15 Bob's Burgers Side Characters We Wish Got More Screen Time
There's a lot to love about Fox's quirky animated family comedy "Bob's Burgers," from the Christmas specials, to the Halloween specials, to the Thanksgiving specials. There are a lot of holiday episodes, okay? Even beyond the abundance of yearly festivities, there's so much to appreciate in the wacky, weird, wonderful world of Wonder Wharf. There's the Belcher family, of course. Bob and Linda prove that marriage can be as fun and loving as it is messy and frustrating, and Louise, Tina, and Gene test their parents' patience with never-ending wacky schemes.
But what about the rest of the town's residents? The eccentric landlord, Mr. Fischoeder, Hugo the maladjusted Health Inspector, or that guy who's always roller-skating in a speedo? The Belchers are the stars, but it would be nice to see more of the secondary characters so often pushed to the sidelines. There are almost too many to choose from. Almost. But why not try anyway? While we all wait for "The Bob's Burgers Movie" to hit theaters, here are 15 of the best side characters from the show, all of whom deserve a lot more screen time.
Gayle
There's so much to love about Aunt Gayle, Linda's eccentric younger sister, from her statement glasses, to her fanny pack, to her affinity for cats even when they don't seem to like her very much. Gayle is a sensitive, artistic type, who enjoys writing poetry and music. Some of her greatest hits include poems about Mayo and Scott Baio, and a disconcertingly sexual song about old classmate Derek Dematopolis (as seen in the episode "Purple Rain-union").
Gayle's disastrous dating life is the source of conflict in several episodes, as she finds herself entangled with the Belcher family's dentist, the kids' guidance counselor, and the family's landlord. The relationships never last long, but they burn bright, passionate, and weird as hell before they fall apart. Though we've gotten a glimpse at Gayle's bizarre home life and routine, there's still so much we don't know about her. How's her dating life going? Her songwriting career? Will the pound ever let her adopt a fourth cat? Only time will tell.
Nat the Limo Driver
Some are born great. Some achieve greatness. And some have greatness pick them up in a bright pink limousine. Nat first appeared in the world of "Bob's Burgers" in the episode "V for Valentine-detta," where she leads the Belcher ladies on a mission for revenge against Jimmy Jr. after he breaks Tina's heart. She bonds with the Belcher family that day, and becomes a loyal friend to Linda and a role model to Louise.
Since her first episode, Nat has appeared in several other episodes including "The Ring (But Not Scary)," where she helps Bob look for his missing engagement ring, and "Just the Trip," where the Belchers accompany Nat on a road trip to drop off her pet snake at an ex-girlfriend's animal sanctuary. She's an excellent addition to the world of the show, brash, funny, and unpredictable in a way that complements the main cast perfectly. Nat is always ready to help a friend, talk about lizards, and throw a can of baked beans at a meter maid. Hopefully, we'll be seeing a lot more of her in future episodes.
Tammy
Every hero needs an arch nemesis, a true enemy. And in middle school, that enemy usually takes the form of a frenemy, someone who can be an ally one moment and a villain the next. Tammy, Tina's sometimes-friend and sometimes-bully, is a fascinating, dysfunctional character. All thirteen-year-olds are a little bit evil, but Tammy's scheming goes above and beyond. She stole Tina's ghost boyfriend in a box in "Tina and the Real Ghost," and used her newfound journalistic power to frame Tina for unspeakable bathroom-based crimes in "Broadcast Wagstaff School News."
Like all great characters, Tammy is nuanced and contains multitudes. Sure, she's shallow, mean, and manipulative, but there's a reason she's like that. If Tammy is selfish, her parents are even worse. In "Sleeping with the Frenemy," Tammy misses her family's Spring Break cruise and her parents just leave her behind and let her stay with a family they don't even know. Bob and Linda might not be perfect parents, but they would never do that to Tina. Still, Tammy won't let the audience feel sorry for her too long, and she's back to her snarky self in no time. We love to hate her, we hate to love her, and we get a kick out of her ridiculous one-liners. "Don't have a crap attack."
Zeke
Zeke first appears on "Bob's Burgers" as Jimmy Jr.'s rowdy best friend and frequent wrestling partner, but over the course of the show he has become so much more. He's a default member of Tina's friend group, since he and Jimmy Jr. tend to be a package deal. As they've spent more time together, Tina and Zeke have warmed up to each other, and he routinely takes on a protective role toward Gene, Louise, and the other kids. Of course, he's not without his problems. Zeke's troubled family life has given him a lot of emotional issues, which manifest in physical aggression and destructive behavior (most notably seen in "Broadcast Wagstaff School News").
Zeke appears frequently on the show, though he's only been at the center of a few stories. His most notable episode is probably "Bob and Deliver," where he discovers his latent talent for cooking and is mentored by Bob. Like a lot of kids his age, Zeke is struggling with his identity and his place in the world, and the more we get to see of him, the more he'll get to discover himself.
Jocelyn
Jocelyn is another member of Tina's rag-tag group of friends, though, like Tammy, she occasionally falls into the role of antagonist instead. She's desperate for approval and popularity, and tends to go along with whatever Tammy says or does in order to stay in her good graces. She first appeared in the episode "Spaghetti Western and Meatballs," as a member of the Conflict-Resolution Club. She's also been a cheerleader, a reporter for the school news, and an actor in Tina's Thanksgiving play.
Often relegated to the role of Tammy's sidekick, it's high time for Jocelyn to step into the limelight and carve out her own identity. She's gotten close to doing it before, but never quite took the final plunge, saying: "I need to start thinking for myself. Unless you guys don't think that's cool, then I won't." It would be interesting to see what Jocelyn is like without Tammy, or any other popular kid with a domineering personality, to imitate.
Gretchen
Linda doesn't have a ton of friends that appear regularly on the show, but she favors quality over quantity when it comes to the people she spends her time with. There's her sister Gayle, of course; there's Ginger, the faceless friend Linda keeps informed about the raccoon action in the alley, and then there's Gretchen. Gretchen is a bawdy, confident hairdresser who cracks naughty jokes, swears, and as Tina puts it, "Don't take 'S' from anyone." In addition to all of that, she's also an entrepreneur.
Gretchen works as a hairdresser for both humans and dolls, and she's also a saleswoman for LadyGoods, a sex toy company. She doesn't always make the best choices, taking an impulse trip to Philadelphia to seek out a married ex-boyfriend, for example, but she's a steadfast and loyal friend to Linda. She supports all of her bestie's new ideas, whether it's a shoe and wine-based business, speed-dating, or a brief stint as a psychic. Plus, you can just tell she knows how to party.
Regular Sized Rudy
There are two Rudys at Wagstaff: the unusually short "Pocket-Sized Rudy," and another Rudy that's just, well, regular sized. Regular Sized Rudy first appeared in the episode "Carpe Museum," where he was partnered with Louise on a field trip to the museum. After the two got lost in the blocked-off Amazon exhibit, they bonded over the shared adventure and have been best friends ever since.
Rudy has a big personality in spite of his many struggles, from his asthma and his chocolate allergy to his overprotective mother who won't even let him climb a tree. Rudy's come a long way since his museum antics back in Season 3 and has been on a variety of adventures with the main cast including a train heist, a turkey rebellion, and playing in a band. He's done a lot, but there's still more potential for his character to grow, and for his relationship with Louise to develop. We haven't seen enough of this regular-sized kid, or his great big heart, yet!
Mike the Mailman
Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet can keep Mike the Mailman from delivering mail to the people of Wonder Wharf. Good old reliable, sarcastic Mike is always there when the Belcher family needs him, or at least their mail. Rather than dropping the mail off in a box or slipping it through a slot in the door, Mike brings a more personal touch to his work and hands over the mail directly, usually giving it to Bob.
But enough about Mike the Mailman, what about Mike the man? Just like the contents of the mail he delivers every day, Mike is a bit of a mystery. He shows up on a regular basis, but there's still so much we don't know about him. What does he get up to when he's off the clock? What does he wear when he's not in uniform? It would be nice to get to know Mike outside of his delivery route, and get to know the man behind the mail.
Dr. Yap
Dr. Yap is the Belcher family's dentist, a skiing enthusiast, and one of Tina's many ill-advised crushes, but he's so much more than that. The details we learn about Dr. Yap's personal life paint a picture of a deeply sad, pathetic man. He can't let go of his college glory days, still visiting his old fraternity and creeping out a bunch of 20-something's who barely know who he is ("My Big Fat Greek Bob"). He takes classes from a professional pick-up artist because he's incapable of honest intimacy with women ("Dr. Yap"). Dr. Yap is a tragic figure.
He's also a villain, serving as the antagonist of several of the episodes he appears in. He steals Halloween candy from children, for crying out loud! The man literally takes candy from babies. And yet, in spite of all his flaws, he occasionally comes through for the Belcher family. When Louise is terrified of getting a cavity filled, he takes part in an elaborate spy-based roleplay in order to distract her from her fear and get the procedure done ("The Kids Run Away"). He is, in essence, a very weird and confusing guy, and a great addition to the show.
Jessica
Louise's first impression of her classmate Jessica was less than flattering: "Bland, boring Jessica. If she was a spice, she'd be flour. If she were a book, she'd be two books." But that couldn't be further from the truth. Jessica's boring exterior masks a clever, sardonic personality that gives Louise a run for her money. In her first episode, "Slumber Party," Jessica engages Louise in an epic game of cat and mouse as she tries to hide an embarrassing secret – she still pees the bed. After Louise sends the rest of her sleepover guests packing, Jessica is the last one standing, and the two actually end up becoming friends.
Louise has trouble relating to other girls her age, frustrated by their obsession with braiding hair and collecting stickers. Jessica is the first kindred spirit Louise has found in her peer group, someone who can pick locks and stage elaborate heists just like her. Jessica has only appeared in two episodes so far, but Louise deserves to go on more adventures and cause more trouble with someone who really gets her.
Mr. Frond
Oh, Mr. Frond. Phillip Frond is the long-suffering, well-intentioned, and often misguided guidance counselor at Wagstaff. Mr. Frond loves nothing more than knitting, making unsettlingly specific therapy dolls like "Repressed Memory Emily" and "Online Shamin' Damon," and trying a variety of new, usually bizarre therapeutic techniques on his students. He regularly faces off against the Belcher kids, particularly Louise.
When he's not the antagonist in their storylines, he's a victim of Louise's scheming as she practically has manipulating him down to a science. Of course, can you really blame her? After all, he's the kind of guy who earnestly says, "In the beginning, there was no math. Until one teacher said, 'Hey, what about math?' I think independent study synchronized swimming is the next math." It's fun to watch the kids mess with him, and it's also a blast watching him interact with the grownup Belchers as well. Whether he's dating Aunt Gayle or being held hostage in a bank robbery alongside Bob, Mr. Frond just can't seem to escape the Belcher family.
Courtney
Courtney got off to a rocky start in "The Unbearable Like-Likeness of Gene," where she and Gene entered into an ill-fated relationship. They were a terrible match, and Gene only stayed with her as long as he did in order to get close to her jingle-writing father. But even though they didn't work as a couple, Gene and Courtney still make a great team.
In "The Gene and Courtney Show," Gene and Courtney took Wagstaff by storm when they started doing the morning announcements. They also created what is possibly the most iconic musical of the last decade with "Work Hard or Die Trying, Girl," which they were only able to perform once they set their egos aside and worked together. Courtney can be overbearing, sure, but she and Gene have a lot in common, and their competitive, creative natures can help them bring out the best in each other. If they don't drive each other crazy first.
Marshmallow
Why is she called Marshmallow? Well, if you show her a sweet potato pie, she is on top of it. Marshmallow first appeared in Season One, but she's been a consistent side character on the show ever since. A sex worker with a mellow disposition and excellent taste in parties, she's always ready to pop up in an episode with a friendly "Hey, baby."
Marshmallow does have a few moments in the spotlight so far, appearing in what is arguably one of the show's best episodes, "The Bleakening." However, just like real marshmallows, she makes everything she touches better, and we could all stand to get a little more sugar in our diets. She can be tricky to describe, and it's difficult to capture everything that makes Marshmallow so great in one sentence, but Bob said it best: "All I know about Marshmallow is that she comes and goes as she pleases, she answers to no one, and she is truly free."
Gus
Old Gus is a truly mysterious figure, appearing at random times in random places throughout the series. He's been spotted working at a jetty where seaplanes take off ("Seaplane!"), waving the flags at go-kart races ("Speakeasy Rider"), and attending a hotel séance in hopes of making a romantic connection ("Heartbreak Hotel-oween").
He has a jovial personality, and an appreciation for the finer things in life, like free beer and fried food. He offers himself up as a father figure on a regular basis, and he offers sage advice to the Belcher children on more than one occasion. But who is Gus, really? A retired sea captain? Maybe, or maybe he just really likes that hat. Some sort of friendly spirit, cursed to haunt Wonder Wharf for all eternity? It's impossible to really say. One thing's for certain though, when the Belchers really need a helping hand, or just someone to make an off-kilter comment and then vanish back into the background, Gus will be there.
Mr. Business
He may not be able to talk, but with a face like that who needs to? Gayle has many cats, some might say too many, but there's no one in her menagerie quite like Mr. Jim Business. It's right there in the name- this cat means business. Gayle discovered the mighty grey and white beast on someone's porch on her way to the Belcher home for Thanksgiving one year, and he's been a fixture in her life ever since.
He had one major storyline in the episode "There's No Business like Mr. Business Business," where he trained to audition for a cat food commercial, but for the most part his star power has been ignored. If he can be a performer, a business cat, and Gayle's long-suffering companion of many years, then why not give him some more episodes? Don't be a coward, Fox. Give the people what they demand: More Mr. Business.