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Calvin Fischoeder, known by most as Mr. Fischoeder, is one of the antagonists for Bob and the Belcher family, and sometimes for much of the town. He owns Wonder Wharf, the landmark amusement park down the street from the titular restaurant. He is also the Belcher family’s landlord and runs several businesses; some of them are even legal. He is, as Louise almost enviously describes in “Burger War”, “one white cat away from being a supervillain.” Voiced by Kevin Kline, Mr. Fischoeder is often a delight as a cartoonish scoundrel, even beyond the literal, animated sense. His white suit and eyepatch, pink shirt and purple tie are not the most eccentric parts about him. His loose morals often get him into trouble, legally or otherwise, whether from rigging games for his minor league baseball team, the shoddy work on the amusement park, or the destruction caused by a mechanical shark attraction. He has a soft spot for Bob, though. He is often impressed by his passion and skill, and remarks longingly of the ways Bob reminds him of his father. In the finale of the 5th season, “The Oeder Games”, Bob is once again the only one who can get through to Mr. Fischoeder who nearly made extreme increases to his tenants’ rent. We get flashes in that episode, and so many others, of his desperation for connection. In one elaborate instance, he even ‘rents’ the Belcher family for Thanksgiving to impress an old flame. (It doesn’t go well; Bob loves Thanksgiving and the disruption to his plans leads to an epic mess.) And family, we learn, is very important to Mr. Fischoeder. It’s clear he loves and misses his father, but his brother is more a supervillain than he is, and his cousin isn’t any better. In one of the Christmas themed episodes, “The Last Gingerbread House on the Left”, he makes a deal with Bob to join the gingerbread house competition with some other wealthy friends so that Bob will lose instead of him. But partway through, Bob decides to win the competition in the hopes that the prize – getting to pet the town zoo’s new polar bear cub – might be something he can gift to his family. Another mess ensues, but as the children pet the cub in the end, Mr. Fischoeder looks on and says, “You know, Bob, that family of yours, they’re lucky to have you.” He has it all, but in his efforts to be powerful and rich, I get the feeling he’s neglected that which sometimes comes out as an even greater desire: connection. For friends and family that love him, value him for who he is. And while he may be a caricature in this regard, it can be a good reminder for us to let the main thing be the main thing, or to consider what we need and love and are called to, and not let the more celebrated but shallow pursuits get in the way. In one of his teachings, Jesus asked the question, “For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life” (Mark 8.36)? We can so readily chase the things we want, even good things, in ways that risk losing the most special thing we have: ourselves. But no shortcut or recognition or reward or security is worth missing out on who you truly are, and as someone who has the privilege of being connected with you, let me say on behalf of myself and others: who you are is a gift. Rev. Ben Richards Ps. I hope to see you in worship this Sunday, in person or online, when The Gospel of Bob’s Burgers continues with Tina. If you’d like to watch the “extra credit” episode in advance, it’s season 6, episode 17: “The Horse Rider-er”. I’ll be hosting a watch party again this week, Saturday night at 7:30, and you are welcome to join. Watch for the reminder and link on our Facebook page, or reply to this email and I will get you connected.
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