Bob’s Burgers Almost Looked Completely Different At The Start, With A Major Character Change

Highlights

• Tina Belcher was originally going to be a boy named Daniel, but was changed due to similarities with Gene Belcher.
• Dan Mintz, who voices Tina, has input into the character’s development through improvisation during recording.
• Mintz revealed his deadpan comedy style and stand-up delivery originated from his high school days.

Bob’s Burgers has been one of the most praised and successful animated sitcoms in recent memory. Other shows, like Family Guy, have become classics in the public’s collective mind. Bob’s Burgers has now become a classic on par with those shows. The show has even scored actors famous for other shows, like Archer‘s H. Jon Benjamin.

However, the show’s success could’ve looked very different had the character of Tina Belcher not existed. That was the initial plan, with the character originally being a boy named Daniel.

The character was voiced by comedian Dan Mintz, who would go on to voice Tina as well. Mintz’s deadpan delivery has become his trademark, both in Bob’s Burgers and his own stand-up. Mintz has opened up over the years about his style of comedy and the input he has into the character of Tina.

Tina Was Originally A Boy Named Daniel And Fans Are Happy The Character Was Changed

Before Bob’s Burgers was ready to air on television across America, a pilot episode was created. This pilot episode included a character named Daniel Belcher. Daniel was the son of Bob and Linda. The character was voiced by comedian Dan Mintz.

While the pilot proved to be successful enough for the show to be picked up and developed into a series, one major change was made. The character of Daniel was replaced by a daughter named Tina. Mintz would voice the character of Tina as well.

The official first episode featured the same synopsis as the pilot and the character of Tina had the same storyline as Daniel, with some differences.

In a 2013 interview with the Phoenix New Times, Mintz revealed the character was changed because the network felt he was too similar to the Belcher’s other son, Gene.

“I was actually originally cast as a boy, like the second son in the family, and then FOX wanted to change the character to a girl because it was thought to be too similar to Eugene Mirman’s character [Gene Belcher],” Mintz said.

He continued, “I was just kept in that because I was friends with Jon Benjamin and he recommended me to Loren [Bouchard], who’s the creator. And I think for all of us, he kind of built the characters around us and our comedy.”

The original pilot was included in the DVD series box set and has been uploaded to YouTube. Fans of the show voiced their relief the character was changed in the comments.

“Whoever made the decision to change Daniel to Tina is a Saint,” one user wrote.

Another wrote, “I’m glad Bob put on a shirt. And also glad we got Tina instead.”

“Daniel might be the most cursed thing I’ve ever seen,” another commented. “I’m kinda glad they replaced him with Tina.”

Another user commented, “The fact that Tina was supposed to be a boy then they changed her but kept the voice is hysterical.”

Dan Has Input Into The Writing Of His Character Through Improvisation While Recording

During his chat with the Phoenix New Times, Mintz revealed that he was able to provide input for the writing of the character of Tina.

“Once we start recording they encourage us to improvise,” he said. “So we always, if we think of a good line, get that in. But usually we don’t see the script until we do a table read and it’s already written.”

“Over time I’ve really enjoyed when I’ve had the chance for Tina [to grow],” Mintz continued. “At the beginning, she was more just kind of monotone and into saying a lot of weird things. So it’s been fun when they actually started giving her actual arcs where she had emotions and had a goal she had to achieve. I’ve really tried to do the best I could at that and show them I could do that, then that allowed them to have more episodes like that.”

Mintz also discussed how he felt about playing a female character, particularly a teenage girl. This is especially significant considering the character was originally supposed to be a teenage boy.

“I was worried I wouldn’t know how to play a female character, but actually because Tina is so kind of straightforward, I think she is easier to play for a man,” Mintz said. “You usually think of a woman, her sexuality being like super complex and hard to understand, and like Tina’s is so simple. She’s just attracted to this and knows what she wants.”

Dan Revealed Where The Deadpan Delivery In His Stand-Up Came From

Mintz might be primarily known as a voice actor, but his stand-up comedy has gained quite an audience thanks to several talk show appearances.

One of those was a 2013 set Mintz performed on the Late Show with David Letterman. Mintz told the Phoenix New Times that he was excited to perform on the show, but his wardrobe was a last-minute decision.

“It was really exciting,” Mintz said. “I’d been wanting to do that for a really long time. I had to buy a suit for it. And I didn’t realize until like a day before that I needed the suit so it was kind of insanity running out to get one.”

Mintz also revealed where his signature deadpan delivery came from.

“That’s always been the kind of the way that I deliver. I’ve always spoken pretty monotone and when I first started being able to make people laugh was when I was in high school. And I just had the voice that I have and I noticed that I would say sexual things in my voice and people would laugh. And I kind of just worked from there. It was less like deciding, ‘Okay, these are the jokes I’m going to tell, and now how am I going to tell them? Am I going to tell them in this voice or this voice?’ it was more like, ‘This is my voice, what jokes work best with that delivery?’”

Source: NewsFinale