Bob's Burgers has been serving up jokes for 15 seasons, and fans will be getting plenty more as the FOX animated comedy has been renewed for at least another four seasons. That's a lot of burgers and Bob to fill on, but we're not complaining as Bob's Burgers is always a fun watch and the Belcher family dynamics are weirdly satisfying.
Speaking of weird, the voice of Bob Belcher, H. Jon Benjamin, shared an experience that left him with a permanent impression while working on the show. The actor has portrayed several characters throughout his career, not just exclusively for Bob's Burgers. Benjamin reveals that he manifested into Belcher, and hence, the aspiring chef with a sardonic, yet sweet outlook on life will eternally be a part of him.
When speaking with Variety about the show's 15-season milestone, Belcher states that his long tenure with Bob's Burgers has altered his regular voice into his on-screen persona. That's not at all uncommon, as voice actors with enough practice can undergo speech transformations, not just for their characters, but when they're not performing.
Yet, for Benjamin, he's not complaining about his voice being impacted, because Bob Belcher is him, and he fully embraces it.
"I didn’t sound like this at all 15 years ago. Now I talk like Bob. It’s fitting—after so long, the line between performer and character has blurred. I’ve become him.”
Another degree that Benjamin pointed out is that since working on the show and investing his energy into his alter ego, he is becoming a better father for his children. On Bob's Burgers, Bob is depicted as an engrossed father to his three kids, and although he might not agree or understand their antics, he does the best he can with their evolving interests.
"Bob is a really good parent—very supportive, very present, pretty patient. He’s a good dad for what he has to go through. I’m a terrible dad. I’m like the exact opposite. Thankfully, Bob’s Burgers totally helped my parenting. I was the meanest dad. And then I slowly started getting more like Bob—but it was too late.”
The popularity of Bob's Burgers is on the rise, as it has garnered two Primetime Emmys during its run and has received several additional nominations. In addition to the award status, the Loren Bouchard-created series has met with other famous TV dads from the Animation Domination block.
We're talking about the mini-crossover that occurred in a season 21 episode in 2023. In the clip, Peter Griffin of Family Guy backs into Bob's restaurant (and somehow crosses state lines) and meets not only Bob, but also Homer Simpson of The Simpsons. Of course, Homer is far too busy munching on a hamburger to participate in Bob and Peter's conversation.
Now that Bob's Burgers has broiled itself into a permanent taste of pop culture, we can expect more hijinks, plenty more of Bob's dry humor and catchphrase of "Oh my God," along with the Belcher shenanigans.
But this wouldn't all be possible without H. Jon Benjamin and his devotion.
Bob's Burgers can be streamed on Hulu and watched on FOX during its Animation Domination block on Thursdays.
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