{"id":1573,"date":"2016-03-07T23:33:11","date_gmt":"2016-03-08T04:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bandsiusetalike.com\/biul\/?p=1573"},"modified":"2016-03-08T23:34:00","modified_gmt":"2016-03-09T04:34:00","slug":"big-time-tv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bandsiusetalike.com\/biul\/big-time-tv\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Time TV"},"content":{"rendered":"

Max Headroom<\/em> was a science-fiction show I adored at 15. Aside from Matt Frewer’s stammering titular talking head, there was weirdness aplenty in every episode. A small nebula of minor characters fleshed out the dystopian setting, as they went about their bleak lives. One couple would make a permanent impression on this young viewer: Blank Reg and Dominique.<\/p>\n

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On the surface, Blank Reg might seem like an 80s clich\u00e9; mohawk, British accent, punk togs. His consort Dominique can also be mistaken for an overused type, with her shoulder pads and power suit. But some things become\u00a0clich\u00e9 because they were true once, and they worked almost too<\/em> well. These two are a perfect example; I remember them more clearly than anything else from Max Headroom.<\/em><\/p>\n

See, Blank Reg was called that because he was a “blank”; someone off the grid of the oppressive oligarchy within Max Headroom<\/em>‘s world. The show took place\u00a020 minutes into the future<\/strong>; whenever you watch it, it’s still just about to happen, much like Mystery Science Theater 3000<\/em>‘s time-stamp of “next Sunday AD”. Whatever Blank Reg and Dominique’s relationship was, most of what they did was drive around in a pink bus with a transmitter on it, broadcasting video from before the networks took over. The side of the bus said BIG TIME in huge letters.<\/p>\n

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W. Morgan Sheppard played Blank Reg, and Concetta Tomei, whom I assure you is no relation to Marisa, played Dominique. Blank Reg made the transition from the original British pilot to the American series, and as noted on the Wikipedia page, “also has a strong nostalgic streak, defending antiquated music videos and printed books in equal measure.”<\/p>\n

I didn’t need to consult Wikipedia for Blank Reg’s motto, which he repeated when broadcasting:<\/p>\n

“All day every day, making today seem like yesterday.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I remembered that since childhood. I didn’t understand it back then. Why would he want today<\/em> to be like yesterday<\/em>, when he lives in this super-cool future world?<\/p>\n

Because he’s reminding people that things used to be better. That there used to be alternatives to corporate living. There used to be passion in entertainment and literature. It wasn’t all about controlling consumers’ lives and fomenting addictions. It was about enlightenment<\/em>.<\/p>\n

I used to dream about driving around a big bus like Blank Reg, broadcasting my own special network, reminding viewers of all the great stuff they might have forgotten, or missed, and about an hour ago I realized HOLY FUCK\u00a0THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I’VE BEEN DOING HERE.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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In the original pilot, Network 23 creates “blipverts”, compressed TV commercials that are designed to deliver the advertiser’s message at lightning speed, so viewers can’t change the channel. Problems arise when some people blow up<\/em> after seeing the ads; exploding heads were a SFX point of pride in 1980s film, and Max Headroom<\/em> became notorious for this, much like\u00a0Scanners<\/em> and\u00a0Outland<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Anyway, the above image is how Network 23 tracks viewers to observe the effects of the blipverts. You can see the man’s net identification code, that he doesn’t vote, and that he’s been in front of the screen for over fifteen hours GO AHEAD SCREAM.\u00a0SCREAM; NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU. SCREAM. WE SHALL DIE SCREAMING.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I apologize. I try to keep a stiff upper lip, like Blank Reg. But even Ray Charles can see that we are currently living 20 minutes into the future. The reason I never forgot Blank Reg’s motto is because it became\u00a0applicable<\/em>. Somehow I was predestined to drive this ugly pink bus for you. And thanks to this goofy old TV show, I don’t really hate doing it. Eventually it felt “right”. You have to get old to appreciate the value of nostalgia.<\/p>\n

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Max Headroom<\/em> is NOW. We live with oppressive networks and corporations, that exclude and divide and destroy. The news media is bought and paid for by oligarchs, to represent and promote them. Sigh… here, I’ll look it up for you.<\/p>\n

ol\u00b7i\u00b7garch<\/strong>\/\u02c8\u00e4l\u0259\u02cc\u0261\u00e4rk\/<\/p>\n

(noun)\u00a0a very rich businessman with a great deal of political influence.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

SCREAM!!! SCREAM, MY FRIENDS!!! NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n