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Max is an assistant of Kinga Forrester.

Max introduces himself in Reptilicus as "TV's Son of TV's Frank", but Kinga makes it clear that "Nobody calls him that. His name is Max. Just...just call him Max". During Dr. Erhardt's visit in Season 12 he seemed to confirm that Max is the son of TV's Frank, but he could not identify Max's mother.

Personality[]

Max is familiar with (and fond of) the original Experiment, thus explaining his desire to establish his familial connection to TV's Frank. He addresses his journal "Dear TV's Diary of TV's Son of TV's Frank" in episode 1110.

Max initially displays unrequited affection for Kinga, which eases in Season 12, where he and Kinga have a slightly more cordial relationship.

Max is an eager participant in Kinga's Experiment, and has shown neither affection nor sympathy towards Jonah and the Bots. However, Max is apparently somewhat sensitive to the suffering of living things, as he showed some qualms about demonstrating Kinga's Punt Bunnies during the Invention Exchange in Experiment #1111.

Max displayed a certain kinship with Professor Bobo, who was the only visitor to Moon 13 who addressed Max as TV's Son of TV's Frank.

When Max was left without Kinga's supervision when Kinga went on vacation with Pearl, Max became disoriented and frustrated by having too much autonomy. He also found himself being teased and abused by Mega-Synthia, which also made him skittish around Synthia.

Behind the scenes[]

  • Patton Oswalt has previously been involved with MST3K in hosting the "reunion" panel at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con.[1]
  • When asked to work on the show he requested that he play "TV's Son of TV's Frank".
  • Several times during Season 11, Max demonstrates the foible of starting a bold statement, then losing his train of thought and ending the sentence in a rambling, unfocused way. Patton Oswalt had previously explored this idea on his comedy album "Finest Hour", in which he recounted his attempt to apply this trait to the role of a "gay best friend" in a romantic comedy film.[2]
  • The idea of the new "button pusher" being named Max may be in reference to the Peter Falk character from the 1965 Blake Edwards film The Great Race, who tended to work as a sidekick and press buttons for Jack Lemmon's villainous character Professor Fate. Inspiration may also have been drawn from the name of the villainous Doc Hopper's soft-hearted assistant Max in The Muppet Movie (as several of the puppeteers on the show have connections to the Jim Henson company).
  • Patton Oswalt resumed the role of Max when the series returned for Season 13. His hair was slightly different, sitting lower on his forehead than it had previously.
  • Max was voiced by Taliesin Jaffe for the 2019 special Totino's Proudly Presents Mystery Science Theater 3000 The PODComic!.



The Mads
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Principal Dr. Clayton ForresterDr. Laurence ErhardtTV's FrankPearl ForresterProfessor BoboBrain GuyKinga ForresterMax
Secondary Gerry and SylviaDr. PeanutThe ObserversSynthia ForresterArdySkeleton CrewDr. Donna St. PhibesBonesyMega-SynthiaDr. KabahlM. WaverlyGrowler
Mirror Universe Mike NelsonCrow T. RobotTom ServoGypsy
Locations Gizmonic InstituteDeep 13Deep ApeThe WidowmakerObserver homeworldCamping PlanetAncient RomeCastle ForresterMoon 13Moon 1Deep Hurting
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