts. But Edison Carter, crack reporter, aims to expose the deadly side effects of Blipverts. Follow Edison through his nightmare journey to the truth and into his future as the world's first computer-generated TV host, Max Headroom.
- back cover

This book was published twice. First for the United Kingdom market from Corgi Book in 1985, the source nation. And later in America by Random House, Inc. in 1986. I own that; retailed for $5.95.



From left to right; Max on screen, Edison Carter (Frewer), Bryce Lynch (Young), Theora Jones (Amanda Pays), Murray (Carter's TV producer; actor Jeffrey Tambor) and Network 23 President Ben Cheviot (Coe).

For the TV series, Bryce was made an unwitting victim of Grosburg who redeems himself. In the original program, Bryce (Paul Spurrier) he was just as wicked as his boss and was arrested too.

The road...

This whole thing started as a telefilm (well one hour long with commericals) in England on Channel Four; aired April 4th, 1985 (fifty-seven minutes long). This was so different and popular at the time, an original. Naturally it would come to America. The cable channel, Cinemax bought the U.S. rights and ordered more footage - twenty-six minutes of new scenes were added, bringing to mostly feature length at eighty-three minutes.

Cinemax didn't air it as a movie; they broke it into four episodes. These parts aired on October 16th, 23rd and 30th with the last on November 6th of 1986.



No joking this was highly popular - viewers didn't know how it was done. It''s an actor with a glued on foam head with vinyl, partial, two part - business suit top, above. That arm isn't his. That's the make-up person, sealing up the seam, material on their hand. As you can see, the top hasn't been cleaned up yet. Add to this simple effect was the moving, CGI multi-colored wireframe in the background (added in post, a blue screen) to complete with reflective contact lenses. His speech and motion were jumbled, like losing a video connection on your mobile.

After the program aired in England in 1985; Max was given his first show - a music video program where he was the virutal host who would interrupt and jump into various videos giving his commentary. This ran two seasons on Channel Four, a total of nineteen episodes. For the second season, Max interviewed artists and bands, a precursor to his later talk show. Sadly, it appears all those episodes were lost.

The second show happened in 1986 and it happened again, but this time, some episodes survived, some. Max's talk show was co-produced by Channel Four and Cinemax and aired on both. It ran for two seasons with a Christmas special; eighteen shows.



Something I discovered while researching - when "Max Headroom: The Original Story" was released in American from Lorimar Home Video (VHS, Betamax and LD - above left) in 1986 it wasn't the expanded version. But the original fifty-seven minute program. As far as I can tell in my research it was never given a home video treatment. Yes - that Shout Factory box set, does not include the original program. The laser disc above had a price tag of $24.95, CLV single side. I have that LD. The same version was also released on laser disc in Japan in 1987 from TDK Super Video (above right), CLV too - sold for 9800 JPY.

Those old VHS and Betamax copies had a gate folded box; it opened up to show scenes from the program.

What remains of this talk show was released exclusively on laser disc in Japan, a few episodes each on four three. Plus a 'Best Of' from those episode pool.

1986 was the year of Max. He reached media awareness with a series of national commeircals for Coca Cola, the virtual personality became their cyber spokes person. His catch phrase, "Catch The Wave, Coke". This was for "New Coke". Many of these commericals can be found on YouTube.

Then comes 1987 and ABC aired the sci-fi show, expanding the universe. The show was so ahead of the curve. It predicted the internet, crypto-currency, terrorists become reality TV stars even had an episode with a rival network trying to create a false flag for ratings. It had something else, the instant ratings on media, plus for profit news. And of couse 'reality TV'.

There was a short return - one more time; 2007, four commercials on Channel Four; an elderly Max telling folks about the upcoming switch to digital only TV broadcasts. Somewhat bitter he's been left being when he was on the forefront of the video revolution.

There is something that I discovered while researching. There were three scripts made before the plug was pulled on the show. The entire cast is still alive. Why not just animate it? Could be life-like CGI or flat like "Archer". "Theora's Tale"...

As a corporate shooting war breaks out in Antartica between Zik Zak and Zlin, Theora is missing and Murray tries to calm Edison and get him aboard a special Air Corridor shuttle to cover the story. Theora has, in fact, been kidnapped by mercenaries of the Video Freedom Alliance who have found out about Theora's true identity and are demanding a huge ransom for her release.
- internet synopsis

I would love to see that.



He was so popular even appeared on the cover of "Mad Magazine", their March 1987 issue ($1.35).

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Footnotes.

For the 1989 Adult Video Awards - the XXX version of the Oscars. "Maxine" was nominated for six awards. But won just one, "Best Art Direction".

It was nominated for "Best Actress for Shot-On-Video Feature" - Porsche Lynn; "Best Actor for Shot-On-Video Feature" - Robert Bullock; "Best Suporting Actress for Shot-On-Video Feature" - Sharon Mitchell; "Best Shot-On-Video Feature" and "Best Video Editing".

The feature was directed by Joseph F. Robertson a.k.a. Adele Robbins with a story by Arthur King; written by King and Steve Sayer.

Why was a shot on film movie, nominated for Video Editing? All the 'Maxine' footage was pre-recorded on cassette to play with the actors to interact with. Plus the complex editing done for the SexVerts. But to be honest, the flick is so amateur, shouldn't gotten any noms, let alone wins.



Well this was different - an exclusive for a porno, what a time to be alive. And yeah, she doesn't wear those sunglasses in the movie. In a couple of scenes you can see early Apple computer products. On the desk of Packard is an early Macintosh computer. And the trailer of "Sex Wars" is every porn cliché wrapped in a poorly produced sci-fi package. Back in the day - was anybody convinced? Roger Corman had better production values. *nods* Come back here on March 11th, 2021 for something different - not another Past Tense, but a cinematic comparison. Been wanting to do that for a long time.