Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
TV Junkie: 'Damages' Lives; 'Max Headroom' Series on DVD
"Max Headroom: The Complete Series" comes out on DVD in a couple weeks and it's excellent - the series not only defined the '80s but accurately predicted the technology and environment we operate in today.
"Max Headroom: The Complete Series" comes out on DVD in a couple weeks and it's excellent - the series not only defined the '80s but accurately predicted the technology and environment we operate in today.
The Twitterverse was abuzz yesterday afternoon with the news thatDirecTV has stepped up to keep running "Damages" (formerly of FX) for another 2 years. Most of the major cast has signed on - wouldn't it be ironic for FX if "Damages" walked away with some Emmys and other awards before it debuts on DirecTV?
---
TV on DVD: "Max Headroom: The Complete Series" will be released on DVD August 10th and it's a gem. All 14 episodes of the genre bending/defying/defining series are in the set along with some great interviews and rountables with co-creators Annabel Jankel, Rocky Morton, and George Stone as well as cast members Amanda Pays, Jeffrey Tambor, Concetta Tomei and Chris Young. The discussions are so good (Jeffrey Tambor of "Arrested Development" fame is excellent!) that one almost doesn't notice the absence of series star Matt Frewer.But really, a huge part of the series was the environment of ever-pervasive technology in a disintegrating and trash-strewn world "20 minutes into the future" and it's this accuracy that is the topic of the exchanges between these creators and actors. Today we have "always-live" TV, video editing on the fly, video chat, instant messaging, a vast network of connected databases called the Internet, and murky relationships between marketers/government agencies/broadcasters - all illustrated in "Max Headroom" with excellent writing abounding with black humor (for example, it's illegal to have an "Off" switch on your television). It's a great series that's a must-have for anyone interested in ground-breaking TV.
---
The TV Junkie Plan: Dodgers vs Giants, "Warehouse 13", "Memphis Beat", "Louie", Letterman (Steve Carell, Selena Gomez, Sheryl Crow), Fallon (Zach Braff, Jemaine Clement, Crowded House)
7:00pm MLB Baseball KCAL - The classic rivalry: San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers
8:00pm Hell's Kitchen Fox - The chefs must impress Ramsay with a picture-perfect dish and create a delicious dish that costs $10 or less; the contestants continually switch stations during the dinner service.
8:00pm Losing It With Jillian NBC - Jillian tries to make a father see that his own weight issue is a bad example for his pre-diabetic son
9:00pm HawthoRNe TNT - Tom faces surgery for his injuries; twin sisters are in need of kidney transplants; a sick child hopes to meet a professional basketball player.
9:00pm Warehouse 13 Syfy - The teams finds themselves in the middle of a B movie with cowboys, gladiators, robots and beach storming marines.
Sponsored message
9:00pm White Collar USA - Neal goes undercover to bring down a corrupt politician.
9:00pm Deadliest Catch Discovery - Captain Phil loses his battle for life; the boats face the biggest storm of the season; Josh Harris breaks the news about his father.
10:00pm Memphis Beat TNT - After the matriarch of a country music family dies, the group's manager falls from a balcony and bitter rivalries come to light.
10:00pm Covert Affairs USA - Walter's Walk
10:00pm Chopped Food - Four previously defeated competitors return to prove they aren't losers; challenges include a tough cut of meat
10:00pm Rescue Me FX - The guys hatch a plan to sneak Lou out of the hospital; Sean and Mike attempt to do good; Teddy bonds with Colleen; Father Phil gives Tommy a piece of advice.
10:00pm Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List Bravo - Kathy wants to have a public pap smear to send a positive message.
Sponsored message
10:00pm Teen Mom MTV - Farrah calls the police on her mother; Amber has a pregnancy scare; Maci tries to get child support; Catelynn has to move back in with her family.
10:30pm Dinner With the Band IFC - Guests include Andrew WK!
11:00pm Louie FX - Louis goes on a trip; Louis plays the south.
11:35pm Late Show With David Letterman CBS - Actor Steve Carell; actress Selena Gomez; Sheryl Crow performs.
11:35pm The Tonight Show With Jay Leno NBC - Actor Zac Efron; mentalist Lior Suchard; The Black Keys perform.
12:05am Jimmy Kimmel Live ABC - Actor Jon Hamm; actors J.B. Smoove and Ralph Macchio; Runner Runner performs.
12:35am The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson CBS - Actress America Ferrera; biologist Dan Riskin; comic Fred MacAulay.
Sponsored message
12:35am Late Night With Jimmy Fallon NBC - Actor Zach Braff; actor Jemaine Clement; Crowded House performs.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
