“Horsemanning, or fake beheading, was a popular way to pose in a photograph in the 1920’s. Sometimes spelled horsemaning, the horsemanning photo fad derives its name from the Headless Horseman, a character from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
Everyone recommended it to me as funny, but it makes an Autism joke in the first episode.
Sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done, Arthur.
No no no listen to me listen
The first episode of Bob’s Burgers is bad okay?
They use a few insensitive jokes. Bob acts like the neglectful husband. Linda acts like the nagging wife. Etc.
But there’s a reason for that.
They needed to get on TV. They needed to get on FOX. And when the only thing that FOX was showing at the time were horrible Family Guy episodes and new Simpsons episodes, they knew that they would never stand a chance with a progressive heartfelt show. And so, unfortunately, the first episode is very…FOX-esque.
And so FOX signed them on for a season and they changed. It’s actually pretty astounding to see how different Episodes 2,3, 4, etc. are from the first episode. Bob turned into a loving, if not exasperated, husband who would do anything for his wife/kids. Linda turned into a hilarious character who subverts every wife trope. The kids’ personalities all developed. They had very little if any offensive jokes. They tried to be progressive (keyword: tried; they didn’t always succeed but they tried).
And now it genuinely is one of the funniest, progressive, shows on FOX.
Certainly the most heartfelt.
So basically Bob’s Burgers did to FOX what Rebecca Sugar did to Cartoon Network. They made a show that initially seemed like it was going to be just like any other bad show on the network so that the network would sign on. And then they changed it into something amazing.
P: Aaaah, fuck…That…That hurt a LOT more than B-Boss said it would, fucker.
I: Is…She ok? Did the procedier work on her too? It didn’t hurt that bad when B-Boss incubated it in me! Was it painful for you Oni?
O: Well, I mean it hurt a lot but I wasn’t stuck on the floor! My incubation was fast, I don’t know why Patricia’s is going so horrible! I can’t get a hold of B-Boss; Patricia’s bag is still upstairs and she has the phone in it.
P: W…Would you complete ASS HATS get me some HELP before I EAT YOU??!?!
O: Y-Yes ma’am! Sorry ma’am!
I: She doesn’t look so good Oni…I don’t think we should leave her…
O: Shit! Yeah, but we can’t just doddle around and not do anything! We don’t even have a glass of water to give her…
