Posted in: Comedy Central, Preview, TV | Tagged: billy west, comedy central, John Kricfalusi, ren & stimpy

Ren & Stimpy Reboot Gets Surprising Update from Billy West, Eric Bauza

Voice actors Billy West and Eric Bauza offered an unexpected "reminder" update on how things are going with the still-in-production Ren & Stimpy reboot.

Created by John Kricfalusi and airing for five seasons on Nickelodeon and MTV (1991-1996), The Ren & Stimpy Show ("Ren & Stimpy") – focusing on the adventures of the emotionally challenged chihuahua Ren and his righteously dimwitted cat-friend Stimpy – would become a major pop culture influence during its run and still maintains a strong fandom. But the animated series would soon find itself a victim of its own creator when former Spümcø employees Robyn Byrd & Katie Rice alleged during an interview with BuzzFeed News that Kricfalusi sexually harassed and groomed them while they were underage. So it was surprising when Comedy Central announced in August 2020 that a reimagining of The Ren & Stimpy Show was on the way – though it was made clear that Kricfalusi would not be involved in the new project and would not receive financial compensation for it. Since that time, things have been quiet – so quiet, in fact, that Billy West (the voice for the show's leads) has to remind folks a few times that the series was still in development. Now, thanks to a brief social media exchange between West & famed voice actor Eric Bauza, we're getting an update that should bring smiles to fans' faces.

Ironically, Bauza was the voice of Stimpy in Spike TV & Kricfalusi's ill-fated Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon" – the reboot that West declined to take part in because it "wasn't funny." Here's a look at Bauza praising West's return to the roles and West's appreciative response:

"We are excited to reinvent this iconic franchise with a new creative team and our partners at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio," Chris McCarthy, President of ViacomCBS Entertainment & Youth Group, shared in a statement back in 2020 when the news was first announced. "Ren & Stimpy joins our rapidly expanding roster of adult animation, including South Park, Beavis and Butt-Head, and Clone High, as we continue to reimagine our treasure chest of beloved IP for new generations." The news came as part of a larger animation announcement that also included (at that time) the return of South Park, including the return of Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head and the Tracee Ellis Ross-starring Daria spinoff Jodie – just to give you a sense of just how much the animation landscape has changed in a little over three years.

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