While most people were home fixing dinner or watching the latest
network singing competition, my pal and I were enjoying some of the best live
entertainment I’ve ever experienced: Bob’s Burgers Live. If you are familiar
with the show you are probably wondering how they could make an animated
television show live. It was no ordinary performance, however. There was
stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, a table read and finally a Q&A.
The stars
of Bob’s Burgers were all comedians in their own right before the show was
created. If the names Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Dan Mintz. John Roberts or
H. Jon Benjamin don’t mean anything to you I recommend looking up their stuff
immediately. All of them are very
talented. It’s rare to find a show that is rounded out with such great talent.
These actors did not disappoint. Kristen Schaal regaled us with her fantasy
ideal meeting with Tori Amos. Eugene Mirman shared his fan mail to Justin Bieber
(“I put a $1 bill in my butt and I won’t remove it until we have an open and
honest dialogue about religion!) and John Roberts did his trademark
impressions. Roberts’ impression of his mom wound up being the basis for the
character, Linda, whom he voices on Bob’s Burgers. Dan Mintz performed his
observational, deadpan humor that did not fail to amuse us all. One joke that
stands out: “If I were in a plane about to crash, I’d start taking away gay
rights”. Maybe you had to be there.
Trust me though, it was hilarious.
Jon Benjamin’s act was perhaps the most unorthodox.
What started out as a rambling, narcissistic monologue about his comedic talent
turned into a sketch where Bane from The Dark Knight Rises is discovered by
Jon, sitting in the audience. Jon asked Bane about his visit to L.A. (to visit
the financial markets and Bane’s homosexual brother) and Bane cited the coffee
shop Intelligentsia as one of his favorite tourist attractions.
The
audience got a glimpse of the upcoming Christmas episode of Bob’s Burgers
followed by a reading of the upcoming Thanksgiving episode. The latter was not
read in its entirety so we’ll all be waiting until November to see what happens
in the third act. It was so surreal seeing the actors voice their characters,
especially Jon Roberts and Dan Mintz. Both actors are male and voice female
characters. I have to note that when Dan
Mintz started his stand-up he had to try three times before people stopped
laughing. I am pretty sure that the audience was imagining him as
Tina, the awkward thirteen year old girl he brings to life in the cartoon. I think his voice will be forever linked in our minds to that female character.
Unfortunately,
Jon Benjamin proved somewhat rude in the Q&A session. Is this part of his
charm? I don’t know. I felt as though some of the audience members left with
their questions unanswered at best, insulted at worst. The short lived comedy
central series “Jon Benjamin Has a Van” starring the authoritarian, self-centered Benjamin perhaps proves more autobiographical
than most of us thought. On the bright side, we learned a few gems about the
world of Bob’s Burgers. Bob’s favorite children are his girls, especially
Louise, and Linda’s favorite is Gene closely followed by Tina. Also, the show
takes place on the Jersey Shore. Here I was thinking it was Staten Island!
I have to
thank UCLA radio for the opportunity to see this fun show. Bruin Comedy
and the UCLA radio promotions manager put in a lot of work for me to get these
tickets and I just want to say I appreciate their effort very much. Due to
their hard work hopefully there will be other great shows and lucky winners in
the future. I went to PaleyFest a few
months ago and I can honestly say Bob’s Burgers Live, although similar, was
much more entertaining. I had a great night seeing one of my favorite TV shows
brought to life in my very favorite art form – comedy!
