Fans who fondly remember "Frog Baseball" and still pull their shirts over their heads to break out a rendition of "The Great Cornholio" may have reason to rejoice. It seems that news is circulating that MTV plans to revive one of its most popular franchises in Beavis and Butt-Head. According to Examiner's REVIEWniverse, an anonymous source has revealed that creator Mike Judge has 30 new episodes in the works which will be set for a return on its native MTV. While the deal is not yet set in stone and reports also indicate that the return of the animated icons has yet to be greenlit, Judge's efforts may be an indicator that things will likely move forward.
According to the report, the updated series would apparently hold true to the original in that Judge plans to maintain the scraggly, "ghetto-tech aesthetic" of the original series. Additionally, the format of giving music videos the old "Mystery Science Theater 3000" treatment of voice-over commentary would also remain, except with up-to-date videos, obviously. (Beavis and Butt-Head commentating on Lady Gaga videos? That's got to be worth something.)
Spun-off from the 1991 animation showcase/anthology series Liquid Television, Beavis and Butt-Head would air from 1993-1997. At the height of its popularity, it even spawned the theatrically-released film Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, which topped the box-office in its debut weekend, going on to gross over $63 million in 1996. The animated duo represented for many, the embodiment of society's imminent intellectual downfall, and for others, a guilty pleasure that contained nuggets of clever commentary on culture and Americana. For MTV, the show's success was an important landmark in its complete transition from the network that played music videos into the broader, youth-catered programming full of teen dramas and scripted "reality" shows it would eventually become.
It's been a long time since the 90's iconic bumbling duo have shined in the spotlight and it's difficult to tell if they would show their age if revived in today's setting. How would Beavis and Butthead's rural, mundane, but trouble-filled lives hold up in a much faster culture filled with a dominant Internet, smart phones, and social networks?
Would fans welcome the return of Beavis and Butt-Head? Or would a revival be perceived as milking a franchise well past its age?
I am all for this as long as Mike Judge is at the helm. The potential to make fun of so many things that the world has evolved into with social media and cell/texting. lol [Reply]
Originally Posted by KcMizzou:
I have a season on DVD. I guess they couldn't get the rights to all the music, so it's just the cartoon... no videos. It kinda sucks. The videos (and their commentary) made the show.
thats like taking away the old movies and having the MST3k guys just talk to each other [Reply]
Originally Posted by Taco John:
I love how the writer asks whether or not this format would hold up in this more "fast paced" age. What a bunch of dopey tripe. It's Beavis and Butthead, for chrissakes. You think the people who liked Beavis and Butthead before have all grown up? It appeals to the forever immature set - which counts nearly every man I know.
He has a point unless they are going to change with the times.. There are hardly any good metal videos out there unless B&B are going to be making fun of lady Gaga.. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Valiant:
He has a point unless they are going to change with the times.. There are hardly any good metal videos out there unless B&B are going to be making fun of lady Gaga..
There are plenty of videos, it's just that no one shows them, unless you watch MTV2.
And I would hope they would show Poker Face by Lady Gaga, that has huge potential with B&B riffing on it (and probably humping the couch). [Reply]
Originally Posted by Saulbadguy:
I'm assuming they would. Family Guy and South Park are way more "offensive" than Beavis and Butthead were. Not really many lines they could cross on prime time television anymore.
This might be the only problem. What made that show so popular was largely how offensive it was. It will be hard to push that envelope much further than it has been pushed. [Reply]
They are returning again. This time to Comedy Central
Breaking: ‘Beavis and Butt-Head’ is back! Mike Judge is returning to oversee two new seasons — and spinoffs — of the franchise at Comedy Central. Details: https://t.co/wAKTGjlabvpic.twitter.com/l4XhcIUhnF