Jimmy Pesto Resurfaces On 'Bob’s Burgers' With New Non-Insurrectionist Voice
Jimmy Pesto Resurfaces On 'Bob’s Burgers' With New Non-Insurrectionist Voice
The character last appeared on the show in 2021
Bauza bout that? Jimmy Pesto, owner of rival restaurant Jimmy Pesto’s Pizzeria, has reappeared on Bob’s Burgers after two and a half years. Credit to his name, it’s new and removes a lot of baggage.
Jimmy Pesto was originally voiced by Jay Johnston, from his debut in the sixth episode of the first season back in 2011, “Sheesh! Cab, Bob?”. In production order he first appeared in “Burger War”. Johnston is also known for his roles on Mr. Show with Bob and David, The Sarah Silverman Program, and several Adult Swim series including Moral Orel, Mr. Pickles, and its successor Momma Named Me Sheriff. In March 2021, the FBI sent a tweet out asking for identification of a man at the January 6 Capitol riot and insurrection. Identified by friends, coworkers and fans alike, while refusing to take calls from the former two, Johnston was fired from Bob’s Burgers shortly after, with initial reports that December calling him “banned”. His final episode was season 11’s "Bridge Over Troubled Rudy", which aired in May 2021. On June 7, 2023, he was arrested by the FBI and charged by the Department of Justice with civil disorder, entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings, on the basis of the photos, and incriminating text messages and surfaced photos.
So comes Sunday’s fifth episode of Bobs Burgers’s fourteenth season, “Bully-ieve It or Not”, where most pertinently Bob rekindles his feud with Pesto. It was a facet featured in the synopsis so while the appearance itself was not a surprise at air, the fact that he was back at all after so long meant the recast door was reopened in viewers’ minds and the curiosity returned. The credits reveal that Eric Bauza is now Pesto’s voice. The Canadian Bauza has grown to become one of the most ubiquitous voice actors in the business, equipped with so much utility even when so entrenched across the Looney Tunes roster of characters. That includes Bugs himself, winning an Emmy for the role just last year, the character’s first. He’s so widespread within the franchise that while Jeff Bergman returned for Bugs in Space Jam: A New Legacy and Tiny Toons Looniversity, he took on Porky Pig and Buster Bunny respectively. It’s the first time mentor and protégé share an actor, even if not on the same project. We'd be here all day exploring Bauza's full resume.
The Pesto kids, Jimmy Jr. and Andy and Ollie will continue to be voiced by series star H. Jon Benjamin, and Sarah and Laura Silverman. Bob’s Burgers, also starring Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Larry Murphy, John Roberts, and Kristen Schaal, airs Sunday nights at 9 PM on Fox as part of Animation Domination. All aired episodes stream on Hulu, while Adult Swim and FXX now share all episodes of completed seasons.
Sources: IGN, ComicBook, Bob's Burgers Wiki