December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.
Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.
It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.
While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.
- Huh Huh Humbug
The episode starts when the Burger World manager catches Beavis frying a mouse and the grill, and attempts to tell him why he may never rank up in Burger World. Beavis then dozes off while the manager is speaking and dreams that Principal McVicker works there doing Beavis' job and the assistant manager is still Butt-Head. Beavis won't let McVicker go home to his family on Christmas Eve and Beavis decides to watch a pornographic movie at home. Butt-Head shows up in the title credits of the movie and comes out of the TV telling Beavis ghosts will visit him. Beavis resumes his pornography until Tom Anderson, as the Ghost of Christmas Past, interrupts it and shows Beavis his Christmas at ages 5, 6, 7, 8, and 13; each depiction is merely him and Butt-Head sitting on their couch giggling. After leaving, Beavis attempts to resume once more, until Mr. Van Driessen appears, as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and shows Beavis McVicker's family, who can only eat what McVicker brings from work due to his poor wages.
An angry Coach Buzzcut then shows up, as the Ghost of Christmas Future, with the news that McVicker's kids may not see next Christmas as McVicker can hardly afford food for them. Beavis reassures himself that this isn't the future, as he believes there will be robots and lasers. Buzzcut then shows Beavis' grave, which says "Here lies Beavis. He never scored.", and kicks him into it. Beavis then wakes up while Butt-Head wakes him up telling him how it's Christmas at midnight. "So it's my turn to sleep," he remarks. Characters Beavis Robot Beavis (single-appearance) Butt-Head
- It's A Miserable Life
The episode starts as prayers are heard from Mrs. Stevenson, Tom Anderson, Principal McVicker, Mr. Van Driessen, and Mr. Stevenson all wishing to God that Beavis and Butt-Head would stop causing trouble to their lives (some, such as McVicker, going as far as outright wishing them dead). While watching TV, the duo are visited by their guardian angel, Charlie the Angel. Charlie then shows Butt-Head how much everyone's lives would be better if he never existed.
It immediately stops raining and Butt-Head is as dry as a bone. Anderson has a nice yard and Christmas lights because Butt-Head never messed it up. He is taken to Burger World where it has customers. Butt-head finds this life stupid, but Charlie points out that it was his doing. The reason Burger World wasn't doing so well was because he was responsible in repelling them from returning with his antics and his boss never had the heart to fire him throughout that time.
Charlie then takes Butt-Head to Highland High School, where it's been renovated and more students attend. He notices McVicker still has his hair and is nowhere near stressed out. Charlie points out that both Beavis and Butt-Head were directly responsible for stressing him out over the years. He then notices Daria whom is much happier, has a normal teenage life and has a boyfriend in Hiro. When Butt-Head asks about it, Charlie explains that he was responsible for making her cynical and miserly by being around her. As a result, Daria lost faith in humanity and is unhappy. Butt-Head asks where Beavis is because he wants to know.
Charlie then takes him to the homeless shelter where he sees Stewart has self-esteem and is wearing a "Poison" T-shirt. Stewart's best friend is... of all people, none other than Beavis, who is wearing not his trademark "Metallica" T-shirt, but Stewart's signature "Winger" shirt. Butt-Head insults Beavis about how much of a loser he is without recognizing him. He doesn't know what a bunghole is either, and when Butt-head tells him he is one (and calls him "bunghole"), Stewart tells Butt-head that a word can't define itself and calls the latter a "Cro-Magnon" (Beavis agrees). Butt-head attempts to drag Beavis out with him, but is stopped by some homeless people, who say Beavis is a "good kid", and Butt-Head is thrown out. Charlie then explains that Stewart had no confidence and self-esteem in himself because Butt-Head ruined it for him by being a bully to him.
At the bridge, Charlie points out that Beavis' life was much better without him around because he wasn't there to ruin his life by being a jerk to him. He asks Butt-Head to do the right thing and commit suicide because everyone's miserable lives were attributed to him. He ignores Charlie and asks to "be born again". Butt-Head mentions that despite every mean thing he's done to Beavis, he stills values him as a friend. It starts to rain hard again. Then he is on the bridge again and sees Beavis, who says the word "bunghole". Butt-head is surprised, to which Beavis responds, "You're a bunghole, bunghole!" (He is also wearing his Metallica shirt again). The episode ends with Charlie falling off the bridge again while trying to get them to consider suicide. Beavis and Butt-Head just watch and laugh again, with Butt-Head telling Beavis that while life sucks, it would "suck worse" without them.
Come on. It's Beavis and Butt-Head. Two iconic characters of the Christmas season. This special showcases two episodes full of wholesome family values, the spirit of giving, and the true meaning of Christmas, all wrapped in a yule log...huh-huh he said log.
No, really, it's just Beavis and Butt-Head doing what they do best. Living life as clueless as possible, oblivious to the world around them. It's a holiday special the only way they could present it.
Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:
- Beavis and Butt-Head - A Very Special Christmas with Beavis and Butt-Head
- The Cabbage Patch Kids First Christmas
- The Little Troll Prince
- Pinocchio's Christmas, the 1980 Rankin / Bass classic
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