Though the animated sitcom “Bob’s Burgers” premiered in 2011 to combined critiques, it is now going into its sixteenth season extra beloved than ever. In contrast to its long-running community friends “The Simpsons” and “Household Man,” “Bob’s Burgers” is that uncommon animated sitcom that does not have a transparent golden age it has fallen off from. There aren’t any “unhealthy” seasons followers can unanimously level to, nor are they any “bounce the shark” moments like Principal Skinner (Harry Shearer) being revealed as an imposter on “The Simpsons” or Brian Griffin (Seth MacFarlane) being killed off on “Household Man.”
The key, in response to the present’s creator Loren Bouchard, is that the characters of “Bob’s Burgers” have a aim they’re working in direction of. As he instructed Selection in September 2025:
“It is a hopeful present a couple of working-class household with this irrational, artistic, barely worthwhile dream on the coronary heart of it — the restaurant. And since they by no means age, we’ll by no means know if they’re going to succeed or they’re going to fail, however we really feel their drive and their basic optimism, and that is in all probability priceless to some people. Optimism is an underrated and sophisticated factor. Cynics can dismiss it, however that is as a result of when it is completed poorly in leisure, it performs like schmaltz. ‘Bob’s’ is a couple of grittier, deeper hope and the way it works for you, even in onerous occasions.”
Bouchard additionally praised the characters themselves, noting, “Ultimately, for those who’re making character-driven comedy, then you need to give credit score to the characters for any success you may obtain. Folks must wish to spend time with them.”
Bouchard could have pinpointed the issue with Bob’s Burgers’ friends
When folks speak in regards to the variations between “Bob’s Burgers” and reveals like “Household Man” and “The Simpsons,” they’re going to typically level to the collection’ animation types or their differing senses of humor, however the household enterprise side’s positively an necessary issue typically neglected. The Simpsons and the Griffins are households with no long-term targets past going to high school or work. Typically, one of many characters will begin a enterprise, however that journey will likely be wrapped up in 22 minutes max. There’s an aimlessness to those characters’ lives that quietly haunts the reveals, and it is made all of the extra unsettling by how they by no means age. These characters aren’t striving for something, and neither, it appears, are their collection.
Admittedly, “Bob’s Burgers” has the benefit of not being as outdated as these reveals. Even because it approaches its fortieth anniversary, “The Simpsons” nonetheless manages to ship some bangers each once in a while. I would even argue that it loved one other mini-golden age (a silver age, maybe?) from seasons 17 to 21. In the meantime, it is unclear if “Bob’s Burgers” will final as lengthy at its present top quality.
Nonetheless, the present’s going to strive. As Bouchard defined in that Selection interview, “We’ll hold making the present so long as folks wish to see it and so long as now we have tales to inform. In some methods we’re simply getting began.”
Though the animated sitcom “Bob’s Burgers” premiered in 2011 to combined critiques, it is now going into its sixteenth season extra beloved than ever. In contrast to its long-running community friends “The Simpsons” and “Household Man,” “Bob’s Burgers” is that uncommon animated sitcom that does not have a transparent golden age it has fallen off from. There aren’t any “unhealthy” seasons followers can unanimously level to, nor are they any “bounce the shark” moments like Principal Skinner (Harry Shearer) being revealed as an imposter on “The Simpsons” or Brian Griffin (Seth MacFarlane) being killed off on “Household Man.”
The key, in response to the present’s creator Loren Bouchard, is that the characters of “Bob’s Burgers” have a aim they’re working in direction of. As he instructed Selection in September 2025:
“It is a hopeful present a couple of working-class household with this irrational, artistic, barely worthwhile dream on the coronary heart of it — the restaurant. And since they by no means age, we’ll by no means know if they’re going to succeed or they’re going to fail, however we really feel their drive and their basic optimism, and that is in all probability priceless to some people. Optimism is an underrated and sophisticated factor. Cynics can dismiss it, however that is as a result of when it is completed poorly in leisure, it performs like schmaltz. ‘Bob’s’ is a couple of grittier, deeper hope and the way it works for you, even in onerous occasions.”
Bouchard additionally praised the characters themselves, noting, “Ultimately, for those who’re making character-driven comedy, then you need to give credit score to the characters for any success you may obtain. Folks must wish to spend time with them.”
Bouchard could have pinpointed the issue with Bob’s Burgers’ friends
When folks speak in regards to the variations between “Bob’s Burgers” and reveals like “Household Man” and “The Simpsons,” they’re going to typically level to the collection’ animation types or their differing senses of humor, however the household enterprise side’s positively an necessary issue typically neglected. The Simpsons and the Griffins are households with no long-term targets past going to high school or work. Typically, one of many characters will begin a enterprise, however that journey will likely be wrapped up in 22 minutes max. There’s an aimlessness to those characters’ lives that quietly haunts the reveals, and it is made all of the extra unsettling by how they by no means age. These characters aren’t striving for something, and neither, it appears, are their collection.
Admittedly, “Bob’s Burgers” has the benefit of not being as outdated as these reveals. Even because it approaches its fortieth anniversary, “The Simpsons” nonetheless manages to ship some bangers each once in a while. I would even argue that it loved one other mini-golden age (a silver age, maybe?) from seasons 17 to 21. In the meantime, it is unclear if “Bob’s Burgers” will final as lengthy at its present top quality.
Nonetheless, the present’s going to strive. As Bouchard defined in that Selection interview, “We’ll hold making the present so long as folks wish to see it and so long as now we have tales to inform. In some methods we’re simply getting began.”
