Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Be the first to see my new documentary feature Oldest and Newest Places On Earth on Nebula. Sign up at nebula.tv/joescott and get 50% off your annual subscription.
On November 22, 1987, TVs across the city of Chicago were interrupted by the strange image of a man in a Max Headroom mask, babbling incoherently and getting spanked. It was one of the most brazen TV piracy events in US history, and a mystery that has eluded experts for nearly 40 years. Today we look into the infamous Max Headroom Incident.
Want to support the channel? Here's how:
Patreon: patreon.com/answerswithjoe
Channel Memberships: youtube.com/channel/UC-2YHgc363EdcusLIBbgxzg/join
T-Shirts & Merch: laughsmarter.com
Check out my 2nd channel, Joe Scott TMI:
youtube.com/channel/UCqi721JsXlf0wq3Z_cNA_Ew
And my podcast channel, Conversations With Joe:
youtube.com/channel/UCJzc7TiJ2nnuyJkUpOZ8RKA
You can listen to my podcast, Conversations With Joe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Spotify 👉 spoti.fi/37iPGzF
Apple Podcasts 👉 apple.co/3j94kfq
Google Podcasts 👉 bit.ly/3qZCo1V
Follow me at all my places!
Instagram: instagram.com/answerswithjoe
TikTok: tiktok.com/@answerswithjoe
Facebook: facebook.com/answerswithjoe
Twitter: twitter.com/answerswithjoe
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
1:37 - TV Hijack
7:36 - Why Max Headroom?
9:05 - How Could This Happen?
11:15 - Breaking Down The Theories
14:26 - Other Media Hijackings
16:59 - Sponsor - Nebula
LINKS LINKS LINKS
npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/02/12/171814715/zombie-alert-also-aired-in-michigan-hacking-traced-to-overseas-source
arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/02/bogus-zombie-apocolypse-warnings-undermine-us-emergency-alert-system
arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/02/bogus-zombie-apocolypse-warnings-undermine-us-emergency-alert-system
nfl.com/news/arizona-man-pleads-guilty-to-hacking-super-bowl-telecast-09000d5d8234e3e0
archives.fbi.gov/archives/phoenix/press-releases/2011/px020411a.htm
dailypress.com/1990/09/25/federal-jury-convicts-cbn-technician
nytimes.com/1986/07/23/arts/man-admits-overriding-hbo-signal.html
latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-07-22-mn-30928-story.html
cbsnews.com/news/flashback-hacker-interrupts-hbos-film-in-1986
wbur.org/endlessthread/2022/01/07/encore-max-headroom
law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/758/1231/1809318/#:~:text=WGN%20uses%20the%20statements%20of,McCoy%20did%20seek%20other%20employment
vice.com/en/article/headroom-hacker
monar.neocities.org/tech/max
reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/3oaxi5/new_developments_in_the_max_headroom_incident
findagrave.com/memorial/176450039/eric_joseph-fournier
weirddarkness.com/max-headroom-tv-hijack-chicago
reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/83gnnm/do_you_believe_eric_fournier_was_behind_the_max
vice.com/en/article/shaye-saint-john-is-forever-061
vice.com/en/article/headroom-hacker
theverge.com/2015/4/2/8285139/max-headroom-oral-history-80s-cyberpunk-interview
theverge.com/2015/4/2/8285139/max-headroom-oral-history-80s-cyberpunk-interview, youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=UzFWQIIe8U4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2F
dfarq.homeip.net/max-headroom-incident-of-nov-22-1987
Be the first to see my new documentary feature Oldest and Newest Places On Earth on Nebula. Sign up at nebula.tv/joescott and get 50% off your annual subscription.
On November 22, 1987, TVs across the city of Chicago were interrupted by the strange image of a man in a Max Headroom mask, babbling incoherently and getting spanked. It was one of the most brazen TV piracy events in US history, and a mystery that has eluded experts for nearly 40 years. Today we look into the infamous Max Headroom Incident.
Want to support the channel? Here's how:
Patreon: patreon.com/answerswithjoe
Channel Memberships: youtube.com/channel/UC-2YHgc363EdcusLIBbgxzg/join
T-Shirts & Merch: laughsmarter.com
Check out my 2nd channel, Joe Scott TMI:
youtube.com/channel/UCqi721JsXlf0wq3Z_cNA_Ew
And my podcast channel, Conversations With Joe:
youtube.com/channel/UCJzc7TiJ2nnuyJkUpOZ8RKA
You can listen to my podcast, Conversations With Joe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Spotify 👉 spoti.fi/37iPGzF
Apple Podcasts 👉 apple.co/3j94kfq
Google Podcasts 👉 bit.ly/3qZCo1V
Follow me at all my places!
Instagram: instagram.com/answerswithjoe
TikTok: tiktok.com/@answerswithjoe
Facebook: facebook.com/answerswithjoe
Twitter: twitter.com/answerswithjoe
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
1:37 - TV Hijack
7:36 - Why Max Headroom?
9:05 - How Could This Happen?
11:15 - Breaking Down The Theories
14:26 - Other Media Hijackings
16:59 - Sponsor - Nebula
LINKS LINKS LINKS
npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/02/12/171814715/zombie-alert-also-aired-in-michigan-hacking-traced-to-overseas-source
arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/02/bogus-zombie-apocolypse-warnings-undermine-us-emergency-alert-system
arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/02/bogus-zombie-apocolypse-warnings-undermine-us-emergency-alert-system
nfl.com/news/arizona-man-pleads-guilty-to-hacking-super-bowl-telecast-09000d5d8234e3e0
archives.fbi.gov/archives/phoenix/press-releases/2011/px020411a.htm
dailypress.com/1990/09/25/federal-jury-convicts-cbn-technician
nytimes.com/1986/07/23/arts/man-admits-overriding-hbo-signal.html
latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-07-22-mn-30928-story.html
cbsnews.com/news/flashback-hacker-interrupts-hbos-film-in-1986
wbur.org/endlessthread/2022/01/07/encore-max-headroom
law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/758/1231/1809318/#:~:text=WGN%20uses%20the%20statements%20of,McCoy%20did%20seek%20other%20employment
vice.com/en/article/headroom-hacker
monar.neocities.org/tech/max
reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/3oaxi5/new_developments_in_the_max_headroom_incident
findagrave.com/memorial/176450039/eric_joseph-fournier
weirddarkness.com/max-headroom-tv-hijack-chicago
reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/83gnnm/do_you_believe_eric_fournier_was_behind_the_max
vice.com/en/article/shaye-saint-john-is-forever-061
vice.com/en/article/headroom-hacker
theverge.com/2015/4/2/8285139/max-headroom-oral-history-80s-cyberpunk-interview
theverge.com/2015/4/2/8285139/max-headroom-oral-history-80s-cyberpunk-interview, youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=UzFWQIIe8U4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2F
dfarq.homeip.net/max-headroom-incident-of-nov-22-1987
