Fools in April

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.

Template:Episode/19a

Characters

• Gary the Snail
• SpongeBob SquarePants
  • SpongeBob's tongue ^(debut)
• Squidward Tentacles
• Eugene H. Krabs
• Miss Shell
• Peterson Nat Tucker
• Tom John
• Fred
• Charlie
• Incidental 21
• Dave Frank Percy Harold Scooter
• Wobbles
• Evelyn Annette
• Harold
• John
• Billy
• Incidental 30
• Bubble Bass ^{(purple; cameo)}
• Shubie
• Thaddeus
• Incidental 4
• Incidental 31
• Incidental 70
• Incidental 67
• Sadie
• Old Man Walker
• Incidental 71
• Other Krusty Krab customers
• Sea urchins
• Patrick Star
• Mrs. Tentacles ^{(debut; cameo)}
• Nurse Rechid
• Sandy Cheeks ^(cameo)
• Incidental 60
• Harold Bill Reginald Scott
• Incidental 66

Synopsis

The episode begins with SpongeBob waking up, and realizing that it's April Fool's Day. He then begins the day pranking Gary by saying they were going to be peasants and that they were going to have to move. He then pranks himself by saying that he was going to drink several glasses of lemonade, then goes to work.

Squidward sees him and wonders what SpongeBob is happy about until he looks at the calendar, and realizes that it's April Fool's Day, which he says is SpongeBob's favorite holiday. Fearing the worst has to come (or so he thinks), Squidward calls Mr. Krabs saying he's sick 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. 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. 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 hanging 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 physically (as well as emotionally) 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 he has 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 when SpongeBob answers the door, but since apologizing to others isn't something Squidward normally does, he initially finds himself to be physically incapable of doing so.

Eventually, he is able to say it 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, feels guilty again, attempts to apologize to SpongeBob several unsuccessful times, and eventually goes back and genuinely apologizes to SpongeBob, 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?"

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Production

Art

Music

( ‣ ) Production music

( • ) Original music

( ◦ ) SpongeBob music

 • 12th Street Rag 3 - Nicolas Carr, 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 3 - Nicolas Carr, 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]
 • Seaweed - 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

• This episode is available on the SpongeBob Goes Prehistoric, Complete 1st Season, SpongeBob SquarePants Vol. 2, Nickelodeon Fool Proof Fun, The First & Second Seasons, The SpongeBob SquarePants Collection, From the Beginning, Pt.1, Exposed!: The Ultimate Box Set, The Ultimate Box Set, The Complete First Season, Movies & TV Collection, The Best 200 Episodes Ever, First 100 Episodes, and Fools in April DVDs.
• This episode is also available on the SpongeBob Goes Prehistoric (VHS).

Reception

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

Trivia

General

• Even though Squidward said April Fool's Day was SpongeBob's favorite holiday, it is mentioned by SpongeBob that his favorite holiday is Christmas at the start of "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!"
• If one looks closely, two shells and two clams can be seen on the title card.
• When Squidward thinks of the fish who said "April Fools, jerk", Tom appears even though it was Francis who told him that.
• This is Bubble Bass' final appearance in the series until the episode "Plankton's Good Eye" 11 years later.
  • However, his skin tone in this episode is mauve rather than olive green.
• The line "You stink!" is recycled from "Pickles," which also features Bubble Bass.
• When Squidward tries to apologize to SpongeBob for the first time, he says, "I'm trying to say I'm..." and his head turns into a donkey and starts braying. A similar subliminal message also occurs in "Christmas Who?"

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. However, recently, airtime of these episodes became a bit more common.

• In Indonesia, after saying "This is an extreme thirst!," the scene usually goes straight to the scene where Tom wants a couple of ice cubes.
• 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.
• Tom saying "What did you do to my drink?!" has become an internet meme.
• Squidward finishes saying sorry before he sticks his tongue out.
• In the Polish dub, the episode's title is "Prima Aprilis" (April Fools).
• On the old Nickelodeon website, this episode is alternatively known as "April Fools."
• When this episode aired on April 1, 2017, it was paired with "Yeti Krabs."
• This is the first episode to use "12th Street Rag 3" for title card music.

Nick Studio 10

• On April 3, 2013 when Squidward says "I was just kidding," it was interrupted by Nick Studio 10 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 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.

The houses that are next SpongeBob's pineapple are missing

• 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 dropped, 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's tied to one of his legs.

  

  SpongeBob's yellow tooth

• While the female customer says "That guy has definitely got some issues to work out," she is heard with a male voice.
• When the fish leave the Krusty Krab, multiple far distance fish clone simultaneously.
• When SpongeBob tells Gary that they're 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 teeth turn yellow for a split second.

Awards and nominations for SpongeBob SquarePants V • E Golden Reel Awards 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;" 2003) 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)