Welcome to TV Recap, in which we look at modern shows and analyze them on an episode-to-episode basis. This one focuses on the cartoon sitcom Bob's Burgers, a very funny show that is capable of rivaling old school Simpsons in terms of irreverent humor and off the wall zaniness. With a cast of modern alternative comedian heroes, the story follows the Belchers as they run a burger joint. Join me as I take part in dissecting the show in its first full season. Check back on Tuesdays for the next exciting installment.
As this season of Bob's Burgers winds down, it is impressive to note what the show has done with a full season. They have done solid holiday episodes, played laser tag, and now have taken on game shows for some strange reason. If there's any doubt that this show should be the successor to the Simpsons, it is hard to find any. From the varying degrees of plot lines and the growing intimacy of the characters, this show has come into an absurd paradox that just clicks on so many levels. This episode will be especially fun for those who grew up with Nickelodeon Slime Time. However, is the game more fun than the episode?
The episode begins with the Belchers heading out to see a movie. That is, if Bob (Jon Benjamin) can get his car moving). During this time, Jimmy Pesto (Jay Johnston) makes fun of his lousy car before they putter away. Before they get to a movie, it is discovered that Chuck (Thomas Lennon) is walking around the theater line looking for a replacement family for the game show Family Fracas. However he is lenient to work with the Belchers after a traumatic occurrence that shut down his cooking show until his producer (Rob Huebel) comes along and suggests that everything will be all right.
Dressed in red, the family plays a series of games that involve marbles and throwing eggs in a skillet. While Tina (Dan Mintz) gets distracted by the boys, the Belchers inevitably win. That is, until they come up to the prize wheel, which has a selection of a new minivan. However, Louise (Kristen Schaal) lands on a bucket of foam, which Gene (Eugene) seems to like. It also means that they get to come back the following day to play another family.
This happens for the entire week, leaving Chuck in a panic. He wants the family off, but the producer knows that the only way for them to do it is to lose. However, on a recent episode, Bob insulted Pesto during the closing credits, which gave them the idea to have the Pestos on the show and rig it. This goes off without a hitch, running into a few faulty games and suddenly the Pestos not only win the game, but they win the new minivan, which Louise so desperately wants.
Believing it is rigged, the Belchers decide to sue the TV station. Instead of going for some high priced judged, they settle on Judge Pam (Samantha Bee), who runs a show on the network. The evidence clearly doesn't defend the Belchers until they suggest checking the video cameras that filmed the whole thing. Even then, the producer destroys the evidence to help the station win. Louise is disheartened that they lost the minivan, but Gene is happy because they got to get covered in foam one last time. Why? Because every show on the station just so happens to cover the losers is foam.
The episode ends with the family heading home defeated. When they see Pesto on the side of the road changing a tire for a minivan, Bob decides to make fun of him only to have his family get offended. Out of guilt, he helps change the tire while Pesto makes fun of him.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
In the grand scheme of things, this is one of the more middling Bob's Burgers episodes. It isn't that it lacks wit and fun, but the plot is just really thin. However, what gives it an edge is that this show has a subtle continuity streak that involves Chuck essentially getting his revenge. It isn't that the episode lacks a climactic triumph. It just means that someone else won, and while Chuck is too minuscule to provide weight for the ending, it is sort of funny as a look at how a network channel works. The very idea that every show has their losers foamed was a nice finishing touch.
I must admit that the one thing that displeased me about the events was that it was almost too many. I get that there were two focused events (the first and the last), but I feel like I wanted to see more of Family Fracas. We see the crazy games for mere seconds and almost serving as multiple montages. I just wish that it was one big elaborate game as opposed to a week of games. With that said, it was still a nice touch to make the final game be against Jimmy Pesto's family, if just to make things feel more reasonable.
Of course, the anticlimactic quality felt a little like a cheat as well. True, the Belchers rarely get what they want, but with the amount of time put into wanting a minivan, it almost felt wrong to refuse them that right. In a sense, the episode is sort of middling because it treats the Belchers as losers in order to justify Chuck, a character that isn't prominent enough to earn our trust. They almost feel pointless in this episode after awhile and that this is more about a corrupt studio trying to take down a family.
It was also nice to see them riff on People's Court, if only momentarily. The theme song feels very reminiscent and possibly plagiarized in a way. However, it somehow works within the context of the show. Again, I just wish that there was weight that could be added to that scene besides a game being rigged.
I'll admit that the satirical bent is excellent, and Rob Huebel as the manager was a nice touch. His bar that he had in his desk had plenty of solid gags. Still, the Family Fracas game universe had so much potential and it is a shame that it was only cut down to a few montages and moments. I suppose that this makes the episode sort of a mess, even though there were a lot of great moments to hear Louise complain about not winning a minivan and seeing Chuck finally have his moment in the sun.
The episode begins with the Belchers heading out to see a movie. That is, if Bob (Jon Benjamin) can get his car moving). During this time, Jimmy Pesto (Jay Johnston) makes fun of his lousy car before they putter away. Before they get to a movie, it is discovered that Chuck (Thomas Lennon) is walking around the theater line looking for a replacement family for the game show Family Fracas. However he is lenient to work with the Belchers after a traumatic occurrence that shut down his cooking show until his producer (Rob Huebel) comes along and suggests that everything will be all right.
Dressed in red, the family plays a series of games that involve marbles and throwing eggs in a skillet. While Tina (Dan Mintz) gets distracted by the boys, the Belchers inevitably win. That is, until they come up to the prize wheel, which has a selection of a new minivan. However, Louise (Kristen Schaal) lands on a bucket of foam, which Gene (Eugene) seems to like. It also means that they get to come back the following day to play another family.
This happens for the entire week, leaving Chuck in a panic. He wants the family off, but the producer knows that the only way for them to do it is to lose. However, on a recent episode, Bob insulted Pesto during the closing credits, which gave them the idea to have the Pestos on the show and rig it. This goes off without a hitch, running into a few faulty games and suddenly the Pestos not only win the game, but they win the new minivan, which Louise so desperately wants.
Believing it is rigged, the Belchers decide to sue the TV station. Instead of going for some high priced judged, they settle on Judge Pam (Samantha Bee), who runs a show on the network. The evidence clearly doesn't defend the Belchers until they suggest checking the video cameras that filmed the whole thing. Even then, the producer destroys the evidence to help the station win. Louise is disheartened that they lost the minivan, but Gene is happy because they got to get covered in foam one last time. Why? Because every show on the station just so happens to cover the losers is foam.
The episode ends with the family heading home defeated. When they see Pesto on the side of the road changing a tire for a minivan, Bob decides to make fun of him only to have his family get offended. Out of guilt, he helps change the tire while Pesto makes fun of him.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
In the grand scheme of things, this is one of the more middling Bob's Burgers episodes. It isn't that it lacks wit and fun, but the plot is just really thin. However, what gives it an edge is that this show has a subtle continuity streak that involves Chuck essentially getting his revenge. It isn't that the episode lacks a climactic triumph. It just means that someone else won, and while Chuck is too minuscule to provide weight for the ending, it is sort of funny as a look at how a network channel works. The very idea that every show has their losers foamed was a nice finishing touch.
I must admit that the one thing that displeased me about the events was that it was almost too many. I get that there were two focused events (the first and the last), but I feel like I wanted to see more of Family Fracas. We see the crazy games for mere seconds and almost serving as multiple montages. I just wish that it was one big elaborate game as opposed to a week of games. With that said, it was still a nice touch to make the final game be against Jimmy Pesto's family, if just to make things feel more reasonable.
Of course, the anticlimactic quality felt a little like a cheat as well. True, the Belchers rarely get what they want, but with the amount of time put into wanting a minivan, it almost felt wrong to refuse them that right. In a sense, the episode is sort of middling because it treats the Belchers as losers in order to justify Chuck, a character that isn't prominent enough to earn our trust. They almost feel pointless in this episode after awhile and that this is more about a corrupt studio trying to take down a family.
It was also nice to see them riff on People's Court, if only momentarily. The theme song feels very reminiscent and possibly plagiarized in a way. However, it somehow works within the context of the show. Again, I just wish that there was weight that could be added to that scene besides a game being rigged.
I'll admit that the satirical bent is excellent, and Rob Huebel as the manager was a nice touch. His bar that he had in his desk had plenty of solid gags. Still, the Family Fracas game universe had so much potential and it is a shame that it was only cut down to a few montages and moments. I suppose that this makes the episode sort of a mess, even though there were a lot of great moments to hear Louise complain about not winning a minivan and seeing Chuck finally have his moment in the sun.
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