20 Minutes Into The Future

37.) Writing & Adaptation w/ Steve Roberts

A few thoughts on a movie and book project that Steve is involved in, it’s origins, making Redwall, and some advice about adapting material for other mediums.

Heather is grateful for Steve’s conversation.

Austin is curious about this project…

We encourage you to help with our Patreon Fundraiser, where we are working with Michael Cassutt to create an audio-drama version of his lost vintage Max Headroom script, “Families.” So if you help support Austin Rich so he doesn’t have to punch a clock, then we can get more of this kind of material to you, quickly.

In our next episode, we will be offering either some additional Maxis, or our promised conversation with Brian Frankish, the on-the-ground producer for the American version of the TV show. We’ve been sitting on this conversation for a while, and Brian was a delight to talk to. We’re very excited to let you hear what he has to saw about a life in Hollywood.

36.) Our Regularly Scheduled Commercial

A few more thoughts on Commercials, and watching Max WITH Commercials.

Heather doesn’t really remember anything.

Austin thinks the ads are part of the show!

We encourage you to help with our Patreon Fundraiser, where we are working with Michael Cassutt to create an audio-drama version of his lost vintage Max Headroom script, “Families.” So if you help support Austin Rich so he doesn’t have to punch a clock, then we can get more of this kind of material to you, quickly.

In our next episode, we will be offering either some additional Maxis, or our promised conversation with Brian Frankish, the on-the-ground producer for the American version of the TV show. We’ve been sitting on this conversation for a while, and Brian was a delight to talk to. We’re very excited to let you hear what he has to saw about a life in Hollywood.

35.) 80’s Beyond Compare (Various Commercials, A Variety of Sources, 1985 – 1987)

If you remember Max at all, chances are, you recall the few years in the mid to late 80’s that Mr. Headroom was the spokes-AI for New Coke, an attempt by Big Cola to try something new and edgy, at a time when billions of dollars were on the line.

The results? Some of the strangest ads for a major soft drink that you have ever seen. Please, watch them with us, at bit.ly/MaxAds1, and discover this strange casualty of the Cola Wars.

Heather doesn’t really remember anything about ads from the 80’s.

Austin remembers far too much about ads from the 80’s.

We encourage you to help with our Patreon Fundraiser, where we are working with Michael Cassutt to create an audio-drama version of his lost vintage Max Headroom script, “Families.” So if you help support Austin Rich so he doesn’t have to punch a clock, then we can get more of this kind of material to you, quickly.

In our next episode, we will be offering either some additional Maxis, or our promised conversation with Brian Frankish, the on-the-ground producer for the American version of the TV show. We’ve been sitting on this conversation for a while, and Brian was a delight to talk to. We’re very excited to let you hear what he has to saw about a life in Hollywood.

34.) Happy New Year!

Here’s some of our plans for 2024. See you in two weeks!

Heather getting some much needed rest.

Austin is plotting and planning.

We encourage you to help with our Patreon Fundraiser, where we are working with Michael Cassutt to create an audio-drama version of his lost vintage Max Headroom script, “Families.” So if you help support Austin Rich so he doesn’t have to punch a clock, then we can get more of this kind of material to you, quickly.

In our next episode, we will be offering either some additional Maxis, or our promised conversation about a selection of commercials that Max has appeared in. You can find a link to this collection – about a half-hour of material – at this link: https://youtu.be/QU31hFSbgAY

33.) That Dr. Demento Sensibility (“Merry Christmas Santa Claus,” Chrysalis Records, 1986)

Once your star is ascending, it’s only a matter of time before someone realizes that the next logical step is to have your work the holiday angle, with a Special and a Holiday Single that will be on TVs and in stores… just in time for you and your loved ones to spend this special time of year with your new favorite celebrity. And this is how Max Headroom’s 7″ Single — “Merry Christmas Santa Claus” b/w “Gimme Shades” — came to underwhelm all of us in 1986.

Heather is really hung up on the lyrics, and can’t seem to think of anything else.

Austin wants to set the record straight, and thank Blank Johnny in the UK for sending a copy of the single to The Lava Lamp Lounge!

We encourage you to help with our Patreon Fundraiser, where we are working with Michael Cassutt to create an audio-drama version of his lost vintage Max Headroom script, “Families.” So if you help support Austin Rich so he doesn’t have to punch a clock, then we can get more of this kind of material to you, quickly.

In our next episode, we will be offering either some additional Maxis, or our promised conversation about a selection of commercials that Max has appeared in. You can find a link to this collection – about a half-hour of material – at this link: https://youtu.be/QU31hFSbgAY

32.) “What Gives Our Lives Meaning?” (Warner Bros., “Blade Runner,” 1982)

Probably one of the more legendary and divisive opinions on our show: one of us did NOT like Blade Runner, and one of us is rather fond of it for it’s impact and influence on cinema, culture, and specifically, Max Headroom. Wanna hear us get into it, with a tid-bit recorded with Steve Roberts, who offers his thoughts on all of it?

Heather is reminded of the way certain men like to behave.

Austin argues about Class Consciousness. Again.

We encourage you to help with our Patreon Fundraiser, where we are working with Michael Cassutt to create an audio-drama version of his lost vintage Max Headroom script, “Families.” So if you help support Austin Rich so he doesn’t have to punch a clock, then we can get more of this kind of material to you, quickly.

In our next episode, we will be offering either some additional Maxis, or our promised conversation about a selection of commercials that Max has appeared in. You can find a link to this collection – about a half-hour of material – at this link: https://youtu.be/QU31hFSbgAY

31.) Our Thanksgiving Special!

Austin had gone out of his way to make a fantastic dinner for his 20 Minutes Into The Future family. They would like to have nothing to do with it, in any way, shape, or form.

Heather’s Holiday Playlist is, once again, here to help us deal with unwanted family this time of year.

Austin spent too much time on something no one wants to enjoy. Again.

“Title” * “Album” * “Artist”

Bread * Your Favorite Music * Clem Snide

* * * * * *

We encourage you to help with our Patreon Fundraiser, where we are working with Michael Cassutt to create an audio-drama version of his lost vintage Max Headroom script, “Families.” So if you help support Austin Rich so he doesn’t have to punch a clock, then we can get more of this kind of material to you, quickly.

In our next episode, we will be offering our promised conversation about the film Blade Runner, which seems to only be available to buy or rent at this time, though who can say how long that will be? There are a number of other places to find it, too, so check it out.

30.) Period. (w/ Steve Roberts)

In one of the documentaries about the making of Max Headroom, Steve told a story about how all the “periods” were removed from the story. Heather had some thoughts on this.

Heather always wants to normalize conversation about periods.

Austin has fewer thoughts on the subject than you would think… and yet… somehow more than you’d think, too?

We encourage you to help with our Patreon Fundraiser, where we are working with Michael Cassutt to create an audio-drama version of his lost vintage Max Headroom script, “Families.” So if you help support Austin Rich so he doesn’t have to punch a clock, then we can get more of this kind of material to you, quickly.

In our next episode, we will be offering either some additional Maxis, or our promised conversation about the film Blade Runner, which seems to currently be streaming on Netflix, though who can say how long that will be? There are a number of other places to find it, too, so check it out, and we’ll get out next episode out, ASAP.

29.) It’s Halloween In The Fringes!

It looks like Heather and Austin have decided to go… trick or treating in The Fringes!? Oh no! This can only lead to a drunken night at Caligula’s, where Heather has taken over the jukebox. Hopefully the good music will protect us from Bruegel & Mahler.

(The voice of our announcer is none other than Xeres of Xeron himself! The doorman was played by Imaginos.)

Heather’s Holiday Playlist is most definitely below.

Austin can’t even work a fake tiara on Halloween. Sigh.

That’s Halloween – Duplex Planet – Duplex Halloween Planet

* * * * * *

We encourage you to help with our Patreon Fundraiser, where we are working with Michael Cassutt to create an audio-drama version of his lost vintage Max Headroom script, “Families.” So if you help support Austin Rich so he doesn’t have to punch a clock, then we can get more of this kind of material to you, quickly.

In our next episode, we will be offering either some additional Maxis, or our promised conversation about the film Blade Runner, which seems to currently be streaming on Netflix, though who can say how long that will be? There are a number of other places to find it, too, so check it out, and we’ll get our next episode out, ASAP.

28.) It’s A Blank World (w/ Steve Roberts)

We both agree that Blank Reg is one of the best characters in Max Headroom, and we had to ask the writer and creator of the character if he had anything to say about coming up with Blank Reg. Here’s a few tid-bits that we think you’ll enjoy.

Heather like the idea of drinking beer and walking dogs.

Austin was hoping Steve had some stories of seeing some OG UK bands back in the day.

We encourage you to help with our Patreon Fundraiser, where we are working with Michael Cassutt to create an audio-drama version of his lost vintage Max Headroom script, “Families.” So if you help support Austin Rich so he doesn’t have to punch a clock, then we can get more of this kind of material to you, quickly.

In our next episode, we will be offering either some additional Maxis, or our promised conversation about the film Blade Runner, which seems to currently be streaming on Netflix, though who can say how long that will be? There are a number of other places to find it, too, so check it out, and we’ll get out next episode out, ASAP.