“Beavis and Butt-head”
Thursday 10pm, MTV
First “Pop-Up Video,” now “Beavis and Butt-head”—the ’90s are alive and well on basic cable. The original “Beavis and Butt-head” ran on MTV from 1993 to 1997, a crudely animated show following two tasteless Texas high-schoolers who pepper their sociopathic outings with critiques of music videos. The cackling-idiot duo gained a surprising amount of cultural notoriety, even earning a successful film adaptation. Because America continues to get more stupid by the hour, MTV and creator Mike Judge are bringing these morons back for a whole new run. Everything will remain the same-—the animation, the setting, their ages—but now they’ll be offering cultural commentary on reality TV shows, ultimate fighting matches, and films, in addition to music videos.
“Allen Gregory”
Sunday 8:30pm, Fox
Fox has locked down “The Simpsons” for two more seasons, but the network knows it needs to sow the seeds for the future of its “Animation Domination” block now. Enter “Allen Gregory,” a new cartoon from the mind of Jonah Hill (Superbad, Moneyball) about the world’s most pretentious 7-year-old (voiced by Hill) who is forced to attend public elementary school. Allen looks at his new classmates as little more than savages, but has no choice but to attempt to make the best of it in order to survive. Supporting characters include Allen’s father, Richard; Richard’s straight husband; and Julie, Allen’s stepsister who was adopted from Cambodia, and who hates his guts.
“Ghost Hunters
Halloween Live”
Monday 7pm, Syfy
Plumbers by day, ghost hunters by night Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson lead the (remarkably telegenic) Atlantic Paranormal Society. The group features everyday folks with an interest in the supernatural investigating supposedly haunted locations, looking for evidence that can explain the various spooky sights and sounds. For the past several years “Ghost Hunters” has done live Halloween episodes from a number of haunts. This year’s six-hour event will explore the infamous Pennhurst State School and Hospital in Spring City, Pennsylvania, which was notorious for its shabby treatment of patients before being forcibly closed in the 1980s. The special will feature interactive elements so folks at home can play along, which should be more entertaining than handing out candy to our nation’s obese youth.