Spaghetti Western and Meatballs

"Spaghetti Western and Meatballs" is the ninth episode of the first season of the animated television series Bob's Burgers. The episode originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 27, 2011.

The episode was written by Kit Boss and directed by Wes Archer. According to Nielsen ratings, it was viewed in 4.65 million viewers in its original airing. The episode featured guest performances by David Herman, Andy Kindler, Larry Murphy and Brian Posehn.

Plot

Bob and Louise channel-surf through their usual "Burn Unit" TV-critique game late one night until Bob's favorite spaghetti western movie, "Banjo," comes on. Bob insists that they leave it on and watch it, and Gene, entranced, joins them. Louise feels crowded out of her special time with her dad.

The next morning, Linda receives a call from Wagstaff School's counselor, Mr. Frond: he has chosen her and Bob to cater Tina's conflict-resolution club fundraiser with a spaghetti dinner. Linda is determined that the dinner will be in better hands than it was last year when "everybody" raved endlessly about Colleen Caviello's ziti. Bob can't wrap his culinary mind around spaghetti and meatballs, but he realizes how important it is to Linda so he reluctantly agrees. Gene arrives in the kitchen with Louise's "Little Princess" toy guitar; "Banjo" has inspired him to take on "Choo-Choo" (Brian Posehn), a classmate who destroys Gene's joke-cracking by blurting the punchlines before Gene can. At lunchtime that day, Gene's new scheme works and he gets to say a punchline, defeating (and angering) Choo-Choo and amusing a nearby classmate. Unfortunately, these shenanigans again edge out Louise. That evening, things get worse for her: Bob has obtained a "Banjo" DVD box-set for him and Gene, which they indulge in that night. Linda is pleased that they have found a way to bond, but Louise is dissatisfied when she tries to hang out with her mother and sister.

The next day, Mr. Frond teaches Tina's class about A.B.S.! (Access your feelings, Be apologetic, and Slap it!) and sets up a skit starring Tina, Jimmy Pesto Jr. and classmate Jocelyn, that they will perform during the fundraiser. Of course, after class Tina threatens Jocelyn that if she actually does "for real" what she does in the skit, Tina will get even with her. At lunchtime, Gene keeps acting like Banjo to Choo-Choo and causes a food fight. Mr. Frond summons Bob to his office to discuss his kids' behavior and he even demonstrate the A.B.S.! system, but he ends up giving the kids detention and forbidding Bob and Linda to cater the conflict-resolution club fundraiser.

Linda, furious, locks up the DVD box-set and Tina is so upset that she closes the restaurant, while customers are still inside. When Gene, Louise, and Choo-Choo are released from detention, Choo-Choo challenges Gene to a fight. Bob arrives just in time to stop it, but Choo-Choo's dad accuses Bob of violating his son. Choo-Choo and his dad get shirtless and chase Bob and the kids until they hide in a playground tunnel. They use this tunnel time-out to discuss what's been happening; Louise gets to explain that she was upset at her dad and brother not hanging out with her any more and how she prefers hanging with them to hanging with Linda and Tina. Bob and Gene apologize for seeming to edge her out and around this nice moment father and son find something else to bond over. They also have to figure out how to make things right with Linda and the spaghetti dinner.

Tina makes a speech at the fundraiser, but interrupts herself to attack Jocelyn for whispering to Jimmy Jr. (thinking that Jocelyn is gossiping about her to him "again"). Meanwhile, Linda is having to endure Colleen Caviello being merciless about the missing dinner and bragging yet again about how successful last year's dinner was, when she was in charge. Linda finally snaps and reveals to everyone that "Colleen's" ziti that everyone had loved so much had actually been prepared with store-bought sauce! While everyone is reacting to this revelation, Bob, Gene, and Louise arrive with the spaghetti and meatballs, which Mr. Frond rejects until Bob says he wants to work out his A.B.S. Mr. Frond lets Bob and Linda serve their meal, and even Choo-Choo and his dad show up. Tina keeps a watchful eye on Jocelyn and a hopeful eye on Jimmy Jr. and the fundraiser is a success...but Louise can't resist ending it with one more food fight.

Reception

In its original American broadcasting, "Spaghetti Western and Meatballs" was viewed by an estimated 4.65 million viewers and received a 2.2 rating/6% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49, an increase from last episode.^[1]

Rowan Kaiser of The A.V. Club gave the episode an A, saying "While the comedy level of the episode isn't quite as impressive as last week's parade of anuses, “Spaghetti Western And Meatballs” does manage to include a constant stream of jokes, like both other new episodes this week. Probably the best comes primarily from Bob's Burgers' somewhat underrated animation department, when Linda flashes back to last year's school fundraiser and the terror of slow-motion mothers complimenting a rival with their mouths full. It is utterly absurd, and it lasts long enough that it threatens to move into Family Guy-esque anti-humor, but it's built up and delivered brilliantly and is probably my favorite single bit of the night."^[2]

References