Beavis
Encyclopedia
Beavis is a fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...

 on the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....

 series Beavis and Butt-head
Beavis and Butt-Head
Beavis and Butt-head is an American animated television series created by Mike Judge. The series originated from Frog Baseball, a 1992 short film by Judge. After seeing the short, MTV signed Judge to develop the concept. Beavis and Butt-head originally aired from March 8, 1993 to November 28, 1997...

. He is voiced by the show’s creator, Mike Judge
Mike Judge
Michael Craig Judge is an American animator, film director, writer and voice actor, best known as the creator and star of the animated television series Beavis and Butt-head , King of the Hill , and The Goode Family .He also wrote, directed and in some instances produced the films Beavis and...

.

Beavis has an underbite and a fixated stare on his face which rarely looks straight at the television viewer, but rather to the side. He is usually seen wearing a Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...

 T-shirt, though in merchandising appearances, his shirt displays the slogan “Death Rock,” to avoid licensing issues. In "Blood Drive" he wears a Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...

 shirt rather than his normal Metallica one.

He is slightly shorter than Butt-head
Butt-head
Butt-head is a fictional character from the MTV animated series Beavis and Butt-head. He was voiced by the show's creator, Mike Judge.Mike Judge got the name Butt-head from his university days, when he knew a couple of kids who had the nicknames 'Iron Butt' and 'Butt-head'...

, although he appears to be the same height when viewed at a distance due to his oversized pompadour
Pompadour (hairstyle)
Pompadour is a tall style of men's haircut which takes its name from Madame de Pompadour.There are Latin variants of the hair style more associated with European and Argentine tango fashion trends and occasionally with late 20th century musical genres such as rockabilly and country.The pompadour...

-like hairstyle.

Beavis works as a fry cook at Burger World and once defiantly revealed that he’s a fan of Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...

 to Butt-head, who dislikes the band and its leader Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder, occasional rhythm guitarist, and lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was named after him...

. The episode "The Final Judgment of Beavis" reveals his birth date as October 28, 1979.

Beavis' name was inspired by a friend of Judge’s from his college days named Bobby Beavis.

Personality

Dan Tobin of The Boston Phoenix described Beavis as "the sidekick and follower" who developed into "more of a loose cannon."

Mike Judge
Mike Judge
Michael Craig Judge is an American animator, film director, writer and voice actor, best known as the creator and star of the animated television series Beavis and Butt-head , King of the Hill , and The Goode Family .He also wrote, directed and in some instances produced the films Beavis and...

 once said in an interview that Beavis "is a zero" when it comes to intelligence; indeed, Beavis is often oblivious to what should be obvious. Generally submissive to Butt-head
Butt-head
Butt-head is a fictional character from the MTV animated series Beavis and Butt-head. He was voiced by the show's creator, Mike Judge.Mike Judge got the name Butt-head from his university days, when he knew a couple of kids who had the nicknames 'Iron Butt' and 'Butt-head'...

 and willing to tolerate a large amount of physical and verbal abuse
Abuse
Abuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...

, Beavis nonetheless has limits. In Murder Site, Beavis was driven to attack and nearly kill Butt-head, who wouldn’t cease calling him “Butt-knocker", a term which Beavis resents. Beavis also stood up to Butt-head while they were watching a Rancid video: Butt-Head kept talking about it derisively, prompting Beavis to tell Butt-Head to shut up. When Butt-head reacted with fury, ordering Beavis never again to tell him to shut up and threatening to attack him, Beavis preemptively kicked Butt-Head in the testicles, told him to shut up again, and walked out of the room to get something to eat. In another episode, while the duo were watching a Bon Jovi video, Beavis claimed to like one part of the song, causing Butt-head to slap him in disgust. After being struck a few times, Beavis kicked Butt-head in the groin and proclaimed "Bon Jovi rules!" (This particular segment is featured in Prank Call, but only the version shown during the Super Bowl special).

In spite of his overt idiocy, Beavis possesses a number of character strengths. He can be inadvertently witty and, when discussing subjects that neither he nor Butt-head understand, he is more likely to guess the actual mechanisms at work. Also, on the rare occasion that a female exhibits interest in one of the duo, it is usually Beavis (as exemplified in the episodes: Vidiots, Another Friday Night, Teen Talk, Letters to Santa Butt-head in Christmas Special) who gets the attention; this could be because of Beavis’ somewhat childlike temperament, which is less off-putting than Butt-head’s crasser, more blatantly sexual approaches. For example, when the two encounter members of the opposite sex, Butt-head will typically lead off with a smug opening line such as, “Hey, baby”, which invariably flops; Beavis, on the other hand, will usually approach the woman with a less obvious “Hi!” or “Hey, how’s it going?” Easily influenced by Butt-head, however, Beavis will often imitate his buddy's cruder pickup lines. Beavis has also shown instances of insight on such topics as the true meaning of Christmas, or in his analysis of a video by Korn. However, in both instances Beavis seems to either be in a trance or possessed, and shortly afterwards displays no recollection of what he just said.

Recklessness

Beavis has a more volatile, unpredictable nature. His hasty actions usually end in disaster, ranging from getting deported to Mexico (Vaya Con Cornholio) to severely injuring himself (Woodshop). In early episodes such as: Home Improvement, Comedians and Stewart's House, Beavis displayed signs of being a pyromania
Pyromania
Pyromania in more extreme circumstances can be an impulse control disorder to deliberately start fires to relieve tension or for gratification or relief. The term pyromania comes from the Greek word πῦρ . Pyromania and pyromaniacs are distinct from arson, the pursuit of personal, monetary or...

c. Though his obsession with fire remained an obvious trait, as the seasons progressed and network censorship pressures increased his fixation became more of a passing gag. In a deleted scene from the film, Beavis steals the Declaration of Independence to use as toilet paper.

Cornholio

After consuming large amounts of sugar or caffeine, Beavis sometimes undergoes a radical personality change, or psychotic break
Psychotic break
A psychotic break is a term used to describe an occasion of a person experiencing an episode of acute primary psychosis, either for the first time or after a significant period of relative asymptomaticity. Several types of psychoactive drugs have been shown to correlate with psychotic breaks...

. In one episode, "Holy Cornholio", the transformation occurred after chewing and swallowing many pain killer pills. He will raise his forearms in a 90-degree angle next to his chest, pull his shirt over his head, and then begin to yell or scream erratically, producing a stream of gibberish and strange noises, his eyes wide. This is an alter-ego named ‘Cornholio,’ a normally dormant persona. Cornholio tends to wander aimlessly while reciting “I am the Great Cornholio! I need TP
Toilet paper
Toilet paper is a soft paper product used to maintain personal hygiene after human defecation or urination. However, it can also be used for other purposes such as blowing one's nose when one has a cold or absorbing common spills around the house, although paper towels are more used for the latter...

 for my bunghole!
Human anus
The human anus is the external opening of the rectum. Like other animals, its closure is controlled by sphincter muscles...

in an odd faux-Spanish accent. Sometimes Beavis will momentarily talk normally before resuming the persona of Cornholio. Once his Cornholio episode is over, Beavis usually has no memory of what happened. In the guise of Cornholio, Beavis becomes a successful beat poet (Buttniks), and in Vaya Con Cornholio he is deported to Mexico after wrongfully being subjected to immigration detention
Immigration detention
Immigration detention is the policy of holding individuals suspected of visa violations, illegal entry or unauthorised arrival, and those subject to deportation and removal in detention until a decision is made by immigration authorities to grant a visa and release them into the community, or to...

 by an agent of the INS
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...

. During his detention the agent and his superior attempt to make sense of the gibberish that is Cornholio, going so far as to look up the definition of "bunghole." In that same episode, he claims to be from Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is a lake located on the border of Peru and Bolivia. It sits 3,811 m above sea level, making it the highest commercially navigable lake in the world...

, but when asked where it was, he responded with "Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...

", despite the fact that Lake Titicaca is in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....

/Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...

.

Though the “Cornholio” character was developed in the episode The Great Cornholio, Beavis first plays the entity as a passing gag in Generation in Crisis.

Relationship with Butt-head

Though the closest of confidants, Beavis and Butt-head have a jaded, violent, and at times borderline sadistic relationship. Butt-head often insults and physically abuses Beavis (usually by slapping him). On occasion, Beavis will fight back or stand up for himself (Madame Blavatsky, They're Coming to Take Me Away, Huh Huh). His favorite means of retribution is kicking Butt-Head in the "nads
Testicle
The testicle is the male gonad in animals. Like the ovaries to which they are homologous, testes are components of both the reproductive system and the endocrine system...

". On at least one occasion, Beavis has thrown the first punch. In "Canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...

", he initiates a fight by smacking Butt-head across the head with a paddle (although Butt-head goaded him into doing it). Butt-head usually knows when Beavis is approaching his breaking point and will back off (as seen when he calls Beavis "Buttknocker" or insults Metallica one too many times).

Beavis is usually a follower, willingly taking Butt-head's instructions and cooperating in his endeavors. This appears to be a byproduct of Beavis' own general witlessness rather than any fear of Butt-head's abuse — as demonstrated in the alternate reality of It’s a Miserable Life, in which Butt-Head had never been born and Beavis was instead the dim but productive friend of Stewart Stevenson.

Eccentricities

While Butt-head's main interest in life is "chicks", Beavis seems to be more interested in toilet humor and displays of violence. Beavis has a penchant for making off-beat sound effects to suit the occasion. Whenever he sees something that is arousing, he imitates a spring (“Boi-oi-oi-oi-oiiing!!!”) He sometimes blows a raspberry
Blowing a raspberry
Blowing a raspberry or strawberry or making a Bronx cheer is to make a noise signifying derision, real or feigned. It is made by placing the tongue between the lips and blowing, making a sound redolent of flatulence. In the terminology of phonetics, this sound can be described as an unvoiced...

 by puckering his lips. He occasionally does impersonations, such as of Principal McVicker (Speech Therapy), motivational speaker Mr. Manners/Mr. Candy (Manners Suck/Candy Sale), and Woody Woodpecker
Woody Woodpecker
Woody Woodpecker is an animated cartoon character, an anthropomorphic acorn woodpecker who appeared in theatrical short films produced by the Walter Lantz animation studio and distributed by Universal Pictures...

 (Top O' the Mountain). During one episode, Beavis conspicuously reveals that he is sometimes prone to getting erections in the company of other men. A special ability of his is speaking backwards
Backmasking
Backmasking is a recording technique in which a sound or message is recorded backward on to a track that is meant to be played forward...

, as seen in Vidiots while the duo review a music video; however, he forgets how to do so by the end of the video. Beavis also displays a predilection for feces
Feces
Feces, faeces, or fæces is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus or cloaca during defecation.-Etymology:...

 and things related to it, and in a high pitched tone will often enthusiastically utter the word, “poop,” or will say the word "plop" to indicate a bowel movement. He frequently pulls down his pants during music video reviews. He also took Kaopectate once after hearing it is for diarrhea under the misconception he would get diarrhea; he was only soothed by an enormous bowel movement which he saved in his dresser drawer, much to Butt-head's disgust. Beavis sometimes displays examples of the idiot savant
Savant syndrome
Savant syndrome , sometimes referred to as savantism, is a rare condition in which people with developmental disorders have one or more areas of expertise, ability, or brilliance that are in contrast with the individual's overall limitations...

 when slapped hard by Butt-Head or when attempting to pass out by holding his breath and blowing into his thumb, in which cases Beavis starts to make intellectual statements usually regarding the music videos he is viewing.

Beavis's parents

Beavis's family is occasionally referred to but never seen
Unseen character
In fiction, an unseen character is a character that is never directly observed by the audience but is only described by other characters. They are a common device in drama and have been called "triumphs of theatrical invention". They are continuing characters — characters who are currently in...

. An example is when Beavis states: "My mom's a slut... meh heh heh." According to discussion during some music video segments, Beavis’s mother shares her son's peculiar hairstyle, is somewhat plus-sized, and (most significantly) is a slut
Slut
Slut or slattern is a pejorative term applied to an individual who is considered to have loose sexual morals or who is sexually promiscuous...

. While Beavis is conscious of his mother's promiscuity, it doesn’t seem to bother him much, as he often laughs along in agreement whenever Butt-head brings it up (in fact, when Butt-head refers to Beavis's mom as a whore, Beavis nonchalantly says "She's not a whore, she's a slut, she doesn't charge for it"). The irony, however, is lost on Butt-head, whose own mother's promiscuity is implied in Beavis and Butt-head Do America.

In the episode "Drones," Butt-head states that Beavis's dad was in the Navy and told the Army recruiter that Beavis's dad was "a seaman."

In Beavis and Butt-Head Do America
Beavis and Butt-head Do America
Beavis and Butt-head Do America is a 1996 animated feature film, based on the TV series, Beavis and Butt-Head. It was produced by Paramount Pictures in association with Geffen Pictures and MTV Films, and co-written and directed by creator Mike Judge. The film grossed $20.11 million in its opening...

Beavis is reunited with his biological father, who seems to exhibit the same pyromania obsession as Beavis, as well as an overt physical resemblance. He is said to be a drifter and a one-time roadie for rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 band Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...

. However, they remain oblivious of their father-son relationship and part ways before they make the connection.

Parodies

In the 1996 Paramount
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...

 comedy Beavis and Butt-head Do America
Beavis and Butt-head Do America
Beavis and Butt-head Do America is a 1996 animated feature film, based on the TV series, Beavis and Butt-Head. It was produced by Paramount Pictures in association with Geffen Pictures and MTV Films, and co-written and directed by creator Mike Judge. The film grossed $20.11 million in its opening...

, at the beginning during the King Kong
King Kong
King Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 movie, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels of the first two films...

/Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...

-like scene, Beavis is called Beaviszilla; however, when he sees Butt-head
Butt-head
Butt-head is a fictional character from the MTV animated series Beavis and Butt-head. He was voiced by the show's creator, Mike Judge.Mike Judge got the name Butt-head from his university days, when he knew a couple of kids who had the nicknames 'Iron Butt' and 'Butt-head'...

, he calls him by his real name.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK