Anyone plugged into the world of unexplained events and oddities is probably well aware of the Max Headroom broadcast hijacking. But a story that weird is worth diving into — especially since, roughly 40 years later, there’s been no real progress in efforts to c-c-catch those involved. Strange history at its finest! 

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Hosted by Laurah Norton 

Researched by Bryan Worters and Maura Currie

Produced, Written and Engineered by Maura Currie 

This episode originally ran as Premium Episode 25.

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.

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Works Cited: 

Bishop, Bryan, “Max Headroom: The Definitive…” The Verge, 2015.

Wogan, Terry. “Max Headroom,” BBC1, 1985.

Shull, Richard, “‘20 minutes into future’ is past,” The Times, 1987.

“Highlights in the history of Coca-Cola…” Library of Congress, ND. 

Knittel, Chris, “The Mystery of the Creepiest…” Motherboard, 2013.

“Video pirate briefly interrupts…” Chicago Tribune, 1987. 

Greene, Bob, “Fame is fleeting to the m-m-max,” Chicago Tribune, 1987.

“Masked Max interrupts programming,” UPI, 1987.

Shefsky, Jay, “30 Years Later, Notorious…” WTTW News, 2017. 

Camper, John & Daley, Steve, “A powerful video prankster…” Chicago Tribune, 1987.

Buckman, Adam, “FCC sure is mad, Max” Advertising Age, 1987.

“The Max Headroom Incident: Revisiting…” WBUR, 2019.

Pagano, Penny, “‘Captain Midnight’ Enters Plea…” Los Angeles Times, 1986.

Staff, “Porn-Film Message Suspect…” Los Angeles Times, 1990.

The Max Headroom Chronicles

WTTW Chicago - The Max Headroom Pirating Incident

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