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Bob’s Burgers is an American animated comedy created by the talented Loren Bouchard, which has been running for five glorious years under the FOX Broadcasting Company. If you’ve never seen Bob’s Burgers, you’re in for a treat and I urge you to go watch an episode immediately. While the basic concept behind the show is all too reminiscent of The Simpsons and Family Guy, involving the adventures of a working class nuclear family, Bob’s Burgers is a step ahead of the rest. The show provides the satirical edge shows like these forgot to continue beyond their earlier seasons. The comedy series is wrought with wit, charm and sass, making it a clear successor, resisting predictable jokes hinged on vulgarity or outlandish possibilities. The humour is quirky and original and the fast pace will have you missing clever jokes and puns if you’re not attentive enough. The show focuses on the antics of the Belcher family who barely make a buck in
profit running their hamburger restaurant. Unlike other shows where comedic archetypes are haphazardly thrown together to produce something loosely funny for the audience, Bob’s Burgers’ characters feel like they actually have chemistry and belong together. Even when Bob’s seriousness is so heavily juxtaposed with the personality traits of other members of his family, there still remains an enormous element of support and camaraderie. The main protagonist Bob, voiced by Archer’s H. Jon Benjamin, is both a talented and earnest burger artist and terrible businessman with a competitive streak. Linda, Bob’s wife, is a flamboyant and nurturing mother whose love for the performing arts borders on excessive. Voiced by John Roberts, her supportive and enthusiastic nature is endearing and she is perhaps the most underestimated of characters. Louise, the youngest daughter voiced by comedian
Kristen Schaal, is impressively dramatic and feeds off the trauma, humiliation and manipulation of others. Gene, the middle child, reminds me of that stereotypical childhood friend that picked his nose and ate dirt. Voiced by Eugene Mirman, Gene is an uncomplicated child, desperate to disturb the peace with his portable keyboard and fart sound effects. The oldest of the Belcher children, Tina, is voiced by Dan Mitz. Tina is a socially awkward teenager whose love of writing erotic friend fiction and obsession with butts is both loveable and slightly unsettling. The writing for Bob’s Burgers is exceptional. The large team of writers include Wendy Molyneux, who co-writes with her sister Lizzie. This year I had the unique opportunity to discuss Bob’s Burgers and writing with Wendy whose sharp and quick wit is reflected in the most loveable antics of Bob’s Burgers. Here’s what she had to say: