He is a slice of pepperoni pizza wearing sunglasses. He thinks he’s the coolest guy in the universe. In reality, he lives in a high-tech RV with a shape-shifting uncle and a giant realistic flying tiger. Pizza Steve from Uncle Grandpa is a fever dream of character design that shouldn't have worked, yet he became the focal point of one of the weirdest eras in modern animation.
Most people remember him as the arrogant comic relief. You know the type. The guy who claims to be a black belt in "Italian Karate" but spends most of his time running away from actual danger. He's self-absorbed. He's delusional. Honestly, he’s kind of a jerk to Mr. Gus. But if you look past the crust, there’s a weirdly human element to his constant need for validation.
The Ego of a Snack: Who is Pizza Steve?
Created by Peter Browngardt, Uncle Grandpa premiered on Cartoon Network in 2013. It was a polarizing show, to say the least. While the titular character was all about "Good Mornings" and chaotic kindness, Pizza Steve represented the narcissistic side of the early 2010s internet culture. He’s the personification of "fake it 'til you make it."
He isn't just a pizza. He’s a brand.
He constantly tells stories about his incredible exploits—most of which never happened. This creates a brilliant dynamic with Mr. Gus, the deadpan dinosaur who serves as the show's moral compass and reality check. While Mr. Gus is a thousand-year-old warrior who just wants to read his book, Pizza Steve is a literal snack who acts like a Hollywood A-lister.
The Dynamic Between Pizza Steve and Mr. Gus
The heart of the show wasn't actually Uncle Grandpa himself; it was the roommate-style friction between a dinosaur and a slice of pizza. You’ve probably met a Pizza Steve in real life. They’re the person at the party who claims they once wrestled an alligator but can't handle a paper cut.
Their rivalry is legendary among fans of 2010s animation. In the episode "Prank Wars," we see exactly how far Steve is willing to go to maintain his "cool" status. He doesn't just want to win; he needs to be perceived as the winner. This is a recurring theme. Whether he’s lying about his martial arts skills or trying to out-cool a literal tiger, his insecurity is his defining trait.
It’s funny because it’s pathetic.
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We laugh at Pizza Steve because we recognize the absurdity of a food item having such a massive ego. But there's a reason he was voiced by Adam DeVine. DeVine has this specific talent for playing characters who are incredibly confident while being completely incompetent. It’s a specific brand of humor that defined shows like Workaholics and movies like Pitch Perfect, and he brought that same "lovable loser who thinks he's a winner" energy to a cartoon pizza.
Why the Internet Still Remembers "Italian Karate"
Social media loves a character with a gimmick. Pizza Steve’s gimmick was his total lack of self-awareness. He wasn't just a supporting character; he was a meme-generating machine before "meme culture" was even a boardroom buzzword.
Think about the sunglasses. He never takes them off. They are a physical barrier between his delusions and the cold, hard reality that he is, ultimately, a piece of junk food. Fans frequently debate the physics of his existence. How does he eat? How does he breathe? Does it count as cannibalism if he eats another pizza?
The show never answers these. It doesn't have to.
The Animation Style and Visual Identity
The visual language of Pizza Steve from Uncle Grandpa is rooted in "gross-out" humor and surrealism. Unlike the clean, minimalist lines of Adventure Time or the soft colors of Steven Universe, Uncle Grandpa leaned into the ugly. It was loud. It was bright.
Pizza Steve’s design is deceptively simple:
- Standard triangular slice.
- Black, opaque sunglasses (shades).
- Occasional limbs that appear and disappear based on the needs of the joke.
- A slight sheen of grease that makes him look permanently "ready for his close-up."
This aesthetic was a throwback to 90s cartoons like The Ren & Stimpy Show. It prioritized the gag over the "rules" of the world. If Pizza Steve needed to explode to make a point, he exploded. If he needed to grow ten times his size, he did. This elasticity is what made the character work in a show that moved at 100 miles per hour.
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The Controversial Legacy of Uncle Grandpa
Let’s be real: not everyone liked this show.
On IMDb and various animation forums, Uncle Grandpa is often cited as the "beginning of the end" for a certain era of Cartoon Network. Critics felt it was too random, too loud, and lacked the emotional depth of its contemporaries. But that’s exactly why Pizza Steve has a cult following today. He represents a time when cartoons didn't have to be "deep." They just had to be weird.
- The Crossover Event: Remember the Steven Universe crossover? "Say Uncle" is one of the most debated episodes in that show's history. Seeing Pizza Steve interact with the Crystal Gems was a clash of two completely different worlds. It highlighted how cynical Steve actually is compared to the earnestness of Steven Quartz Universe.
- The Voice Acting: Adam DeVine’s performance is genuinely top-tier. He gives Steve a fast-talking, slightly desperate tone that makes the arrogance hilarious rather than annoying.
- The Writing: The writers used Steve to parody the "cool guy" tropes of 80s and 90s action movies. He’s essentially a parody of a mascot.
It’s sort of fascinating how the show survived for five seasons despite the initial backlash. It found its audience in kids who loved the slapstick and adults who appreciated the absurdist, almost Dadaist approach to storytelling.
Was Pizza Steve Actually... A Good Friend?
Probably not.
In most episodes, he’s actively trying to scan someone or get out of doing chores. In "Leg Wrestle," he goes to extreme lengths to avoid losing to Mr. Gus. He cheats. He lies. He manipulates. But there’s a weird loyalty there. He stays with the group. In his own twisted way, he considers Uncle Grandpa and the rest his "crew."
He needs them because they’re the only ones who will tolerate his nonsense. Without Mr. Gus to argue with or Giant Realistic Flying Tiger to ignore him, Pizza Steve would just be a lonely slice of pizza in a box. His character is a commentary on the "squad" mentality. Everyone has that one friend who talks a big game but contributes nothing to the actual plan.
Why Gen Z is Reclaiming Pizza Steve
If you spend any time on TikTok or Instagram, you'll see clips of Pizza Steve popping up in "weirdcore" or "nostalgiacore" edits. There’s a specific aesthetic associated with the show that resonates with people who grew up in the mid-2010s.
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It’s the "No thoughts, just vibes" philosophy.
Pizza Steve doesn't have a tragic backstory. He wasn't born in a laboratory or destined to save the world. He’s just a pizza who decided he was a god. In an age where every character needs a 12-episode arc about their trauma, there is something incredibly refreshing about a character who is just consistently, unapologetically themselves—even if that "self" is a total fraud.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive back into the world of Uncle Grandpa or you're a collector of CN memorabilia, here is the current state of the "Pizza Steve" market and fandom.
Where to Watch:
The series is currently available on Max (formerly HBO Max). If you want to see Pizza Steve at his "best," start with episodes like "Pizza Steve's Diary" or "The History of Wrestling." These episodes focus heavily on his internal logic—or lack thereof.
Collectibles:
Because the show was so niche, merch is surprisingly hard to find.
- Funko Pops: There isn't a massive line, but keep an eye on secondary markets like eBay or Mercari.
- Plushies: Official Pizza Steve plushies were released during the show's run. They are now considered "rare" and can fetch a decent price among collectors of 2010s animation.
- Comics: Boom! Studios produced an Uncle Grandpa comic series. These are great for seeing Pizza Steve in stories that didn't make it to the screen.
Art Inspiration:
For artists, Pizza Steve is a masterclass in "character silhouette." Even without the pepperoni or the sunglasses, his posture and shape are iconic. If you're practicing character design, try drawing him in different styles—like a gritty 1940s noir or a modern 3D render. His simplicity makes him the perfect canvas for experimentation.
Engagement:
The Uncle Grandpa fandom is still active on Reddit and Discord. If you have a theory about whether Pizza Steve is actually sentient or just a figment of Uncle Grandpa's imagination, there are plenty of people who will spend hours debating it with you.
The most important thing to remember about Pizza Steve is that he wouldn't care what you think of him—as long as you’re looking at him. He thrives on attention. Whether he’s being "the coolest guy in the room" or the butt of the joke, as long as the spotlight is on that crust, he’s happy.
Take a page from his book. You don't actually have to be the best at everything. Sometimes, you just have to wear your sunglasses and act like you are. Confidence is 90% of the battle, even if you’re just a slice of pepperoni with a dream.