20 Minutes Into The Future

18.) The Steve Roberts Interview: “Hollywood Is A Weird Place”

In this jam-packed, special episode of 20 Minutes Into The Future, we get the story of the various kinds of work Steve Roberts has done, going back to the early 70’s, and covering some of the work he’s done since Max Headroom. There are so many stories and incredible moments from his past that we couldn’t possibly fit it all into one episode, but instead, consider this a 90 minute introduction to a fascinating man, who just so happened to have written Max Headroom, too. This episode pairs very well with our interview featuring the life of Michael Cassutt, and as mentioned in the body of this show, a lot more detail appears in our panel discussion, featuring three of the key players in the US Show Creative team: Brian Frankish, Michael Cassutt & Steve Roberts. All three of them paint a much more complete picture of the US Show and how it came to be, and I think you can read between the lines just enough to get a sense of the story behind the story, too.

Heather is very excited to meet Steve’s dog.

Austin has far too many questions for Mr. Roberts that he’s been wanting to ask for years.

In our next episode, we are not entirely sure what we will be talking about yet. We are still sorting out our upcoming schedule, but one of our next episodes will feature a conversation about the film Network, which seems to currently be streaming on HBO Max, 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.

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.

17.) Circle Takes The Square (Netflix S2E7, “Friend Zoned…”)

In this episode we discuss the Netflix reality TV program, The Circle, this time, a show that Heather knows very well, and Austin has never seen before. Everything’s backwards this time, but these two manage to still find some way of engaging the content, just like they would otherwise.

Heather introduces Austin to one of her favorite Reality TV Show.

Austin manages to still bring it all back to Max Headroom in the end.

In our next episode, we are not entire sure what we will be talking about yet. We have a number of episodes recorded that could well be next. However, from here on out, we won’t be doing any previewing of next week’s show, until we get a better sense of how to deploy our upcoming shows.

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.”

16.) Babies: How Children Are Represented In, “Max Headroom.” (A Discussion Regarding The Supreme Court’s Decision To Strike Down, ‘Row v. Wade.’) 

In this episode we have a conversation framed by the way that babies are represented in “Rakers” and in “Baby Grobags.” Specifically: how these two episodes speak volumes about the actual future we face now that Row v. Wade has been rescinded. This is a serious political conversation, and the funny editing during the serious sections has been reduced because of this. While the conversation does reference Max occasionally, it is largely about our new political reality, which happens to resemble the horrors we see in this fictional TV show.

Heather cannot separate the issue from the art.

Austin talks more than he should.

In our next episode, we will be discussing S2E7 of the US TV Program, “The Circle,” originally dropped on 21 April 2021. The episode is titled “Friend Zoned…” it is currently available on Netflix.com. Yes, we are finally getting to it. For real.

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.”

15.) A Breaking News Story!

In this episode we discuss the incredible news that broke on deadline.com on 29 July 2022. We offer a complete breakdown of the actual news, infer what we can from ancillary sources, and then offer a few tid-bits of our own news, from friends-of-the-show Steve Roberts and Michael Cassutt. (And it’s not exactly the kind of news you’re thinking it might be, either.) Lastly, we offer some conjecture as to what we want from this new show, and some ideas for how to pursue it.

Heather pitches a few new Max-related sitcoms.

Austin has done his homework.

In our next episode, we will be discussing the way that childbirth is presented on Max Headroom, and how we can look at recent Supreme Court Rulings in the United States, and how they could lead to a world like the one we see in “Rakers” and “Baby Grobags.” It’s a general conversation, but we do reference those two episodes.

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.”

14.) Our Cup Runneth Over

In this episode we present selections from a variety of past episodes, each segment cut for time but each interesting segments on their own, and are now edited together for your convenience. We also announce our Patreon Fundraiser, where we are working with Michael Cassutt to create an audio-drama version of his lost script, “Families.” Read All About It. Here’s a break-down of today’s episode, in case you want to skip straight to your favorite section:

Heather reveals that she thought Max Headroom was a real AI.

Austin reveals who is favorite character from Season 1 is, and it’s fairly obvious.

In our next episode, we will be discussing S2E7 of the US TV Program, “The Circle,” originally dropped on Netflix on 21 April 2021. Titled “Friend Zoned…” it is currently available on Netflix.com. Yes, I’m sort of shocked myself. What can I say? It was Heather’s pick…

13.) Big Time Television #2

In this episode we discuss six songs from the ’70s and ’80s, and do our best to summarize the first season of Max Headroom. This turns into a free-ranging conversation about the world of Max, these six videos, and a little-known artist that Heather seems to know quite a bit about.

Heather finds three more ways to talk about her biggest obsession.

Austin gets to relive a moment from one of his favorite Savage Steve Holland films.

In our next episode, we will be splicing together a number of leftover bits from a handful of previous episodes. We have a lot more Bowie / music talk that we couldn’t fit into this episode, and we include two sections of conversation with Michael Cassutt that we couldn’t fit into the panel discussion or the solo interview.

We also have a VERY BIG ANNOUNCEMENT that we will be revealing at the end of that episode so you won’t want to miss it!

12.) Blank Life (ABC S1E6, “The Blanks”)

In this episode we discuss the ABC TV Transmission from 5 May 1987, “The Blanks,” Star Trek ZOOM Parties, the show’s continued interest in coffee gags, and how Bryce models the kinds of complements you should deliver to your coworkers.

Heather invents a new drink: Green Coke.

Austin drop’s the Dre / Blank Reg collaboration we didn’t know we all needed to hear.

In our next episode, we will be discussing six songs that connect to (or remind us) of Max Headroom, selected by our hosts. You can watch the music videos for these songs in this playlist:

11.) We’re Watching Screens of Them Watching Screens (Watch Party 1 – Channel 4 Telefilm Commentary Track)

In this episode, we present recordings from the evening of our first watch party, where you can listen along like it is a commentary track for the Channel 4 Telefilm, “Max Headroom.” Essentially: 20 Minutes Into The Future does RiffTrax, and YOU ARE THERE.

Heather added just a tiny-bit too much fernet branca to her cocktail.

Austin has – OH NO! – written jokes! (Gasp!)

If you would like to watch along, you might want to use this link, as we cannot include more than samples from the original telefilm in this presentation. With that in mind, you will want to use the three “beeps” that are included in this episode, to synch your video and audio. As you are listening to this podcast, enjoy the opening, as we spend about seven minutes setting the stage for what you will hear.

After that, you will hear two short beeps and one, longer beep. (Sort of like a filmstrip, from when we were kids.) At the end of the longer beep, press “play” on the device you are using to watch the video. The two should synch up, and there are four moments during the video that our podcast audio and the audio from the video will match. If they do; congratulations. You can enjoy the presentation. Three more times during the show, samples from the video will give you a chance to monitor how well the video is synching. If they don’t line-up, then something went wrong. Try to re-align using the sample to guide you.

In our next episode, we will (hopefully) be discussing S1E6 of the US TV Program, “Max Headroom,” originally aired 5 May 1987. Titled “The Blanks,” it is currently available on DVD through Shout Factory, and comes with a number of excellent bonus features. As it happens, this link doesn’t actually exist, which is a bonus for  you.

10.) Janie’s Got A [Camera] Gun (ABC S1E5, “War”)

In this episode we discuss the ABC TV Transmission from 28 April 1987, “War,” new office slang, how easy it is to figure out that Phil is the weak link at your office, and this episode’s obsession with Italian art film.

Heather discovers she is related to the lead character in this episode.

Austin introduces Heather to a new idea for a podcast: The Firmcast.

In our next episode, we will be discussing S1E6 of the US TV Program, “Max Headroom,” originally aired 5 May 1987. Titled “The Blanks,” it is currently available on DVD through Shout Factory, and comes with a number of excellent bonus features. As it happens, this link doesn’t actually exist, which is a bonus for  you.

The Michael Cassutt Interview: “Follow Your Interests”

Join us for a conversation with Michael Cassutt, a television producer and writer who has pursued a very unique career path, largely so he can keep writing science fiction and fantasy stories of one variety or another. In this show, we get the full dirt on breaking into writing, how he got on at The Twilight Zone, how that led to working on Max Headroom, and where his career led him after that.

Still active, still writing, and most recently working as a novelist and non-fiction writer, Michael is a wonderful person to chat with, and we had a delight getting to know him.

Heather is curious about Michael’s radio career.

Austin demands to know what it was like to work with Joe Dante.

(We encourage you to enjoy the video version, which has us speaking with Michael in a fairly casual setting. The video is a more “raw” representation of the conversation, and does not contain all the audio editing and production that you will find in the podcast. There are elements in this presentation that are NOT a part of the podcast – and vice versa – so they are both worth checking out.)

In our next episode, we will be discussing S1E5 of the US TV Program, “Max Headroom,” originally aired 28 April 1987. Titled “War,” it is currently available on DVD through Shout Factory, and comes with a number of excellent bonus features. If you think you are willing to move toward the enemy lines for this exclusive, you might need this link to survive these combat conditions.