The Thirst Games

The Bob’s Burgers Drinking Game

Instead of my usual rant about a topic that has nothing to do with the show I’m covering,  I’m just going to show some love for a show that should be a lot more popular than it is: Bob’s Burgers.

Bob’s Burgers follows the eccentric Belcher family whose titular character is a blue-collar fry cook trying to make ends meet with his wife Linda and their three kids, Tina, Gene, and Louise. They live in a small apartment above the family restaurant, in which they all work. It’s a character-driven show, and it features a rarity in family sitcoms: a fun-to-watch, goofy mom. Linda provides some of the show’s funniest moments, although they’re a bit tough to translate into a direct quote because she is always singing.

The show does a great job of fleshing out the characters, especially the kids, something that would be impossible for a live-action show. The ridiculous hijinks the kids get into bring an element of zaniness to the show, but there are also such understatedly touching moments between them. It’s also very, very funny. Tina owns a porcelain horse named Horsecelain. One of the things that makes watching Bob’s Burgers such a unique experience is the way it works visually. I really appreciate the animator’s choice in background minutia. The show is a little unclear about where exactly the show takes place. A lot of people assume it’s San Francisco, but Linda has made some allusions that indicate they live on the East Coast. It doesn’t matter because the amount of detail is truly amazing. For example:

Note the amazing detail and color coordination of the family’s living room. I especially like the shelf that built into the wall an inch or so away from Louise’s head. Even the lighting is just right; it really looks like a family settling down to watch prime time television.  Now here’s an example from a show that is inexplicably popular:

 

What a bunch of boring crap. The light source would be the television and the window, but it looks like there is brilliant light coming from everywhere. And mustard curtains, beige carpet, and robin’s egg blue walls? Puke. The color scheme is visually off putting. Because it’s fun, let’s make fun of Family Guy some more:

Compared with:

Its not just a matter of preference; one home is way more detailed and interactive with all the other elements in the picture. The whole world of Bob’s Burgers matters. It’s the little visual impressions like these that give dignity to the small details and make you care way more about it without even realizing it. All that attention to detail speaks to the show’s overall quality of presentation.

It all gives me the impression that in addition to being really talented, the animators have a lot of fun with their work. The end credits are always a fun gag from Bob’s perspective in front of the grill. All you see is the kitchen where he is cooking, and his little window into the restaurant where he places the orders to be served. It is drawn in minimalist black and white and usually features one or more members of his family just generally enjoying their life.  And it features H. Jon Benjamin! The greatest voice actor since Mel Blanc, with none of the range, whatsoever. What more incentive do you need to watch this wonderful show? What’s that? You want a drinking game? Well I just happen to have one, and you can have it right meow:

• Chug while Linda sings.
• Take a drink anytime Gene dresses up as something (Hamburger, Sasquatch).
• Take a drink when Andy and Ollie show up.
• Drink when you can see the Daily Special.

• Drink anytime Tina groans, for each groan.
• Drink anytime Bob and Jimmy Pesto fight.
• Take a shot if Hugo the health inspector tries to shut Bob’s Burgers down.
• Drink when Teddy’s stories start to get long winded.
• Drink anytime Tina fawns over Jimmy Pesto.
• Drink when Bob’s Burgers has customers in it that aren’t Teddy or Mort.
• Drink when Louise is manipulating Gene or Tina.

Your Friend,

Stephanie Boutros-Boutros Rose