Each week, I take a look back at a pilot from the 2010-11 season, first reviewed on my blog during that season. This week, I am looking at a show that is still on the air today, Bob's Burgers!
The Details:
Premiered: January 9, 2011 on FOX
Starring: H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal
Created by: Loren Bouchard
What I Thought Then:
"I am not a fan of FOX's animated lineup but from what I do know about the other shows, this one seems to fit right in."
"The voices of the family are good but they did have some autistic jokes about the oldest daughter that were bordering on tasteless. Simply put, it sounds like a FOX cartoon."
"It has a very dry humor and while it was good for the occasional laugh, it's nothing spectacular."
"If it can focus on the family dynamics rather than veering into the absurd, it should be ok. I probably won't be watching to see if that happens though."
What Others Said:
"An unexpectedly amusing comedy meal." - Rob Owen, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"As with any fast food, the bulk of Bob's Burgers is pleasant filler. You'll probably be too tired to switch the channel after The Simpsons so you may as well lay there and enjoy it." - Paige Wiser, Chicago Sun-Times
"Some viewers won't find much of anything in Bob's Burgers funny, but in fairness, it's at least partly a question of style - of whether you respond to the show's minimalist, conversational, antijoke aesthetic." - Mike Hale, The New York Times
"Being tasteless doesn't mean Bob's Burgers is completely devoid of flavor, but the show too often falls on the wrong side of that entertaining/annoying divide." - Brian Lowry, Variety
"This crudely mean-spirited cringe of a show isn't even medium well-done, and here's this customer's tip: Avoid at all costs." - Matt Roush, TV Guide
What I Think Now:
I need to start by sharing that, aside from The Flintstones and some Nicktoons from my childhood, animation is not really my thing. I've never seen a full episode of The Simpsons or Family Guy or South Park. I've seen one episode of Bob's Burgers - this one. And now I've seen it twice. So this is not my thing and I don't have a ton to compare it to, but I have to say it's really not that bad. It almost made me want to check out a few more episodes. Almost. The show did a very nice job of establishing the dynamics of the characters and the general plot going forward while also having a funny contained story for the pilot. The show pretty much accomplished all the exposition it needed to accomplish in the first couple minutes and then it let the characters do the work. The voices were distinct and the plot was pretty tight. I also think the setting was established well. If this was a live action pilot, I would definitely be go back and check out the show. But I'll probably just never watch another episode if I'm being honest with myself.
What Happened to the Show:
When Blue Bloods ended in December 2024, Bob's Burgers became the last scripted show standing from the 2010-11 season. And it has been renewed through 2028-29, which will be its 19th season. Now, granted, animation is easier to keep on the air longer but it speaks to the success of the show. It's the last animated sitcom to really break through for FOX in a big way though they have tried with plenty of others since (and are still trying). Originally it seemed like it might be a second tier show, but it has joined the heavy hitters like The Simpsons and Family Guy as an all-timer and a staple for the network. A big piece of its success has been finding a huge audience on Hulu over the years as it became a top show for the streamer. The show was nominated for eleven consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program at one point and won twice while a feature film was released in 2022 It's interesting that the 2010-11 season had very few success stories but of those few successes, several were very long-running. In addition to Burgers and Bloods, that season gave us a ten season run of Hawaii Five-0 as well as another on-going show: The Voice on the unscripted side of things.
Final Episode: Still Airing
Episode Count: 313 and counting
Where to Watch: New episodes airing on FOX, entire series available on Hulu
I'm excited to be contributing to The TV Ratings Guide! You can read my regular work at Benjamonster's TV!
