Comments on: T.V. Pirates! Arrrrr!

T.V. Pirates! Arrrrr!

KevinSkomsvold — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:14:04 -0800

On November 22nd 1987, sports anchor Dan Roan of Chicago's WGN-TV News Network was narrating the video of the day's football highlights when something highly unusual happened. The pictures on the station monitors in the studio suddenly began to jitter and twitch. And that was just the beginning. Two hour later, it happened a second time (View clip here) [via KUR]

By: tellurian

tellurian — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:21:39 -0800

By: foot

foot — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:24:28 -0800

another hacker hijacks this another hacker hijacks that...

By: foot

foot — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:25:04 -0800

MY EYES THE GOOGLES DO NOTHING

By: pruner

pruner — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:25:13 -0800

very interesting.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:39:44 -0800

It's the best teevee I have ever seen.

By: The Deej

The Deej — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:43:17 -0800

And who can forget Captain Midnight?

By: flarbuse

flarbuse — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:44:25 -0800

Not just very interesting. Damn interesting, I daresay.

By: strawberryviagra

strawberryviagra — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:45:24 -0800

that was quite fucked up.

By: infinitewindow

infinitewindow — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:48:20 -0800

Nahh, it's too soft. I want something... tough.

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:54:56 -0800

Since this happened in 1987, why is it posted in 2006?

By: louie

louie — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:56:12 -0800

Fascinating. Thanks for the link.

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:02:56 -0800

"Since this happened in 1987, why is it posted in 2006?" Metafilter wasn't around then, duh.

By: vacapinta

vacapinta — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:06:53 -0800

Since this happened in 1987, why is it posted in 2006? posted by Goofyy at 8:54 PM PST Yeah, and the post below this begins "..complete, searchable transcriptions of the 1563, 1570, 1576, and 1583 editions..." 1563? WTF?

By: ZenMasterThis

ZenMasterThis — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:16:13 -0800

And who can forget Captain Midnight? I remember I was watching "The Falcon and the Snowman" in a hotel room in Newton, MA when the Captain Midnight hack suddenly interrupted the movie. I just thought it was so cool that someone could actually do that. Then I got annoyed 'cause it was interrupting my movie.

By: Divine_Wino

Divine_Wino — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:23:46 -0800

Unless I've somehow stumbled across a time machine that involves an ibook and a fourty of bud, this ain't even 2006. On topic: I lament that the ubiquity of networked computers seems to have left other more effort intensive forms of hacking by the wayside. That shit is well fucking nutty and must have left the primitive minds of 1987 totally befuddled. Awesome. I hope make magazine and the like are heralds of the perversion of other forms of media coming back into fashion.

By: Divine_Wino

Divine_Wino — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:28:07 -0800

I'd also like to say: Viewers were dumped back into the pedestrian world of Doctor Who as though the bizarre buttocks-swatting incident had never happened. God speed the day when Doctor Who is back, this bizarre buttocks-swatting has gone on for far too long for your humble correspondent.

By: o0o0o

o0o0o — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:33:19 -0800

Seriously, this hasn't made it to Metafilter already? It's definitely been on the net for at least 10 years. This is pretty much legend in Chicago. I remember seeing this when it originally aired (for the second time). It was very surreal. I kind of wish there was more deliberate purpose to it though.

By: bukharin

bukharin — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:44:25 -0800

Great work. Wish it happened more often. Reminds me of some of the Freak Juice clip on Radiohead's The Greatest Lying Mouth of All Time.

By: conch soup

conch soup — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:44:39 -0800

Is the first interruption posted aywhere, or did I just miss it?

By: SinisterPurpose

SinisterPurpose — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 22:11:11 -0800

Good Lord. I am a child of the eighties. I still think Max Headroom is cool and Tom Baker is my one and only Doctor. ...And a message for Hollywood... Start making movies modeled on failed television shows from twenty years ago. The concepts are ripe. Pick them.

By: Sparx

Sparx — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 22:42:35 -0800

ZenMasterThis: The Falcon and the Snowman is a pretty shite movie all in all. I seem to recall it starring Sean Penn's distended stomach. SinisterPurpose: Aside from the recent doctors being better than everyone since Tom Baker, I am still waiting for the goddamn Sapphire and Steel movie.

By: kid ichorous

kid ichorous — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 22:49:10 -0800

If someone would just do this with a certain 30 seconds of footage from The Ring, we'd have the best Superbowl EVER.

By: daninnj

daninnj — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 22:52:05 -0800

Is the first interruption posted aywhere, or did I just miss it? This CBS News video has it.

By: cribcage

cribcage — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 23:32:55 -0800

I'm usually a law-and-order type guy, but I have to admit being secretly glad when pranksters get away with stuff like this. Small mysteries keep life amusing. Start making movies modeled on failed television shows from twenty years ago. "Linda Hamilton returns to the big screen in Beauty and the Beast."

By: SinisterPurpose

SinisterPurpose — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 23:54:39 -0800

"Linda Hamilton returns to the big screen in Beauty and the Beast." Okay. Anything with more than 2 seasons is not failed. And if they did it, it'd be Heather Graham. Still Ron Perlman however.

By: blm

blm — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 00:45:53 -0800

Since this happened in 1987, why is it posted in 2006? It was also posted when it happened, this post's a repeat. Here's the original.

By: chillmost

chillmost — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 01:30:01 -0800

I can just see some Bears fan back in '87 getting upset about his highlights being disrupted: What da..? Aw jeez, dere's sumptin wrong wit da TV dere, guy. What da hell is dis crap? Aww Christ! Hey Hon, bring me anutter Old Style outta da fridge!

By: jeffmshaw

jeffmshaw — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 02:07:56 -0800

I am stunned to be the first to point out that it is actually 2007, which makes this the 20th anniversary of the incident. Well, technically, it's not the anniversary until November, but it's still 2007. Not 2006.

By: SteveInMaine

SteveInMaine — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 03:33:06 -0800

I'm sorry, but you have to preface everything referring to WGN with the phrase Chicago's very own. And whenever an old movie comes on, my brain inserts this commercial. It's a pavlovian response.

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:06:36 -0800

When did it become 2007? Did I sleep that long? Damn! You know, retirement is like that. You'll find out, if you're lucky. And I wasn't dissing the post, rather, I was wondering if I msised some significance. It's cool and all, no doubt. Especially with Max Headroom, a show I liked (except for the assy over-use of under-lighting)

By: pax digita

pax digita — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:25:27 -0800

Captain Midnight... Oh, yeah. I was sicker'n hell that night, and I figured I was just hallucinating along with the fever and bronchitis.

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 05:52:48 -0800

"We've got over ten jillion cars down here - every one a best deal like that!"

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 06:44:18 -0800

"I am stunned to be the first to point out that it is actually 2007" Except you're not the first, so no cookie for you.

By: Ironmouth

Ironmouth — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 07:22:03 -0800

Ha the guy made fun of Chuck Swirsky. total cheesy-voice radio sportscaster I could not stand in the 1980s. His name is also the inspiration for the Superfans guy. Oh and--GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!

By: DevilsAdvocate

DevilsAdvocate — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 10:17:41 -0800

Start making movies modeled on failed television shows from twenty years ago. Done. Turns out the movie was decent but not as good as the original show.

By: Cyclopsis Raptor

Cyclopsis Raptor — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 10:32:35 -0800

Am I weird if I wished someone would do this 5 years ago only with V from V for Vendetta? (I say 5 years ago because it wasn't a movie yet and so not everyone would've known what to think)

By: thanotopsis

thanotopsis — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 11:01:43 -0800

Did the Max Headroom guy off himself? Or was that the guy from SNL...or are they the same guy? If they're not, they really shouldn't be in show business if they're going to look so similar.

By: spock

spock — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 11:19:40 -0800

Anybody notice that he says "Catch the wave" (which was the slogan for New Coke in 1987)? However, he holds up a Pepsi can while saying it. heh

By: DevilsAdvocate

DevilsAdvocate — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 11:51:50 -0800

Did the Max Headroom guy off himself? No, Matt Frewer is alive and still acting. Or was that the guy from SNL I have no idea who you're talking about here. The only SNL cast member I can think of who might be confused with Matt Frewer is Chris Elliott, who is also alive and still acting.

By: smallerdemon

smallerdemon — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 12:12:59 -0800

*heh* If I were watching Doctor Who and the came on, I wouldn't be able to stop myself from grinning ear to ear. I too am generally your basic law and order kinda of guy, but stuff like this is great to me. Frankly, I'd rather see this than graffiti for example. Fleeting moments of random, harmless bizarre behavior? I somehow think the Doctor would approve. :)

By: thanotopsis

thanotopsis — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:02:16 -0800

I have no idea who you're talking about here. Ah, a little looking, and it was Charles Rocket that makes me think of Max Headroom all the time.

By: vronsky

vronsky — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:14:13 -0800

That was Damn Interesting.

By: davejay

davejay — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:37:55 -0800

my brain inserts this commercial. I thought it was going to be Victory Auto Wreckers that you'd linked to. I plundered many a part back in the day... Also: WGN and WTTW studios are surprisingly close together; one is adjacent to Northeastern Illinois University, and one is a short hop from Lane Technical High School (I know this, because I attended both institutions. This hack was before my time at UNI, but there was a radio station there (still is, actually) called WZRD -- "The Wizard" -- specializing (at the time) in counterculture activities. It would not surprise me in the slightest if it turned out to be a small group of Wizards -- including whomever handled transmitter operations, 'natch -- were responsible for this. More proud of my time as a Wizard than my time as a student of UNI

By: aladfar

aladfar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:38:22 -0800

I remember when this happened. I wasn't watching Dr. Who or the newscast at the time (I was only 10) but it was replayed repeatedly over the following weeks. There was much speculation about who was responsible and people are still trying to figure it out. A few years ago, I worked with a guy who did interactive installations for Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications (I'll not link it as it's not all that great of a place to visit). Somehow, we got to talking about the Max Headroom incident. Given his technical acumen he knew all sorts of details about how it was done. In fact, he seemed so knowledgeable, I asked him if he actually knew the people responsible - at which point he got all evasive. Perhaps he was just trying to be cool, but I got the impression that he knew far more than he was letting on. In any event, it's amazing that the secret has held for 20 years. Hijacking a TV signal probably involves at least a handful of people working together - amazing that no one has spilled the beans as yet.

By: SteveInMaine

SteveInMaine — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:34:39 -0800

I thought it was going to be Victory Auto Wreckers that you'd linked to. I plundered many a part back in the day... Gaaahhh! I grew up 11 blocks due west of Victory. Forgot all about that one.

By: tristeza

tristeza — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:02:08 -0800

Or was that the guy from SNL I have no idea who you're talking about here. The only SNL cast member I can think of who might be confused with Matt Frewer is Chris Elliott, who is also alive and still acting. Phil Hartman, maybe?