Our take
The show's first hour-long episode is a full Christmas musical with a mystery at its heart, and it earns the running time. A stolen-ornaments whodunnit and a hunt for a Krampus-style monster pull the family through a properly spooky night before ending at the warmest party in town. The songs are terrific, and it is generous to every oddball in the neighbourhood.
What happens
An hour-long Christmas musical, shown as two parts on the same night. It opens with Linda singing about the Christmas of her dreams, and, without asking Bob or the kids, she invites the whole neighbourhood to a party at the restaurant. Teddy tells the kids about the Bleaken, a Krampus-like anti-Santa who steals presents, and they decide it is real. After the party Linda's little Christmas tree, hung with her most treasured ornaments, many made by the kids, has been stolen. Linda turns detective, questioning the guests, among them Marshmallow's friend Art the Artist, a nude life model, while Teddy hides inside an inflatable Santa to catch the thief his own way. Louise goes hunting for the Bleaken itself, and the trail leads the family to a dark warehouse that turns out to be the venue for a secret Christmas rave at a makeshift gay nightclub, where the drag queen Miss Triple X-Mas sings and the Belchers end up celebrating with everyone.
Can the kids watch it?
Rated TV-PG in the US, but it has a nude life model, a rave and a few genuinely scary moments, so it suits children of about 10 and up.
Cast and crew
Starring
- H. Jon Benjamin as Bob Belcher
- John Roberts as Linda Belcher
- Dan Mintz as Tina Belcher
- Eugene Mirman as Gene Belcher
- Kristen Schaal as Louise Belcher
- Larry Murphy as Teddy
Guest stars
- Adam Driver as Art the Artist
- David Herman as Marshmallow and Trev
- Jay Johnston as Jimmy Pesto
- Andy Kindler as Mort
- Billy Eichner as Mr. Ambrose
- Gary Cole as Sergeant Bosco
- John Early as Dalton Crespin
- Sam Seder as Harold
- Tim Meadows as Mike
- Pamela Adlon as Olsen Benner
- Todrick Hall as Miss Triple X-Mas
Writer
- Kelvin Yu