It’s almost impossible to overstate how big Beavis & Butt-Head were in the 90’s. They could make or break a band simply by saying it rules or sucks. Was the show everything that was wrong with youth culture as politicians and parents claimed? Or was it low-key brilliant satire? Do middle aged men still find it as funny as when they were thirteen?
Special guest Sam Fischer makes his second appearance on Less Than 2000 and tells Adam to turn his mind off and have a beer and a laugh.
< ’00 | an Art House Empire Production | a proud member of the HyperX podcast Network | #LessThan2000
It’s almost impossible to overstate how big Beavis & Butt-Head were in the 90’s. They could make or break a band simply by saying it rules or sucks. Was the show everything that was wrong with youth culture as politicians and parents claimed? Or was it low-key brilliant satire? Do middle aged men still find it as funny as when they were thirteen?
Special guest Sam Fischer makes his second appearance on Less Than 2000 and tells Adam to turn his mind off and have a beer and a laugh.
< ’00 | an Art House Empire Production | a proud member of the HyperX podcast Network | #LessThan2000
Take a time machine back to before the world went to hell, around the year 2000.
Chad Bishoff:The 80s and 90s were so rad.
Adam Wintz:The movies, the music, the TV, the games, that's what I want to talk about.
Intro:Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app and continue the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. And if you're cool enough, join the show on Patreon for exclusive bonus content. And less than 2000 with Adam Wintz, and Chad Bishoff.
Adam Wintz:Less than 2000
Chad Bishoff:Now part of the HyperX Podcast Network. Well, today is an absolutely momentous day because we've never in the history of this show had a guest on twice. And today, we're gonna break that rule, because we're bringing Sam Fisher back on to the show. Because well, first off, he's interesting. So I used to work with Sam a lot. And after he came on our show, he enjoyed us so much that he retired and started his own podcast. So now he's a full time podcaster and I no longer have a client other than the fact that he does have me produce his his show his podcast Cowboys not Egghead So Sam, welcome back to the show and and excited to have you after we talked at great lengths on on Dokken and 80s. hairbands
Sam Fischer:happy to be here. This is a fun subject today.
Adam Wintz:It sure is. And Sam, thanks for coming back. I just wanted to say your episode on Dokken 80s hair bands killed it. it for the longest time I it's one of my favorite episodes. And for the longest time, it was by far our biggest, our biggest one until until 90s grunge
Sam Fischer:it would be appropriate, the grunge would take it over. So um,
Adam Wintz:and I think it's funny because when we announced it on Instagram, you had a comment you said "boo" or something like that when we announced what the subject was for that week. And so I noticed there's a little rivalry 80s hairbands versus 90s grunge. And I gotta say that that one has totally taken off, you're still still second. But but you know, yours was our first big one. And and really broke through for us and you know, four digits downloads, which is which is awesome. And it broke through in a big, big way. And and you're a great guest. So we definitely wanted to have you back. So thanks for coming on. And congratulations on the podcast.
Sam Fischer:Thanks. It's fun and thanks for the inspiration to start it.
Chad Bishoff:Well, Beavis and Butthead were out there cartoon characters and and I want to I'm glad you came on the show. Because one day we were we were hanging out and you said I love Beavis and Butthead. And I remember my whole opinion of you changed in that moment? I found it completely interesting. So we are separated by over a decade. And it was interesting because you said when When did Beavis and Butthead come out for you? And I said, I was like 11, 11 10,11 - 12 years old. And you were like, ^&%$# I was in college. And so I I'm kind of curious to see today. Like what, what was going through your mind as a college student versus versus what we were going through as adolescent preteen slash teen boys who didn't even really know fully the scope that of the comedy surrounding Beavis and Butthead?
Sam Fischer:Well, sadly, there probably wasn't that much of a difference. Because it just it was so funny. Because it was so juvenile. I mean, it was it was so simple, and so juvenile and we'd all been there. And I don't know, maybe, maybe you guys didn't know, some of the reference things that they were talking about. But just imagine being in college, you know, drinking beer after class week because I remember coming back after class and I might have been a little maybe not I think about it. Maybe I was out of college, but it was maybe 20 to 23 years old, either coming home from work or after class and drinking beer and watching Beavis and Butthead. It was a treat. It was hilarious. And it is to this day. Three, I think it's hilarious. So there you go.
Chad Bishoff:So yeah, Sam pulled up. He pulled up a video of like the top 10 funniest Beavis and Butthead moments. And it was because I didn't have time to really dive deep and it's only on Paramount plus, which I don't have. And and he pulled it up. And what was crazy was like, oh my god, I remember that. Oh my god, I remember that it didn't matter if it was 91 or 94. I remembered every clip that was in it. And yes, it was extremely, extremely juvenile. And so that really, that really means that that Sam was very you were very cool or extremely regressed for your age.
Adam Wintz:Can't it be both the target demo is definitely males preteen males to college age males, I'd say that are you know, 18 to 24 demographic, you are either kids like we were that were coming up and didn't really fully understand everything but thought it was cool. And then or, you know, drunk or stoned college kids who had never seen anything like this I mean this was really groundbreaking for the time I mean this people thought the Simpsons was edgy and and cutting edge this completely blew that out of the water.
Chad Bishoff:I want to say you probably don't have Southpark without this show, because you had the Simpsons which was your family friendly Fox what Sunday nights or whatever it was. And then this came out was like okay, if we're gonna do a cartoon let's make it raw, brutal hilarious. Add adolecent and and ^&%$# and I think because it had that success, it paved the way for future comedies to be able to go I mean, cartoons animated series, to be able to do whatever they wanted to do.
Sam Fischer:Well think about King of the Hill Mike judges other masterpiece, which is completely different than Beavis and Butthead, but I'm sure he got that because of you know, the success of Beavis and Butthead.
Chad Bishoff:Oh, yeah, he's not doing king of the hill without by the
Sam Fischer:way I've been described as Hank hill but I digress.
Adam Wintz:I got it. I got a I got a quote. Roger Ebert here because this is this is a tremendous quote. I mean, it makes me this and Butthead seem super deep. It would be easy to attack Beavis and Butthead as ignorant, vulgar, depraved, repulsive slobs. Of course they are. But that would miss the point. Which is that Mike judges characters reflect parts of the society that produced them to study b&b is to learn about a culture of narcissism alienation, functional illiteracy, instant gratification and television zombie hood. I mean, that is a very wise take on a joke you know a show about a fire Yeah, firing you know that is that is that makes it seem like super deep and and I want your, your take on this, Sam. What part of the show for you is just dumb, mindless fun, versus some sort of grandiose and brilliant statement on on culture.
Sam Fischer:I'm glad we're editing because I have to think about that for a second. I suppose there's a cross there somewhere. I don't think you can overthink Beavis and Butthead. So um, I just think it's funny I think we all relate to it some way we either a new somebody like that be maybe we were like that maybe we identify with that. Maybe we're insecure maybe we were maybe that's the second part that you're talking referring to? I mean, maybe if we're going deep maybe we we were all into as teenagers is this crazy? Crazy? I talk about on my show all the time. It's a crazy time to be alive when you're you're not an old Are you old enough for a babysitter but you're not old enough for baby? You know, it just is it's a weird time growing up and so I think I think we the past the humor of it. Maybe it was the fact that we're identifying with some of those teenage angst, just insecure out there. Not having any the answers and stumbling through life. I don't know if that answered your question or not.
Adam Wintz:No. I mean, it's, it's to me. I mean, I would say and I think maybe not to put words in your mouth. I'd say that it's it's far more fart humor and lowbrow. Like just sort of instant gratification. lowbrow humor way more than some sort of grand statement
Sam Fischer:about it's very, very simple Beavis or butthead to add two values in her life and either sucked or it ruled. I mean, and that was that was it was that was about as simple as they got.
Chad Bishoff:I mean, it's not like The Simpsons where there truly is a societal message buried beneath the the fart humor. Beavis and Butthead. Had some of that I'm surprised to hear that the that the review was that poignant because it was pretty adolescent. I mean, let's not kid ourselves. I mean, David, it was it was hard to find the deeper meaning and everything but it did have its moments. Because they would make it they would get off the couch, and they would accidentally get the job they would accidentally be doing things that put them so you could get a statement on some things. But it was by far, far away from some like genius deep dive in in, you know, the meaning of of life in America. Like there's it'd be hard to put that into perspective.
Adam Wintz:Agreed. I was a butthead guy. Did you did you guys have a favorite or one that you preferred?
Sam Fischer:I like Beavis honestly, I He's hilarious. You know Cornholio I am Cornholio he just and I think the fire fire fire. I mean, my buddies and I ran around saying that to each other and we're we're 23 years old fire fire fire. I mean it just it's about as rudimentary as it gets man. But it's hilarious.
Chad Bishoff:Yeah, we need to keep getting those sound bites I'm just gonna smash them together for like a teaser just Sam going fire fire.
Sam Fischer:I think Adam does a better butthead actually. Me here but cool. Oh yeah. Oh, yeah. Again, dude. That's awesome.
Adam Wintz:I'll mix it in as we go along. I think you know speaking of fire fire. The you know about the controversy on that that some little kid burned down there or trailer I think it was in someone died in it. And then they
Sam Fischer:couldn't use anymore. I mean, I think he couldn't say
Adam Wintz:fire anymore. They even though they nothing came of it because it turned out that they didn't even have cable. But of course everybody's got to blame somebody Marilyn Manson Beavis and Butthead wrestling, whatever, you know, for lack of parenting. And it's tragic that some little kid died. I'm not trying to make light of that. But because of that, they no longer said fire on the show.
Sam Fischer:We made note of that we made note of that like this is ridiculous. How can we just be but Beavis without saying fire? I mean, it's it's part of the Soul Man.
Adam Wintz:In so they they worked. They poked fun at that by doing things like they were working at the fast food restaurant. And they would say fryer fry? Yep. And so that that was like kind of the middle finger to the, you know, morals groups and the sensors and all the people that were up in arms about, hey, everybody's blaming somebody for something.
Chad Bishoff:If you're if you're young enough to blame a show. For your actions. You're way too young to be watching the show. I'm sorry. Like that is just that's just bad parenting in general.
Adam Wintz:It is and you know, not to make light of death of course, but it is. I mean, you got you got senators. They don't even know what they're talking about. They call them buff coat and beaver. President President Clinton called him Beavis and Bumhead. So here you are demonizing something, and you don't even know what they're called.
AD:Hi, it's me. Jeremy Parrish, co host of the retro knots podcast, the only video game history podcast that's been around so long. It's also a part of videogame history. Every week one of the Motley rabble who host this show leads a deep dive into the past whether it's to break down a classic franchise, learn more about a timeless game from its creator, or just wallow in nostalgia. Relive history with retro knots here on the hyper X Podcast Network. Previously on chat of the wild good to know I wanted to use this time to impart some words of wisdom from as low straighten up your hair once I'm gone. You gotta style all over the ladies. La La, la, la la la la are the words to his new hit single, live long, love long and also he woke up from a dream where he forgot to study For the test so did he really say all those things? Yeah, these are all things that that could I have discussed that he discussed with me. Magical chat of the wild breaking down Zelda and Zelda like games one dungeon at a time. Wednesdays on the hyper X Podcast Network. Live long love long baby.
Adam Wintz:So yeah, it started in 92 and then went from 93 to 97 222 episodes like, unbelievable. I, so I outgrew it at a certain point, you know, at the time I got to high school, I was no longer watch. I was surprised that it ran till 97 In the original run, because I always thought of it was like it was only on for a couple years.
Chad Bishoff:Yeah. I mean that that's one of those things that you in your head. You think there's no way that this can go past like the three year mark? Like, I'll give it three years But how the hell would It would it still be on past that but I mean,
Sam Fischer:well, remember they weren't remember they served a purpose and they were very influential in the music critic. Business. I mean, it was real. I mean, they they made a band by Rob Zombie. Okay. White Zombie? I don't know. I think zombie had been around for 15 years, maybe 20. And he was a nobody absolute nobody. And then overnight overnight, Thunder kiss 69 The White Zombie song. It just blows up because Beavis and Butthead said it rule
Adam Wintz:is that trennis White Zombie like got launched because
Sam Fischer:of Beavis. That is absolute truth, my friends. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. But
Adam Wintz:he was always around and just I figured he'd been
Sam Fischer:it wasn't it wasn't until Thundercats 69. Or they just I mean, they blew their minds that when they reviewed that video, and we talked in the doc an episode about winger of course and ironically, ironically, I just met Kip winger a week ago on a cruise, the Monsters of Rock cruise and I as I met him and asked for his photograph, the exchange happened maybe in 30 seconds but I said as we were smiling and posing for my wife taking our picture I said to kip winger, okay Beavis and Butthead suck on three, you know, because they and he didn't say a word in like I think he's I honestly think he's still going through therapy over the deal. I mean, cuz they destroyed they destroyed winger, which was a phenomenal band. I mean, if on paper, these guys are their drummer has been a 30 year professor of drums at Berkeley. They all have produced multiple albums or they're in multiple bands or producers or they are they are very solid reputable people in the music industry but Beavis and Butthead brought them to their knee I would just took them out because I don't think it was because of music review is because Stewart wore the winger shirt. The Nerd
Chad Bishoff:that's the answer that that single handedly is the reason why it made it to 1997
Sam Fischer:Yes, because they were so much older band. Yeah, I mean, it's like the band's wanted them to be. Maybe I'm wrong, but
Chad Bishoff:no answer. Because because it's not gonna be on frog baseball. No, that's not gonna get you to 1997 No bands making or breaking it. When one of them goes, you know, this rules, or this Sucks? That is the reason why it lasted on MTV for so long. It had to be
Sam Fischer:Yeah, boy would grimace if you're banned and they said your videos suck. You might as well just pack it up and go, you know, go into sales. That's an
Adam Wintz:that's incredible. That guys that light their own farts on fire. And that guys yeah, this sucks, you know that those guys would have so much influence that could make Rob Zombie and they can make White Zombie that could destroy winger who had been a big deal in the 80s and everything it amazing that they have that much power. And and it's a It's incredible because this came out 9293 At the shift of the culture, I mean, the shift started more like 91-92 but like we talked about it on your episode, we talked about it on the the 90s grunge episode. The early 90s was such a big shift in music, going from the 80s hair bands the butt rock the the wingers the warrants the scorpions to this new new punk of grunge and and the stripped down three chord rock the torn jeans The F everything it's it's pretty great it's it's surprising you know they were an AC DC shirt and Metallica shirt which of course are you know at Staples? and they ruin let's face it yeah yeah I learned about Nine Inch Nails from this show and the Wish video and how
Sam Fischer:was their review I don't remember that
Adam Wintz:this rules yeah and then you know how they would they do the the the horns and bob their head and head bang with the video of the strobe light effect and Trenton in sort of a Thunderdome cage and leather and whips and and and they they loved it and I loved it and and I became a nails fan because
Sam Fischer:they had credibility I mean you know because mostly what they said I agreed with plus it rock right I mean
Adam Wintz:let's face it it wish rocked anyway so but but but yeah you know liar by Henry Rollins that was another one that I was a
Sam Fischer:writer and because with fire of course they fire wire wire
Adam Wintz:it was a great video. And then and then the another another one I remember is so what you want by the Beastie Boys that kind of got me into Beastie Boys. Yeah. And that was a little bit surprising to me that they liked it so much
Sam Fischer:again, that's where they like get off the couch and like but the but bump each other right? I think for hip hop. I think that's instead of doing this they like BUMP BUMP each other.
Adam Wintz:And they definitely did that because there's there's a part of it where it's deemed any naming. Yeah. And they're like, Yeah, I mean, so they definitely did that. So it kind of surprised me because I thought of them as more rock guys, but here they like the hip hop sort of Hi bro. We're
Sam Fischer:answering Chad's questions for a while back and why are they so on for so long? Because they were important they had a cultural impact, man. I mean, you tune in to see what they want what they said next and what new music you might hear.
Chad Bishoff:And I completely forgot Adam that that is why because I know I knew you introduced me to Nine Inch Nails. I always forget that that Beavis and Butthead introduced them to you to Trent to you and so like yeah, you kind of look back on it and you just remember the really dumb they say and do but then when you start actually breaking it down you're like well wait a minute. We've been all really influenced by the brain that we want whether you want to admit it publicly or not I'll take that all say it was amazing. I was
Sam Fischer:I quit listen to winger because a button I had their albums but I didn't you know all sudden they were uncool. And I didn't you know it's unfair but it's it's the way it was.
Adam Wintz:So So I got I gotta be honest with you guys a little confession a Chad and I have you know, part of the show is is sort of re experiencing things and and in confronting who we were then and and what we are now...
Chad Bishoff:where's this going?
Adam Wintz:Well, I got a well it's a little bit of a critique and also a critique of myself. So doing research for this watching stuff, listening to stuff I got more to get to but I just now over the top stupid made me think to get to this, like as a preteen. And as an early teen this there was nothing funnier like this. This was hilarious. Everybody mimicked Beavis and Butthead. It was great. I gotta say, as a 41 year old man, it is so stupid. Like I can't.
Sam Fischer:What are you talking about?
Adam Wintz:No, man. I
Sam Fischer:was cringing. And we're not cringing when I was cringing. Dude have a beer. It's funny.
Adam Wintz:And and so I got... I, I'm worried that I have lost it. Guys. I'm worried that I that Adam has has lost his his childhood youthful. Just turn off your mind and laugh at something and that I'm just an old curmudgeon. They're they're
Sam Fischer:more into Adam.
Chad Bishoff:listen, There have been very few times that I've been worried about you in my life. Since we were not. And some of them I can't say on the show. However, this one has me worried a little bit because I now I will admit I am glad that this conversation has gone way deeper into the music and the influence. Because I'm sitting here going I don't know how we can say fire that many times. In a show to make where we want to go, that being said, we will I watched some clips with Sam yesterday and I found myself laughing out loud at it, you know, the the when when the buzz head, you know, a coach is running the class and he's getting in their face and he's like, they know they're not
Sam Fischer:right, they can laugh and they're there. It's happened to be Sex Ed Week.
Adam Wintz:So I think I so I, but when we talk about it, I think it's one of them. That one that you brought up is hilarious in it. It reminds me of like, real life. We had a we had a teacher in junior high, Mr. H, who was a former Marine and was in our army and was in Operation Desert Shield. And you know, so this would have been just a couple years after that. And and we had the experience of the buzzcut former Marine teacher, and you can't laugh. He was really upset about something once and we had to hold it in because we were thinking of the coach of coach Buzz. As he's doing the coach buzzcut thing he
Chad Bishoff:was literally doing it I mean, it was like from Hugh Grant laid it straight out of the show and put it in our classroom. That's why
Sam Fischer:it's so relatable
Adam Wintz:and you know, it just gonna get in trouble for holding it in and, and and, oh man, so we live that experience. So I guess I can relate. That one wasn't too bad.
Chad Bishoff:Okay, and I think the other thing is to the museum.
Sam Fischer:I'm gonna tell you my favorite I'm sorry, can I interrupt you no go please. Sorry, Charlie Day um, so So my fate I was thinking about what's my favorite like most simple funniest Beavis and Butthead scene so it was actually in the Beavis and Butthead Do America the movie and it's there they're at the Hoover Dam and everyone's looking and I you know it Hoover Dam is incredible. It's an incredible Marvel is engineering feat is just, it's amazing. Just your eyeballs just deceive you like holy ^%&$. How did they do this? And so Beavis and Butthead are on this bus trip. And we're that they They're downstairs in some cave with like 40 urinals, like doing the flushing the toilet with the sensor, the sensors, and they just, they're like, this is the coolest thing I have ever seen. And just the contrast of like, they're, you know, one of the man made wonders of the world. And they're like fixated on the toilets. I mean, it's just so funny
Adam Wintz:it's hilarious. It did they make the damn like, did they screw
Sam Fischer:No, no, cuz then see the movie.
Adam Wintz:See that I had checked out of Beavis and Butthead by the time I was 15. I was already I want
Sam Fischer:you to make a commitment to me tonight. I want you to commit to Sam Fisher since I you know I haven't charged you a dime to be on to your podcast now. To watch that movie, and you can watch it with Chad and I and we will have beers and you will laugh and you will not be so worried about yourself anymore.
Adam Wintz:I will I will do that. I will do that it came out in 96 If I'm not mistaken 9697 So by then I was I was I was too cool for it or whatever I've never seen oh it's
Sam Fischer:it's fantastic. And I think aren't they aren't they doing another one right now another they are
Adam Wintz:as a matter of fact, that was July of 2020. To a new at Beavis and Butthead Do the universe
Sam Fischer:my friend I will be there on the day of the premiere.
Adam Wintz:Should we because America
AD:Yeah, a group thing
Chad Bishoff:we go see I mean, Adam you can't go see it alone. A it's post 2000 and be you'd hate it and I want to watch you laugh because you'll be in the presence of other people laughing
Adam Wintz:Okay, let's go see it guys.
Sam Fischer:Let's definitely go and we got the first one to dude,
Adam Wintz:we'll see the first one and then make a day of it maybe maybe not a whole day of it because I don't know if I can handle three and a half hours of Beavis and Butthead in one sitting one one day but you know we can say again
Sam Fischer:I'm retired
Adam Wintz:I do remember the Beavis and Butthead Experience 1993 See CD. Yes that that had share on it and and then I do come to but I want to like do stuff
Chad Bishoff:we like anime. You're laughing at all of this stuff.
Adam Wintz:But I had to like so they did things like trying to get on they got on Anthrax is bus. Do you remember the sketches before the songs? Yeah, so they're like bales What are you doing in the bathroom? Like, you got the photo album with naked chicks and you're pinching a loaf? You guys have to learn Oh, they're like gonna kick our ass. Kick Your Ass. I've seen Beavis's as mom naked. So okay, I guess it's funny. It's a it's a good CD and it's got that it was in that era of Adam Sandler and everything with the comedy and yeah, that share song reached like number eight on the tracks. I Got You Babe with Beavis and Butthead. What a weird combination you know what I mean? Share and be
Sam Fischer:their most influential cultural figures in the 90s boys I mean, it is what it is. Unbelievable album
Chad Bishoff:was this
Adam Wintz:the Beavis and Butthead Experience 1993 Okay, come to butthead. It had a it had a hidden track on it too and had come to but had to I love you know back in the day with the Hidden Tracks. Just keep
Chad Bishoff:goes to like like all of a sudden Nine Inch Nails broken 98 sided headaches.
Adam Wintz:It had Primus on it had a great Primus song on it. I I went for poetry. I went for pros at one for the sin
Sam Fischer:of aspiring time right. Do it Do I think that's how I found out about Primus les Claypool was to be just about her. I think about it, man. I bought her I bought her CD because of it. So
Adam Wintz:yeah, I think they did. They did. Did they watch? My name is mud? Yes,
Sam Fischer:I think so.
Adam Wintz:So, okay, all right. I think you guys have made some good points at my expense. So
Chad Bishoff:I'm the one or ones gonna listen to this and say, Oh, my God, that 50 Something and Chad are definitely adolescent human beings.