I have a confession to make: I am a huge "Beavis and Butt-head" fan. And I really miss them.
Now, I am a reasonable (usually), mature (sometimes), well-educated (supposedly) adult -- and I love Beavis and Butt-head. To some, this may seem like an unexplainable paradox. But to me, it makes perfect sense.
I have been a huge fan of the early-teen-age nitwits and their moronic antics (kind of sounds like Congress, excluding the teen-age part) since the show premiered. Now, some episodes of the show are more palatable than others -- there are several which I even think go too far, but they are in the minority. For the most part, Beavis and Butt-head merely make me laugh myself silly.
Why? They are a great escape from the world. Reality, as we call it, can often be harsh. I cover two things for the Tribune on a regular basis -- crime and politics -- and in all seriousness, covering these on a regular basis can be tough and disturbing. And this is part of a job that I like. Beyond work, there are lots of other issues that I am dealing with, just like we all are.
Don't get me wrong; things are pretty good now, much better than they were last summer. I really realized then how much I appreciate activities that can take me away from it all. At that time, I was struggling with my job, my personal life, and a lot of other things. I can't say it was all bad, but it certainly could have been better.
Beavis and Butt-head was one of those activities that helped me through it. All the things people call the show -- mindless, immature, childish -- are what made me enjoy it. It made me laugh when chuckles were hard to come by.
Yet, some people just do not understand this about Beavis and Butt-head. They blame the show for the growing high school dropout rate, for giving kids foul mouths (despite the fact that everything that Beavis and Butt-head have ever said is printable here), and even for encouraging children to burn down their houses.
It should be noted that the people who go out and proclaim Beavis and Butt-head's as evil generally go home and watch a "Jerry Springer" episodes like "Large-Breasted Nazi Lesbians and the Conservatives Who Are Horny For Them." I know this is the case for some people I know.
Anyway, I noticed how truly adamant some people are that Beavis and Butt-head are evil or something when I made the choice to name my cat Beavis.
I saw the situation this way: The cat was blond-haired, rambunctious and disturbingly obsessed with the toilet. Of course, Beavis was the perfect name for him in my book. It is also, quite honestly, funny to hear people look at me and, in complete seriousness, ask: "So, how's Beavis?" That's comedy. It's also funny to take the cat to the vet and watch the reaction of the receptionist when the cat's name pops up on the computer screen. You have never seen a more perplexed look.
Others do not see the situation that way. One of my friends heard the cats name and said, "Jimmy, you can't do that. That's abuse. That poor cat!"
Naming a cat "Beavis" is abuse? Like Beavis knows who the heck his namesake is. And how can be naming a cat "Beavis" be so bad when people are running around society who name their children "Newt" or "Tipper?" Please.
The show "Beavis and Butt-head" has, in no way hurt society -- period. Any problems that show "caused" were developed much closer to home. Kids drop out of school because of problems in our educational system and problems at home. Kids pick up foul language from their parents more than any television show. And as for that kid who supposedly burned down his house after watching Beavis and Butt-head -- he obviously has deeper problems than his MTV. One of those problems is that his parents let him watch the show in the first place, and another is that the parents were not around to supervise him.
So, to recap: "Beavis and Butt-head" does not suck, I am not abusing my cat, and parents who let their kids be called "Newt" should have their heads examined. Though there shall be no more new episodes of "Beavis and Butt-head," I will always be grateful for that they made me laugh and made this thing we call "life" a bit more entertaining. They brought me a little happiness.
Huh huh huh. I said penis...
Jimmy Boegle, a fifth-generation Nevadan, eagerly waits for Beavis and Butt-head to appear on "King of the Hill." Jimmy's column appears here Tuesdays.