Bob’s Burgers – Where there are teens, there’s attitude

Is it fair to say everyone out there has a messed up family in some way, shape or form? A rouge uncle? A black sheep of the family? That inlaw (outlaw) that says things at gatherings that stretch the boundaries of appropriateness?

Or in the case of Bob’s Burgers: Tina. Tina pushed the envelope this episode, courtesy of a little instigation from the new girl in school, Tammy. Tina’s a different breed, usually the rather quiet one in the Belcher clan. But get her dander up and she’ll give folks whatfor. And that’s exactly what she did pushing her weight around, displaying defiance and copping attitude with Linda and Bob.

But that’s okay. She’s a teenager. Anyone who has a teenager or who has “experienced” one knows full well teens can be an alien species. They know everything, they can be lazy, they’re opinionated as all get out. They’re touchy, emotional, quick-tempered, stubborn, they eat a lot and they sleep a lot … and those last two points usually can come at the most inconvenient of times.

Here’s the thing about Bob’s Burgers and The Belchers: No matter the situation, the writers inject some pretty nifty scenarios in the story lines that show familial love, even through the “crap attacks.” The writers tossed in some terrific goings on about peer pressure, angst and consequences this chapter of Bob’s Burgers, all of which congealed into a nifty episode.

We’ve seen the family dynamic come down to love and understanding time and again on sitcoms, dramas and even animated shows … but it’s done in a manner that’s uniquely comedic on this FOX vehicle.

And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Weird Side Notes:

I had a dream about the characters on Bob’s Burgers. It was rather strange. It wasn’t episodic but, strangely, fit into the seasonal mix. It wasn’t anything you’d ever seen before and it came right out of left field.

Guest stars populated a Hollywood Squares scene. The camera would pan from one square to the next and and the stars would throw out a line or three about a situation or somesuch with one of The Belchers. Bob, Linda, Tina, Louise, Gene … none of them were present. But you heard them out of sight when comments about them were made.

• Animal from The Muppets tried getting a point across about Gene and his musical abilities. I don’t know if it what Animal said was filled with positive reinforcement or otherwise. Animal’s statements ended with Gene tickling a short, comical melody on his keyboard.
• Jerry Orbach (as Det. Lennie Briscoe) went on and on and on why there was no possible way he could team up with Louise as a partner. They were too similar … and the fur would surely fly if they worked together.
• Bob, initially intimidated by Gordon Ramsay, apparently taught the famous chef a thing or two about burgers and wasn’t afraid to get in his face after their initial meeting.
• Linda held a slew of television Mom’s hostage in a school room, demanding they sing just like her. (Go figger.)
• Charles Bukowski and Teddy, as it turns out, were very good friends.
• The cast of Freaks And Geeks was present in support of Tina, but not of her zombie-loving ways.
• And finally, it’s disclosed Paul Lynde —  of course in the middle square — is the true father of Louise … not Bob.

Quotes:

“We need to go over some ground rules for tonight, Miss Mouthy. No boys, no parties, no summoning spiritis or switching bodies … and no filling the house with soap bubbles! You hear me Tina?” — Linda
“Yes. I wear glasses, not hearing aids, Mom.” — Tina
“Hoooooooooo … !!!” — Louise

Clacked by Michael Noble
on May 14, 2012 @ 11:43 EST5EDT