AlthoughBob’s Burgershas borrowed plenty fromThe Simpsons, the show’s creators are right to steer clear of one trick that the earlier show is famous for revisiting. As of 2025,The Simpsonsis the longest-running scripted primetime American TV show in history. As such, it is hardly surprising thatBob’s Burgersborrows from the earlier series.
LikeAmerican Dad,King of the Hill,Family Guy, and many other animated family comedy shows,Bob’s Burgersand its sister show,The Great North, regularly earn comparisons toThe Simpsons. To an extent, these comparisons are justified.
Bob’s BurgersandThe Simpsonsboth focus on dysfunctional families with two daughters and a son; they are both warm, family-friendly sitcoms, andBob’s Burgersseason 15 even borrowed a storytelling trickfromThe Simpsonsseason 36. However, the two shows differ where it matters.
Bob’s Burgers Will Never Do A Flashforward Episode
The Show’s Creators Confirmed This Much at SDCC 2025
As the countdown forBob’s Burgersseason 16 continues, the show’s creators took to the stage at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 to discuss its future. According toScreenRant’s coverage of the show’s panel,creator Loren Bouchard confirmedBob’s Burgerswill never do a “Flashfoward episode” detailing the family’s futures.
Kevin Cline
Calvin Fischoeder
This is a trickThe Simpsonshas employed repeatedly, most recently in the season 36 finale “Estranger Things.” That episode made headlines worldwide by killing off the family’s beloved matriarch, Marge, although this only occurred in this specific episode’s timeline.
Bob’s Burgers' Grounded Storytelling Can Make It Better Overall
Bob’s Burgers Is Right to Avoid Flashforward Future Episodes
It would be strange to seeBob’s Burgersjump into the future, even temporarily.
The strength ofBob’s Burgerscomes from its grounded storytelling, unlike zanier, more surreal shows likeThe SimpsonsorFamily Guy. As such, it would be strange to see the series jump into the future, even temporarily.
Staying in the present effectively ensures thatBob’s Burgerscontinues to feel more relatable to viewers, thus carving out a niche for the show in the crowded landscape of adult animated comedy. SinceBob’s Burgersseason 15 episode 18proved the show can make even a free-throw contest thrilling and poignant, the series doesn’t need showy gimmicks.
How Bob’s Burgers Not Doing Flashforward Motivates It To Have More Interesting Stories
Bob’s Burgers Can’t Mess With Its Canon and Timeline For Fun
Although it would be fun to see what the Belcher kids are like as adults,Bob’s Burgers steering clear of future-set episodes is a great idea. By refusing to mess with the show’s canon and timeline, the creators guarantee a more grounded, consistent fictional world.
Other shows that traffic in surreal humor and wilder plots can pull off future-set episodes, but this particular family comedy doesn’t need the television staple. As such,Bob’s Burgersis right to avoid borrowing this trope fromThe Simpsonsfor now.
