Half the fun of watching television is ridiculing it. In the early 1990s, TV producers decided that it wasn’t enough to broadcast stuff, but that they had to make jokes about the programming, or “deconstruct it,” at the same time. Suddenly, audiences weren’t encouraged to even make snarky comments on the couch about the shows they were watching. It was being done for them. Shows like “Mystery Science Theater 3000” and “Pop Up Video” became popular. And MTV introduced “Beavis and Butt-Head,” two idle and oddly opinionated teens who made lewd comments about MTV’s videos while wearing shorts that exposed their skinny little legs.

A new “Beavis and Butt-Head” (9 p.m., MTV) arrives tonight, offering rude observations about a newer era of MTV programming, including “Jersey Shore” and “16 and Pregnant.”

In some ways, it seems like nothing’s changed since 1993. But that’s hardly true. MTV programming consists almost entirely of reality series. And Mike Judge has spent the past few decades creating “King of the Hill” and the cult movie “Office Space,” as well as the misanthropic failure “Idiocracy” in 2006.

As a crude little cartoon filled with young kids spouting social satire, “Beavis and Butt-Head” has also been totally eclipsed by “South Park.” Still, it’s interesting to see some aspects of the early 1990s return. Can “Wayne’s World III” be far behind? Where’s Arsenio Hall when you need him?

• To accompany “Beavis,” MTV introduces “Good Vibes” (9:30 p.m.), a cartoon about an obese kid from New Jersey who moves to a California beach town with his voluptuous mother. Half of the humor consists of a pudgy kid at sea in a body and beach culture; the other half is based on his mother stumbling into crude and obvious sexual innuendos. Help yourself.

• “Project Runway” (8 p.m., Lifetime) chooses a ninth winner in a 90-minute finale. “Project Accessory” (9:30 p.m.) follows, hosted by Molly Sims. “Accessory” will move into its regular 9 p.m. slot beginning Nov. 3.

Tonight’s other highlights

• The just-canceled “Charlie’s Angels” makes way for the 1966 special, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (7 p.m., ABC), arguably the best of the Peanuts specials.

• A new subject projects beauty and mystery on “Person of Interest” (8 p.m., CBS).

• Andy and Robert have very different visions for the Halloween party on “The Office” (8 p.m., NBC).

• Jenny McCarthy appears on “The Millionaire Matchmaker” (8 p.m., Bravo).

• A resort town loses its police chief on “The Mentalist” (9 p.m., CBS).

• A murder in the park sparks a massive search for a killer on “Prime Suspect” (9 p.m., NBC).

• A board game beckons on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (9 p.m., FX).

• Kevin feels old on “The League” (9:30 p.m., FX).