By Dustin Rowles | TV | December 18, 2021 |
By Dustin Rowles | TV | December 18, 2021 |
I honestly thought this was one of those Internet myths that gained a life of its own based on the amusing similarity between voice actor Jay Johnston and someone pictured at the January 6th rally who looked similar. That is not the case. It was actually Jay Johnston— who voiced Jimmy Pesto on Bob’s Burgers — spotted at the rally. It was low-key confirmed in a couple of now-deleted tweets from comedian Tim Heidecker and a Harmontown colleague, Spencer Crittenden, who had tweeted, that Johnston is “a craven Trump supporter and was [at the rally] at the time,” according to The Daily Beast. Kathy Griffin confirmed as much, as well, back in May.
I know him. We all do. Folks from LA comedy scene, that is. That's Jay Johnston. He's a well known comedic actor. I haven't seen him in many years, but knew him back in the day. Since the late 90s. Mutuals say he's "on the lamb" now. I can't believe I'm writing these words. https://t.co/aKehHpVmta
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) May 5, 2021
The Daily Beast is also reporting that Johnston has been quietly banned from the show, although no one wants to make a big deal out of it.
According to two people familiar with the matter, top staff at the long-running animated sitcom Bob’s Burgers are no longer allowing Johnston to voice his recurring character—Jimmy Pesto Sr.—on the critically lauded Fox show. One of the sources described it as a “ban.” The other individual familiar with the matter described the situation similarly, adding that the Bob’s Burgers cast and crew, as well as Fox, were not looking to make “a big deal” about the current blacklisting of the apparent insurrection-attendee.
Jimmy Pesto Sr. was a recurring character (appearing in 43 episodes in the series’ 12-year run) and occasional antagonist to Bob, as the owner of a more classy pizzeria. Like Johnston himself, Jimmy Pesto is something of a scumbag, a sexual deviant who is estranged from his three sons. He’s not appeared on the series since May.
Johnston also recurred as Officer Taylor on Arrested Development, Officer Jay McPherson on The Sarah Silverman Program, and played various characters on Mr. Show with Bob and David and its revival, as well as a role in an episode of Better Call Saul. In addition to working in the Odenkirk/Silverman orbit, the Internet also says that he dated Paget Brewster at one point, which is just f**king weird.
He has also appeared on Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes’s show. It is unknown whether he will make an appearance in the forthcoming Bob’s Burger movie.
Hat Tip: Elaine Benes Enthusiast