On March 8, 1993, MTV premiered the first episode of Beavis and Butt-Head, following the short Frog Baseball which had aired on MTV’s Liquid Television on September 22, 1992. The show quickly became a household name that deeply resonates with both Generation X and Millennial viewers. Before I dive into this review, I think it’s important to know the creator, Mike Judge. Michael Craig Judge, born on October 17, 1962, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, is an American writer, actor, animator, filmmaker, and producer. Raised in New Mexico, he earned a degree in Physics from the University of California, San Diego. Judge is best known for creating and starring in animated cartoons like Beavis & Butt-Head and King Of The Hill.
How was Beavis avd Butt-Head created? On the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, Mike Judge shares with the public that it took two attempts to draw the same person, specifically arising from his own personal issues with drawing. Judge mentions that the character inspirations of Beavis and Butt-Head had come from a “straight A student nerd,” which is a notable difference from the chaotic characters we see in the show.
Beavis and Butt-Head is a show that I always watch whenever I get home from school, especially while getting work done. To me, Beavis and Butt-Head is not just another animated series; it’s a cultural icon that resonates with most of its audience, particularly during the 1990s. At first glance, Beavis and Butt-Head may simply seem like an accurate portrayal of two dim-witted delinquent teenagers, but there is so much more to them that meets the eye. The humor, while often centered towards “toilet” jokes, has an unexplainable way of coming across as clever that over the past 30 years have critiqued social standards and how we perceive them as we go through our lives, even vicariously.
For example, Beavis and Butt-Head’s constant laughter and commentary on music videos not only serve as good entertainment, but it also gives the audience the chance to be introduced to new music they maybe haven’t heard before. For instance, I can recall watching season one of the show at my aunt and uncle’s house last Thanksgiving, when my uncle, a die-hard Primus fan, remarked, “Beavis & Butt-Head is how I was first introduced to Primus; It was life-changing.” Included is a clip of Beavis and Butt-Head reacting to Primus.
What makes Beavis & Butt-Head truly special is the show’s ability to turn ignorance into an aesthetic, and I think that especially in today’s society, we all wear, hear, or express at least some of it, especially our generation. In the 1990s, many parents misjudged the show, believing it was a bad influence on their children. I can’t say they are wrong, but also, they fail to see that the humor behind it was satire of the behavior they were concerned about. I would like to add another clip of Beavis & Butt-Head refusing to serve people at their job as an example.
The show’s brilliance solely lies in its portrayal of Beavis & Butt-Head who, despite their lack of intelligence, can somehow navigate the world with a sense of misguided confidence without compasses.
Their antics–like the famous Frog Baseball from the debut short that preceded the series– perfectly introduces us to the chaotic energy that Beavis & Butt-Head channel. However, the animation style, although simplistic, adds to the charm of the series as a whole. Without further ado, I would also like to include one of my favorite clips from Beavis & Butt-Head.
The show’s cancellation in 1997, in my opinion, caused a significant shift in MTV’s programming; not only was it a loss to the fans, but the network as well, causing MTV to drift away from its music-centric roots, leaning more towards reality television.
The return of Beavis & Butt-Head in 2011, after a long break, has provided the audience with nostalgia that could have been from their childhood, especially when Beavis & Butt-Head had returned again in 2022, which caused their intellect to spark controversy throughout the public. One thing I have learned about television, especially movies and music is that it doesn’t have to be specifically ‘suitable’; It’s not that I want the world to be exposed to it, but we will acquire those ‘bad intents’ anyway. It’s good to be aware, and even crack a few jokes, it kind of depends on the content; that’s true TV.
With all of this being said, I would not generally recommend this show to everyone– If you are someone who can appreciate raunchy, or crude humor, then Beavis & Butt-Head is the show for you! I would love to see our generation get into Beavis & Butt-Head and old school stuff—not only would you be cool, but it’s nostalgic to our parents, aunts, uncles, maybe even grandparents. So, if you haven’t given it a chance, you might as well just dive into the chaos. Though, I would greatly suggest that you be prepared for what you are getting into. You may also find that Beavis & Butt-Head could be nostalgic to you one day as well in ways you’d never expect. However, please do not try to imitate their antics by any means, trust me, it wouldn’t be as cool! They are not smart, nor role-models–It would probably get you expelled from school or behind bars. I would rate the show a solid 7.5 out of 10, giving it a total of 3 stars out of 5.