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.
Wow. It seems like just when this column started back up that the series went on a hiatus. It kind of makes sense, considering that of the main shows of the new Sunday Funday conglomerate, it isn't the most immediate. True, The Simpsons knocked out its annual Halloween episode and Bob's Burgers lands a little on the off side of the holiday, but its annual tradition is nonetheless welcomed. Of course, as I said in the last entry, it is great to have this series back in regular rotation. While it takes awhile for this particular one to get going, it does manage to continue to skewer the holiday into new and interesting directions. This time, it features a ghost in a box.
The episode begins with the kids talking about going to the cemetery on Halloween. Tina (Dan Mintz) wants to go with Jimmy Jr. (Jon Benjamin), who just says that Tina needs to come alone. Meanwhile, Bob (Benjamin) gets a visit from a terminator named Marcus (Andre Royo), who complains about a ghost in the basement. After this becomes true, Tina buys an Ouija board and decides to test the theory out with Gene (Eugene Mirman), Louise (Kristen Schaal) and Linda (John Roberts). After that proves to be a success, she tests it with friends from Wagstaff and discovers that there's a ghost named Jeff there that likes her.
This quickly turns into a romance as Tina carries the ghost around in a box. Meanwhile, Marcus has recommended two ghost experts Phil (Bryan Huskey) and Don (Jordan Peele). They hang out in Bob's Burgers and test for ghosts, which actually draws in more business. Meanwhile, the ghost supposedly falls in love with Tammy (Jenny Slate), which causes Gene and Tina to seek revenge. When at the graveyard, they stage a set with ketchup to fool everyone and get rid of Jeff. Meanwhile, Don and Phil try and leave Bob's Burgers without paying the check.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
I will admit that "Full Bars" is about as high of the peak as Bob's Burgers Halloween episodes get. Even with the inventive fake haunted house story last year, I love how the series continues to do inventive stuff to satirize horror and make it more absurd. In this particular case, it tries to fit into an actual episode structure with Tina falling in love with a ghost. The concept alone allows for a lot of great moments to play out, especially with her carrying a box down the street. It is petty and while probably the least interesting of the past three years, it still has a lot of compelling moments.
For starters, the exterminator leading to two ghost experts freeloading off of Bob's Burgers is a nice twist on a familiar subject. It seemed like in season three that every other episode was about a weirdo getting rich off of Bob. In this case, they try and pass off the fact that there's ghosts there. It isn't the case, which is rather funny and full of memorable moments. Even the cemetery scene has some credibility mixed in for hilarious doses.
As a whole, there's not much to really dissect from this episode other than the antics of Tina can always be trustworthy for a laugh. I think that making a romance with a ghost is especially inspired and leads down an interesting hole. I also like how Louise is dressed as the main character from Drive. The costumes are always a reliable source for humor here. However, there isn't much else really to dissect, as it was a very straightforward episode. Enjoyable, but beyond the initial plot, there's not much to go on about. Bob's subplot had moments, but this is very much a Tina episode.
As promised, I would share some thoughts on Dan Mintz's comedy album "The Stranger," which was recently released as of the first episode. I did not expect the long delay until episode two, but here's my personal few thoughts on it. For starters, the album will appeal to those that find Emo Phillips, Steven Wright or Mitch Hedberg funny. He isn't a complicated comedian when all is said and done. It's a little disarming that Mintz actually sounds like Tina, which makes the comedy a little hard to enjoy from his Asian male perspective. Nonetheless, when that is done, a more interesting bent comes to it.
It is 45 minutes of jokes. There's no structure beyond a "set-up/punchline" structure. He is all about making witty subversion on common tropes. He isn't afraid to make jokes about how women's magazines are demeaning to men because men would have to get sex changes to look like that. He even goes as far as to make jokes about marriage, being single, having kids and everything in between. There is no continuity to worry about. It may grow wearisome at points, but Mintz manages to work, provided you are into deadpan.
Personally, it is an acquired taste that Bob's Burgers definitely prepares you for. However, I can't fully enjoy this album as a whole. I like it in small doses, as there's enough sparks here to warrant a purchase, but not enough to make it wholly engaging. I like it and I'm sure that Tina fans will enjoy it. Just know that you're going to get a whole lot of quick jokes that are so outrageous that you'll occasionally be distracted by the crowd laughing their individual remarks at him. Still, it's strange and a welcomed entry that should be checked out.
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