Like always, the New Year brings new ideas, new shows, and new attempts by network executives to engage and cater to a hungry audience. FOX network in particular, with the release of their latest animated comedy
Bob’s Burgers, tries to do just that. While I don’t necessarily dislike the show, I found myself wanting something more. Something that goes a little deeper than typical “Restaurant vs. Health inspector” trope. Although it lacks in certain areas, I do feel I must applaud the producers attempt to bring a different, experienced comedic voice to the table. Adult Swim veteran Loren Bouchard, creator of the popular series Home Movies, was an excellent choice and should hopefully add a new layer to the direction FOX has taken with their current animated slate. I think coming from the Adult Swim environment will help blur the boundaries of the traditional animated family dynamic, but I’m going to have to spend some more time with Bob before I can make any such claims.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed a good amount of the show. I found it funny in the same ways that I find the other animated shows on FOX funny. It’s the kind of nonsensical white noise comedy that I’m apt to play in the background of my apartment while I write or work on other projects. While this is just enough to make it by, what I really want from a network so content with producing animated comedy is a new perspective on the medium. How many times can FOX sell us the same family dynamic? Between the Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, and now Bob’s Burgers, doesn’t anyone feel that we’re crossing the line and just getting a little too comfortable with our tastes for the family-unit, adult-oriented comedy? I for one would love to see the roll of the dice a little more often. Show me something that’s funny and I can relate to outside of what I have to deal with at my house every night.
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For now, I feel the like the regular at the diner – everyone knows me and I order the same thing every time I go in, so naturally I never have to place an order. Bob’s Burgers is my order. The format has worked so well for FOX, why produce something that breaks the mold? Futurama was one such show that I’m incredibly glad Comedy Central had the foresight to turn around and put back into production. It just seems fresh and new by comparison.
I find myself asking this question all the time – “do we need five Simpsons knock-offs?” What is it about those shows that speaks so well to the masses that every year we’re introduced to another family looking to come into our homes and make us feel a little better about our own lives? Is that the reason? It can’t be that easy. Can a Beavis and Butthead or South Park exist on broadcast television? I like edgy. I’m thirsting for a comedy that doesn’t have five main characters that are related. I want to be excited for Animation Domination again.
So, what do you think? Do you like the way things are going or do you yearn for change?
