'Bob's Burgers' Serves Authenticity as Jari Jones Takes 'Marshmallow' Role in Season 15

"Bob's Burgers," the long-running animated sitcom about a family running a restaurant, now features Black trans actress Jari Jones as the voice of the character Marshmallow.

Deadline reported that Jones took over the role for the show's 15th season, with Marshmallow having last been voiced by actor David Herman.

"On this Sunday's episode, titled 'Hope N' Mic Night,' the kids host an open-mic night at the restaurant, but as the hidden costs keep mounting Bob worries that it will ruin them," Deadline thumbnailed.

"Viewers are also in for a big treat as they will learn Marshmallow is not only Bob's fashionable, wise-beyond-her-years transgender friend, but also a sensational singer."

The outlet took note of Jones' impressive resume, which includes appearances on "Transparent" and the most recent "Tales of the City" miniseries, as well as Jones having produced the film "Port Authority," which was featured at Cannes in 2019.

Winning the role came as a shock, Jones told Deadline; she had tried out for the role in 2020, "when they were doing the campaign to find new voices. This was when people discussed the importance of representation in the animation sphere. We are at a point where we need to tell authentic stories."

When she didn't get any news about the role for a while, Jones "hoped that the opportunity would go to a Black trans woman," thinking she was no longer in contention.

But showbiz is a strange beast, and "around two years later when I was in Georgia having Thanksgiving dinner with my grandparents," Jones went on to relate, "my manager called me to say I was offered the role."

"Marshmallow is a rather unique enigma within the world of 'Bob's Burgers,'" ComicBook.com noted, calling the character a "hidden gem" for the show.

"First making her debut in the very first season of the series, Marshmallow has become a more well rounded character thanks to a recast and a spotlight given in one of the best episodes of the series in years, Season 15's 'Hope N' Mic Night.'"

But joining a long-running series can be nerve wracking. Initially, Jones "was freaking out," she recalled, "because most of my experience with voice acting was with new characters, but this is an established one that comes with her own legacy." The rest of the cast made her feel at home, though, and "Marshmallow's fans are out of control. They love her and what she embodies."

Though a talented singer with experience in musical theater, Jones surprised colleagues with her vocal chops for the episode. "Someone even complimented me saying I sound like Nina," Jones regaled. "I was like, Nina Simone? I can't think of a better compliment."

"It's been really exciting to go back to my roots and it's been the perfect way to bring back music to the Jari brand," she added.

Still, "I was nervous for a while because, as a trans person, I couldn't in good faith go forward with this stereotype of the deep-voiced girl in the dress," Jones added. "It's like, I'm trans, I'm a Black woman and I have bass in my voice. So, however that will come out, know it's gonna be the most authentic experience of it."

Moreover, Jones said, "I look forward to bringing authenticity to the character, like, there are ways only a Black woman could say things which is what I will bring to Marshmallow. This will shift the character and I hope people feel like they're sitting with her authentic, real self and that more people will identify with her."