16 Seasons Later, This Insane Sitcom Continues to Pick Up Steam on Hulu

There’s no doubt that when Bob’s Burgers premiered back in 2011, creators Loren Bouchard and Jim Dauterive knew they had something special to share with the world. It took time for the FOX series to find its footing, and the early seasons are rough, but with 16 seasons under its belt and a renewal through Season 19, the show has clearly righted the ship.

Those first episodes leaned on one-dimensional characters and low-budget animation. Our first glimpse into the Belcher family is a scene in the restaurant where Bob is just berating his children — aggressive, mean-spirited, and not the Bob audiences know today.

H. Jon Benjamin’s early, angry portrayal felt one-note and made Season 1 difficult to watch. Over time the series softened its edges without losing its edge, shifting focus from Bob to the entire family as a cohesive ensemble. That change allowed Dan Mintz’s anxious Tina, Kristen Schaal’s unafraid Louise and John Roberts’s Linda to thrive, and the softer tone makes comedic eruptions more effective.

bob's burgers, hulu, loren bouchard, jim dauterive, fox, season 16, season 19, belcher family, tina belcher, kristen schaal