An Saturday Night Live sketch that featured Ryan Gosling impersonating Beavis of the famous animated duo Beavis and Butt-Head alongside Mikey Day garnered significant attention. Interestingly, this sketch had been in the conceptual stages for quite some time and was originally intended to feature a different celebrity.
Louie Zakarian, the makeup designer for the show, and Jodi Mancuso, SNL’s hairstylist, revealed in an interview with The Ankler that the sketch was initially considered back in 2018 with Jonah Hill as the guest host.
Zakarian disclosed, “With Jonah Hill.” Hill is known for his multiple hosting stints on the show and was particularly hosting an episode dated November 3, 2018.
Mancuso discussed the development of the sketch, “Even at that time it was late coming into the show, so there wasn’t a lot of prep time and I wasn’t fully happy with the wigs.” She continued, explaining that there had been several attempts and she was not satisfied, leading to a decision to table the idea. “Then they pitched it again and I was like, well, we’re going to make this right.”
Despite initial hesitation, she eventually agreed to the idea of the wigs, emphasizing a need for realism. “To make them a little more human,” she insisted.
Zakarian also contributed to the final look by crafting a special prosthetic for Day. “I made this crazy little bridge that goes into [Day’s] mouth and the first time it didn’t lift his lip up enough… This time I went in and redid it and made it a little more prominent and made it pop a little more,” she explained.
The sketch revolved around a NewsNation interview about AI’s future where an anchor, played by Heidi Gardner, could not contain her laughter when Beavis and Butt-Head, played by Gosling and Day, interrupted the interview.
Gardner reflected on her experience with Vulture, remarking on how during the dress rehearsal, when the prosthetics were used for the first time, she couldn’t help but break character due to their realistic appearance.
Additionally, Day shared his thoughts on Late Night with Seth Meyers, “Heidi said, ‘You didn’t look human,’” as he acknowledged the commendable work done by Zakarian and Mancuso.
Following this memorable moment on SNL, Gosling and Day donned their Beavis and Butt-Head personas once again for the premiere of The Fall Guy, which happened a couple of weeks later.
FAQs about the ‘Beavis and Butt-Head’ Sketch on ‘SNL’
- When was the Beavis and Butt-Head sketch originally planned?
The sketch was initially proposed to air with Jonah Hill as a host during his 2018 appearance on ‘SNL’.
- Who played Beavis and Butt-Head in the sketch?
Ryan Gosling portrayed Beavis, and Mikey Day played Butt-Head in the final act that aired on ‘SNL’.
- Why did it take so long for the sketch to make it to air?
There were concerns about the wigs and prosthetics, which led to multiple delays before the makeup team was satisfied with the final look.
- What was Heidi Gardner’s reaction during the sketch?
Heidi Gardner broke out into laughter during both the dress rehearsal and the live performance due to the realistic appearance of Gosling and Day in their prosthetics.
- Did Ryan Gosling and Mikey Day reprise their roles after the ‘SNL’ sketch?
Yes, they did. Gosling and Day wore their Beavis and Butt-Head costumes again at the premiere of The Fall100 “