As one of the best animated sitcoms since The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers is a classic in its own right. In its 11 years on air, Bob’s Burgers has turned the typical family sitcom on its head. With Bob leading the way, he is the quintessential dad who is, according to the show’s creator Jim Dauterive’s interview with Culture Map: Austin, consistently frustrated by their environment. Many father-figure incarnations, especially in animation, can be absent and lack emotional depth. They are the epitome of "vacation dad:" always frustrated by the traffic and awake by 7 AM, ready to complain about the continental breakfast. Bob, despite his constant frustration, is also creative and supportive of his family. As his three children attempt to navigate bullies or get-rich-quick-schemes, he is prepared to defend them against the school staff or members of the community.
While Bob may be the quintessential father-figure, he strays from the typical sitcom dad in a variety of ways. First, he has a rivalry with a fellow restaurateur. This rivalry revolves around Bob’s use of fresh and exotic ingredients and lack of customers, normal man things. Second, he has a hesitant relationship with one of his regulars, Teddy. A local repairman who suffers from crippling anxiety, Teddy is more into his friendship with Bob than Bob likes. The women in Bob’s life are just as unique and creative as him. His wife, Linda, loves to sing. Whereas his eldest daughter Tina writes erotic friend-fiction stories and his youngest daughter Louise is as tough as they come, especially when it comes to people who pick on her big sister Tina. Finally, Bob’s relationship with his son, Gene, is one of the most well-written father-son duos on television.
Fig-eta Bout It Burger (Comes with Fig)
Bob, voiced by H. Jon Benjamin, may have a loving family, supportive customers, and a wild side, but he also has a number of rivals in his seaport town. Jimmy Pesto, or Jimmy Poplopovich Sr., is the owner and operator of his namesake’s pizzeria. Their rivalry origins are unknown, but Jimmy often taunts Bob for not making enough money because of his use of fresh ingredients. On one occasion, their rivalry hits a peak when Bob and his family are on a winning streak on a competitive TV show and Jimmy cheats to win (Season 3, Episode 19). Though the evidence of Jimmy cheating was destroyed, their rivalry remains bitter and without an end. According to Harvard, rivalries can originate between two companies selling similar products. In the case of Bob and Jimmy, there is no rivalry more divisive than burgers versus pizza. While Jimmy and Bob’s competition seems to run much deeper, there may be hope for the two. In Season 10, Episode 22, Bob brings Jimmy medicine after his procedure. Even though the two are rivals, Bob will often take the higher ground, even if it’s only because Jimmy has a cool apartment.
I’ve Created a Muenster Burger (Comes with Muenster Cheese)
Teddy is one of Bob’s regulars who frequently crosses the line between friend and customer, regardless of his intentions to belong. For Teddy, who has said on several occasions that he needs his routine, visiting Bob and his wife, Linda, daily helps him feel like he belongs. Even though Teddy can be over-the-top, he is well-meaning through and through. When Teddy reveals that he has heart troubles, Bob reluctantly attends stunt training with Teddy (Season 5, Episode 3). He is adamant that Teddy is his best customer, eventually causing a rift between the two. Bob, following his moral compass yet again, intervenes and repairs the damage with his best friend and customer. Like Teddy, Bob is also a mess, but with more support. He can rely on his family and creative work to pull him through tough times. Furthermore, Bob needs a friend outside his family to remain a strong and creative person. Teddy may not be an ideal best friend in Bob’s eyes, but Teddy is loyal, which is something Bob needs.
“Girls Just Wanna Have Fennel” (Comes with Fennel)
Tina, Bob’s eldest daughter, is the more cautious of his children, whereas Louise, voiced by Kristen Schaal, is the more outspoken of his children. To complete the triangle of women in Bob’s life is his one-woman-musical of a wife, Linda. Regardless of the chaos his wife and daughters bring to his life, Bob supports them. Mr. Frond, the school guidance counselor, often butts heads with Bob, particularly over Louise’s behavior. The students at Wagstaff Elementary, where Bob and Linda’s children attend, write a short story about why they love the school (Season 4, Episode 12). As Bob and Linda search for their kids’ writing to no avail, they approach Mr. Frond, the guidance counselor. If it weren’t for Bob advocating for his children and insisting that their stories were expressions of their frustrations, the stories would’ve been kept a secret. Bob’s primary goal for his wife and two daughters is that they enjoy themselves, even if it’s to his emotional dismay.
Poutine on the Ritz Burger (Comes with Poutine Fries)
Gene is Bob’s only son and the middle child. The middle child, as Health Line defines it, is the mellow child. While Gene can be mellow, he is better described as aloof. He may look like his father, but he has more in common with his mom. Linda even says that Bob and Gene have trouble bonding (Season 1, Episode 9). Of course, Bob and Gene do find ways to bond, with Gene asking his dad for advice about girls. Of each of his children, Gene is the most outwardly creative. Bob typically asks all his children to help drum up business for the restaurant, but he relies on Gene to don the burger suit. On one occasion, Gene is accompanied by Louise and Tina in a performance about the restaurant. Initially, Bob is unsure of this performance, but eventually comes around to letting them perform after Gene is kicked out of the band he started with his friends from school. Regardless of Bob being annoyed by his family, his understanding of Gene needing to express himself is a double gift. As a kid, Bob had to work in his father’s restaurant and that caused a rift between them. Though Bob and Gene may not see eye-to-eye on everything, Bob tries especially hard to encourage Gene to be happy.