Appearances

 

 

Appearances

This page is my attempt to compile as comprehensive of a list of Max Headroom appearances as possible. Expect it to grow over time. I will wait to post a listing of Max Coca-Cola™ commercials until I’ve had a chance to do more research. Meanwhile, here’s what I’ve found so far …

 

 

Max Headroom Histories

Probably the best overall “real” history of Max Headroom from 1982 onward is on the Art of Noise authorised website. Best semi-real history of Max is here on Channel 4, his first employer. Oh would that be, his first deployer?

Timeline of Appearances by Max Headroom

(Excluding Coca-Cola Commercials)

From vintage Max items, old eBay listings of the past 10 years, and various online sources, I’ve been compiling a list of other appearances by Max Headroom beyond just his small-screen work with Edison Carter and Network XXIII. I am still working to confirm many titles and dates, and find additional appearances. But so far, it includes the following.

Max in 1985

Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into the Future (the UK special that appeared April 1985 on Britain’s TV network Channel 4, that led to the US series).

The Max Headroom Show (talk show format; 1985-1986). “This show debuted on Cinemax in October 1985 with 10 episodes, highlighted by exclusive European music videos and offbeat interviews with pop stars like Sting and Boy George.” (From the 1986 Cinemax press release, Media Sensation and Cinemax Superstar Max Headroom Returns in August for All-New Editions of ‘The Max Headroom Show.’)

Max appeared in a series of TV adverts for Radio Rentals, according to the Art of Noise history of Max. And check YouTube search for examples of Max telling people NOT to buy TVs – just rent them from Radio Rentals. And DO buy VCRs. And rent your videos there. “You’ll be glued to our sets, not stuck-stuck-stuck-stuck-stuck!” (I also have a print advert from that era where Max promotes purchasing CDs from RR for paltry £s. It’s a full-page magazine advertisement in the Record Mirror magazine, from July 19, 1986 – 30cm x 22 cm.)

 

 

Interview with Terry Wogan, approximately 1985 or early 1986, before the publication of his two books: 20 Minutes into the Future and Max Headroom’s Guide to Life, according to the history of Max on the official Art of Noise website. (Both books were published in September 1986.) Terry Wogan’s chat show was on BBC1, and, from YouTube Max vid-sources, the interview lasted 8:35.

Max in 1986

Max served as SpokesHead for “New Coke®” in 1986-1987-1988. The pages on Coca-Cola™ have much more on all that, plus I will post a compilation of Max’s commercials for them later.

Now That’s What I Call Music (annual music review, video segment on The Art of Noise’s song “Paranoimia; 1986). According to the discography section of the Art of Noise authorised website, multiple format versions of this song, featuring Max Headroom, were released starting in 1986. These included cassette, CD, vinyl LP (and some promo editions). And there were the regular edition (3:18) and extended editions (6:40) of the song. The video is on YouTube. Also, sheet music was produced for Paranoimia in 1986 by Warner Bros. Music, item number VS4691.

In March 1986, the San Francisco International Film Festival gave its top honor – the Golden Gate Award – to “The Max Headroom Story” in the category of Network Entertainment.

CBS Morning News Special, April 11, 1986.

MaxTrax, Cinemax’s half-hour music video show (April through June 1986), and “Max’s Mondo Madness” film festival (July 1986). (From the 1986 Cinemax press release, Media Sensation and Cinemax Superstar Max Headroom Returns in August for All-New Editions of ‘The Max Headroom Show.’)

The Max Headroom Show debuted on Cinemax, August 1986, for its second season of an additional 10 episodes plus a Christmas special. According to MAX “FAX” press release (from the 1986 Coca-Cola™ “Catch the Wave” press/promo kit), this series “will feature a live studio audience, opening monologue, celebrity interviews, videos and location features.”

Max Headroom: The Original Story was released on VHS in the US on October 15, 1986, according to Amazon.com release data.

Music Single, Merry Christmas Santa Claus (You’re a Lovely Guy). (4:00, released 1986 by Chrysalis).

Max Headroom’s Giant Christmas Turkey (Christmas Special; December 26, 1986). Guest stars: Dave Edmunds, Bob Geldof, and Tina Turner.

Max in 1987

Max served as SpokesHead for “New Coke®” in 1986-1987-1988. The pages on Coca-Cola™ have much more on all that.

Break Every Rule by Tina Turner has an introduction to the song “Back Where You Started,” featuring Max Headroom. This is available on the laserdisc from this tour – and at least the UK PAL-format version of the VHS – but apparently not on the record, cassette, or CD versions. Will need to confirm whether the US NTSC-format version of the VHS includes it. US Laserdisc 1987. Japanese laserdisc 1987.

Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into the Future (US TV series from Lorimar; 1987-1988).

• SEASON ONE

1. Blipverts – March 31, 1987
2. Rakers – April 7, 1987
3. Body Banks – April 14, 1987
4. Security Systems – April 21, 1987
5. War – April 28, 1987
6. The Blanks – May 5, 1987

• SEASON TWO

1. Academy – September 18, 1987
2. Deities – September 25, 1987
3. Grossberg’s Return – October 2, 1987
4. Dream Thieves – October 9, 1987
5. Whackets – October 16, 1987
6. Neurostim – April 28, 1988
7. Lessons – May 5, 1988
8. Baby Grobags (produced 1988; unaired)

The Original Max Talking Head Show (revival of the talk show format on Cinemax, after the Lorimar series was cancelled; 1987).

Late Night with David Letterman (approximately March 1987). According to Max Headroom Chronicles site.

Lorimar TV series production wrap party, held November 1, 1987, at a club in Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard. For a few details, see the Oddities and Rarities page. (Can’t you just hear Max cooing, “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille!” Or would that be declaiming the close up?)

Max in 1988

Max served as SpokesHead for “New Coke®” in 1986-1987-1988. The pages on Coca-Cola™ have much more on all that.

Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into the Future (US TV series from Lorimar; 1987-1988). See list above under 1987 for episodes and dates.

The Wikipedia entry on Max Headroom (character) notes that “In 1987, [Matt] Frewer appeared as Max Headroom in a segment for Sesame Street. He recites the alphabet with selected commentary on some of the letters.” They reference the Muppet Wiki which adds the details that this was episode 2478, and also kindly post the 27-second YouTube video of Max Alphabeterizing. (Sesame Street Episode 2478 was aired May 4, 1988.)

Max in 1989

BBC’s Comic Relief (1989). According to Art of Noise authorised website.

Max in 1990-1999

Nothing yet.

Max in 2000-2010

Channel 4 Digital Switchover (November/December 2007). According to Art of Noise authorised website and Channel 4’s Max/Digital Switchover page itself. Channel 4 kindly provides us here with Max stuff, originating live and direct from Channel XXIII Channel 4 in the UK. They contracted Max in 2007 to help codgers like me figure out the switchover to digital. Kind of them.  Get your audio on and watch Max cavort before he’s a [virtual] cadaver, and be sure to see the MORE button on the lower right-hand side of the moving Max screen. A total of 5 clips, typical Max, typically irreverent, though not irrelevant. They are:

1. Digital switchover is coming!
2. Everyone everywhere’s using the word digital.
3. Ahh, fame! All about the future now …
4. The analog junkheap.
5. Those sucks at Channel 4.

Wonder why they didn’t have him wax eloquent about digital golf …

Max Headroom: The Complete Series (5-disc DVD set, released August 10, 2010, from Shout! Factory). The long-awaited event!

Never Wazzes

This section highlights appearances or items that were planned, but never came to fruition. So far, in the category of the “never wazzes: are the trading card set (see more details on that in the Trading Cards page) and a Max Headroom 3D comic book from Comico.

Comico 3D Comic Book

I acquired a 16″ x 22″ promo poster for this graphic novel on eBay in 2010. It blazes across the top: “Max Headroom 3-D. C-c-c-comic books will NEVER be the same!” The poster is copyrighted 1986 by Chrysalis Visual Programming Ltd. It also states:

That’s right, everyone’s favorite TV superstar, Max Headroom, now has his own comic book – and in 3-D, no less! If you haven’t looked at a comic book lately, w-we-we-well, you’re in for a real surprise when you experience this beautifully illustrated, hilariously written, 32-page epic! Edison Carter, Theora Jones, and Bryce lynch all star in a brand new adventure into mankind’s dark and not-too-distant future!

Meanwhile, I found information online about a 1987 Comico Black Book a five-year anniversary compilation of their graphic novels from 1983-1987. It lists Max Headroom. So, apparently plans were still in the works at least through 1987 for this comic. (The Lorimar TV series was cancelled in 1988.) Another article on Six by 6: 6 great comics published by Comico stated that Dutch brothers Jacob and Arnold Pander were in line to create the artwork for the comic and that they had produced at least some samples for the project. (See section 3, on Ginger Fox.)

Another main source for information appears in Comics Interview #51 (1987). The cover features art and colors by the Pander Brothers, and looks to be Edison Carter on the cover, hoisting a drink in one hand and his ever-present camera in the other, as he hob-knobs with Grendel. On the inside, page 19 has the announcement by Phil Lasorda that Comico is slated to publish the comic – provided that the preliminary pencil work gets approved so they could proceed to the inking.

Finally – at this point, at least – the Comics Buyers Guide #706 (May 29, 1987) notes in a headline that “Co-Co-Comico to publish Max Headroom comics. 3-D book due in ’87 and limited series in ’88.” Sadly for all, it was not to be …

Brought to you by Network XXIII …