Review: Beavis and Butthead: The Mike Judge Collection

By: Erik Swift

October 2007

DVD Features Video: 1.33:1 Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 11 Original Music Videos with Beavis And Butt-Head commentary Director’s Cut Episodes Taint Of Greatness: The Journey Of Beavis And Butt-Head Beavis & Butthead Appearances and InterviewsOriginal Airdates: 1993-1997 DVD released on 11/08/2005 by Paramount Running time of 214 minutes Starring: Beavis and Butthead

Beavis and Butt-head. The names still strike fear in parents today. “I can’t believe you have this,” my mother said as she spied “Beavis and Butt-head: The Mike Judge Collection” during a recent visit. “That was the one show I never liked.” I promptly smacked her and called her a bunghole…I mean, ignored her comments about Paramount Pictures’ triple-DVD box set, the first to be assembled by series creator Judge. Season box sets are the rage for TV DVDs, but “Beavis and Butt-head: The Mike Judge Collection” doesn’t follow that trend because there was no structure in any episode. Its first two discs contain 40 episodes chosen by Judge, with 14 making their DVD premiere. Of note is the inclusion of 11 of their infamous music video commentaries on a third disc for the first time anywhere.The more cultured can differ over the pair’s appeal (or lack of). Behind Nirvana, their impact on the music scene in the 1990s is undeniable, but Judge’s foray into juvenilia laid groundwork for “South Park” and “The Family Guy.” Even when Beavis and Butt-head are doing nothing - choking, daydreaming or assaulting a vending machine - they’re funny. Their role in a massive blackout and a return to kindergarten is hysterical. So is an attempt at a Christian walkathon, and their just desserts. The most disgusting is also the best: in “Tainted Meat,” Beavis’ jock itch causes mass food poisoning of Burger World customers. A total lack of regard for any authority always made Beavis and Butt-head a target for concerned adults, whom Judge skewers constantly. “Censorship rules,” they both agree when being followed by a documentary filmmaker.

Under constant (self-induced) pressure to score cash and chicks, they frequently dive into get-rich-quick schemes inspired by constant television viewing. Most fail, like digging for oil (”The Beverly Hillbillies”) or becoming millionaires via dead relatives (soaps). Others just miss, such as when they manage to get on KT&A radio as guest DJs only to insult the host, who later imitates them after ratings skyrocket. Some actually happen, the best example being when the enterprising guys raise funds off golfers (”Mr. Anderson’s Balls”) or establishing 1-900-BEAVIS. At least they go to school and work - just not well. Still, they don’t care. Goofing off is where B&B shine. A look into the future is only worth finding out if they’ll score, and sniffing paint thinner means painting Mr. Anderson’s cat. Each dreams their way onto “Oprah,” “Late Night With David Letterman” and “Star Trek” with pristine idiocy. Episodes that seem directionless only need a spark to take off. In “The Great Cornholio,” eating their first breakfast burritos leads to a Beavis junk food assault. The usual foils - teachers, old neighbor Tom Anderson, Principal McVicker and the annoying Stewart - are present, and so is the occasional VIP (David Spade, Bob “Bobcat” Goldthwait). Yes, B&B die, too (”Safe Driving”). This is perfect stuff to giggle off a hangover to.

Want to kill a few hours? Read the hundred-plus customer reviews of this on Amazon, where Judge is called names worse than assmunch for redefining the “director’s cut.” So many complaints have arisen about retouching B&B since its run ended that it’s becoming the new “Night Gallery.” “Beavis and Butt-head: The Mike Judge Collection” apparently contains original uncut episodes, but not one “fire, fire” exists. MTV and Paramount are denying themselves massive amounts of dough by offering up doctored B&B instead of the originals. Besides, Jani Lane is somewhere waiting for them to ignite the next Warrant tour. They made White Zombie while driving stakes through the hearts of Poison and Morrissey, and it rules to finally have their words on music videos here…but less than thirty minutes of them? Snaring the rights for all of the clips they nailed has got to be a bitch, but it could happen. Akin to a dangling carrot for future box sets, they rip Grim Reaper, pass the mic with The Beastie Boys and strangely (and kindly!) predict the quality of Wilco via “Box Full Of Letters.” Come to Butt-head.

Final thoughts: skip through the endless string of commercials directly to the DVD menu. Also, three discs makes this somewhat bloated. DVD sets that are not condensed are wastes of space. Everything could fit on two discs (much like “The Who: Tommy and Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests“), but recalling Time Life’s 40/50-minute DVDs from a couple of years ago is worse (”Do Christmas”/”Butt-O-Ween,” etc.). Faults aside, Judge has constructed the best single collection of B&B to date of any legitimate volume. Only a series creator can do that. Pray for more music on the follow-ups, but hardcore fans should just keep viewing their Moron-a-thon tapes or watch the reruns on MTV2. For rookies, it’s a decent place to start. “Progress is cool,” says Beavis, and so is this set.

Huh-huh. He wrote ‘set’.

Reviewer’s Opinion: BORROW IT!!