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Mike Judge, Tracy Grandstaff, Adam Welsh

The slapstick animation series that once aired on MTV under the name Beavis & Butt-head has been called many different things. Some critics characterized it as the personification of stupidity and corrupt amidst a growing entertainment industry while others hailed its rebellious social criticism. Despite the fiery criticism the show went on for a period of five years and to the making of a feature film, which was a big financial success. In volume one, the audience can experience 40 different episodes such as 1-900-BEAVIS, Manners Suck, and the priceless The Great Cornholio. All episodes intentionally offend and irate the audience through the dim-witted Beavis and brainless Butt-head that are both voiced by its creator Mike Judge who now is also known for Office Space (1999). ***

It is within its own stupidity an amusing caricature of two teens in suburbia emerges, as apathy and self-destruction seems to overwhelm their existence. Nonetheless, there are a few things that trigger some life in their seemingly hollow existence such as foul language, glue sniffing, and rock-n-roll. They also desire women, but their carnal longing for the opposite sex is a fruitless affair. The combination of their high testosterone and their sexual desire overflows into a Freudian obsession with words of sexual nature to which they continue to snicker and chuckle in an eternity. ***

Through these two misfits several social issues surface such as education, teen sexuality, and other adolescent issues. Many of them are blatantly presented without tact and consideration for the audience, as it purposely intends to shock and awe. It is within the outrageous provocation that Mike Judge succeeds in generating a dialogue, or maybe, more of an outcry for a ban of Beavis and Butt-head. Nonetheless, the Beavis and Butt-head show spread like wildfire, and it gained a rapidly growing number of dedicated supporters that opposed some fraction of the American society, as the youth could relate to the issues of the idiots Beavis and Butt-head. *** ---

The image of Beavis & Butt-head, Vol. 1 DVD comes in the televised full screen, which has vibrant colors. There was some edge enhancement detected, however, it does not affect the visual experience. The audio has a stereo sound track, which comes in Dolby Digital 2.0. The sound presents an easily heard dialogue and decent music tracks when played. ***

Beavis & Butt-head, Vol. 1 - The Mike Judge Collection has an overwhelming amount of extras besides the 40 different episodes, which can be found on disc one and two. The first two discs also have a couple of Easter Eggs that can be found with the proper button pushing. However, most of the extras rest within the third disc, which first presents 11 different music videos by performers such as Korn, Grim Reaper, and Beastie Boys. Taint of Greatness follows the music videos, which is a feature that presents the background of how Beavis and Butt-head came about. It also informs the viewer about Beavis and Butt-head’s persona and social background. Consequently, four different special appearances by Beavis and Butt-head offer the viewer something beyond the MTV sitcom. Three different promos connected with current events of the time the show aired will present additional laughter for those who remember. A couple of montages of music videos and the two morons can also be found on the third disc. In the end, a couple of web links and previews of sitcoms and video games such as South Park: Season 6 and LA Rush wrap up this DVD set. *** ---

Beavis & Butt-head, Vol. 1 - The Mike Judge Collection is worth a viewing for nostalgia and laughter, as the two dense characters Beavis and Butt-head face everyday issues. It is not as funny as many might have remembered it for the first time, but it still induces some laughter and reminiscence. Personally, I only see this as a rental, but there might be many out there who disagree. ***