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Episodes, Season 1 episodes, Holiday episode specials

Fools in April

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If you were looking for the article about the DVD, then see Fools in April (DVD).
If you were looking for the article about the holiday, then see April Fool's Day.

"Fools in April" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season one. In this episode, Squidward plays a nasty prank on SpongeBob.

Characters

Synopsis

The episode begins with SpongeBob waking up and realizing that it is April Fool's Day. Squidward sees him and wonders what SpongeBob is so happy about, until he looks at the calendar, and realizes that it is April Fool's Day, which he says is SpongeBob's favorite holiday. Fearing the worst has to come, Squidward calls Mr. Krabs saying he caught something terrible and that he would not be able to make it to work. Mr. Krabs says that there is an art collector in his office who wants to buy Squidward's art and name him artist of the month. So, Squidward immediately rushes to the Krusty Krab, only to find that it was a silly prank by SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs. Squidward attempts to resign from his job, but SpongeBob persuades him to stay, promising not to pull any further pranks on him.

Squidward got pranked.

However, SpongeBob continues to prank the customers inside the Krusty Krab while not pranking Squidward, but gets carried away with it. The customers do not take offense to SpongeBob's pranks as they are harmless and playful in nature and they even laugh with SpongeBob. Although Squidward does not receive any more tricks as SpongeBob promised, he gets annoyed over his and the customers' laughter. Eventually, a fed-up Squidward decides to get revenge on SpongeBob by showing him what he feels is a "real" prank. 

Squidward sets an elaborate rope trap attached to an anchor suspended from the ceiling and squirts a blob of mustard in the middle of the lasso. As SpongeBob goes to clean it up, Squidward cuts the rope holding the heavy anchor, causing SpongeBob to get his foot caught in the rope, triggering a chain reaction which sends him flying around the restaurant, colliding into several objects and areas, ending with him into landing in a garbage can. Squidward laughs hysterically at him, but a hurt SpongeBob runs out of the restaurant crying. Bewildered by SpongeBob's reaction, Squidward calls out to him, saying that he was just kidding, and turns to the customers for support. But the customers are appalled by Squidward's prank, seeing it as far too harsh and nasty to be funny. They all feel sorry for SpongeBob and call Squidward out on this as they storm out of the restaurant in disgust. Distressed at their reaction, Squidward frantically insists that it was only a joke, but as he looks around at the damage his prank did to the restaurant, it slowly dawns on him that SpongeBob's pranks were actually funny, harmless, and meant to make people laugh, while his prank was just cruel and meant to hurt and humiliate SpongeBob. Overcome with guilt, Squidward realizes that he has no choice but to apologize to SpongeBob.

"April Fools, Jerk."

Squidward goes to SpongeBob's house and sees SpongeBob's hat behind a rock. He goes over to apologize, but then sees that it's just Patrick wearing the hat while digging. Squidward asks why he is wearing the hat and where SpongeBob is, and Patrick tells Squidward that SpongeBob is in the house "impressed" (instead of depressed) and was crying a lot. Squidward feels even more guilty and attempts to apologize again. He goes so far as to force his way in, but SpongeBob slides his arm through the door and removes the door knob, clearly in no mood to talk to him. Losing patience, Squidward gets his clarinet and starts playing badly, refusing to stop until SpongeBob reluctantly answers him. Squidward attempts to apologize, but since apologizing to others isn't something Squidward normally does, he initially finds himself to be physically incapable of doing so.

Squidward tries other methods of apologizing to SpongeBob, including sending him an apology note in a bottle but shoved the cork all the way in the bottle, and apologizing to SpongeBob far away via two cans attached to a string, but these are foiled by SpongeBob not having a bottle opener and Patrick using the string as floss, respectively. Eventually, he is able to apologize by putting a bubble over his head, so that SpongeBob does not actually hear his apology. Squidward walks away, saying that his conscience is clear, but is confronted by memories of what he did. After he imagines his mother telling him he stinks, he runs back and genuinely apologizes to SpongeBob, even admitting he likes him, his friends, and everyone else in Bikini Bottom, but tells SpongeBob not to tell anyone. SpongeBob promises not to tell and forgives him, but then fully opens his front door, revealing that everyone else is inside behind him, and witnessed Squidward's apology. They all say "April Fools!" to Squidward, who is flabbergasted by this. Squidward states that he was fooling them as well before running away to his house, while laughing maniacally. SpongeBob ends the episode by saying, "What would we do without Squidward?"

Running gags

  • SpongeBob pulling pranks on people.

Production

Art

Music

( ‣ ) Associated production music
( • ) Original music
( ◦ ) SpongeBob music

 • 12th Street Rag - Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [title card]
 ‣ Aloha - Dick Stephen Walter [Opening]
 ‣ Courting Clarinets - Stefan Maciejewski ["We're gonna become peasants!"]
 ‣ Me for You - George Callert [Huge pitcher of lemonade/SpongeBob laughing]
 ‣ Dramatic Impact 3 - Ivor Slaney [Shot of calendar]
 ‣ Captain Lenoe's - Michael Arthur, Colin Cater, Mick Graves, The Folk Players, Sarah Graves, Simon Ritchie [Squidward calls Mr. Krabs]
 ‣ Airs and Graces (b) - Paddy Kingsland ["I have arrived."]
 ‣ The Tip Top Polka/The Cliff Polka - Chelmsford Folk Band [SpongeBob and Krabs laughing]
 ‣ Blue Blood F - Gregor F. Narholz ["Squidward, wait!"]
 • 12th Street Rag - Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [SpongeBob playing pranks on people]
 ‣ Heavy Footsteps (a) - Paddy Kingsland [Squidward setting a trap]
 ‣ Shock (u) - Dave Hewson [Anchor falls]
 ‣ On with the Race - Dennis Farnon [Rope sends SpongeBob flying everywhere]
 ‣ Pua Paoakalani B - Kapono Beamer, Queen Lili'uokalani [SpongeBob runs out crying]
 ‣ Royal Hawaiian Hula - Kapono Beamer [Patrick digging]
 ‣ Fates [#62.02] - Gregor F. Narholz ["SpongeBob, let me in there!"]
 • ? - Brad Carow [Squidward playing clarinet]
 ‣ Hawaiian Cocktail - Richard Myhill [Squidward trying to apologize]
 • Sea Weed - Steve Belfer [message in a bottle]
 ‣ Killer Birds - Gregor F. Narholz [Squidward remembering what others said]
 ‣ Paradise Isle - George de Fretes, Jan Rap [Squidward apologizes]
 ‣ Nostalgic Hawaii - George de Fretes, Jan Rap [Ending]

Release

Reception

  • "Fools in April" was ranked #84 during the Best Day Ever event from November 9–10, 2006.

Trivia

General

  • This is the first episode to use "12th Street Rag 3" for title card music.
  • This marks the first usage of the APM track "Pua Paoakalani (b)."
  • This is Bubble Bass' final appearance in the series until the episode "Truth or Square," 9 years later. He would later return again in "Plankton's Good Eye" and would stay on the series as a recurring character since then.
    • However, his skin tone in this episode is mauve rather than olive green. This is the only time he appears this way.
  • The line "You stink!" is recycled from "Pickles."

Squidward laughs harder.

  • This episode and "Neptune's Spatula" used to only tend to air on April Fools' Day, as "Neptune's Spatula" is "Fools in April's" sister episode.
    • Nickelodeon, SpongeBob's home channel was created on April 1, 1979; thus making this episode air during the channel's 21st anniversary.
  • Even after SpongeBob reveals to the old lady his prank of giving her a spoon rather than a fork, she still walks away with the spoon.
  • In real life, if SpongeBob had given Gary salted shells, he would have died as salt is dangerous for sea snails.
  • In the Polish dub, the episode's title is "Prima Aprilis," which translates to "April Fools."
  • On the old Nickelodeon website, this episode is alternatively known as "April Fools."

Nick Studio 10

  • On the April 3, 2013 airing when Squidward says, "I was just kidding," it was interrupted by Nick Studio 10 which ran from March to mid-June for 30 seconds by showing a walrus roaring and cuts back when Squidward saying, "It was just a joke."
    • This interruption also happened in several other SpongeBob SquarePants, The Fairly OddParents, and Monsters vs. Aliens episodes.

Errors

  • When Squidward looks at the calendar, his mouth does not sync to what he is saying.
  • After being pranked the first time, Squidward places his hat on Mr. Krabs' desk, but he has it in his hand when he leaves Mr. Krabs' room.
  • During the scene of Squidward's prank, Incidental 71 is naked and everyone except for Squidward is poorly drawn. However, when he says "April Fools, jerk," he is better drawn and is wearing a purple shirt and shorts.
  • When Squidward's head explodes while apologizing, neither his house or Patrick's house are there anymore.
  • When Squidward gives SpongeBob a message in a bottle, he puts a cork in it, which disappears as it rolls towards SpongeBob.
  • When Squidward sees Patrick, the hat is down to Patrick's eyebrows. However, when Squidward says, "Why are you wearing that hat?!" the hat is farther up Patrick's forehead.

    Fish clone simultaneously.

  • When SpongeBob and the others say "April Fools!" to Squidward, SpongeBob's mouth does not move.
  • Squidward's April Fools prank propels SpongeBob with an anchor. However, when the anchor drops, SpongeBob flies like usual, but the anchor is gone completely. Also when the anchor drops, the rope is tied to both of SpongeBob's legs, but through the rest, it is tied to one of his legs.

    SpongeBob's yellow tooth

  • When the fish leave the Krusty Krab, multiple far-distance fish clone simultaneously.
  • When SpongeBob tells Gary that they are moving, Gary has an eyelash that vanishes in the next shot.
  • The first time Squidward tries to apologize to SpongeBob, when he blinks, his eyelids turn to the teal color they would become in season 2 rather than the seafoam they are for this season.
  • When SpongeBob pranks Nat Peterson, his right tooth turns yellow for a split second.
  • When SpongeBob passes through Bubble Bass' rear, his shirt is white and his shorts are dark blue, but when Squidward sees the injury afterwards, his shirt is light green and his shorts are purple.
  • When Squidward imagines Incidental 71 telling him, "April Fools, jerk," Incidental 6 was shown in the illusion instead of Incidental 71.
  • When Spongebob is taken around the bar, there is a frame with his mouth missing
    01foolsinaspriklmistake.PNG
Awards and nominations for SpongeBob SquarePants (V • E)

Golden Reel Awards StatueStraight.jpg

Best Sound Editing in Television Animation – Music

Nominees: Stephen Hillenburg, Donna Castricone, Nicholas R. Jennings, Alan Smart, Peter Burns, Doug Lawrence, Derek Drymon, Alex Gordon, Donna Grillo, Jennie Monica, Krandal Crews, Jim Leber, Justin Brinsfield, Tony Ostyn, Nicolas Carr (for "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy"/"Pickles;" 2000) • Nicolas Carr (for "Fools in April"/"Neptune's Spatula" in 2001; for "Jellyfish Hunter"/"The Fry Cook Games" in 2002; for "Wet Painters"/"Krusty Krab Training Video" in 2003; for "The Great Snail Race"/"Mid-Life Crustacean" in 2004) • Jimmy Lifton, D.J. Lynch, Jeff Hutchins, Tony Ostyn and Paulette Lifton (for "Mid-Life Crustacean;" 2004)

Best Sound Editing in Television Animation – Sound

Nominees: Nicolas Carr (for "Karate Choppers;" 2000) • Andrea Anderson, Jimmy Lifton, Monette Holderer, D.J. Lynch, Vincent Gutisetti, Jeff Hutchins and Gabriel Rosas (for "Rock Bottom"/"Arrgh!;" 2001)

Best Sound Editing in Television – Animation

Nominees: Timothy J. Borquez, Jeff Hutchins and Daisuke Sawa (for "The Secret Box"/"Band Geeks;" 2002)

Best Sound Editing in Television Animation

Nominees: Jimmy Lifton, Jeff Hutchins, Tony Ostyn and Chris Gresham (for "Nasty Patty"/"Idiot Box;" 2012)

Best Sound Editing in Television: Animated

Nominees: Jimmy Lifton, Nicolas Carr, D.J. Lynch, Jeff Hutchins, Tony Ostyn, Chris Gresham and Paulette Lifton (for "Pranks a Lot"/"SpongeBob Meets the Strangler;" 2005) • Vincent Gutisetti, Jimmy Lifton, Nicolas Carr, Monique Reymond, D.J. Lynch, Mark Howlett, Jeff Hutchins, Aran Tanchum, Mishelle Smith and Paulette Lifton (for "Have You Seen This Snail?;" 2006) • Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Tom Syslo, Jason Stiff, Tony Orozco and Kimberlee Vanek (for "SpongeHenge;" 2008)

Best Sound Editing: Television Animation

Nominees: : Chiho Oyamada Carr, Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Daisuke Sawa, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Tom Syslo, Eric Freeman, Dan Cubert, Lawrence Reyes, Jason Stiff, Tony Orozco and Kimberlee Vanek (for "Suction Cup Symphony;" 2009) • Chino Oyamada Carr, Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Eric Freeman, Tom Syslo, Keith Dickens, Jason Stiff, Sergio Silva, Tony Orozco and Kimberlee Vanek (for "SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One;" 2010)

Best Sound Editing – Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR Animation in Television

Nominees: Devon Bowman, Justin Brinsfield, Nicolas Carr, Andrea Anderson, Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Eric Freeman, Tony Orozco and Danny Tchibinda (for "Gary's New Toy;" 2013) • Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Tom Syslo, Eric Freeman, Bobby Crew, Keith Dickens, Gabriel Rossas and Tony Orozco (for "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!;" 2013)

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