History WesternAnimation / GodTheDevilAndBob

** The pilot episode featured Bob going to [[AcceptableReligiousTargets a Tel-Evangelist]] with a pitch for a call-in show about daily miracles - upon being told that [[MoneyDearBoy there'd be no money in it]], Bob is promptly kicked out.

** It's important despite your own pain and trauma to, if not completely avoid causing harm, [[TheChainOfHarm then at the least to reduce the harm you cause to your loved ones]]. For all of Bob's father's failings, the one thing that does stand is that he DID make a genuine effort to be better than his own father, to the point of actively avoiding talking about his own father. And despite the abuse, Bob did turn out to be a better man than his father or even his grandfather in spite of his own problems, something that is shown when he apologizes to Andy for snapping at him while in the middle of his own conflict.

** It's important despite your own pain and trauma to, if not completely avoid causing harm, [[ChainOfHarm then at the least to reduce the harm you cause to your loved ones]]. For all of Bob's father's failings, the one thing that does stand is that he DID make a genuine effort to be better than his own father, to the [[Unperson point of actively avoiding talking about his own father]]. And despite the abuse, Bob did turn out to be a better man than his father or even his grandfather in spite of his own problems, something that is shown when he apologizes to Andy for snapping at him while in the middle of his own conflict.

* AnAesop: ''Bob's Father'' tells how despite the fact that Bob's father was an asshole to him his entire life, he still loved him in his own way. They make a point even if that's true and he really is good enough to get into {{Heaven}}, what happened to Bob still wasn't ok. And despite the abuse, Bob did turn out to be a better man than his father or even his grandfather in spite of his own problems.

The show touched on many family issues, including death, puberty, and bullying, among others. The show caused a good deal of controversy due to its presumed mocking of the Christian faith, a largely inaccurate accusation leveled almost entirely by people [[ComplainingAboutShowsYouDontWatch who had never actually seen]] -- and indeed ''refused'' to watch -- the show (like they did with ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'' and ''Film/TheLastTemptationOfChrist''). Ironically, in a incredibly bizarre reverse example of MisaimedFandom, the show's creator was an ordained clergyman with a favorable attitude towards the faith. It eventually made it to DVD in the US, several overseas markets did air the full series, and in 2011, the show's full run made its way into the Creator/AdultSwim lineup.

* AnAesop: ''Bob’s Father'' tells how despite the fact that Bob’s father was an asshole to him his entire life, he still loved him in his own way. They make a point even if that’s true and he really is good enough to get into {{Heaven}}, what happened to Bob still wasn’t ok. And despite the abuse, Bob did turn out to be a better man than his father or even his grandfather in spite of his own problems.

--> '''God''': [[WhatTheHellHero Alright, after we're done, I'll take you to her house where you can see her in the shower crying]] and [[ShowerOfAngst trying to wash off the shame.]]
--> '''Bob''': [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Shower... so she'll be naked, right?]]

--> '''Bob:''' Excuse me, is this Hell?
--> '''Roasting Man''': ''(nonchalantly)'' You know, I never really asked. But you have to assume.

The show opens as {{God}} (Creator/JamesGarner) decides that HumansAreBastards and he's going to end the world; {{The Devil}} (Creator/AlanCumming), of course, is delighted with His decision. God eventually has second thoughts about the idea, though -- saying that He's "not that kind of God" -- and He decides to give the world one last chance: if a single person can somehow prove that humanity as a whole is worth saving, God will put off smiting the entire world. The Devil is none too happy about this, so God decides to make things fair by ''letting The Devil choose the person''. Enter the third titular character: Detroit's own Bob Alman (Creator/FrenchStewart), an under-educated, beer-drinking, swearing, selfish person who -- by his own admission -- downloads a lot of porn from the Internet. In the first episode, Bob manages to redeem humanity, and for the rest of the series, he becomes God's "go-to guy" for new ideas on how to help humanity further redeem itself -- all while The Devil tries to interfere with God's plans.

* DissonantSerenity: An example occurs when Bob goes to Hell to try to perk up the Devil (who's having a hard time). When he arrives, he speaks to a man who demonstrates this while being ''roasted over a fire''.

--> '''Roasting Man''': ''(nonchalantly)'' You know, I never asked. But you have to assume.

--> '''God''': [[WhatTheHellHero Alright, after we're done, I'll take you to her house where you can see her in the shower crying]] and [[ShowerOfAngst trying to wash off the shame]]

* AnAnesop: ''Bob’s Father'' tells how despite the fact that Bob’s father was an asshole to him his entire life, he still loved him in his own way. They make a point even if that’s true and he really is good enough to get into {{Heaven}}, what happened to Bob still wasn’t ok. And despite the abuse, Bob did turn out to be a better man than his father or even his grandfather in spite of his own problems.

* NotSoDifferent: "Lonely At the Top" gets started by Bob chastising God about not knowing what it's like to be human. God spends the entire episode seeing what it's like--annoying Bob to no end. In the end, God explains He just wanted to be one of the guys and created humanity in the first place to have some company.

* JerkassGod: One episode shows God casually talking about restarting the world with marsupals as the dominant species, while humans are "somewhere on the food chain". It's usually averted; see GodIsGood.

The show touched on many family issues, including death, puberty, and bullying, among others. The show caused a good deal of controversy due to its presumed mocking of the Christian faith, a largely inaccurate accusation leveled almost entirely by people [[ComplainingAboutShowsYouDontWatch who had never actually seen]] -- and indeed ''refused'' to watch -- the show (like they did with ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'' and ''Film/TheLastTemptationOfChrist''). Ironically, in a incredibly bizarre reverse example of MexicansLoveSpeedyGonzales, the show's creator was an ordained clergyman with a favorable attitude towards the faith. It eventually made it to DVD in the US, several overseas markets did air the full series, and in 2011, the show's full run made its way into the Creator/AdultSwim lineup.

* AllAdultAnimationIsSouthPark: Very tastefully averted. Bob himself is a crude, sleazy, and [[AllMenArePerverts frequently lecherous]] man, but the show itself never sinks to his level solely for a source of humor or shock value.

* BlackCloak: The Devil wears one in his true form as the source of all evil. When he's pretending to be someon else, he doesn't.

--> '''Bob:''' Okay, you've got some explaining to do. Right now, my daughter is ice-skating with the Devil!
--> '''God:''' He can skate? With those weak ankles?

-->'''God''': Look Bob... okay, picture this long line of fathers and sons stretching from Adam all the way down to Andy. Now, they're all [[SinsOfOurFathers passing down this punch]], [[TheChainOfHarm from one generation to the next]], father to son, and the trick is to pass on a softer punch. Your father passed on a softer punch.

-->'''Bob:''' Get ''out''! There must be somebody else that you can annoy.\\

* HumansAreBastards: Why God wants to destroy earth in the first place; it's hard to find any spec of decency among them.

* TroubledAbuser: Bob's father was emotionally and verbally abusive to him up until his death. God puts things in perspective for Bob by pointing out that his ''grand''father was even worse.

-->'''God:''' Don't worry. Nobody can see me or hear me but you.\\

Side characters include Bob's wife Donna, their kids Megan (a teenager) and Andy (a six-year-old), Bob's work buddies (a white pervert and a [[BlackBestFriend black guy]][=/=]occasional {{Deadpan Snarker}}), and Smeck (The Devil's demon henchman[=/=]{{Chew Toy}}).

%%* BlackBestFriend: One of ThoseTwoGuys

* RebelWithoutACause: Megan will whine about the family not spending enough time together and then complain when she has to spend time with them; Rebelling for it's own sake.

* PartingWordsRegret: In "Bob's Father" just before Bob's father dies, Bob tells him to go to Hell. When given a chance to talk to his spirit, he cryptically tells him how he should have appreciated him more when he was alive. [[PetTheDog Bob's father hints to him that he gets the idea.]]

* PartingWordsRegret: In "Bob's Father" just before Bob's father dies, Bob tells him to go to Hell.