Although the true crime of Bob's Burgers is that he consistently sells home ground prime beef burgers for 5-6 dollars a pop. I would go there once a week and tell everyone about it. Damn the antics of the literal children running the place, a cheap, daily burger with fresh meat and unique spins for usually no upcharge. Place is like a haven.
There was this spot in NJ that had 3/4 lb. cheeseburger with fries and little sides of cole slaw, pasta salad, chili, and potato salad ... for $6 They're not there anymore but I went there as much as I could They also had 20 cent wing night on Monday nights...
Bob’s Burgers is so much more comforting for me than any other show because the problems feel realistic and relatable but the family manages to be fun and good even in their struggle and make me crack up laughing.
@@zuiop9993 Hey Phil, I'll have you know that every time we watch Bob's Burgers, I turn to my wife and find her hiding her face in her hands. The reason? Tina is my wife as a teenager. You think Tina is cringy? You haven't lived as Tina. My wife was born in it, molded by it. She didn't see non-cringe until she was already a woman.
Yeah, I was going to comment that having recently rewatched a bunch of Simpsons in sequence, it's quite striking that early Simpsons had a lot more to say about class and poverty, but that kind of went by the wayside as the seasons progressed. The last episode I can think of with much to say about that is the Chanel dress one.
I've been rewatching Malcolm in the Middle recently and am amazed how easy it is to view it through a class lens, as a direct parody of Reaganomics or Thatcherism; Malcolm's genius makes a mockery of the idea of an economic meritocracy when the family is in perpetual poverty.
Malcolm in the Middle was great because it was the first I can think of to show actual struggles of a middle class family. The status quo wasn't automatically restored at the end of each episode. Broken things stay broken. Both parents have to work to keep the house. Both parents are at dead-end jobs and miserable. All attempts at "winning at capitalism" blows up in their face mostly through sabotage from already established businesses. And the delinquency of the boys is shown to be a side effect of the parents being too exhausted and defeated from work to properly care for them. One of my favorite parts is how Dewey's arc is kinda trying to break from the cycle of abuse poverty imposes on the boys.
@@rafaelneumann8365 Yeah, absolutely. Their poverty is typically framed as the family's OWN FAULT, to a comical extent; Hal's family is rich, for example, or there's even an episode where they can't have sex and their home transforms into a middle-class dream. 'If only they worked harder' is frequently mocked in the show! I think it is also maybe worth examining the depictions of race in it; Francis ends up in a relationship with an Inuit partner, Malcolm's best friend is the child of an upper middle class Black family, Hal's main circle of friends are all black professionals too... I think it's noteworthy how the show presents how people are 'supposed' to act and what impact that has had on their lives.
Bob's burgers humbles me, with how their happiness is unrealistically high. Its worse for most people in similar situations. It at the same time, has become this family I can pretend to be part of. Especially in the later episodes. I felt like Linda is a great mom. And Bob's terrific too. They have flaws, they make mistakes, but they love each other and have their priorities right. FAMILY FIRST. It showed me what I didn't have as a privileged child. The love in the family is what i yearned my entire life. My parents think I'm too privileged, and at the same time make my life a living hell with everything between child neglect and forced arranged marriage. My parents never had to sacrifice anything for me because buying things was easy for them, but never cared enough was too much to ask of them.
@@hugioh5952 You didn't have to marry into it, just come to the US south for a week, we treat everyone in the town like family lol. That includes pretty much anyone we talk to more than once.
Hugioh LOL i gotta give it to you, it’s not something I’ve ever had to examine before now but you’re right. One perk of being Hispanic is the culture around family. I could not talk to my aunts and uncles and cousins for YEARS but if I’m ever in town they take care of me, shower me with love and gifts, and pull out all the stops...just because I’m family. It’s a comforting thing to have. And I didn’t realize how much I’d taken it for granted until your comment. (To be fair there are plenty of Hispanic families that are dysfunctional and abusive too, but there’s definitely a cultural familismo that nurtures a sense of group unity.)
@I'mSomeone I think this is a mindset upper class to middle class family's tend to fall into. Assuming that all poor family's are like Bob's burgers family. that when things get rough they pull together and stand up for each other. This isn't the case you do tend to see bonds like this occasionally but from my experience more often than not it's more like how you described your life experience. Neglect and emotional abuse still happen. In fact its kind of made more extreme by poverty. My parents also didn't sacrifice anything for me which for me ment I just had less. Less food than them. Less things to entertain myself. Less access to friends because the would drive me to friends houses when I was young. My parents would also say I shouldn't complain because I was privileged because at we had running water when some of my friends didn't.
Not to mention Louise 's constant attempts to escape her family's poverty with get quick rich schemes and mini-revolts depending on which approach she's feeling
Funny enough, despite the Belcher's economic status, they seem happier and more unified than generally wealthier animated families. They're also more open-minded and accepting of other groups such as the bikers or the transgenders (trans-folk, sorry) (both of whom are also in poverty) They're good people in a position they can't change for themselves, and that may be the saddest part of the show. Edit: I wrote this before finishing the video, I'm glad you agree, RC
100% agree, but also as a heads up please don’t use the term “transgenders”. I know it’s not intentional, it’s a common enough mistake and I hold nothing against you but the term isn’t really a good one and you’d be better off using something like “Trans folk” or “trans community” or something similar.
Bob's burgers is what i always wanted the Simpsons to be more of. I love this show. Especially how Accurately it portrays the life of the children. As someone who spent a huge portion of his childhood working unpaid for my parents I relate to them so much. The little games they make up to play during work. The way they have to "sneak out" and push the labour on their siblings to even have a social life. And how close they are as siblings because the other kids don't have that struggle. And that they are not constantly unhappy because of this. They are used to it. Not many people I know can relate to that in any way.
Exactly lol, one episode Homer makes a joke about burning 1,000 dollars and is like “don’t worry honey, I make 12 of those a year 😏” and how they have to break into Bart’s college fund while in the next he goes to space or goes to Brazil like nothing!
"Oh hey, Marshmallow." Here's the depth of Bob's Burgers subversion of the status quo. Marshmallow is never mis-gendered. She is never questioned. She is always greeted enthusiastically. She is always welcomed warmly. She is a full member of the community as a whole. Damn, but this show is a revolution all of its own!
@@SnappingAngelwires I respect your sensibility in this matter; however, this is an animated comedic series. Every one on the show is a caricature in one way or another. Mr. Fischoeder is a caricature of a wealthy, amoral, eccentric old man. It's how these characters are represented and treated by the show that makes a huge difference. Marshmallow is treated with respect and compassion. Mr. Fischoeder doesn't get that treatment. I'd encourage you give the show a watch, then make up your mind. Besides, Tina is hella funny. :)
@@SnappingAngelwires while that is a perfectly valid reason to be uncomfortable i wonder if it might help to know that marshmallow is very much in-step with other (mostly cis)characters of the show in both her dress and manner. yes she has a lot of uncomfortable coding for binary trans women but viewed under a gender-nonconforming lens she is quite a refreshing character. she does not meet the ridged set definitions of passing by anyone's measure but she is still respected and allowed to be herself without harm coming to her from the community or the world at large. or i suppose a tl;dr her voice is low and her chest is flat but she is still a beautiful woman and part of the family with no caveats.
@@SnappingAngelwires Marshmallow is my favorite character. However, she exists in a weird place for me to fully support the way they've portrayed her. Shes accepted in the community and always greeted w enthusiasm. She has a deep voice but it's never the cause for mocking. Many female characters of the show are voiced by men, so her deep voice doesnt seem out of place. In the world of the show she is passing. But idk if it would be better or worse if she had a higher pitched voice. I think shes comfortable in her gender expression. Although, shes the only trans character we see in the show after the episode where Bob is a taxi driver. It would be cool to see one of the sex workers (as they're, sadly, the only other trans women) transition more successfully. Especially the Latinx trans woman. Imagine seeing her finally getting medical support to transition (as she says that the doctors in the town refuse to help her) Although I do acknowledge that Marshmallow is a caricature of "trans woman" w deep voice, I think she, at least, is at most an all right representation of trans characters. Of course we can always do better. I'm curious, do you consider her deep voice problematic? It's not strange in the world of the show, but it is a common signal TV and movies use to signal to a trans character (without the crude exposure of genitals, why are cis ppl so obsessed w genitals anyways, its gross). Or is it just a tired trope of representing trans women? Does it matter that her deep voice doesnt let her "pass", or does it soften the harsh emphasis in the trans community to pass in order to be successful, accepted, and live a fulfilling life? How would you like to see her portrayed?
Tina's voice is also rather "deep" compared to the other kid females as the character was supposed to be male but instead of recasting they just accepted that yeah Tina can sound like that and be female, there is no conflict. I see Marshmallow in the same light and her personality is what's fun or the joke when need be not that she's a deep voiced transwoman.
"Fischoeder does what those with wealth and power do; divides the working class against itself... Instead of organizing to avoid everyone getting exploited, some will focus on the extremely unlikely chance that they will become the exploiter." -The Republican party's core value.
@@Sadie-tr7lz The Republican Party _does_ tend to be more overt about it. In the Trump Era, in particular, Republicans maintain power by encouraging their base to blame vulnerable minorities (migrants, ethnic minorities, Muslims, the LGBT+ community) for the problems that are caused exclusively by the exploitation of the moneyed class. Democrats tend to avoid placing full blame on the capitalist class too, but they don't generally scapegoat the way Republicans do.
Me, seeing this video: *excited, but hoping it isn't a takedown* 15 minutes later me: "Oh, so Bob's Burgers isn't just wonderful, it's also another reason I'm a Socialist. Cool."
Oh god me too. I recognized every single clip he used and even predicted the ones he hadn't mentioned yet before he gave them as examples. It's the show I watch when I'm sad. It's just so feel good. The family loves one another so much it's so fulfilling to watch (especially coming from a shitty family myself lol)
I also give a lot of credit to Bob’s Burgers for their depiction of trans women in the first season. By today’s standard, it’s a bit dated and uncomfortable, but having grown up in a small conservative town where trans individuals were erased or treated as sexual deviants, it was the first time I’d seen trans women depicted as regular people instead of saintly victims or objects of disgust. While it is not a perfect show, it is often ahead of its time and very comforting in these difficult times.
there are still places where the way trans people are treated is well behind bob's burgers. personally it is nice to at least have as much breathing room in that show as we've got and i am hopeful that a continued forward trajectory is allowed
I really think that episode did a lot to showcase Bob's fundamentally accepting and kind nature. That said, the overall depiction of trans folks in that episode is pretty awful. It leaned pretty heavily on punching down and negative stereotypes, after all the trans women were sex workers who used hard drugs. I think the framing was that of acceptance - they are not demonized for either choice, but not really everyday trans people dancing at a party or eating a burger with friends. I say that because that's the direction the show went in for those characters. I'm with you, especially when viewed in the vacuum of the early 2010's adult comedies, Bob's Burgers was head and shoulders above the rest of adult animation.
Looking back at it now that i've been out for a while, I would describe it as clumsy but well meaning. I can see another trans person being irked by the episode despite the over all positive message and that's fine. Personally, I like Marshmallow.
@@songwithoutword yeah, i agree. i think their depiction of transfolk later on was much more acceptable, but the first episode where the trans people are introduced is just cringeworthy.
Marshmallow started out as a joke but became a character. It’s a point where I disagree with his remark that Bob doesn’t have any friends; he and marshmallow have genuine affection for each other as a provider of good food and style icon respectively.
I understand not really wanting to mention it after the whole scandal, but the original run of Roseanne tackled the class dynamic really well. Several storylines about making money stretch through a money, the harsh reality of trying to open your own business while also working to support it, and dealing with the wealthier residents of their town. I still think it is worth recognizing.
@@Gloomdrake "Roseanne of The Conners, A Leftist Reading of the First Nine Seasons". There's also a part 2. It's well worth watching if you have some time to spare.
@@daniellewasdelayed8921 Yeh, it honestly sucks that I can't rewatch it without that coloring the experience. But it's not my fault that she turned out to be...awful.
Fisheoder's lighthearted fickleness is his most amusing but ultimately cruelest aspect. He's like the fae in an old fairy tale, uncaring and unconnected, causing problems for his own amusement. The Belcher's livelihood is only ever a game to him. Eat the rich.
And it's not just him, it's the whole Fischoeder clan! It shows what happens when you grow up with the kind of money that can let you get away with anything.
King of Queens, for all its foppery, had the guts to give voice to one of the spiciest economic hot takes in sitcom history: "You people had a worker's paradise and you blew it!"
9:18 my heart broke when Linda said she wanted to be catered to as she caters all the day everyday in the restaurant but she got to be in the servant group 🥺 Bobs Burgers is so real and cuts deep 💔
"faux edginess is not bold" Oh my god, thank you! I am so tired of these shows like Family Guy and South Park that fetish offensiveness and think their offensive humor is bold. It's not bold, it's just shock humor for the sake of shock and causing controversy.
I think South Park has some episodes with worthwhile social commentary, such as Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride. Granted it's value was far greater in 1997 than today. I find it funny that no one is pointing at something as awfully guilty of this as Brickleberry.
Hi , I would like to say I totally agree. When I was younger I thought the shows were comedic, but as I grew older I realized that humor shouldn’t have to be offensive to be funny.
@@creepztv000 I used to love Family Guy, but as I've gotten older, that sort of humor is just very childish to me. At some point I'm just like, what is this type of offensive comedy supposed to do? Other than cause controversy
I would've said any of Seth MacFarlanes works, but not South Park. South Park is always making a point, and in one instance apologised for their previously dismissive viewpoint on climate change (ManBearPig). The "edgy humour" itself was born out of their need to express the fact that children are not innocent.
Part of why I've always loved this show is that Tina and Louise feel so accurate to my girlhood in a working class Queens neighborhood (honestly I could probably name several Tammys I had deal with, who bragged about being better than me bc they had things like sidekick phones and fancy vacations, even tho we were both stuck in the same two-fare zone neighborhood surrounded by warehouses).
It's a pretty good show, and what I do like is that the Belchers do get to "win" most of the time in their episodes, which is different from other sitcoms. I love the episode where Bob becomes a taxi driver, and eventually a reluctant pimp.
You put it into words. Bob's burgers is not edgy, it's bold. I continue to stumble onto people who think it's boring, and when asked why, they try to compare it to shows like Family guy and South Park. I just can't relate to that, the only thing they have in common is being animated. I find Bob's burgers fun and lighthearted when it needs to be, but serious and realistic. Thank you for making this.
Bob's Burgers is my partner and I's comfort food show. We're on season 7 and I don't know what we'll do with our lives when we're caught up. It's just so surprisingly consistent and funny.
Watch it again. Bob's Burgers is my comfort show whenever I'm subscribed to a streaming platform that has it. It holds up well to sustained rewatching.
Same. Fell in love with the show instantly and it pains me every year when I have to wait for the next season. My favorite thing about it is the family truly loves each other and you can see each of the parents in the kids which is a small but really nice touch.
I’ve never watched Bob’s Burgers for most of my life until I was staying in a hotel during my very sudden and risky move to Portland. I have fond memories sitting in that room watching the same 5 episodes of bobs burgers on reruns and watching the barges and freighters trundle up and down the Columbia. I have a fondness for the show due to the experiences running parallel from that wild and life changing week
This is an excellent video. I find a lot of these types of video essays tend to lean too heavily on the audience's assumed familiarity with the source material, speak in vague generalities, or drone on forever, but you managed to be concise while also convincingly making your case with reference to specific episodes, characters, and interpersonal dynamics in the show. Well done!
Without question. For the longest time, the Bundys were the only family on TV that even talked about regularly not having enough money. And it wasn't because of a life event or something happened in a previous episode. Al doesn't make that much money, Peggy doesn't work, Bud is too busy being creepy (and probably high), and Christina Applegate was too busy being easy and popular.
JadeKnows Best My only issue with MWC and Rosanne vs Bobs burgers is that at least Bobs burgers home looks like a “the best they can afford” type living situation aka “kind of a shithole. “ . The bundys and Conners houses are way too huge to be on a shoe salesmen and diner waitress/whatever John Goodman did for a living (mechanic?). sitcoms are typically single camera shows and a larger open area is better for filming so it’s necessary. Bobs burgers being animated avoids this limitation by being animated.
It is so friggin heckin refreshing to see an animated family that genuinely loves and supports each other. The only one I see being borderline abusive is Linda, and usually those are brief stints when she's trying to let go of the concept of being a mother to babies, so ya know, it be relatable. Compare that with Family Guy, a story about a dad who bullies his only daughter, or Rick and Morty where a Grandpa actively sabotages his grandson's success just so he'll tag along.. Hell even The Simpsons has a running gag with the dad strangling his son. Idk why people ever thought that stuff was funny but it looks like Bob's Burgers gets it
I would even argue that the "faux edginess" was noticeable in the first few episodes and then they kinda swayed to wholesomeness shortly when word of mouth first graced this show.
mmm I never thought of it this way. I really liked it when it first came on because it hit home so strongly. My mum owned a bakery, I was working in it from the time I was 4. We got paid, but paid an equal ammount that we were paid back to our mum in rent, (It was some type of accounting thing, i don't know the specifics) and she did higher workers a few times who were not in the immediate family. But for the most part a very similar situation. I didn't really recognize that I was relating in a class sense, more focusing on how much I related in the specifics. It's neat to see the more general analysis on what conflicts frame the series, and in a way expand my recognition of class conflict in my own childhood.
Thank you for that rent jab. Renting costs me more than many local mortgages, but I can't afford the down payment. But for people to build up properties to rent out and raise rent at their whim, is exploitation. Individuals like to play victim as landlords, but it's not about them. They afford their property, but they make others pay equivalent amounts with no long term reward as they make continued amounts to afford more property and the reward of owning that property. But when they argue "how do I make my money" it almost sounds like it's fair to pay into that system, even when they're charging for use, at an amount they mostly decide, for something they can't personally really use.
One thing that this show portrays better than any other adult themed cartoon is that it really feels like the family loves each other. Don't really get that from any other animated family units on television.
LOVE THIS SHOW. One of my favorite episodes of Bob's is the Christmas episode where the family helps out at Bob's dad's sandwich shop. Bob and his father get into a big argument and make up while line dancing at a gay bar. Bob ask his father if he's gay and he remarks (I'm paraphrasing) "These guys are my customers, they come into my shop, I come here and line dance, oh and we watch Scandal every week". That simple "These are my people" just gets me, I imagine current day Simpsons, Family Guy would have made so many jokes about that, but Bob's went for a bold take and just let his Dad be a man on his own terms.
I love the episode where birds from abusive fame terrorizes the local neighborhood, and the family works together to survive and in the and mr, fishodour and his brother get attack by turkeys.
Love it, you know I see a lot of media people criticize the success of bobs burgers (saying things like it’s poorly drawn) and I can’t help but believe that it’s the class struggle that people connect with.
I have loved this show from the start and thought I could write essay upon essay why; but you actually brought something else to light. I mean, I of course noticed it, but never really analyzed it this way. Now, to think of it, the blatant word "poor" indeed is very, very rarely used neutrally in TV shows, even those that portrait "low-income" families... Every point you made is spot-on. You made me appreceiate the incredible job the writers do even more. Thank you!
UK or US version? I've only seen the former, so can't comment on the other. But... I don't think the humour came out of the poverty, but in the way the characters struggled, every day, to hold their heads up, in their own way. It was an affirmation, a defiance of poverty, and the society that kept them poor. IMO, it was good, so good, at least until the end of season 6. . When Debbi and Yvonne left, I think it lost a lot of its heart. It became grim, rather than life-affirming. Paddy and Mimi separating also drove another nail into the coffin. Their love was their saving grace. Without it, they were nothing more than dreadful people.
@@robhogg68 I get most of your references to events in the show but some of the characters seem to have been shuffled around in the US version. Highly recommend.
Shameless isn't taking cracks at poverty imo. Or poor ppl. Ppl are funny. Fucked up situations can be funny. Shit that isn't funny sometimes needs a laugh. Does the show always hit? No, of course not. It's flawed. But the jokes don't punch down, not in my estimation anyway.
I've also always liked how the show incorporates LGBT people and doesn't make them the butt of jokes. There *are* jokes refering to a character's gender or sexuality, but it's never at the expense of said character. Like in the outro clip in this video, and the whole storyline between Bob and the deli worker. The latter is very great since yes, the joke is about a gay man hitting on (not openly) bisexual Bob who unintentionally flirted with him, but neither man is demonized explicitly for their sexuality. The joke would still work similarly with any other gender and sexuality combination, but their's is still taken in account to make the bit that much more funny. As an LGBT person myself, seeing LGBT characters have funny, downright sweet bits is so... comforting? Other adult cartoons often make fun of, dehumanize, and stigmatize LGBT folks, so it just truly great to see a show like Bob's Burgers take this into account and not make LGBT people's statuses the main focus, but as just normal everyday people.
I like that the appearence of LGBT characters in Bobs Burgers seems so natural. In many shows it feels so weird when they are included. I have cringed so often about the portrayal of gay, trans,... people. It's either "see how inclusive we are that we have a ... side character" or "look how loveable and funny the ... people are", still better than the depiction 20 years ago I suppose, but still weird. There is nothing I hate more than the flamboyantly funny gay stereotype. Not that people shouldn't be that way, but I know a lot of bisexual or gay people and even though there are a few who are somewhat like that in their behaviour (but waaaaay less than people would think), most are almost boringly "normal".
@@zuiop9993 I also really love how they handled Nat (the limo driver). There are I think three episodes she's been in now, and in the first one, she's just an eccentric (and lovable) limo driver, but in the second one (where she helps the kids and Bob find the ring he was going to give Linda for their anniversary), there are not-too-subtle hints to her being a lesbian. Then, in the third one, the plot revolves around her giving a snake back to her ex-girlfriend. At no point does anyone mention it or question it at all. It's not part of any jokes. There's no moment of "coming out," she's just out, it's just completely normal, and no one makes a big deal of it. I love it. It's not even a moment of adjustment like "oh, you're gay," instead it's just as nonchalant as if she'd said it was her ex-boyfriend. No reaction. Exactly as it should be!
Ugh, I love Bob's interaction w the deli guy! Its v sweet and on character. Tony doesnt deserve the deli guy (forgot his name, yet somehow remembered his partner's). We love panicked bi sloppy bear bob. Hes def not out of his league, Bob's a great kindhearted passionate man
I love your channel but this particular episode overwhelmed me. I happen to be a huge fan of this show and, as a perpetually poor artist, I now realize why. I was never obviously aware of the character's financial status because it was so normalized and humorously emphasized survival over all in this society. Thank you for continually opening my eyes.
A good litmus test of whether a show honestly tackles the reality of living paycheck to paycheck and on the verge of poverty is whether or not bills and debt collection are discussed in serious manner. Offhand I can remember such scenes in Roseanne, Malcolm In The Middle, and to a lesser degree early Simpsons, all circa 90s to early 00s. In Bob's Burgers there's an episode where it's mentioned that Linda schedules late fees and delayed payments exactly in a manner where they can pay without over drafting. It is literally something my own partner had meticulously arranged in the past in our more cash strapped days. It is something just about everyone in my generation who entered the job market after 2007 had to deal with over and over again. The honesty of the show is one of it's most endearing aspects, especially in a genre so fucking loaded with delusional upper middle class lifestyles re-packaged in faux middle class suburban settings that don't really exist anymore.
You know I've never really thought about how open Bob's Burgers is about their economic status. I've always appreciated how real they are about the status of the Belchers and I love how they show how many schemes and plans are made b/c it would be economically beneficial. When you don't have any money, either literally it extra, everything is about money.
I had to pause it when I heard "194 episodes" I was so sure it was way off - I can't believe I've watched almost 200 episodes of Bob's it feels like it first aired yesterday...
Such a great show! And Sam Seder of Majority Report voices Hugo the health inspector. He's good friends with H. Jon Benjamin (voice of Bob) and they canvassed for Bernie this last primary.
He does the voice for Fenton, the annoying kid obsessed with Brendan, in Home Movies. Never heard of Majority Report, but sounds like I should be watching it.
Seeing them get screwed out of money makes me feel so sad, especially when its stuff like that game show, or Gayle mooching off Linda or Bob rejecting his friend's Tiki Restaurant renovation.
There are so many things I love about Bob's Burgers. One aspect is what you discuss in this video: how they talk about societal and economic problems. As you said, Bob is an excellent cook with great imagination and dreams but despite his talent he doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Meritocracy is a myth indeed. But I also love how Bob is actually a pretty good and caring father. He doesn't see them as a nuisance but actually care for their well-being and his pragmatic ways saves his family from their excentricity. I mean, he learns everything about the MLP stand-in to save his daughters pony doll! And the laughs are never mean, it's either a really good joke or laughing at the absurdity of the situation. I'm really glad you looked at the economic angle of the series because I've been thinking about that one episode where the landlord's brother wants to gentrify the whole coast and neighbourhood to attract new wealthy owners by promising Bob equal wealth as if his store wasn't gonna be shut down immediately to make place for some high-end restaurant, trendy chainstore café or boutique.
I wrote one of my college essays on the episode What About Blob? for its depiction of the ecosystem and how we view it, but hadn't considered the larger class elements to the show. Very informative and entertaining video!
I really wish Mission Hill got more than one season. The dozen or so episodes we got actually had an entire episode dealing with the main character unexpectedly losing his job and sinking into a deep unemployment depression. It also handily explains away the "how do those young adults afford such a nice apartment thing. One of them has a very good pre-tech-bubble-burst office job and seems to be the primary leaser on the apartment/utilities. The show runners intended for the main character to lose his job every eight episodes or so.
Allegedly Mission Hill is supposed to come back. That's what i read on Twitter but didn't look into it as I didn't want to be disappointed that it wasn't true.
It's not a show that really grabs me, but I do watch on occasion. It surely is unique in that it portrays a family that, while there are arguments, really seems to have each others back. There's a lot of love radiating from the screen.
I got my mom into Bob's Burgers recently and one morning, I heard her say, "I would help him with their loans if I could". I cried with laughter when I realized she meant Bob.
If you think about it, Malcolm in the Middle was similar in that familial environment of struggling and getting by with what they have and trying to make it. There was a constant reminder that they had less or nothing compared to others and it was reminded to us in every episode. I loved that show and both MinM and Bob's Burgers are shows and characters that people can associate with.
Man! Thank you for this video. I love Bob's Burgers more and more every day. And it's amazing no one talks about it! One smal line about class from this show: Tina and Louise trick Gene into thinking they burned his keyboard, but it was actually Bob's new socks. Louise says "who does he think he is?" So, Bob made a big deal of his new socks (maybe they were really good, or maybe they were just new), but no one rise above the "common Belcher" so fuck his socks! You stay here with the rest of us! But for me, the thing I find in this show that no other has, it's love. They actually love and support each other. Not only the Belchers, but the community itself. Hugo, Mr. Fisch, Jimmy Pesto can be assholes sometimes, but they always end up needing someone, and the Belchers are there. No other TV family love each other as much as these weirdos.
@@99sins he expresses attraction to men many times through random offhand comments, as far as I recall he's never explicitly said "I am bisexual" or "I can love men and women romantically" but I think that's likely because he's married and doesn't feel the need to, he loves Linda so much that he can't picture a life with anyone else :')
@@99sins I didnt see it too at first, thought he was just REEEEALLY attracted to marshmallow who is maybe trans? Like even Linda had to snap him from looking at her at some point 😂😂 from then they threw in subtle references but never made it a thing.
Man the moment I was sold on this show was the episode where Bob becomes a cab driver and befriends a trio of transwomen and while they’re called transvestites all thorough the episode, and are sex workers, they and their profession are never villainized, They’re overall treated with respect and even help Tina realized that her dad has her back, and that she doesn’t need a boy to have a good birthday party. Plus they back Bob up when he confronts Jimmy Pesto. While they are a touch stereotypical and the terminology used to describe them is a little disrespectful, they’re surprisingly good representation in this sort of show. I mean again, like the thesis of the video, they’re of a lower class and are allies of the Belchers. So.
God I love Bob's Burgers. Not strictly class related, more so identity politics, but the Christmas episode with the underground gay bar is one of my absolute favorites. Other adult cartoons could never!
Bob's Burgers & Malcolm in the Middle are my favorite sitcoms because they don't try to sell a comforting lie about living in the working class under capitalism, but they do both offer genuine comfort in always highlighting that the main families have an unbreakable bond- the Belchers are a uniquely loving and supportive family unit who are open and accepting towards others, and the Wilkersons, no matter how much they drive each other up the walls and might even hurt one another, will ultimately stand in solidarity because they're still family. They both serve as a reminder that our human connections are what make life worth living, even when it's not fair.
Nice. This is a good little media-literacy lesson. It took years to watch Bob's and, when I finally did, felt silly for assuming it'd be lame. There are many ways to do satire and I think the show's undercurrent of kindness is what lets me and people with very different views than mine both enjoy it, which is a great thing about good satire.
I'm surprised to see that a few other people watched this show to feel like they had a family to spend time with, this show got me through years of dark times.
I notiched you mentioned Married With Children but I always thought that show was ALSO unrealistic. I still have yet to meet a shoe salesman (or similar) living in a major metropolitan area like Chicago that was still able to somehow achieve home ownership. Maybe the 80s were different but even when I was growing up in the 90s and early 2000s I didn't know any poor homeowners in the DC Metro Area (where I grew up). So in that sense only Bob's Burger's is really relevant to me in terms of what I know as working class/poor families.
We were also poor but happy, we never had holidays but we ate well, we enjoyed none of your luxuries but we still thrived, money is nice but family is everything.
Great video. I love Bob's Burgers, and the class based stuff you touched on is definitely part of why I do. I hadn't even thought about some of what you mentioned, though; kinda appreciate the show even more now
I knew there were more reasons I loved this show. The only live action sitcom that openly talks about class divisions is Malcolm in the Middle which is another show with an incredible legacy
This show is very relatable to my house and family. Not the job they have so much, but the family and his they act together is very much so my family, but with my twin brother and I being the 2 siblings a bit like those weirdo twins (when we where younger at least)
Just the dry, matter-of-fact way you say "Regular-Sized Rudy" is worth the price of admission.
regular-sized rudy is a legend tbh
Haha exactly, I actually laughed out loud when I heard that
Bob: why is he called Regular-Sized Rudy?
Louise: Look at him
He needs to be distinguished from Pocket Sized Rudy.
“over the course of the series’s now infinite run”
I laughed
The SImpsons makes Bob's Burgers mere 194 episodes seem brief.
Although the true crime of Bob's Burgers is that he consistently sells home ground prime beef burgers for 5-6 dollars a pop.
I would go there once a week and tell everyone about it. Damn the antics of the literal children running the place, a cheap, daily burger with fresh meat and unique spins for usually no upcharge. Place is like a haven.
Lol you'd basically be Teddy then lol
@@TheElectricitychick don't Dox me.
There was this spot in NJ that had 3/4 lb. cheeseburger with fries and little sides of cole slaw, pasta salad, chili, and potato salad ... for $6
They're not there anymore but I went there as much as I could
They also had 20 cent wing night on Monday nights...
I’ve always thought that Bob’s Burgers is my top choice for fictional food. Great food with an atmosphere we all clearly love.
Amen
Bob’s Burgers is so much more comforting for me than any other show because the problems feel realistic and relatable but the family manages to be fun and good even in their struggle and make me crack up laughing.
Yeah, but Tina really makes me uncomfortable. Why the f... do they need to make things so cringy all the time...
I agree, Madi. Good show
Shut the fuck up, Phil
@@andrewwood763 Yeah, and she's a strong, smart, and sensual woman.
@@zuiop9993 Hey Phil, I'll have you know that every time we watch Bob's Burgers, I turn to my wife and find her hiding her face in her hands. The reason? Tina is my wife as a teenager.
You think Tina is cringy? You haven't lived as Tina. My wife was born in it, molded by it. She didn't see non-cringe until she was already a woman.
@@Xondar11223344 bless you. I was also Tina as a teen myself, and I truly thought no one would love me. My lovely wife does however.
That sincerity of solidarity is why Bob’s Burgers is the only thing that has recaptured the feel of early Simpsons for me
Yeah, I was going to comment that having recently rewatched a bunch of Simpsons in sequence, it's quite striking that early Simpsons had a lot more to say about class and poverty, but that kind of went by the wayside as the seasons progressed. The last episode I can think of with much to say about that is the Chanel dress one.
@@TheJamesM "I hope she didn't take my attempt to destroy her too seriously" Such a great episode
"...and they seize the bounce-castle for themselves". It is apparent to me now that we must SEIZE THE MEANS OF BOUNCING!
I've been rewatching Malcolm in the Middle recently and am amazed how easy it is to view it through a class lens, as a direct parody of Reaganomics or Thatcherism; Malcolm's genius makes a mockery of the idea of an economic meritocracy when the family is in perpetual poverty.
Malcolm in the Middle was great because it was the first I can think of to show actual struggles of a middle class family.
The status quo wasn't automatically restored at the end of each episode. Broken things stay broken. Both parents have to work to keep the house. Both parents are at dead-end jobs and miserable. All attempts at "winning at capitalism" blows up in their face mostly through sabotage from already established businesses. And the delinquency of the boys is shown to be a side effect of the parents being too exhausted and defeated from work to properly care for them.
One of my favorite parts is how Dewey's arc is kinda trying to break from the cycle of abuse poverty imposes on the boys.
@@rafaelneumann8365 Yeah, absolutely.
Their poverty is typically framed as the family's OWN FAULT, to a comical extent; Hal's family is rich, for example, or there's even an episode where they can't have sex and their home transforms into a middle-class dream. 'If only they worked harder' is frequently mocked in the show!
I think it is also maybe worth examining the depictions of race in it; Francis ends up in a relationship with an Inuit partner, Malcolm's best friend is the child of an upper middle class Black family, Hal's main circle of friends are all black professionals too... I think it's noteworthy how the show presents how people are 'supposed' to act and what impact that has had on their lives.
Hell yeah dude I'm dying for renegade cut to make a video on that masterpiece.
The final episode where the family except for Malcolm had a plan.
I would give my third testicle for someone to do a video essay on Malcolm in the Middle.
Bob's burgers humbles me, with how their happiness is unrealistically high. Its worse for most people in similar situations. It at the same time, has become this family I can pretend to be part of. Especially in the later episodes. I felt like Linda is a great mom. And Bob's terrific too. They have flaws, they make mistakes, but they love each other and have their priorities right. FAMILY FIRST. It showed me what I didn't have as a privileged child. The love in the family is what i yearned my entire life. My parents think I'm too privileged, and at the same time make my life a living hell with everything between child neglect and forced arranged marriage. My parents never had to sacrifice anything for me because buying things was easy for them, but never cared enough was too much to ask of them.
this cut deep. I married a Hispanic to get a feel of being family-oriented. highly recommend
Hugioh That can’t be the only reason, can it?
@@hugioh5952 You didn't have to marry into it, just come to the US south for a week, we treat everyone in the town like family lol. That includes pretty much anyone we talk to more than once.
Hugioh LOL i gotta give it to you, it’s not something I’ve ever had to examine before now but you’re right. One perk of being Hispanic is the culture around family. I could not talk to my aunts and uncles and cousins for YEARS but if I’m ever in town they take care of me, shower me with love and gifts, and pull out all the stops...just because I’m family. It’s a comforting thing to have. And I didn’t realize how much I’d taken it for granted until your comment. (To be fair there are plenty of Hispanic families that are dysfunctional and abusive too, but there’s definitely a cultural familismo that nurtures a sense of group unity.)
@I'mSomeone I think this is a mindset upper class to middle class family's tend to fall into. Assuming that all poor family's are like Bob's burgers family. that when things get rough they pull together and stand up for each other. This isn't the case you do tend to see bonds like this occasionally but from my experience more often than not it's more like how you described your life experience. Neglect and emotional abuse still happen. In fact its kind of made more extreme by poverty. My parents also didn't sacrifice anything for me which for me ment I just had less. Less food than them. Less things to entertain myself. Less access to friends because the would drive me to friends houses when I was young. My parents would also say I shouldn't complain because I was privileged because at we had running water when some of my friends didn't.
Not to mention Louise 's constant attempts to escape her family's poverty with get quick rich schemes and mini-revolts depending on which approach she's feeling
Funny enough, despite the Belcher's economic status, they seem happier and more unified than generally wealthier animated families. They're also more open-minded and accepting of other groups such as the bikers or the transgenders (trans-folk, sorry) (both of whom are also in poverty) They're good people in a position they can't change for themselves, and that may be the saddest part of the show.
Edit: I wrote this before finishing the video, I'm glad you agree, RC
100% agree, but also as a heads up please don’t use the term “transgenders”. I know it’s not intentional, it’s a common enough mistake and I hold nothing against you but the term isn’t really a good one and you’d be better off using something like “Trans folk” or “trans community” or something similar.
@@mercury7d What's wrong with the term? :) Is "Transgender people" cool?
@@mercury7d thank you, I was struggling with that part, I'll definitely keep that in mind
Bob's burgers is what i always wanted the Simpsons to be more of.
I love this show. Especially how Accurately it portrays the life of the children.
As someone who spent a huge portion of his childhood working unpaid for my parents I relate to them so much.
The little games they make up to play during work.
The way they have to "sneak out" and push the labour on their siblings to even have a social life.
And how close they are as siblings because the other kids don't have that struggle.
And that they are not constantly unhappy because of this. They are used to it.
Not many people I know can relate to that in any way.
One prevailing truth about The Simpsons is that they're as rich or poor as the plot of an episode needs them to be.
Exactly lol, one episode Homer makes a joke about burning 1,000 dollars and is like “don’t worry honey, I make 12 of those a year 😏” and how they have to break into Bart’s college fund while in the next he goes to space or goes to Brazil like nothing!
"Oh hey, Marshmallow."
Here's the depth of Bob's Burgers subversion of the status quo. Marshmallow is never mis-gendered. She is never questioned. She is always greeted enthusiastically. She is always welcomed warmly. She is a full member of the community as a whole. Damn, but this show is a revolution all of its own!
@@SnappingAngelwires I respect your sensibility in this matter; however, this is an animated comedic series. Every one on the show is a caricature in one way or another. Mr. Fischoeder is a caricature of a wealthy, amoral, eccentric old man. It's how these characters are represented and treated by the show that makes a huge difference. Marshmallow is treated with respect and compassion. Mr. Fischoeder doesn't get that treatment. I'd encourage you give the show a watch, then make up your mind. Besides, Tina is hella funny. :)
@@SnappingAngelwires while that is a perfectly valid reason to be uncomfortable i wonder if it might help to know that marshmallow is very much in-step with other (mostly cis)characters of the show in both her dress and manner. yes she has a lot of uncomfortable coding for binary trans women but viewed under a gender-nonconforming lens she is quite a refreshing character. she does not meet the ridged set definitions of passing by anyone's measure but she is still respected and allowed to be herself without harm coming to her from the community or the world at large.
or i suppose a tl;dr
her voice is low and her chest is flat but she is still a beautiful woman and part of the family with no caveats.
@@SnappingAngelwires Marshmallow is my favorite character. However, she exists in a weird place for me to fully support the way they've portrayed her. Shes accepted in the community and always greeted w enthusiasm. She has a deep voice but it's never the cause for mocking. Many female characters of the show are voiced by men, so her deep voice doesnt seem out of place. In the world of the show she is passing. But idk if it would be better or worse if she had a higher pitched voice. I think shes comfortable in her gender expression. Although, shes the only trans character we see in the show after the episode where Bob is a taxi driver. It would be cool to see one of the sex workers (as they're, sadly, the only other trans women) transition more successfully. Especially the Latinx trans woman. Imagine seeing her finally getting medical support to transition (as she says that the doctors in the town refuse to help her)
Although I do acknowledge that Marshmallow is a caricature of "trans woman" w deep voice, I think she, at least, is at most an all right representation of trans characters. Of course we can always do better.
I'm curious, do you consider her deep voice problematic? It's not strange in the world of the show, but it is a common signal TV and movies use to signal to a trans character (without the crude exposure of genitals, why are cis ppl so obsessed w genitals anyways, its gross). Or is it just a tired trope of representing trans women? Does it matter that her deep voice doesnt let her "pass", or does it soften the harsh emphasis in the trans community to pass in order to be successful, accepted, and live a fulfilling life?
How would you like to see her portrayed?
Tina's voice is also rather "deep" compared to the other kid females as the character was supposed to be male but instead of recasting they just accepted that yeah Tina can sound like that and be female, there is no conflict. I see Marshmallow in the same light and her personality is what's fun or the joke when need be not that she's a deep voiced transwoman.
Wait, Marshmallow is trans?
"Fischoeder does what those with wealth and power do; divides the working class against itself... Instead of organizing to avoid everyone getting exploited, some will focus on the extremely unlikely chance that they will become the exploiter."
-The Republican party's core value.
^This, exactly.
A sad truth
^This.
Don’t act like the Dems don’t do this too. Both parties are cogs in the larger American machine that keeps the lower classes submissive.
@@Sadie-tr7lz The Republican Party _does_ tend to be more overt about it. In the Trump Era, in particular, Republicans maintain power by encouraging their base to blame vulnerable minorities (migrants, ethnic minorities, Muslims, the LGBT+ community) for the problems that are caused exclusively by the exploitation of the moneyed class. Democrats tend to avoid placing full blame on the capitalist class too, but they don't generally scapegoat the way Republicans do.
Me, seeing this video: *excited, but hoping it isn't a takedown*
15 minutes later me: "Oh, so Bob's Burgers isn't just wonderful, it's also another reason I'm a Socialist. Cool."
My thoughts too :D
I LOVE Bob's Burgers and will literally watch anything about people discussing it
Oh god me too. I recognized every single clip he used and even predicted the ones he hadn't mentioned yet before he gave them as examples. It's the show I watch when I'm sad. It's just so feel good. The family loves one another so much it's so fulfilling to watch (especially coming from a shitty family myself lol)
Me too! I watch reruns pretty much every night lol
I also give a lot of credit to Bob’s Burgers for their depiction of trans women in the first season. By today’s standard, it’s a bit dated and uncomfortable, but having grown up in a small conservative town where trans individuals were erased or treated as sexual deviants, it was the first time I’d seen trans women depicted as regular people instead of saintly victims or objects of disgust. While it is not a perfect show, it is often ahead of its time and very comforting in these difficult times.
there are still places where the way trans people are treated is well behind bob's burgers. personally it is nice to at least have as much breathing room in that show as we've got and i am hopeful that a continued forward trajectory is allowed
I really think that episode did a lot to showcase Bob's fundamentally accepting and kind nature. That said, the overall depiction of trans folks in that episode is pretty awful. It leaned pretty heavily on punching down and negative stereotypes, after all the trans women were sex workers who used hard drugs. I think the framing was that of acceptance - they are not demonized for either choice, but not really everyday trans people dancing at a party or eating a burger with friends. I say that because that's the direction the show went in for those characters. I'm with you, especially when viewed in the vacuum of the early 2010's adult comedies, Bob's Burgers was head and shoulders above the rest of adult animation.
Looking back at it now that i've been out for a while, I would describe it as clumsy but well meaning. I can see another trans person being irked by the episode despite the over all positive message and that's fine. Personally, I like Marshmallow.
@@songwithoutword yeah, i agree. i think their depiction of transfolk later on was much more acceptable, but the first episode where the trans people are introduced is just cringeworthy.
Marshmallow started out as a joke but became a character. It’s a point where I disagree with his remark that Bob doesn’t have any friends; he and marshmallow have genuine affection for each other as a provider of good food and style icon respectively.
I understand not really wanting to mention it after the whole scandal, but the original run of Roseanne tackled the class dynamic really well. Several storylines about making money stretch through a money, the harsh reality of trying to open your own business while also working to support it, and dealing with the wealthier residents of their town. I still think it is worth recognizing.
Danielle Was Delayed José’s video?
@@Gloomdrake
"Roseanne of The Conners, A Leftist Reading of the First Nine Seasons". There's also a part 2. It's well worth watching if you have some time to spare.
@@dwc1964 Thanks, I'll have to check it out!
@@Kyarrix Thanks for the link, I;m definiteyl checking it out.
@@daniellewasdelayed8921 Yeh, it honestly sucks that I can't rewatch it without that coloring the experience. But it's not my fault that she turned out to be...awful.
Fisheoder's lighthearted fickleness is his most amusing but ultimately cruelest aspect. He's like the fae in an old fairy tale, uncaring and unconnected, causing problems for his own amusement. The Belcher's livelihood is only ever a game to him.
Eat the rich.
And it's not just him, it's the whole Fischoeder clan! It shows what happens when you grow up with the kind of money that can let you get away with anything.
King of Queens, for all its foppery, had the guts to give voice to one of the spiciest economic hot takes in sitcom history:
"You people had a worker's paradise and you blew it!"
9:18 my heart broke when Linda said she wanted to be catered to as she caters all the day everyday in the restaurant but she got to be in the servant group 🥺 Bobs Burgers is so real and cuts deep 💔
"faux edginess is not bold" Oh my god, thank you! I am so tired of these shows like Family Guy and South Park that fetish offensiveness and think their offensive humor is bold. It's not bold, it's just shock humor for the sake of shock and causing controversy.
I think South Park has some episodes with worthwhile social commentary, such as Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride. Granted it's value was far greater in 1997 than today. I find it funny that no one is pointing at something as awfully guilty of this as Brickleberry.
Hi , I would like to say I totally agree. When I was younger I thought the shows were comedic, but as I grew older I realized that humor shouldn’t have to be offensive to be funny.
@@creepztv000 I used to love Family Guy, but as I've gotten older, that sort of humor is just very childish to me. At some point I'm just like, what is this type of offensive comedy supposed to do? Other than cause controversy
Yeah, I'd echo that SP often has something interesting to say into the discourse Moreno than any of the MacFarlane Circus of half-hearted values.
I would've said any of Seth MacFarlanes works, but not South Park. South Park is always making a point, and in one instance apologised for their previously dismissive viewpoint on climate change (ManBearPig). The "edgy humour" itself was born out of their need to express the fact that children are not innocent.
Part of why I've always loved this show is that Tina and Louise feel so accurate to my girlhood in a working class Queens neighborhood (honestly I could probably name several Tammys I had deal with, who bragged about being better than me bc they had things like sidekick phones and fancy vacations, even tho we were both stuck in the same two-fare zone neighborhood surrounded by warehouses).
It's a pretty good show, and what I do like is that the Belchers do get to "win" most of the time in their episodes, which is different from other sitcoms. I love the episode where Bob becomes a taxi driver, and eventually a reluctant pimp.
Their wins are they break even or didn't lose as bad as they expected
You put it into words. Bob's burgers is not edgy, it's bold. I continue to stumble onto people who think it's boring, and when asked why, they try to compare it to shows like Family guy and South Park. I just can't relate to that, the only thing they have in common is being animated. I find Bob's burgers fun and lighthearted when it needs to be, but serious and realistic. Thank you for making this.
Bob's Burgers is my partner and I's comfort food show. We're on season 7 and I don't know what we'll do with our lives when we're caught up. It's just so surprisingly consistent and funny.
Watch it again. Bob's Burgers is my comfort show whenever I'm subscribed to a streaming platform that has it. It holds up well to sustained rewatching.
I can and do visit "Bob's Burgers" as often as I can on The Cartoon Network. Also, The "syfy" channel for UNCUT episodes of "Futurama."
Same. Fell in love with the show instantly and it pains me every year when I have to wait for the next season. My favorite thing about it is the family truly loves each other and you can see each of the parents in the kids which is a small but really nice touch.
@@ThexDynastxQueen Same! that's a perfect way to describe it since literal burgers are a comfort food. 🍔😅
It is no coincidence that H Jon Benjamin, aka Bob, is a "friend of the show" on the Majority Report.
And Sam Seder has a recurring role.
Speaking of H. Jon Benjamin, did you see the videos he narrated on Medicare for All for the Bernie campaign?
Just a friend, a friend who doesn't have a name xD
Bob's burgers has such great family dynamics
I’ve never watched Bob’s Burgers for most of my life until I was staying in a hotel during my very sudden and risky move to Portland. I have fond memories sitting in that room watching the same 5 episodes of bobs burgers on reruns and watching the barges and freighters trundle up and down the Columbia. I have a fondness for the show due to the experiences running parallel from that wild and life changing week
This is an excellent video. I find a lot of these types of video essays tend to lean too heavily on the audience's assumed familiarity with the source material, speak in vague generalities, or drone on forever, but you managed to be concise while also convincingly making your case with reference to specific episodes, characters, and interpersonal dynamics in the show. Well done!
As a kid I always found more truth in Married with Children than other sitcoms. Great satire.
To this day I'm like - hmmnn Tanguiches - a whole meal if you think about it.
Without question. For the longest time, the Bundys were the only family on TV that even talked about regularly not having enough money. And it wasn't because of a life event or something happened in a previous episode. Al doesn't make that much money, Peggy doesn't work, Bud is too busy being creepy (and probably high), and Christina Applegate was too busy being easy and popular.
JadeKnows Best My only issue with MWC and Rosanne vs Bobs burgers is that at least Bobs burgers home looks like a “the best they can afford” type living situation aka “kind of a shithole. “ . The bundys and Conners houses are way too huge to be on a shoe salesmen and diner waitress/whatever John Goodman did for a living (mechanic?). sitcoms are typically single camera shows and a larger open area is better for filming so it’s necessary. Bobs burgers being animated avoids this limitation by being animated.
@@seungminmakesmestay i dunno, she was a pretty hard worker too after she became employed and frankly it didn't do very much to help
Home improvement always pissed me off the faux working class stiff schtick agravated me
It is so friggin heckin refreshing to see an animated family that genuinely loves and supports each other. The only one I see being borderline abusive is Linda, and usually those are brief stints when she's trying to let go of the concept of being a mother to babies, so ya know, it be relatable. Compare that with Family Guy, a story about a dad who bullies his only daughter, or Rick and Morty where a Grandpa actively sabotages his grandson's success just so he'll tag along.. Hell even The Simpsons has a running gag with the dad strangling his son. Idk why people ever thought that stuff was funny but it looks like Bob's Burgers gets it
I would even argue that the "faux edginess" was noticeable in the first few episodes and then they kinda swayed to wholesomeness shortly when word of mouth first graced this show.
mmm I never thought of it this way. I really liked it when it first came on because it hit home so strongly. My mum owned a bakery, I was working in it from the time I was 4. We got paid, but paid an equal ammount that we were paid back to our mum in rent, (It was some type of accounting thing, i don't know the specifics) and she did higher workers a few times who were not in the immediate family. But for the most part a very similar situation. I didn't really recognize that I was relating in a class sense, more focusing on how much I related in the specifics. It's neat to see the more general analysis on what conflicts frame the series, and in a way expand my recognition of class conflict in my own childhood.
Thank you for that rent jab. Renting costs me more than many local mortgages, but I can't afford the down payment. But for people to build up properties to rent out and raise rent at their whim, is exploitation.
Individuals like to play victim as landlords, but it's not about them. They afford their property, but they make others pay equivalent amounts with no long term reward as they make continued amounts to afford more property and the reward of owning that property. But when they argue "how do I make my money" it almost sounds like it's fair to pay into that system, even when they're charging for use, at an amount they mostly decide, for something they can't personally really use.
There are few things that shine with as much genuine good humour in every sense as Bob's Burgers.
Finally you made a video about this, I loved this series so much it's so based
I have like the weirdest crush on Bob, cause I like his voice and his overall personality. He’s very kind and caring.
Watch Archer if you want a head trip :P same guy, completely different character
@@SameerGuptacatchymango also didn't change his voice between the two, so it is extra head tripping.
You're not alone. I hope one day I could marry a guy like Bob.
same
just remember; bob and linda are a package deal. if you want bob you've got to be cool with sharing the bed
One thing that this show portrays better than any other adult themed cartoon is that it really feels like the family loves each other. Don't really get that from any other animated family units on television.
Bob's Burgers has been a breath of fresh air after Fox's animation being dominated by the Simpsons and Seth MacFarlane shows.
LOVE THIS SHOW. One of my favorite episodes of Bob's is the Christmas episode where the family helps out at Bob's dad's sandwich shop. Bob and his father get into a big argument and make up while line dancing at a gay bar. Bob ask his father if he's gay and he remarks (I'm paraphrasing) "These guys are my customers, they come into my shop, I come here and line dance, oh and we watch Scandal every week". That simple "These are my people" just gets me, I imagine current day Simpsons, Family Guy would have made so many jokes about that, but Bob's went for a bold take and just let his Dad be a man on his own terms.
I love the episode where birds from abusive fame terrorizes the local neighborhood, and the family works together to survive and in the and mr, fishodour and his brother get attack by turkeys.
Love it, you know I see a lot of media people criticize the success of bobs burgers (saying things like it’s poorly drawn) and I can’t help but believe that it’s the class struggle that people connect with.
It's better animated than Family guy ir the Simpsons
I have loved this show from the start and thought I could write essay upon essay why; but you actually brought something else to light. I mean, I of course noticed it, but never really analyzed it this way. Now, to think of it, the blatant word "poor" indeed is very, very rarely used neutrally in TV shows, even those that portrait "low-income" families... Every point you made is spot-on. You made me appreceiate the incredible job the writers do even more. Thank you!
"poverty is not funny" shameless: hold my beer
(this isn't a good thing btw, just wanna make that extra clear...)
UK or US version? I've only seen the former, so can't comment on the other. But... I don't think the humour came out of the poverty, but in the way the characters struggled, every day, to hold their heads up, in their own way. It was an affirmation, a defiance of poverty, and the society that kept them poor. IMO, it was good, so good, at least until the end of season 6.
.
When Debbi and Yvonne left, I think it lost a lot of its heart. It became grim, rather than life-affirming. Paddy and Mimi separating also drove another nail into the coffin. Their love was their saving grace. Without it, they were nothing more than dreadful people.
"....but it might as well be."
KEvron
@@robhogg68 I get most of your references to events in the show but some of the characters seem to have been shuffled around in the US version. Highly recommend.
Shameless isn't taking cracks at poverty imo. Or poor ppl. Ppl are funny. Fucked up situations can be funny. Shit that isn't funny sometimes needs a laugh. Does the show always hit? No, of course not. It's flawed. But the jokes don't punch down, not in my estimation anyway.
@@doggytheanarchist7876 I don't think it's a very realistic version of poverty real poverty is much more depressing this is Hollywood poverty.
I've been looking for an explanation/analysis of Bob's Burgers like this for so long. This is a fantastic video!!!
I've also always liked how the show incorporates LGBT people and doesn't make them the butt of jokes. There *are* jokes refering to a character's gender or sexuality, but it's never at the expense of said character. Like in the outro clip in this video, and the whole storyline between Bob and the deli worker. The latter is very great since yes, the joke is about a gay man hitting on (not openly) bisexual Bob who unintentionally flirted with him, but neither man is demonized explicitly for their sexuality. The joke would still work similarly with any other gender and sexuality combination, but their's is still taken in account to make the bit that much more funny. As an LGBT person myself, seeing LGBT characters have funny, downright sweet bits is so... comforting? Other adult cartoons often make fun of, dehumanize, and stigmatize LGBT folks, so it just truly great to see a show like Bob's Burgers take this into account and not make LGBT people's statuses the main focus, but as just normal everyday people.
I like that the appearence of LGBT characters in Bobs Burgers seems so natural. In many shows it feels so weird when they are included. I have cringed so often about the portrayal of gay, trans,... people. It's either "see how inclusive we are that we have a ... side character" or "look how loveable and funny the ... people are", still better than the depiction 20 years ago I suppose, but still weird. There is nothing I hate more than the flamboyantly funny gay stereotype. Not that people shouldn't be that way, but I know a lot of bisexual or gay people and even though there are a few who are somewhat like that in their behaviour (but waaaaay less than people would think), most are almost boringly "normal".
@@zuiop9993 I also really love how they handled Nat (the limo driver). There are I think three episodes she's been in now, and in the first one, she's just an eccentric (and lovable) limo driver, but in the second one (where she helps the kids and Bob find the ring he was going to give Linda for their anniversary), there are not-too-subtle hints to her being a lesbian. Then, in the third one, the plot revolves around her giving a snake back to her ex-girlfriend. At no point does anyone mention it or question it at all. It's not part of any jokes. There's no moment of "coming out," she's just out, it's just completely normal, and no one makes a big deal of it. I love it. It's not even a moment of adjustment like "oh, you're gay," instead it's just as nonchalant as if she'd said it was her ex-boyfriend. No reaction. Exactly as it should be!
Ugh, I love Bob's interaction w the deli guy! Its v sweet and on character. Tony doesnt deserve the deli guy (forgot his name, yet somehow remembered his partner's). We love panicked bi sloppy bear bob. Hes def not out of his league, Bob's a great kindhearted passionate man
Bobs burgers is such a fresh wind in the comic sitcom genre.
I love your channel but this particular episode overwhelmed me. I happen to be a huge fan of this show and, as a perpetually poor artist, I now realize why. I was never obviously aware of the character's financial status because it was so normalized and humorously emphasized survival over all in this society. Thank you for continually opening my eyes.
A good litmus test of whether a show honestly tackles the reality of living paycheck to paycheck and on the verge of poverty is whether or not bills and debt collection are discussed in serious manner. Offhand I can remember such scenes in Roseanne, Malcolm In The Middle, and to a lesser degree early Simpsons, all circa 90s to early 00s. In Bob's Burgers there's an episode where it's mentioned that Linda schedules late fees and delayed payments exactly in a manner where they can pay without over drafting. It is literally something my own partner had meticulously arranged in the past in our more cash strapped days. It is something just about everyone in my generation who entered the job market after 2007 had to deal with over and over again. The honesty of the show is one of it's most endearing aspects, especially in a genre so fucking loaded with delusional upper middle class lifestyles re-packaged in faux middle class suburban settings that don't really exist anymore.
You know I've never really thought about how open Bob's Burgers is about their economic status. I've always appreciated how real they are about the status of the Belchers and I love how they show how many schemes and plans are made b/c it would be economically beneficial. When you don't have any money, either literally it extra, everything is about money.
I had to pause it when I heard "194 episodes" I was so sure it was way off - I can't believe I've watched almost 200 episodes of Bob's it feels like it first aired yesterday...
Such a great show! And Sam Seder of Majority Report voices Hugo the health inspector. He's good friends with H. Jon Benjamin (voice of Bob) and they canvassed for Bernie this last primary.
He does the voice for Fenton, the annoying kid obsessed with Brendan, in Home Movies.
Never heard of Majority Report, but sounds like I should be watching it.
Seeing them get screwed out of money makes me feel so sad, especially when its stuff like that game show, or Gayle mooching off Linda or Bob rejecting his friend's Tiki Restaurant renovation.
You're awesome. I can't wait to watch this.
“Oh hey, Marshmallow” is my favorite line in the series.
There are so many things I love about Bob's Burgers. One aspect is what you discuss in this video: how they talk about societal and economic problems. As you said, Bob is an excellent cook with great imagination and dreams but despite his talent he doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Meritocracy is a myth indeed. But I also love how Bob is actually a pretty good and caring father. He doesn't see them as a nuisance but actually care for their well-being and his pragmatic ways saves his family from their excentricity. I mean, he learns everything about the MLP stand-in to save his daughters pony doll! And the laughs are never mean, it's either a really good joke or laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
I'm really glad you looked at the economic angle of the series because I've been thinking about that one episode where the landlord's brother wants to gentrify the whole coast and neighbourhood to attract new wealthy owners by promising Bob equal wealth as if his store wasn't gonna be shut down immediately to make place for some high-end restaurant, trendy chainstore café or boutique.
I remember staying up to watch Bob's Burgers on adult swim, such a good series.
me: *is late on rent*
me: "im just like bob burger!"
using "burger" as his last name was a power move
When daddy uploads I appear it’s that simple.
daddy knows all. listen to daddy.
I've been saying that bobs burgers is the show for the masses and like, look at this
I wrote one of my college essays on the episode What About Blob? for its depiction of the ecosystem and how we view it, but hadn't considered the larger class elements to the show. Very informative and entertaining video!
I knew there was a reason "The Oeder Games" was my favorite episode
Who else was cuing up all these episodes and more while they were watching?
Man what a great show.
I really wish Mission Hill got more than one season.
The dozen or so episodes we got actually had an entire episode dealing with the main character unexpectedly losing his job and sinking into a deep unemployment depression.
It also handily explains away the "how do those young adults afford such a nice apartment thing. One of them has a very good pre-tech-bubble-burst office job and seems to be the primary leaser on the apartment/utilities.
The show runners intended for the main character to lose his job every eight episodes or so.
Allegedly Mission Hill is supposed to come back. That's what i read on Twitter but didn't look into it as I didn't want to be disappointed that it wasn't true.
It's not a show that really grabs me, but I do watch on occasion. It surely is unique in that it portrays a family that, while there are arguments, really seems to have each others back. There's a lot of love radiating from the screen.
I got my mom into Bob's Burgers recently and one morning, I heard her say, "I would help him with their loans if I could". I cried with laughter when I realized she meant Bob.
If you think about it, Malcolm in the Middle was similar in that familial environment of struggling and getting by with what they have and trying to make it. There was a constant reminder that they had less or nothing compared to others and it was reminded to us in every episode. I loved that show and both MinM and Bob's Burgers are shows and characters that people can associate with.
Looks like I'm gonna start watching Bob's burgers, thanks Leon
Man! Thank you for this video. I love Bob's Burgers more and more every day. And it's amazing no one talks about it!
One smal line about class from this show: Tina and Louise trick Gene into thinking they burned his keyboard, but it was actually Bob's new socks. Louise says "who does he think he is?"
So, Bob made a big deal of his new socks (maybe they were really good, or maybe they were just new), but no one rise above the "common Belcher" so fuck his socks! You stay here with the rest of us!
But for me, the thing I find in this show that no other has, it's love. They actually love and support each other. Not only the Belchers, but the community itself. Hugo, Mr. Fisch, Jimmy Pesto can be assholes sometimes, but they always end up needing someone, and the Belchers are there. No other TV family love each other as much as these weirdos.
Also bob is a married man with children whos also Bissexual and that is not the butt of any joke
Ikr! Although the whole turkey bit with the man at the deli was very funny. “I’m straight! I mean I’m mostly straight...”
@@ChestersonJack "who am I kidding, it would never work between us..."
I've always heard about this but I've never really seen where exactly his bisexuality is pointed out. When does it come up?
@@99sins he expresses attraction to men many times through random offhand comments, as far as I recall he's never explicitly said "I am bisexual" or "I can love men and women romantically" but I think that's likely because he's married and doesn't feel the need to, he loves Linda so much that he can't picture a life with anyone else :')
@@99sins I didnt see it too at first, thought he was just REEEEALLY attracted to marshmallow who is maybe trans? Like even Linda had to snap him from looking at her at some point 😂😂 from then they threw in subtle references but never made it a thing.
I love this channel. The way you can point out the subtext that had only occurred in my heart not my head.
This is an absolutely fantastic video. You've really opened my eyes on a show I love very much without truly realizing why.
Man the moment I was sold on this show was the episode where Bob becomes a cab driver and befriends a trio of transwomen and while they’re called transvestites all thorough the episode, and are sex workers, they and their profession are never villainized, They’re overall treated with respect and even help Tina realized that her dad has her back, and that she doesn’t need a boy to have a good birthday party. Plus they back Bob up when he confronts Jimmy Pesto. While they are a touch stereotypical and the terminology used to describe them is a little disrespectful, they’re surprisingly good representation in this sort of show.
I mean again, like the thesis of the video, they’re of a lower class and are allies of the Belchers. So.
I started this show because of this video. Easily one of my most favorite shows ever now
I binged this a couple years back because I missed Archer so much
I appreciate that the show presents health inspectors and gov't regulation as good things. The only jobs Hugo kills are ones that endanger people.
I so enjoyed this. I found myself laughing at you simply explaining episode plots.
God I love Bob's Burgers. Not strictly class related, more so identity politics, but the Christmas episode with the underground gay bar is one of my absolute favorites. Other adult cartoons could never!
"Father of the Bob" also shows when and how "The Burger of the Day" came to be. (Baby, you can Chive my car!")
Bob's Burgers & Malcolm in the Middle are my favorite sitcoms because they don't try to sell a comforting lie about living in the working class under capitalism, but they do both offer genuine comfort in always highlighting that the main families have an unbreakable bond- the Belchers are a uniquely loving and supportive family unit who are open and accepting towards others, and the Wilkersons, no matter how much they drive each other up the walls and might even hurt one another, will ultimately stand in solidarity because they're still family. They both serve as a reminder that our human connections are what make life worth living, even when it's not fair.
H. Jon Benjamin is a friend of Sam Seder's and a lefty. He went with him canvassing for Bernie in Massachusetts this year.
Didn't know this cartoon, but really liked your description/analysis. Will watch it.
Great video! and one of my favorite shows. It has a lot of heart and the solidarity that the family shows together is touching.
Nice. This is a good little media-literacy lesson.
It took years to watch Bob's and, when I finally did, felt silly for assuming it'd be lame. There are many ways to do satire and I think the show's undercurrent of kindness is what lets me and people with very different views than mine both enjoy it, which is a great thing about good satire.
“faux edginess” SHOTS FIRED!!! I love it!!! 👏🏾👏🏾
I'm surprised to see that a few other people watched this show to feel like they had a family to spend time with, this show got me through years of dark times.
I notiched you mentioned Married With Children but I always thought that show was ALSO unrealistic. I still have yet to meet a shoe salesman (or similar) living in a major metropolitan area like Chicago that was still able to somehow achieve home ownership. Maybe the 80s were different but even when I was growing up in the 90s and early 2000s I didn't know any poor homeowners in the DC Metro Area (where I grew up). So in that sense only Bob's Burger's is really relevant to me in terms of what I know as working class/poor families.
We were also poor but happy, we never had holidays but we ate well, we enjoyed none of your luxuries but we still thrived, money is nice but family is everything.
>Fantastic< work Mr. Renegade.
Great video. I love Bob's Burgers, and the class based stuff you touched on is definitely part of why I do. I hadn't even thought about some of what you mentioned, though; kinda appreciate the show even more now
Great video I haven’t watched alot of Bob’d Burgers but the economic lens you viewed the show through was enlightening.
I knew there were more reasons I loved this show. The only live action sitcom that openly talks about class divisions is Malcolm in the Middle which is another show with an incredible legacy
This show is very relatable to my house and family. Not the job they have so much, but the family and his they act together is very much so my family, but with my twin brother and I being the 2 siblings a bit like those weirdo twins (when we where younger at least)
FINALLY!! someone mentioning this aspect of the show!
'Not handsome, beautiful', why I love Bob.
trans rights
Omg I am in the middle of a DnD game but I clicked this so fast I’m so happy you made a video about Bob’s Burgers
9:47 frustrating that a lot of poor people have been lead to actually believe this
Another good video. It's so important that you channel reaches as many ppl as possible.
Really good video, you pointed out things I had never even considered
I love Bob's Burgers and in my opinion it's the best thing on TV.