Antiques Roadshow

GUEST: My brother worked for U.S. Animations, who produced the first Beavis and Butt-Head episodes back in the early '90s.

Uh, he was the technical director.

He worked on all the, this animation.

I remember him actually calling me while they were in production.

They hadn't even finished, uh, and he said, "We're making this, uh, we're making this cartoon for MTV called Beavis and Butt-Head."

He says, "The animation is horrible, but it's gonna be a big hit," uh... APPRAISER: (laughing) GUEST (laughing): And, and he was right.

So he knew Mike Judge, who made, uh, Beavis and Butt-Head.

They had these drawings.

And he basically just went to, to Mike and said, "Do you mind if I have these?"

And he said yes.

"Sure, you can have this."

He wasn't making a lot of money at the time.

And so between my other brother and sister, he would send us stuff that he had worked on.

He had sent me these pictures, as well as the, uh, the background for, the original background for Beavis and Butt-Head.

This was, like, for a Christmas gift.

APPRAISER: Yeah.

GUEST: So, "Those are, that's my present for you," uh... APPRAISER: (chuckling): What a gift.

GUEST: So, yes, it was, it was.

I, I didn't even realize until much later, after it became popular.

APPRAISER: Yeah, so this is very early days of Beavis and Butt-Head.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: Yeah, okay, okay.

GUEST: Yes.

This was, like, '93... APPRAISR: Okay.

GUEST: ...uh, when they first produced it.

APPRAISER: So, as you know, it became a hugely popular series.

Very much an adult show.

GUEST: (chuckling): Yes.

APPRAISER: It's one of those funny things where, usually, we talk about the main characters in this...

GUEST: Uh-huh.

APPRAISER: ...as being the heroes of the appraisal.

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: But here, in this instance, we're actually really gonna focus more on what we've got here...

GUEST: Yeah.

APPRAISER: ...which is the famous couch.

GUEST: Exactly-- iconic, yeah.

APPRAISER: Yeah, yeah.

Possibly as important as the two main characters.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: Um, because it features so heavily in the whole show.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: It is the original couch...

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: ...before it was changed.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: Now, is there any kind of history behind that?

GUEST: When I talked to my brother, I think he ob, obviously understood how important it was to the, to the background and to, uh, the show itself.

After he gave it to me, he says, "I wonder if Mike Judge wants that back."

(both laugh) APPRAISER: Well, maybe.

GUEST: But he was happy, but he was happy to give it.

I mean, he, he offered to, that, he offered to give it away.

And so, and he told me, he said, "Yes, this was the original couch that was used as the background," and they would scan it in.

They would use it for all those episodes, and, but there was basically just one original couch.

And then, as they ma, did, as they did more episodes later on, or as other, other production companies came in, there was other couches and other backgrounds made.

APPRAISER: Uh-huh.

And that, and that may be the reason why the couch changed, because your brother...

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: ...ended up with the original couch.

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: Yeah.

So, this is a very cool piece because it's what's called a master production background.

So, it was the mainstay of much of the scenes and what was going on in the early days of Beavis and Butt-Head.

So here we have watercolor and pen and ink.

And then down here, we have the iconic pair that are pen-and-ink drawings.

They all date from the first season of Beavis and Butt-Head in '93.

This is instantly recognizable to any Beavis and Butt-Head fan.

It really is.

GUEST: (laughing): Yes.

APPRAISER: And I love the, the patchwork on the...

GUEST: Right, of course.

APPRAISER: ...on the, on the wall.

This piece, on its own, is worth more than these two together.

Absolutely.

GUEST: Wow.

APPRAISER: We're looking at... At auction, I would not be surprised to see it sell for between $2,000 and $4,000.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: For that piece on its own.

GUEST: Wow, wow.

APPRAISER: The main characters, Beavis and Butt-Head... Uh-huh.

...um, you're looking at around $1,000...

GUEST: Wow.

APPRAISER: ...as a pair.

GUEST: Wow.

APPRAISER: So, all in all, we're looking at $3,000 to $5,000 at auction.

GUEST: Nice!

That's a nice little bonus.

APRAISER: Absolutely-- a nice present from your brother.

(laughs) GUEST: Yes, it is-- I owe you, bro.

APPRAISER: I think it's the most expensive couch I've ever appraised, actually.

GUEST: I will put that in the notes-- that is awe... (laughing) That is great.