Editor's Note: This review stems from a special screening of the pilot episode of Beavis and Butt-head at New York Comic Con. It was presented in rough cut form, missing the opening sequence, in which B&B watch Twilight in the theater. Other than this sequence, the 22-minute episode was finished.
It would appear that Mike Judge's comedy senses have only sharpened over the years. Sometimes when you take a break from something, you begin to realize just how special it truly was. And sometimes that piece of pop culture entertainment evolves and grows with you, transforming into something fresh and uniquely relevant. It would seem that's exactly what has happened to Judge and his once ubiquitous series Beavis and Butt-Head.
The world-renowned satirist has certainly had his fair share of success and failure over the years to give him some perspective. He's been burnt by live-action cinema, serving up a trilogy of incredible cult hits, each of which initially flopped in theaters. He's also had quite a bit of success with King of the Hill, the beloved Fox series Judge crafted after his reign with Beavis and Butt-Head abruptly ended in 1997. And now Judge returns to his old playground, a 20-year veteran of the industry. He arrives in a world shaped by his original show, but dominated by the likes of Family Guy, South Park, Robot Chicken and dozens of other Adult Swim shows. Fans don't just expect more of the same anymore – they want something better.
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And that's exactly what the first new episode of Beavis and Butt-Head delivers. It's easily one of the show's funniest episodes and a great example of just how brilliant Mike Judge really is. In the traditional style of the classic series, this pilot features two shorts. The first has the moronic duo attempting to become werewolves so they can "pick up chicks," just like in Twilight. Naturally, it doesn't go as planned, and Beavis and Butt-head end up getting bitten by a homeless man they have mistaken for a werewolf. While the topical nature of the short is a bit old, the gags are really what sell it. Watching a crazed homeless man maul an enthusiastic Beavis and Butt-head is much funnier than expected.
The second short of the pilot revolves around Butt-head mocking Beavis for crying during a dumb made-for-TV drama. In actuality, Beavis was tearing up because he was smelling an onion. But no matter what he does or what he says, he just can't seem to convince Butt-head otherwise. The short culminates with in a hilarious finale and a gag that's simple, and a little cheap, but perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the unhinged duo.
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The Worst Things Beavis and Butt-head Did to Themselves
Also in traditional Beavis and Butt-head style, the two shorts were spread over the 22 minutes, with random TV segments spliced into the narrative. Instead of just poking fun of music videos like the original series, this time B&B chop down MTV's own franchises, from Jersey Shore to 16 and Pregnant. But fear not, B&B also munch on a rather raunchy music video, and have a great time tearing it to shreds.
While the shorts themselves are a hoot, the best moments do come from these TV segments. Marrying Beavis and Butt-head with Jersey Shore proves to be comedy gold. But even better is 16 and Pregnant.* I was shocked to see how harsh these guys are to that show. They are, perhaps, too witty and snarky in these segments, but it works, oddly enough. It's as though Beavis and Butt-head are self-aware of how dumb and idiotic they are and have grown a distaste for many aspects of our culture, and how it has stooped to their dreary, moronic level.
*[Editor's Note: It seems the version of this episode that aired did not include the 16 and Pregnant segment that was included both at the NYCC screening and in press screener copies, replacing it with Beavis and Butt-head mocking more music videos. Here's hoping that 16 and Pregnant section shows up in a future episode and hasn't been shelved!]
Kudos to MTV for allowing Judge to tear down their most popular franchises. It adds a brilliant layer of irony and satire to the entire concept of Beavis and Butt-head, and it might just be the very element that returns the series to the head of the class. Watch out Family Guy. Watch out South Park. Beavis and Butt-head are back, and they're ready to ridicule our apathy, mock our lack of inhibition, and tear down our dumb pop culture memes. And, rest assured, it's going to be one helluva fun ride.
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