Hootyhaha's Flashbacks - Jim Carey borrowed Max Headroom's Style? (part 2)

[2001ManicMonkeys]

About 20 years before lmao became a popular phrase, Max Headroom literally made me laugh my ass off. And yeah, still funny

[hindemith17]

Funny! I didn't really think he Stole anything though... He's equally as obnoxious as Carey... That's about it. Still funny though...

[hootyhaha]

@hindemith17 You have it backwards. We're not saying he stole anything from Carrey, we're saying Carrey stole from Him.

[thedigitalcollective]

he stole from jerry lewis...

[Milesco]

What was the date of this broadcast?

[chrismofer]

jim carry is a combo of max headroom and dick york.

[simonjeste]

@chrismofer (forehead facepalm) OF COURSE! Dick York, that's who Jim has always reminded me of... tyvm chrismofer!

[chrismofer]

@simonjeste yvw

[pippigladstone]

he went on to make fox's Titus.

[antdude]

Where's part 1? I must be blind.

[BennyZunker]

theres more than one "Phantom" fellas... i wanna see max headroom 50 years from now with some other actor behind him, just as long as its qwirky and funny

[shirtandtiewilldo]

I thought they had the same delivery the first time I saw Carrey on In Living Color. In fact, in the 1994 cartoon version of Dumb & Dumber, Matt Frewer did the voice to Lloyd...which was Jim Carrey's character in the movie.

[vigotheunholy]

This takes me back to my childhood! I Loved MAX! Used to watch the show on Cinemax. Best interview Max did was William Shatner.

That link takes me to the Coca Cola website but nothing in "search" about Max Headroom.

[Hermitage171]

This is kind of painful to watch, no?

[Denji2006]

I knew what Jim Carey was doing from the get go. I thought Max Headroom was the coolest thing in the world when I was a kid.

Looking at it today. It does seem like a precursor to the digital age. Sort of symbolic in a way.

[JoeNJ1]

Gotta love Dave's hair;

[Guitarman5150]

I can see where Jim is a lot like Max I never thought about that before, but now that it's been brought to my attention....... he is isn't he HA HA!

[hootyhaha]

How can you be got? Or confused? Why not instead ask yourself who was around doing their shtick first? Max Headroom even comments about this video and what I titled it in one of his new videos. Look up Max Headroom DTV. It's the real Max Headroom talking about the digital transition.

[exilenm]

Oh nevermind, I miss understood the titles statement, ...to early in morning, brain not fully functioning. See your saying Jim Carey is like Max Headroom (Matt Frewer). When thought was getting at this is Jim doing Max Headroom. But yeah... Jim does seem a lot like Max, hehe :-D

[travis82x]

This guys got some of the best comedic timing ever. I think max is funniest in this sort of setting too...i could totally see this as a weekly skit on Conan.

[MisterHughes]

Heh, I'm not sure Dave was happy about Matt stealing his show. Things is, Matt could put all the gear on and a plastic hairpiece and look exactly the same as he did back then.

[travis82x]

This gives us all hope =]

[reddyredd]

Matt Frewer is Moloch the Mystic in The Watchmen movie!  Woot!

[hootyhaha]

Hopefully that's bigger than the parts main stream HoRRywood has been allowing him to get lately.

[simonjeste]

@reddyredd DOCTOR DOCTOR was a great role for Mr. Frewer... and of course the actual Max Headroom series, very cool and "before its time".

[hootyhaha]

@simonjeste Shoutfactory is releasing all the Max Headroom episodes that were on ABC. Maybe they'll release the Cinemax Music video show too if they're successful selling that. So spread the word.

Also, if they release that 1 season show.. it would be cool if they released Doctor Doctor as well. I remember in the mid 2000s they started syndicating that show on TBS.

[simonjeste]

@hootyhaha I watched the 1st 3 episodes, again, of Max Headroom... and then 2 eps of Doctor, Doctor.

DD the typical sitcom still works, as a character-driven comedic outlet for Frewer's genius.

MH the scifi/thriller/comedy = doesn't age well. Sadly. I mean the whole 80s soundtrack, plus the 80s "underdog wins in the end" recurring theme, it's almost cringe-worthy. Dammit.

But Max in the MTV show, that would a hoot to re-live, for sure.

[desireedesire]

is really jim carrey O.o

lol

[hootyhaha]

Email coke at the address I provided. You will get a response saying they do not have the rights anymore. However, if enough BUZZ is generated about Matt Frewer they may consider bringing Max Headroom back to COKE.

[Meteotrance]

LOL don't you think Flea have something of Max Headroom head and sence of humor lol ^^ those to guy's are nuts !!!

[terryeads]

I love Matt Frewer! Wish his show "Doctor Doctor" (1989) would have lasted longer. I still think he's one of the most underrated comedic actors of our time. Wish he'd get his own sitcom again.

[hootyhaha]

Doctor Doctor rocked! All nurses, doctors, etc. etc. watched that show back then. They syndicated it on TBS in the mornings for as long as it lasted. I hope they come out with it on DVD evenutally.

[Zaranyzerak]

Actually, Jim Carrey was doing his schtick several years before Max Headroom came along. Just because he didn't make it BIG until the early 90's doesn't mean he wasn't performing. I remember watching Jim Carrey's standup and TV movie appearance in the early 80's. Max Headroom didn't start until 1985. Yes, they are similar actors. No, one didn't rip the other off.

[hootyhaha]

No he wasn't. I was watching Carrey before he got his new zaney Max styled act. He even said in an interview that at one point in his career he changed up his whole act to be crazier. Watch eps of his old TV shows, or his super early stand up. Or even the movie ONCE BITTEN. He's not the same carrey we have today.

[neverwasapunk16]

Jim carey probably thought this was the funniest shit ever. lolz

[ybz2207]

Well, i'm a big jim carrey fan. You satisfy some and you don't satisfy others. Everyones got different opinion and that's just it. You can't change sumones opinion or change their mind about it. JIM CARREY STILL RULES!!

[KillinDaWelfareMCs]

wow it is so true,,,

Jim carey would not exist if it wasn't for Max Headroom.

[taylorbanegas]

its the guys from honey i shrunk the kids!!!!!!!!

[andymate2006]

LOL. Max Headroom is Jim Carey without the overacting and has a bit of nerd mixed in there. Also Max Headroom is funnier.

[Cancun187]

Before I found this video, I was thinking the exact same thing, that Jim Carrey's mannerisms are reminiscent to Max Headroom's. There's definitely a similarity.

[Archaenfel]

No: Max Hedroom was played by Matt Frewer, who can now be seen on Sci-Fi channel's 'Eureka'. Max was big 20 years ago or so.

[ShodanZombocom]

they sound exactly the same, I'm just wondering if Carey did the voice for max headroom and that's why it seems like he stole or some shit, I'm going to look into that though.

[MadsterV]

You know, watching this video made me go back to see some of Carrey's stuff....

.... and..... no.

Maybe inspired.

Carrey kind of does full body expressions, the kind you don't see here (only seen this guy in Max Headroom though). And the manic roles are only in the old movies, live he's more mellow and relies a lot on characters as a regular comedian.

[SidTheUndying]

One part Max Headroom, one part Jerry Lewis = Jim Carey reusing and regurgitating what was already funny decades ago. Only thing he's done that was original was Firemarshall Bill. Too bad he took the easy way out and just began copying funny people. I'm sorry, I did the same junk at 14, it was stupid then and it's still stupid. And Carey needs to stop buying his hype, I lived in the same city he did and grew up the same time and about the same age, I'd never heard of him.

[moslemssuck]

What do you mean 'borrowed' it? He stole it. Carrey is just a 'no-talent', face-pulling jackass that's made millions acting like a retarded cunt.

[controlfunction]

Max is just so far ahead of his time. He just fucks with people totally. He is the total anti interview, it's fantastic. Even John Lydon couldn't be this disjointed. Beautiful stuff.

[drstoo]

Just thought i'd add this information, if Jim Carrey was even just amused at Max Headroom, at least he did not steal the idea. George Stone wrote the original idea of MaxHeadroom Not Rocky Morton or Annabel Jankel. It was a short film 1 hour long, you can say this is actually George Stones mind talking. Fact!

[ReturnofRetroBoy]

Trying to keep an open mind about Carrey. Just hate to think he borrowed from someone else, but...it's there.

Bill Murray's always been too casual like he's on quaaludes. Never seen him do a HIGH!!! energy, manic role.

Dave was obviously tickled by Max. Most of the audience was dead during the bit.

[booboo12121]

I know the date...bu the's still hilarious, some things never die.

[hootyhaha]

TO people contacting COKE. They're going to tell you that COKE no longer has the rights to him, only ABC does. But just bombarding them with email will still generate some sort of interest in him. Heck contact ABC and tell them the same thing. It has to be the Matt Frewer Max, any other knock offs are just horrible.

[egonspeng]

He was an influence towards Carrey, for sure. But i don't think he's copying him. We all have our influences.

[RustiSwordz]

People compare Frewer with Carrey, in the new Channel 4 (UK) commercials, Max Headroom says 'first Jim Carrey steals my shi*'

Its on You Tube.

[babypuppy69]

God! I was just a kid when this guy was out but Jim Carrey must totally have based his act on Max...I would never have realised or even remembered that til I saw this!

[hootyhaha]

I think you're thinking more of Andy Kaufman being similar to Bill Murray, or Vice Versa since they both always stir up excitement when they're on a talk show.

[hootyhaha]

Bill Murray? I don't think so :) I've been watching Murray flicks since STRIPES. Yes I'm aging myself when I say that :) But I don't see any similarities.

[reddyredd]

I'm surprised you totally dismissed it. Certainly not the manic delivery, but watch Bill on Letterman again (not the movies--no connection there). Can't you picture Bill doing the dry "Well, Dave..." and also singing a wacky song like that? In NO WAY the copycat that Carrey is of Frewer--you have to reach to see the inspiration of Murray here. But Frewer wasn't an unfrozen caveman that dropped his stylings out of nowhere.

[hootyhaha]

Post the video here so I can watch it, or send it to me.

[reddyredd]

I agree there aren't really similarities to Bill and Max in general, but I think they have a similar approach on Letterman--both of them play Dave as a straight man to their shtick rather than real interviews, with their non sequiturs and (mock) dismissive condescension of Dave. And watch Bill get a little manic himself near the end of this.

As for the singing, they both do that crappy lounge singer thing (aka Nick Winters - Star Wars). No theft, just inspiration.

[Shahamu]

All ri-ri-ri-ri-righty then!

[dzthom]

Certainly are similarities w/ Carey and Max headroom. Name your top 5 favorite comedians and I can show you similar styles from comedians prior.

[hootyhaha]

No DsThorn,

Ya can't :) Name me a comedian that's just like Bob Cat Goldthwait. Pee Wee Herman. Bill Cosby. Billy Connelly. Mitch Hedgeberg. Every one of those comedians are unique with their own style. See they're not just people telling jokes, they have their own STYLE. Max Headroom had a STYLE, that Jim Carrey now has some how. And it's pretty much exactly like his was.

[dzthom]

Obviously you have misunderstood my comment, I said "similar styles" not "exactly like" as you have incorrectly mentioned. Now for the far from unique comedians you have listed... 1)Bob Cat Goldthwait - Sam Kinison and Tom Kenner. 2)Pee Wee Herman aka Paul Reubens - Kermit the frog and Phil Hartman. 3)Bill Cosby - Richard Pryor and Jonathan Winters 4)Billy Connelly - Gerry Rafferty 5) Mitch hedgeberg - Steven Wright

[reddyredd]

Bob Cat, if anything, was a mock voice of Kinison, Pee Wee and Hartman worked together, so irrelevant. Cosby came before Pryor. Wright hugely influenced Hedberg. Personally, I have no objections of Carrey's thing, but the question is: Does he deny the influence? I personally would be happy to carry Max's torch. Just give the credit. But maybe we're the idiots for never realizing the obvious reference.

[dzthom]

I agree with you there. He should acknowledge Max's influence.

But Jim carey capitalized on more of slap stick style of comedy. Nonetheless Max >

[southsidehitmen333]

Wright did not hugely influence Hedberg. People have said they have similar styles and Mitch said he enjoyed Steven Wright's jokes... but thats about it.

[hootyhaha]

bplaya408,

I feel sorry for people like you. Life's not so bad, it will get better.

[m1kew8e]

people dont realise that entertainment, including actors, writers, music etc, has been copied off 100'S of predecessors. If we didnt have Laural and Hardy chances are we would not have had the two ronnies. If it were not for pink floyd, the beatles, etc we would not have the music we have today.Actors and musicians take ideas and styles, then adapt them into there own personalities and what you end up with is someone with good talent, and a great teacher.....JIM CAREY RULES!!!!!!

[hootyhaha]

Yeah but each performer that borrowed a style . . still borrowed it. It doesn't change the fact that they ripped something off. And nobody has ever done the style of Laural and Hardy. Comedians from those years all the way up to the 70s were all original. Chaplin stood alone, Keaton stood alone , Laural and Hardy stood alone. Jim Carrey does not stand alone. What sucks is that Carrey has made it bigger than "MAX" while "MAX" has drifted off into Cyberspace.

[Emin7]

i could easily live without jim carey !

[gemmi33]

Couldnt live w/out Mr. Carrey!

[bazzer187]

Damn! Jim Carrey Got megga fuckin rich off of someone else's ACT lol I Remember max headroom that shit was great =)

[nightmaredavid]

Jim Carrey was around doing his unique comedy long before the Max Headroom TV series was around. He's done a few movies in the 1980's that show he did NOT rip off the Max Headroom character.

[hootyhaha]

No, Jim Carrey was not doing the same type of wild humor he had until his "Unatural act" on Showtime. Find it on Youtube. And that was WAY after Max Headroom. Carrey even talked about how he had to change his style because he wasn't making it in his earlier years. It was a Diane Sawyer or Barbera Walters interview. You can find that on Youtube also I'm sure.

[myselfalex]

Even in the episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation you can see how this guy talks and acts and how Jim Carrey could rip him off.

[hootyhaha]

What episode was that, I haven't seen it.

[hootyhaha]

Yeah .. that's called ripping off. That's what's wrong with the entertainment industry today. Nobody is unique anymore like people and performers were in the 80s.

[ronindagger]

That's Vanilla Ice... no you're right, that's the Original Jim Carrey.

[ProudAnselmo]

You can really see the similarity most in "The Mask". It really is uncanny.

[crapchesse]

I totally agree

[Freepablo]

I wasn't alive during the Max Headroom years, but after seeing the Coke commercial a few years ago, the first thing that popped into my head was "Wow, Jim Carrey's whole shtick is from Max."

[estuben87]

damn comp cut me off.

[treegirlie]

he's scary man

[hootyhaha]

Why do people call Max Headroom scary or freaky? I don't see that at all. :)

[estuben87]

well thats easy...open your eyes. *and now to my comment I was going to say*

[Trevorsteph]

PEOPLE! This is not Jim Carrey.

[TinkurBel]

This is so funny! i love JIM CARREY!

[hootyhaha]

Everybody know it's not Jim Carrey! Nobody said it was! And neither did the video.

[mudman1881]

wow I never made the connection before, but ya can tell Jim Carey must have been a fan of Max Headroom. A lot of similarities there...cool vid:)

[shannonm75]

Jim Carrey is a lot like the Max Headroom character. I didn't realize until now.

[fleshsniper1]

he looks creepy as hell

[hootyhaha]

mygreybear , no he didn't. Watch his earlier stuff. He's never been that wild (as wild as Max) until After the Max Phenomenon went away and he figured people forgot about it enough to capatilize on it.

[mygreybear]

jim carrey acted like that since he was like 3

[ninitine]

u need to be slightly whacky to love this guy and well i am

[hootyhaha]

by 1987 Max Headroom was starting to disapear into the mainframe too long.

[hootyhaha]

1984 , not 1987

[a3453453452]

If it's it's realtime CG from 1987, Jim Carey could actually be Max Headroom 2.0... do you know anyone who has seen Jim Carey in real life?

[TheGameroomBlitz]

It's not. Computer rendering wasn't that advanced in the late 1980s... the best you were going to do is Tron-style polygonal effects.  Max Headroom is just Matt Frewer wearing sculpted plastic hair and a latex jacket. They throw some shifting lines created by an Amiga computer in the background, and presto! You've got an effect that looked futuristic in the 80s, and is eerily similar to today's CGI effects.

[craigsgreat]

M M M M M M M Max Max hhhhhhhead rooooom

[TheGameroomBlitz]

Whoa! TV Guide actually mentions the similarities between Max Headroom and Jim Carrey in an interview with Matt Frewer last year. I can't post the URL, but go to Google and type "Matt Frewer takes Eureka to the max." The interview is the first entry that appears.

JR

[reddyredd]

Great catch, Blitz! They ask him "When are you and Jim Carrey finally going to get together and do something? The resemblance shouldn't be overlooked."

[TheGameroomBlitz]

I wonder if anyone's ever asked Matt Frewer about this...?

JR

[dethklok99]

What a rare gem this is hootyhaha! Thanks a bunch, goood tv.

[hootyhaha]

When his PA goes out, that's a common mistake. It does not show that anybody is in the background.  Dave and everybody is mic'd up for their audio to go across the video signal and in the studio. If Dave's mic went out (hook up) he'd sound the same as Max did when his mic went out.

[hootyhaha]

NO! Man alive, it's NOT Jim Carey are yall nuts???? It's Max Headroom! :) Jim Carey seems to have borrowed his goofy wackiness since he was around years before Carey had his SHTICK. Carrey even says in one interview that he changed his style later on in his career to just let go and get wild. Seems suspicious.

[dethklok99]

This is so true!

Rent the movie, "Once Bitten" with Jim Carrey.

That was his comedic style while Max headroom was on TV.

Max Headroom was awesome then, and now! 5 stars! THX!

[6evil6dead6]

everybody rips off everybody in hollywood

[spacegeek]

Jim Carrey ..... wow, I though Jim was original

[flange321]

Its not Jim Carey.

[whaaatthedeuce]

But there are obvious comparisons to Max and Jim Carrey's Mask and Grinch characters...long after Max Headroom.

[JadyLester]

"Plate in your head"-- ooh that wasn't scripted.

[TheycallhimTurpin]

Yep, Jim Carrey is a cheap knockoff of Max Headroom.

[millermanartists]

Max headroom was way ahead of his time!

[ChathamFr0]

Yeah, if that's Jim Carrey, he does a hell of a job!

[alimccarley]

This is great!

[darrowdice]

Sensational!

[friedriches]

They didn't get a lot of it. I thought it was great.

[sigmundfruit]

The audience didn't get the 'Michael Cane' bit.

[vundertowv]

JIM CARREY!!!!!! I WANT MY MONEY BACK! LOL I grew up with Max and I can't believe I didn't catch on. Hell, I don't think ANYONE did!

[smartbombstudios]

It's so crazy to see how much Jim Carrey ripped off his schtick!

[TheReelTodd]

Wow... I never realized how much Jim Carrey's stuff was so Max-like in presentation and delivery! Just never occurred to me. Interesting.

[ts003]

Same here... o.o;;