Mid-Life Crustacean: What Gives?

SpongeBob SquarePants is no stranger to questionable content that would fly past kids. Lots of cartoons have subtle adult references or skate on boundaries. This was a few weeks ago, but the 2003 episode, Mid-Life Crustacean got pulled from streaming. I didn't know it was pulled out of circulation on TV back in 2018, according to a Nickelodeon representative who talked to sites like IGN. Very quick, I'll mention another episode, Kwarantined Krab that got pulled because of COVID type scenarios. That's obvious. But back to the main point of this blog.

Crustacean is a Mr. Krabs led episode and one of his more unique episodes. He joins SpongeBob and Patrick for a night on the town and is pissed about what they think is good. For redemption, Patrick suggest a panty raid, but get caught by Krabs' mother. I'm assuming the panty raid bit is what got them busted in '18 and why it got removed from several streaming sites. This is why I hate the stigma of cartoons being only for kids, something that has been commonplace since the 1950s.

There are lots of cartoons that have hidden jokes, panty shots, various things that will get a chuckle or shocked expression from adults that used to watch those shows. They will understand a lot more material. But why SpongeBob? Unfortunately, he is still a current property and the show is still on the air after almost 22 years. Like Ren and Stimpy, and Rugrats, he is a cash cow. Not to mention the outrage culture and anyone that will look for any excuse to censor stuff.

Nickelodeon did not comment on why this occurred. That's a bad move. But it's not like Krabs came out a winner at the end of the episode. Maybe "standards" have changed over the years? If that's the case, re-evaluate every cartoon, then, if they are so "concerned". Hell, bring back those banned Beavis and Butt-Head episodes since they are much tamer compared to South Park and other shows. Get your hands on DVD's of the third season if you can. 

One last thing I'll mention is another episode, Just One Bite. While it's deleted scene of Squidward catching fire from gas is funny, it's not hard to understand why the bit is cut. I understand fans may want the uncut version, but that will never happen in the United States. It sucks, but nothing you can do. 

Nickelodeon Heavy Hitting Returns

The biggest cows for Nickelodeon were Ren and Stimpy, Rugrats, and SpongeBob SquarePants. This is in terms of merchandising. Ren and Stimpy had a decent amount of video games (The Sega ones are good). But the other two were a lot more marketable beyond games. As we are in 2021, the network has plans for those other two. A reboot for Rugrats and two new SpongeBob spin-offs.

The Rugrats reboot comes about as the show will turn 30 in August (Ren and Stimpy as well) It's going to be on Paramount Plus, the streaming app. According to sites like KIRO-7, they are bringing back the original voice actors for the kids. Whether they have the adults, I don't know. Be hard to replace Grandpa Lou since Joe Alaskey passed away in 2016, and that was his second voice actor. Judging by the report and some images, this looks like pre-movie era. That's the best I can guess. Obviously, different animation, but it doesn't look dreadful. Depending on the quality of the writing and humor, I can see some friends I know getting into it.

With SpongeBob, I don't know why they didn't do a spin-off of anything 15 years ago. The first show, Kamp Koral, looks like a really bad idea. The first episode is already out on Paramount Plus, so I can't comment much else. Ten year old SpongeBob wouldn't be much different from the adult version, so I don't grasp doing this. What's also weird is having Sandy on it, retconning the very first batch of episodes. This is a show they could have done as regular episodes of regular SpongeBob.

The next is The Patrick Star Show, which is set to debut in the summer. This one has a decent chance, but like Rugrats, will depend on the quality of the writing and humor. If there was an opportunity to have done this, it would have been around 2003-04. I say that time period, because Patrick wasn't always this complete dimwit and would have his moments of having some form of intelligence like in Boating School with helping SpongeBob get his license. I would have to look at the first episode whenever it does air to see where this goes. If there is some competent writing, it will last a couple years. If not, regular SpongeBob episodes are fine.

Viacom wants families to go to Paramount Plus. A way for some to remember the old Rugrats days and get hyped for the reboot. And a lot of people getting into SpongeBob. They're rolling with the punches. Will the audience accept them? 

Band Geeks: SpongeBob's Best Episode

Nothing I think will ever come close for SpongeBob SquarePants to top it's late 2001 episode, Band Geeks. It's one that has been discussed to death, so here is my take on it. Squidward needs to form a marching band to play in the Bubble Bowl, previously led by rival Squilliam Fancyson. Of course, getting Bikini Bottom in on the gig is no small task and becomes a failure. That is until the end of it when SpongeBob leads the charge and gets them ready to perform and make Squidward proud.

No doubt, it's an episode where Squidward doesn't get the bad end of the stick. Cliched but a welcoming one considering the chaos and destruction that he had to endure in the first two seasons. It is very quotable. Even the beginning with the doctor. There is Patrick's moments throughout the episode, the big fight between the members, and of course, the performance.

The song, Sweet Victory, is one that has endured a lot of popularity in the last 18 years. An 80s song from David Glen Eisley, it caught even more attention from fans petitioning for the song to be played during the Super Bowl back in February. And this was just when show creator Stephen Hillenburg passed away. A lot of disappointment, but others like the Dallas Stars and Daytona Speedway used the song. The former for intermission and the latter for a promotion with previous Daytona moments.

I can't think of anything better than Band Geeks. This was SpongeBob at its peak and it is an episode that defied what the typical episode should have been back then.

SpongeBob SquarePants 20 Years Later

The biggest name to Nickelodeon in 1999 was Rugrats. It had a huge resurgence a couple years prior, culminating in new episodes and movies. As time went on, it stopped being king of the crop in favor of the point of this blog, SpongeBob SquarePants. I know it's a day early, but it's hard to believe that it has been on the air for 20 years. Granted, some of it is very lengthy seasons, but still.

This was one of those shows I never gave much thought on when it first came out. But not too long into 2000 or 2001 did I watch some of the episodes. It's a lighter version of Rocko's Modern Life. Fitting because of its late creator Stephen Hillenburg working on Rocko for its entire run. Nothing gimmicky other than a sponge living underwater and his group of friends and adversaries. Tons of funny moments within the first five years of its run.

For someone like me, it is an interesting feat considering most people I know are into the earlier stuff and there is a new generation that is into the newer material. I grew out of kids cartoons right around 2004-05 and that was when the tonal shift occurred. Some of the episodes looked like it came out of a Family Guy or Ren and Stimpy episode. Ones like SquidBob TentaclePants and The Splinter shows how gross they can be. One Coarse Meal is one that leans towards Family Guy territory, even with the guy that portrays Plankton writing a part of the episode. I hear the last few years have been better, but I can't say my thoughts on that because I haven't seen any of them. Sorry.

It took a while for SpongeBob to get airings due to the various Klasky-Csupo shows, Hey Arnold, and Angry Beavers being the main cartoons on Nickelodeon. As with these networks, new stuff will creep up and be the new leaders. And while Sponge still gets ratings, it is a far cry from what it was getting. My question is when will it stop? The days of cable might be finished at some point since there aren't many interested in some of these kids shows.

As of now, it is one of the great achievements of kids cartoons and of the late 90s-early 2000s. It may not be a sweet victory, but its place in entertainment is untouchable. I will talk more my favorite episode in another one soon.

The Genius of Stephen Hillenburg

News is spreading now of the passing of Stephen Hillenburg. His name is synonymous with Nickelodeon, a network he had worked for for a very long time going back to 1993. Even though it's only a couple of cartoons, they are amongst the most recognized in not just the cable realm, but for cartoons and the entire television spectrum.

If you were to ask me my favorite cartoon on Nickelodeon, it would be Rocko's Modern Life. Even though Hillenburg didn't create it, he was instrumental to a lot of what made the show special. It was a bit tame compared to Ren and Stimpy, but it wasn't playing safe like Doug and Rugrats. Him and a number of those writers created a world of over the top moments, and stuff that can cater to both kids and adults. A lot of fun satire and normal day things being very dangerous. It's amazing how much they got away with, and it holds up surprisingly well. There's no gimmicks to Rocko, and with that, it stands out a lot more.

Of course, we can't talk Hillenburg without talking SpongeBob SquarePants. It's been on the air since May of 1999 and hasn't stopped. Personally, I stopped watching it probably over a decade ago once they really dumbed down the characters tremendously and either aimed to be like Family Guy or some other cartoon. However, you can't deny the blueprints for those first few years. One thing I just realized was that he was a Marine Biologist. I'll assume that's what made him want to have this kind of show.

SpongeBob is a different premise, but yet, similar to Rocko. It is a bit more lighter toned, but you still have those over the top moments and stuff that caters to both kids and adults. What also helps is that there is more of a wide range of characters, almost like what The Simpsons is. Even though the focus is on a couple handfuls of people, there is still the community of Bikini Bottom and all sorts of events that occur. Hillenburg and his staff created a world that is memorable and easy to recognize. Some of their early stuff is amongst some of the best known material not just for the show, but for television overall.

It's tragic of ALS claiming yet another person. The world is less fun with Hillenburg being gone.