For fans of the hit animated sitcom Bob’s Burgers, one question often lingers amidst the quirky humor and lovable characters: where exactly is this town? Is it a real place, or a figment of creator Loren Bouchard’s imagination? The show’s ambiguous setting has become a charming characteristic, allowing for relatable scenarios in a vaguely familiar, yet uniquely Bob’s Burgers world. Let’s delve into what Bouchard himself and voice actor H. Jon Benjamin have revealed about the show’s intriguing location.
Bouchard, the showrunner of Bob’s Burgers, offers some clarity, describing the setting as a “semi-Springfield.” This immediately signals to animation aficionados that the location is intentionally non-specific, much like the iconic hometown of The Simpsons. While many viewers might initially perceive a San Francisco vibe due to the Victorian architecture – an influence from Bouchard’s time living there during the show’s development – the true heart of the setting lies firmly in the Northeast.
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The unmistakable East Coast flavor primarily comes from the voices of characters like Linda and Teddy. Bouchard explains, “There’s just so much East Coast in those voices, we just couldn’t take it out.” This vocal authenticity is paramount; relocating the setting far from the East Coast would necessitate awkward explanations for Linda’s distinct accent, disrupting the show’s natural flow.
Bouchard further paints a picture of a “seaside, past-it’s-prime, dusty old town,” drawing parallels to areas like Coney Island and the New Jersey shore. This imagery evokes a sense of nostalgia and a slightly faded glory, contributing to the unique atmosphere of Bob’s Burgers. Having grown up in New England, Bouchard acknowledges the presence of similar beach towns in that region, but consciously avoids placing Bob’s Burgers squarely in New England territory. This decision is partly to steer clear of overlapping with Family Guy‘s Rhode Island setting, maintaining distinct animated landscapes.
In essence, the location of Bob’s Burgers is intentionally vague, residing somewhere in the “outer boroughs or on the northern Jersey shore” in Bouchard’s mind. This deliberate ambiguity allows the show to resonate with a wider audience, capturing the essence of countless American seaside towns without being tied to a specific place. It’s a testament to the show’s creators that they’ve crafted such a strong sense of place, even within a deliberately undefined geography. The charm of Bob’s Burgers lies not in pinpointing its location on a map, but in recognizing the familiar quirks of its vaguely Northeastern, wonderfully relatable, and utterly hilarious world.
