Bob’s Burgers Fans Love The Show’s Diversity, And The Creator Told Me Why It Makes Storytelling ‘Better’

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Looking at the 2025 TV lineup, which show consistently delivers hilarious and relatable moments and manages to pack in the most food-related puns? It’s not that new CBS spin-off, NCIS: Oranges – we’ll talk about that another time. We’re talking about Bob’s Burgers, which has remarkably stayed a top animated comedy for 15 seasons – longer than many burger restaurants even stay in business. But it’s not just the food or the humor that’s kept the show popular for so long; the show’s diverse characters also play a big role.

From the very beginning, Bob’s Burgers creator Loren Bouchard and his team have filled the town of Seymour’s Bay with a wonderfully diverse cast of characters – all ages, shapes, sizes, and backgrounds are represented. The show truly welcomes everyone, even Jimmy Pesto! When I spoke with Bouchard about the current sixteenth season, I asked him about the show’s commitment to diverse characters – something fans like me really appreciate – and how important that is to the creative process. He explained:

This is really important, and it’s a delicate balance. We need to avoid simply going through the motions or just trying to meet a requirement. It has to be genuine – we need to believe in what we’re offering. Think of it this way: Bob’s is designed for city living. It’s a smaller town, yes, but it captures that northeastern urban feel – apartment living without a yard or driveway. People have to park down the street. That’s how a lot of people live, and honestly, it’s fantastic.

Loren Bouchard recently pointed out that the diversity in Bob’s Burgers goes beyond just race. The show also reflects the wide range of everyday details and experiences often seen in city life, but not always portrayed on television.

Growing up in the South, I always pictured tightly packed apartments without yards or driveways as something you’d only find in cities like New York or Tokyo. (I was young, so please don’t judge!) Bouchard went on to explain:

When you travel to new places, you immediately experience a mix of people and cultures. It’s like a wonderful variety – a bit like a box of chocolates! This ‘melting pot’ of different backgrounds makes things much more interesting and enriching because so many diverse people come together in one place.

The family-focused episodes of Bob’s Burgers are always funny and well-done, but the show wouldn’t have stayed popular for so long if it relied on them every week. To keep things fresh, they needed to introduce a variety of other characters, and some of the most beloved ones over the years include Angie (Lindsay Stoddart), Arnold (Damon Wayans Jr.), and Dr. Yap (Ken Jeong), just to name a few.

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It’s important to also acknowledge Jari Jones’ character, Marshmallow, and the other trans sex workers – Marbles, Cha-Cha, and Glitter – whom Bob met while driving a taxi in the episode “Sheesh! Cab, Bob?” The show handled their presence remarkably well, letting them simply be without making their sexuality the central focus, and Marshmallow has continued to appear in great roles since. This kind of representation is significant for any television show, especially a mainstream animated one.

Bouchard then explained his belief that this type of environment is crucial for developing compelling narratives, stating:

I’m drawn to city life because of the close proximity and diverse backgrounds of the people who live there. It creates a richer environment for storytelling, making it more engaging and immediate, in my experience.

Many viewers likely appreciate how the show’s diversity makes it more engaging. It includes representation of broad identities like race, religion, and culture, as well as more specific experiences – people with hearing aids, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ family members, mothers navigating body image issues, and everything in between. The show even celebrates quirky interests, like adding fart sounds to music and daily life, and treats everyone with equal respect.

You can watch Bob’s Burgers on Fox every Sunday at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time. All 16 seasons are also available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

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2025-12-02 14:09