For over a decade, Bob’s Burgers has carved out a special place in pop culture’s Thanksgiving canon. From the chaos of “Dawn of the Peck” to the heartfelt humour of “Gayle Makin’ Bob Sledge,” the animated sitcom has long been the gold standard for Turkey Day television. While the show opted not to air a Thanksgiving-themed episode in 2025, fans still have plenty to be thankful for.
On Thursday, the Bob’s Burgers creative team dropped a surprise musical treat, a brand-new song and music video titled “Thanksloving” on their official YouTube channel, Side Orders. The track, described by Disney as a “heartfelt love ballad,” lets Bob Belcher (voiced by H. John Benjamin) croon his romantic ode to the art of preparing Thanksgiving dinner.
The result is a two-and-a-half-minute celebration of passion, poultry, and pure Belcher charm, giving fans the perfect side dish to enjoy alongside their mashed potatoes.
Overview: Bob’s Burgers Thanksgiving Legacy
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Series Title | Bob’s Burgers |
| Creator | Loren Bouchard |
| Network | FOX |
| Streaming Home | Hulu |
| YouTube Channel for Specials | Side Orders (Official) |
| New Release Title | “Thanksloving” |
| Release Date | November 27, 2025 |
| Format | Music Video (2 minutes 30 seconds) |
| Voices Featured | H. John Benjamin (Bob Belcher) |
| Previous Thanksgiving Classic | “Dawn of the Peck” (Season 5, Episode 4, 2014) |
| Show Status | Airs Sundays at 9:30 p.m. on FOX |
‘Thanksloving’: The Song That Turns Turkey Day Into a Love Story
In “Thanksloving,” Bob Belcher transforms his culinary devotion into a tongue-in-cheek power ballad. The video featuring Bob dancing across a comically oversized dinner plate blends the show’s trademark sincerity and absurdity in perfect harmony.
“We’ll make Thanksloving tonight!” Bob belts, serenading his uncooked turkey like a romantic lead in a 1980s music video. “Put our hearts in the oven, tonight!”
Written by series creator Loren Bouchard and showrunner Nora Smith, the song plays on Bob’s enduring Thanksgiving obsession, a running theme since the show’s earliest seasons.
The Bob’s Burgers social media accounts teased the special a day before release, posting a short clip of a waving turkey with the caption, “Tomorrow on Side Orders.” The response was immediate and enthusiastic. “I could cry happy tears,” one fan commented, while others quoted lyrics from Thanksgiving classics like “Turkey in a Can” and “Dawn of the Peck.”
A Holiday Tradition Fans Refuse to Give Up
For longtime viewers, Bob’s Burgers Thanksgiving specials are a cornerstone of the series’ identity. The beloved Season 5 episode “Dawn of the Peck” is often cited as one of the greatest Thanksgiving episodes in sitcom history, and not just by fans.
As critic Florencia Aberastury of CBR wrote,
“With such an unexpected storyline and blend of genres, it’s no wonder that ‘Dawn of the Peck’ remains one of the best Thanksgiving episodes in sitcom history.”
Released in 2014, the episode turns a local turkey trot into a poultry apocalypse, complete with chaos, redemption, and Bob’s near-spiritual love for the perfect roast. It’s this balance between heartfelt family moments and hilarious absurdity that continues to define the show’s legacy.
Behind the Scenes: Why the Belchers Skipped Thanksgiving in 2025?
At this year’s New York Comic Con, series creator Loren Bouchard confirmed to fans that Bob’s Burgers would not feature a Thanksgiving-themed episode for the 2025 season. “Sorry, we don’t,” he said candidly in a video shared by fans on Instagram. “But we love doing them, and we love that you love them.”
Bouchard went on to explain that creating holiday specials Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, and even Mother’s Day, remains one of the team’s greatest joys. “We love them all. Writing for those is a pleasure, and seeing you all react to them is the reward.”
He concluded with characteristic humility: “So if we don’t do one, it’s for some stupid reason.”
While this year’s main show skipped the annual feast, Thanksloving fills that gap perfectly, offering fans a warm if slightly strange slice of Belcher tradition.
The Writers Behind the Belchers’ Best Thanksgiving Moments
Much of the show’s holiday magic can be traced to Wendy and Lizzie Molyneux, the sister writing duo behind many of the series’ standout Thanksgiving episodes.
Bouchard praised their ongoing creative competition in a 2015 interview with TV Line: “It’s become this great tradition for them to try to top each one they’ve done.”
Episodes like “An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal” (Season 3), “Gayle Makin’ Bob Sledge” (Season 6), and “The Quirkducers” (Season 7) have become seasonal favourites — balancing the emotional warmth of family dinners with the signature Bob’s Burgers brand of chaos.
Why ‘Bob’s Burgers’ Thanksgiving Episodes Hit So Hard?
| Theme | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Family Over Perfection | Bob’s chaotic kitchen mirrors real-life family gatherings — messy, loud, but full of love. |
| Food as Storytelling | Meals are metaphors for patience, care, and connection — key traits of Bob’s character. |
| Musical Humor | Original songs blend emotional sincerity with absurdity, giving each special its own identity. |
| Continuity of Tradition | Each Thanksgiving special builds on the last, deepening character relationships year by year. |
These elements make Bob’s Burgers a rare sitcom that balances heart and humor without cynicism, a quality fans and critics alike cherish during the holiday season.
What’s Next for the Belchers?
New episodes of Bob’s Burgers continue to air Sundays at 9:30 p.m. on FOX, with next-day streaming available on Hulu. While a Thanksgiving episode wasn’t served this year, Thanksloving proves that the Belchers’ spirit of gratitude and their ability to make audiences laugh and cry at the same time are alive and well.
As Bob’s Burgers enters its 15th season, fans remain hopeful that the next holiday season will see a return to the traditional Turkey Day chaos. Until then, Thanksloving offers the perfect appetiser.
“It just feels like home base to us,” Bouchard once said of the show’s Thanksgiving episodes. “It’s where Bob belongs in the kitchen, surrounded by family, chaos, and love.”
Conclusion
While this year’s Bob’s Burgers skipped its traditional Thanksgiving episode, Thanksloving proves that the Belcher family never truly misses the holiday spirit. Through humour, heart, and a little absurdity, Loren Bouchard and his team continue to celebrate what makes Bob’s Burgers special: family, food, and the joy of imperfection.
For fans who’ve grown up with Bob’s chaotic kitchen and heartfelt lessons, Thanksloving is a reminder that love like gravy always finds its way to the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can stream it for free on the show’s official YouTube channel, Side Orders.
The song was written by Loren Bouchard and Nora Smith, the creative team behind Bob’s Burgers.
According to creator Loren Bouchard, the team decided to skip this year’s holiday special for scheduling reasons, but they released the Thanksloving music video instead.
Season 5’s “Dawn of the Peck” (2014) is widely regarded as the show’s best and one of the top Thanksgiving episodes in sitcom history.
All episodes of Bob’s Burgers are available for streaming on Hulu.
