Ron Headrest
Encyclopedia
Ron Headrest is a character from the comic strip Doonesbury
.
During the 1980s Garry Trudeau
thought it would be fun to do a political parody of the television program Max Headroom
(of which he was a fan). He combined the concept with then-president Ronald Reagan
, to produce Ron Headrest, the world's first electronically simulated politician.
The idea was that Ron had been created to serve as a backup president during the long periods Reagan spent on vacation. He appeared as a stylized version of Reagan’s head and shoulders on a television screen, complete with cool sunglasses
. Because he was electronic, he would have no memory troubles, and his sense of humor and attitude were designed to appeal to young voters.
It was a disaster. Headrest openly mocked the administration he was designed to serve, and caused nothing but trouble. During the first week of his appearance he flashed the White House's phone number on his screen, and told children to call if they wanted "rock solid" information about sex
. Because the number printed was accurate, the real world White House got thousands of calls which jammed their lines. Eventually they got revenge by giving callers the number of Trudeau’s editor.
In the continuity of the comic strip the White House staff was less creative, and simply tried to turn Headrest off. But like his televised counterpart, Ron escaped into the airwaves and began causing trouble wherever he could find a television and someone to listen to him. He took particular delight in tormenting Mike Doonesbury
, whom he called "Y-Person" (meaning yuppie
). Headrest also sought the 1988 Republican Party presidential nomination in his own right, but withdrew from the race, promising to go into rerun
s instead.
Ron appeared regularly throughout the Reagan and Bush presidencies and then began to show up less frequently. Some claim he is the first Doonesbury presidential "icon" (famous individuals are traditionally portrayed by some sort of avatar in the strip), but this is debatable, as Reagan and Headrest existed simultaneously. He only appeared a few times during the Clinton administration, and then disappeared entirely. The real Ronald Reagan
had retired and left the public view, and Max Headroom
's program was long gone, making the character far less topical than he had once been. Although Doonesbury characters rarely disappear, as of August 1, 2011 Ron Headrest hasn't been seen since November 6, 1994.
A similar character briefly appears in the movie Back to the Future Part II
. In that movie’s vision of the future, there is a cafe called the "Cafe '80s" in which Headroom-esque versions of 1980s celebrities act as waiters. One is an amalgam of Headroom and Reagan, like the Doonesbury character.
Doonesbury
Doonesbury is a comic strip by American cartoonist Garry Trudeau, that chronicles the adventures and lives of an array of characters of various ages, professions, and backgrounds, from the President of the United States to the title character, Michael Doonesbury, who has progressed from a college...
.
During the 1980s Garry Trudeau
Garry Trudeau
Garretson Beekman "Garry" Trudeau is an American cartoonist, best known for the Doonesbury comic strip.-Background and education:...
thought it would be fun to do a political parody of the television program Max Headroom
Max Headroom (TV series)
Max Headroom is a British-produced American science fiction television series by Chrysalis/Lakeside Productions that aired in the United States on ABC from March 1987 to May 1988. The series was based on the Channel 4 British TV pilot Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future...
(of which he was a fan). He combined the concept with then-president Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, to produce Ron Headrest, the world's first electronically simulated politician.
The idea was that Ron had been created to serve as a backup president during the long periods Reagan spent on vacation. He appeared as a stylized version of Reagan’s head and shoulders on a television screen, complete with cool sunglasses
Sunglasses
Sunglasses or sun glasses are a form of protective eyewear designed primarily to prevent bright sunlight and high-energy visible light from damaging or discomforting the eyes. They can sometimes also function as a visual aid, as variously termed spectacles or glasses exist, featuring lenses that...
. Because he was electronic, he would have no memory troubles, and his sense of humor and attitude were designed to appeal to young voters.
It was a disaster. Headrest openly mocked the administration he was designed to serve, and caused nothing but trouble. During the first week of his appearance he flashed the White House's phone number on his screen, and told children to call if they wanted "rock solid" information about sex
Sex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
. Because the number printed was accurate, the real world White House got thousands of calls which jammed their lines. Eventually they got revenge by giving callers the number of Trudeau’s editor.
In the continuity of the comic strip the White House staff was less creative, and simply tried to turn Headrest off. But like his televised counterpart, Ron escaped into the airwaves and began causing trouble wherever he could find a television and someone to listen to him. He took particular delight in tormenting Mike Doonesbury
Mike Doonesbury
Michael James "Mike" Doonesbury is the main character in Garry Trudeau's comic strip Doonesbury. He started out as a nerdish freshman from Tulsa at the fictional Walden College, and shared a dorm room with B.D. Currently he is married to Kim Rosenthal, and divorced from J.J. Caucus. Mike's...
, whom he called "Y-Person" (meaning yuppie
Yuppie
Yuppie is a term that refers to a member of the upper middle class or upper class in their 20s or 30s. It first came into use in the early-1980s and largely faded from American popular culture in the late-1980s, due to the 1987 stock market crash and the early 1990s recession...
). Headrest also sought the 1988 Republican Party presidential nomination in his own right, but withdrew from the race, promising to go into rerun
Rerun
A rerun or repeat is a re-airing of an episode of a radio or television broadcast. The invention of the rerun is generally credited to Desi Arnaz. There are two types of reruns—those that occur during a hiatus, and those that occur when a program is syndicated. Reruns can also be, as the...
s instead.
Ron appeared regularly throughout the Reagan and Bush presidencies and then began to show up less frequently. Some claim he is the first Doonesbury presidential "icon" (famous individuals are traditionally portrayed by some sort of avatar in the strip), but this is debatable, as Reagan and Headrest existed simultaneously. He only appeared a few times during the Clinton administration, and then disappeared entirely. The real Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
had retired and left the public view, and Max Headroom
Max Headroom (character)
Max Headroom is a fictional British artificial intelligence, known for his wit and stuttering, distorted, electronically sampled voice. The character was created by George Stone, Annabel Jankel, and Rocky Morton in the mid nineteen eighties, and portrayed by Matt Frewer as "The World's first...
's program was long gone, making the character far less topical than he had once been. Although Doonesbury characters rarely disappear, as of August 1, 2011 Ron Headrest hasn't been seen since November 6, 1994.
A similar character briefly appears in the movie Back to the Future Part II
Back to the Future Part II
Back to the Future Part II is a 1989 American science fiction comedy film and the second installment of the Back to the Future trilogy. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, and starred Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Thomas F. Wilson and Lea Thompson...
. In that movie’s vision of the future, there is a cafe called the "Cafe '80s" in which Headroom-esque versions of 1980s celebrities act as waiters. One is an amalgam of Headroom and Reagan, like the Doonesbury character.