MAX HEADROOM: THE BLANKS {FIRST SEASON FINALE} (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic television series about Max Headroom, a computer-generated television host in a dystopian future where television networks rule the world.
The police conduct a raid of an apartment and arrest a woman who is referred to as a "blank." Edison awakens in the morning and is pestered by Max. He finds that his home appliances are going haywire. Computers and appliances all over the city are malfunctioning as well. Simon Peller, a politician, wins his recent election (held via televised votes) and Edison interviews him. During the interview, every computer at Network 23 goes down. Soon the entire city's system is inoperable and Peller asks the executives of Network 23 to resolve the problem, as he is primarily sponsored by them. It turns out that Peller's victory in the election was rigged from the beginning.
Without television, thousands are purchasing black-market tapes off the street. Edison and another Network 23 reporter, Janie Crane, investigate the apartment of the blank who was arrested that morning. Inside they find her television has an off switch, which was declared illegal years ago. Suddenly every television broadcasts a cryptic message ordering Peller to release every detained blank by sundown, or every computer in the city would be permanently ruined. Peller refuses to negotiate with the blanks, who are people who have erased their names and identities from the computer system, rendering them legal non-entities.
Two blanks, Reg and Dominique, set up a massive satellite dish on the outskirts of the city in order to facilitate the citywide system crash in accordance with their leader, a blank named Bruno. Theora, Bryce, and Edison set up an off-the-grid computer system in Edison's apartment in order to counter the blank threat. Bryce and Theora track down the source of the transmissions, but it is too well-protected for them to access. Peller continues to arrest blanks across the city; Ben attempts to negotiate with him, but to no avail. Edison comes up with an idea: use Max as a "Trojan horse," sending his program to the other computer in the hopes that the operator will be intrigued enough to allow him access. They convince Max to go along with the scheme and Bryce sends him through the system.
Bruno notices Max and is curious enough to allow him into his computer. Bruno manages to sever communication between Max and Bryce, foiling their plans. Reg sets up the dish atop his van and broadcasts his own television program "Big Time" across the city. Bruno asks Reg to take the program off, as it is undermining the blank's efforts. Meanwhile, Murray is able to trace Reg's transmission and discover his location. Bruno explains to Max that the blanks have created a digital "bomb" that will electronically incapacitate all computer systems if their demands are not met. He further explains that the blanks feel as though computers are misused under the current system and they hope to turn technology to more useful ends. When Max retorts, Bruno threatens to delete Max, revealing that he was Bryce's mentor.
Edison formulates a new plan and sets it into motion. Bruno returns Max to Bryce's computer. Edison travels via helicopter to Reg's van, where he asks Reg about what motivated him to become a blank. He convinces Reg to allow him to speak to Bruno, noting that while he approves of the goal of the blanks, he cannot condone their methods. Theora interrupts a board meeting and charms Peller into granting her an interview with him. Edison interviews Bruno via videophone, who promises to call off his "bomb" if Peller releases the imprisoned blanks. However, Peller tells Theora on camera that he has no intention of doing so. Reg discovers a detonator located on the dish and tries to stall it so that Edison can escape.
Bryce edits the footage of Peller to make it seem as though he will release the blanks. Bruno discovers that one of the blanks rigged up the detonator on the dish; he says that Reg's life cannot be wasted and terminates the attack prematurely. Edison meets with Theora and Peller just as he goes live on Network 23. Edison plays the footage of Bruno and the edited footage of Peller. Peller is outraged, but Edison coerces him into ordering the release of the blanks when he points out that the electronic polls approve of this action. Max returns and Edison and Theora nearly kiss. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: May 5, 1987 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:41
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:09878
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-1998
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV – Commercials – Anacin pain relief
- TV – Commercials – Benadryl allergy medication
- TV – Commercials – Buick automobiles
- TV – Commercials – Burger King restaurants
- TV – Commercials – Carnation shakes
- TV – Commercials – Chrysler automobiles
- TV – Commercials – Coca-Cola soft drink
- TV – Commercials – Dodge automobiles
- TV – Commercials – Frosted Mini-Wheats breakfast cereal
- TV – Commercials – Fruit Scoops frozen nuggets
- TV – Commercials – Grape-Nuts breakfast cereal
- TV – Commercials – Maxithins feminine napkins
- TV – Commercials – Minute Maid orange juice
- TV – Commercials – PLUS literacy program
- TV – Commercials – Seagram's beer
- TV – Promos – "20/20"
- TV – Promos – "Dynasty"
- TV – Promos – "Good Morning America"
- TV – Promos – "Happy Birthday Hollywood"
- TV – Promos – "Harry's Hong Kong"
- TV – Promos – "Mariah"
- TV – Promos – "Queenie"
CREDITS
- Peter Wagg … Executive Producer
- Brian Frankish … Producer
- Bruno George … Associate Producer
- Tommy Lee Wallace … Director
- Steve Roberts … Writer
- Cory Lerios … Music by
- Matt Frewer … Cast, Edison Carter, Max Headroom
- Amanda Pays … Cast, Theora Jones
- George Coe … Cast, Ben Cheviot
- Chris Young … Cast, Bryce Lynch
- Jeffrey Tambor … Cast, Murray
- William Morgan Sheppard … Cast, Blank Reg
- Peter Crook … Cast, Bruno
- Virginia Kiser … Cast, Julia Formby
- Hank Garrett … Cast, Gene Ashwell
- Lee Wilkof … Cast, Mr. Edwards
- Howard Sherman … Cast, Peller
- Concetta Tomei … Cast, Blank Dominique
- Lisa Niemi … Cast, Janie Crane
- Elizabeth Gorcey … Cast, Arrested Blank
- Tom Everett … Cast, Tracher
- Rob Narita … Cast, Joel Dung Po
- Kenneth White … Cast, Police Officer
- John Durbin … Cast, Dragul
- Lycia Naff … Cast, Jaxy
- Cynthia Stevenson … Cast, TV Astrologer
- John Fleck … Cast, Ronald
- Brian Brophy … Cast
- Sandra Sexton … Cast