The snarky, irritating and antagonistic Jimmy Pesto was the bane of Bob Belcher's existence for 11 seasons. But during seasons 12 and 13 of Bob's Burgers, the pesky restaurateur has been noticeably absent. The character’s voice actor Jay Johnston was fired in December 2021 due to his involvement in the U.S. Capitol Riot. But while little the show has yet to replace him, one popular fan theory may provide the perfect solution.

A single dad to three loveably odd boys, Jimmy doesn’t have the greatest relationship with either his kids or his ex-wife. The identity of the former Mrs. Pesto (or more accurately, the former Mrs. Poplopovich) remains a mystery. His often-strained relationship with Tina Belcher's love interest Jimmy Jr. and his indifference toward Andy and Ollie indicate that the two share custody, with the boys’ mother caring for them more often. Details in Jimmy's apartment -- which is seen in the Season 10 episode "Prank You For Bein' A Friend" -- hint at this as well. And while Jimmy's ex-wife has yet to make an official appearance, some fans speculate that viewers have already met her.

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Bob Belcher stands next to Jimmy Pesto, who lays on the sofa in his apartment

Bob isn’t the only one with a longtime enemy; where Jimmy serves as Bob’s nemesis, Linda finds her foe in PTA know-it-all Colleen Caviello. First appearing briefly in the Season 1 episode “Spaghetti Western and Meatballs,” Colleen is much like Jimmy: snide, arrogant and often getting under Linda's skin. That makes it not too farfetched for her to be Jimmy's ex-wife, suggesting that hatred of the Belchers might be a family affair.

While it was never confirmed who Colleen’s spouse or children are, the blonde bears a striking resemblance to the Pesto boys -- most notably energetic but aloof twins Andy and Ollie. Colleen’s consecutive domination of the Wagstaff School bake sale also indicates that at least one of her children has been attending the school for five years; as Jimmy Jr. is Tina’s age, this checks out too.

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Why Colleen Should Fill Jimmy Pesto's Role in Bob's Burgers

While in front of a bookshelf, Bob's Burgers character Colleen opens her mouth in surprise

Bob's Burgers fans have noted Linda’s apparent over-emphasis whenever she says Colleen’s last name, suggesting it's possibly an attempt to call attention to her divorce. As Colleen is very pridefully involved in her children’s affairs and Jimmy is anything but, this small detail lends further credence to the idea of a doomed marriage. Colleen may have reverted to her maiden name after the split, trying to dissociate herself from her ex-husband.

Similarities between the two also point to past compatibility; their shared vindictive natures might’ve been a recipe for love – maybe the consistently boy-crazy Tina should take note. The two also seem to share a love of cheaply made faux-Italian cuisine. Colleen’s baked ziti was a big PTA hit in her first appearance, but Linda bitterly notes that Colleen used store-bought sauce. It’s possible that she cuts corners just like Jimmy, whose cooking skills are negligible at best.

The idea that Bob and Linda’s rivals perfectly parallel each other is a fun one. And it meshes well with the wonderfully bizarre nature of Bob’s Burgers: a sweet, funny slice-of-life show. Bob can't be without a rival forever, and making it Colleen -- who would also give Linda headaches -- would be an elegant solution.