The quirky world of Bob’s Burgers is filled with unforgettable one-time characters, but few are as memorably odd as Chet. This character, who believes he was once a department store mannequin, made a single appearance on the show. The voice behind Chet’s awkward, sincere delivery is none other than well-known actor and comedian Zach Galifianakis.
Galifianakis is famous for his roles in major comedy films and his unique interview series. His casting as Chet is a perfect example of the show’s talent for matching big-name guest stars with characters that fit their specific comedic style.
Who Is Chet on Bob’s Burgers?
Chet appears in only one episode of the series. He shows up in Season 3, Episode 9, titled “God Rest Ye Merry Gentle-Mannequins.” In this holiday-themed episode, the Belchers need a last-minute Santa Claus for their restaurant window display. They find Chet working at a former department store that has been turned into a strange storage facility.
Chet is a deeply peculiar man with a unique backstory. He sincerely believes that he was once a mannequin named Chet who was in love with another mannequin named Nadine. He claims that the heartbreak of their separation was so powerful it somehow turned him into a human.
“My name’s Chet. Uh, short for Chester, long for Ch. That’s my little joke.” — Chet introduces himself in the episode.
His “gift” is creating intricate live window displays, which makes him the Belchers’ ideal, if unconventional, choice for Santa. His deadpan delivery of these bizarre beliefs creates a hilariously offbeat character that fans remember long after his single episode.
Zach Galifianakis: From Stand-Up Comedy to Bob’s Burgers
Zach Galifianakis, born October 1, 1969, began his career as a stand-up comedian with a distinctly awkward and alternative style. He first gained wider recognition through a Comedy Central Presents special and his own short-lived VH1 talk show. His big break into mainstream Hollywood came with his role as Alan Garner in the blockbuster comedy The Hangover in 2009.
This role showcased his ability to play socially unaware yet strangely sincere characters, a skill he later used when voicing Chet. Following The Hangover, he starred in several other successful films including Due Date with Robert Downey Jr., The Campaign with Will Ferrell, and the acclaimed drama Birdman.
On television, Galifianakis created and starred in the FX series Baskets, playing a struggling professional clown, which earned him critical praise. He is also the creator and host of the long-running online interview series Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis, where he interviews major celebrities with deliberately awkward and insulting questions.
Galifianakis’s Other Role on Bob’s Burgers
Interestingly, Chet is not the only character Zach Galifianakis has voiced on Bob’s Burgers. He has a much larger recurring role as Felix Fischoeder, the mischievous and often villainous younger brother of the Belchers’ landlord, Calvin Fischoeder.
Felix has appeared in over ten episodes, starting with Season 3. His plots often involve schemes related to the family’s waterfront property, the Wonder Wharf, and he has been a central figure in several Thanksgiving and holiday episodes. The character’s unhinged and gleeful energy is a different flavor of comedy than the melancholic Chet, showing Galifianakis’s range within the same show.
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Why The Voice Casting Works Perfectly
The casting of Zach Galifianakis as Chet works because the character fits perfectly within the actor’s comedic wheelhouse. Galifianakis has built a career on playing characters who are deeply odd yet utterly sincere, whether it’s Alan in The Hangover or Chip in Baskets.
Chet’s belief that he is a transformed mannequin requires a performance that never winks at the audience. It must be played with complete conviction to be funny, and Galifianakis’s signature deadpan delivery and ability to sit in awkward silence make him the ideal actor for the job. He brings a genuine pathos to the character’s loneliness, making him more than just a simple joke.
Where to Watch Chet’s Episode
For fans who want to see Zach Galifianakis as Chet, the episode “God Rest Ye Merry Gentle-Mannequins” is available on several platforms. It is Season 3, Episode 9 of Bob’s Burgers.
The episode is accessible for streaming on Hulu and Disney+ in the United States. Viewers can also purchase the episode through digital retailers like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies.
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