Two of the most purposefully immature TV characters of all time are set for a big return to the small screen. That's right, Mike Judge's modern classic animated series Beavis and Butt-Head are coming back to TV to teach a whole new generation about Megadeth, frog baseball and how much of a whiny dumbass Stewart is. But fans should expect some changes with this second B&B revival.
For one, the new Beavis and Butt-Head show isn't going to air on MTV, which the previous two iterations called home. Instead, the animated series is heading to fellow ViacomCBS network Comedy Central. Fans won't need to worry about the show biting the dust if the first season isn't a hit, either, because Comedy Central already ordered up two full seasons.
As well, this will be a reimagined take on Beavis and Butt-Head, who don't exactly have the most complicated canon. I doubt anyone would have expected a new iteration on the characters to have aged up accordingly, but the situation is largely different now that we're a full generation (or two) beyond the point when Beavis and Butt-Head first debuted in 1992. In any case, the undeniably Gen X characters will be confronted with the Gen Z uprising, which is probably going to inspire a lot of introspective comments from the duo that end in "sucks."
Comedy Central says the show will tackle meta-themes that are relatable to both Gen X parents and their Gen Z kids. Will we get to see the duo's signature bad dancing via Tik Tok videos? Will they watch and comment on Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" music video? Will they play Cards Against Humanity with Daria's mom? The list of currently unanswerable questions goes on.
Comedy Central's take on Beavis and Butt-Head is also being geared to expand beyond the central concept and duo. While the original series eventually inspired the surprisingly different and beloved 1997 spinoff Daria (which is itself getting a decades-later spinoff in Jodie, with Tracee Ellis Ross starring), the updated animated show already has "spinoffs" in mind from the jump. No specific ideas were presented in the announcement, but it's entirely possible that a Daria revival could also come out of this.
Beyond spinoffs, Comedy Central is apparently planning on producing Beavis and Butt-Head-related TV specials. No specifics were offered up for what kind of specials might happen, either, but it can be assumed that whatever gets produced on that front would be geared to release in the offseason gap between new episodes.
One key aspect of Beavis and Butt-Head that isn't changing at all is creator Mike Judge's involvement, so no fears about Comedy Central bringing in a rising-star comedian to take over in Judge's place. Rather, the Office Space and Silicon Valley mastermind will return to his creation as a writer, producer and as the voice of both Beavis and Butt-Head. One can only assume his satirical bent will be all the more prominent in this version. Bring on the Cornholio, who probably would have had trouble finding TP for his bunghole whenever the COVID pandemic started.
As of a couple of years ago, Mike Judge still holds Beavis and Butt-Head up as his favorite creation, and here is his simple-yet-perfect comment on the new revival:
It seemed like the time was right to get stupid again.
Considering everything was just announced, there are obviously no concrete plans for when the new Beavis and Butt-Head will hit Comedy Central. But considering several animated series have been able to keep production going while much of Hollywood remains shut down, the project could well indeed start breaking ground sooner rather than later. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more news as it becomes available to us.
