Thanksgiving is a beloved holiday for many, revolving around food, family, and football. For fans of the hilarious animated sitcom Bob’s Burgers, there is one Thanksgiving episode that stands out above the rest – “Turkey in a Can.” This season 4 episode embodies the eccentric humor and heartwarming family dynamic that makes the show so special.
An Absurd Thanksgiving Mystery
The episode begins with Bob excited about his special three-day turkey brine for Thanksgiving dinner. However, his plans are thwarted when he finds the turkey in the toilet the next morning. Furious, Bob interrogates his family members, but they all deny any involvement
This kicks off an absurd mystery – who sabotaged the turkey? Bob buys a second turkey, only to find it in the toilet again the next morning. He implements an elaborate plan to hide one turkey in the fridge at home as a decoy, and the real turkey in the restaurant fridge. But both end up in the respective toilets, leaving Bob baffled.
The constant turkey sabotage encapsulates the ridiculous humor that makes Bob’s Burgers so hilarious. Finding his precious turkey in the toilet multiple times allows for plenty of jokes at Bob’s expense. The escalating measures Bob takes, like interrogating his family and hiding turkeys in different locations, heighten the absurdity.
A Touching Revelation
After buying yet another turkey, Bob sleepwalks and dumps it in the toilet. The culprit is revealed – Bob has been sabotaging his own turkeys! His allergy medication caused him to sleepwalk. More importantly, his subconscious anxieties about daughter Tina growing up manifested in a desperate attempt to potty train the turkeys, reliving when his kids were young.
This revelation adds heartwarming emotional depth to the absurd mystery plot. Despite being eccentric and often short-tempered Bob’s love for his family shines through. His children growing older is a bittersweet milestone. The turkey potty training represents Bob’s difficulties in letting go of the past as his kids become more independent.
Tina reassures her dad that she will always be his little girl, even as she gets older. This touching moment epitomizes why Bob’s Burgers succeeds – beneath the hilarious antics is a fundamentally loving family.
Memorable Supporting Characters
Beyond the Belcher family, various supporting characters add to the Thanksgiving absurdity:
-
Linda’s sister Gayle and her many cats staying with the Belchers bother Bob’s allergies, indirectly causing his sleepwalking. Gayle’s quirky, free-spirited nature plays off Linda’s excitability.
-
Gene’s attempts to write a “Thanksgiving carol” with Gayle and Linda lead to hilarious musical numbers. Gene’s passion for music and performance art results in ridiculous songs.
-
Tina tries to act mature to get a spot at the adults’ table, leading to awkward catchphrases as she comments on politics and economics – subjects she knows little about. Tina embracing her awkwardness provides great laughs.
-
The butcher Bob keeps returning to thinks Bob is attracted to him, causing humorous misunderstandings. This highlights Bob’s terrible luck.
Lasting Popularity
Originally airing in 2013, “Turkey in a Can” remains a fan favorite nearly a decade later. On IMDb, the episode has a 9.1 rating, the highest of any Bob’s Burgers episode. Fans clearly adore the Thanksgiving theme, murder mystery vibe, and heartwarming reveals.
Watching Bob run around in desperation trying to make the perfect Thanksgiving, only to unconsciously sabotage it himself, makes for quintessential Bob’s Burgers hilarity. The episode exemplifies the show’s winning formula – ridiculous humor grounded by genuine family love. For many fans, “Turkey in a Can” simply isn’t Thanksgiving without the Belchers.
Trivia[]
- That was the first episode without the “A News Corporation Company” byline at the end of the 20th Century Fox Television closing logo. This was after Fox separated from News Corporation in June 2013.
- In this episode, Bob makes a joke about something other than a burger for the first time. He calls his Thanksgiving turkey the “Father of the Brine,” which is a play on “Father of the Bride.” “.
- This episode shows that Bob trained all of his kids to use the bathroom outside because Linda couldn’t stand the smell.
- Teddy says that when he was 7, his father taught him how to use the potty. He finally got it when he was 14.
- This is one of many episodes that make fun of Bob’s sexuality. “Sacred Cow,” in which he makes out with a steer (male cow), and “Synchronized Swimming,” in which Linda dreams of Tom Selleck holding Bob without a shirt on while romantic music plays, are also great examples.
- Bob buys five turkeys, and all five of them end up in either the bathroom toilet at his apartment or the bathroom toilet at the restaurant.
- Gayle’s love of Quantum Leap and Scott Bakula is talked about for the first time in this episode. The second is The Gayle Tales, and all three of the kids’ essays are written by Scott Bakula.
- The script cover shows the family looking inside a can.
Bob’s burgers: bob and deli guy
FAQ
What is Thanksgiving in a can Bob’s Burgers?
How to watch Bob’s Burgers Thanksgiving episodes?
What episode is the quirky turkey Bob’s Burgers?
Who is LGBTQ in Bob’s Burgers?
What is ‘Turkey in a can’ by Bob’s burgers about?
Bob’s Burgers tries its hand at a classic mystery with “Turkey in a Can”. In the days before Thanksgiving, Bob’s precious brined turkey keeps winding up in the toilet in the middle of the night. All eyes are on prankster Louise, who is determined to prove her innocence.
What episode is Turkey in a can?
Prod. Code ” Turkey in a Can ” is the fifth episode in Season 4, and the fiftieth episode overall. It is the show’s second Thanksgiving-themed episode. After Bob finds his turkey in the toilet, Louise tries to figure out who is guilty of ruining Thanksgiving dinner.
What happens after Bob finds his Turkey in the toilet?
After Bob finds his turkey in the toilet, Louise tries to figure out who is guilty of ruining Thanksgiving dinner. Bob is excited about a three-day brine recipe for the Thanksgiving turkey, but the holiday becomes complicated for a couple of reasons: 1.)
Where does Bob find a Turkey?
The next morning, Bob finds both turkeys in the toilet. The decoy in the apartment bathroom, and the real one from the fridge in the restaurant bathroom.
Does Bob Sleepwalk with the Turkey?
Then Gayle and Linda sing their sexually euphemistic Thanksgiving carol, but Bob, exhausted from staying up so late for the past few nights, falls asleep and begins sleepwalking with the turkey.
Why is the Thanksgiving turkey so complicated?
Bob is excited about a three-day brine recipe for the Thanksgiving turkey, but the holiday becomes complicated for a couple of reasons: 1.) Tina keeps insisting on sitting at the adults’ table this year, to her parents’ refusal, and 2.)