"Smartificial Intelligence" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season 15. In this episode, Perch fights for his job after he's fired and replaced by a robot anchorman.
Characters[]
- SpongeBob SquarePants
- Perch Perkins
- Newsbot 2000 (single appearance)
- Goofy Manager
- Robot Manager (single appearance)
- Sandy Cheeks
- Eugene H. Krabs
- Gary the Snail
- Bubble Bass
- Larry the Lobster
- Realistic Fish Head (photo cameo)
- Gale Doppler
- Announcer fish
- Gene Scallop
- Bob Preflumster
- Barbara
- Ben Blenny
- Anchor fish
- Bodyguard
- Sweet old lady
- Incidentals
- Fred
- Incidental 2
- John
- Incidental 6
- Incidental 7
- Incidental 8
- Incidental 9
- Incidental 14
- Incidental 27
- Harold
- Incidental 41
- Incidental 42
- Judy
- Incidental 48
- Official
- Incidental 64
- Billy
- Incidental 68
- Harris
- Incidental 82
- Mabel
- Mary
- Incidental 89
- Incidental 93
- Victoria Ellen
- Incidental 95
- Steve
- Incidental 118
- Incidental 118A
- Incidental 118B
- Incidental 118D
- Prison guard 2
- "Baby" incidentals
- Squidward Tentacles (cameo)
- Pat-Tron (cameo)
- Unnamed cannon-like robot (single appearance)
Synopsis[]
The episode begins in SpongeBob's house, where Gary is sleeping when SpongeBob wakes him up because Bikini Bottom News with Perch Perkins is starting on TV. SpongeBob switches the channel, where Perch announces as the top story that a squirrel has gotten stuck in a well, with neither him nor SpongeBob recognizing that it is actually Sandy. He goes on to say that there has been a major breakthrough in machine intelligence when a robot rescued Sandy from the well, replacing the need for firefighters. Perch laughs heartily, saying that nobody needs those lousy firefighters anyway. However, he then receives another report stating that he has been immediately fired and replaced by a new reporter technology, Newsbot 2000, which frightens him, SpongeBob, and Gary.
Newsbot 2000 tosses Perch aside.
Newsbot takes over as Perch is escorted out by security, and one of the guards empties Perch's belongings out of a box, saying he cannot take any 'company property' with him. When Perch asks if he can at least keep the box, a guard allows it — but takes his hair away, claiming it is studio property, and places it on Newsbot's head. As Perch sadly leaves the Bikini Bottom Television building, SpongeBob, watching from his TV, decides he won't stand by and let a robot replace Perch. SpongeBob protests in front of BBTV, where Perch interviews him. SpongeBob expresses that Perch is his favorite news reporter, but at first, he does not recognize him. When he realizes that it is Perch, Newsbot appears and tosses Perch aside to interview SpongeBob himself. Newsbot asks SpongeBob what he thinks about Perch being replaced by a robot, to which SpongeBob angrily responds that no machine can take over someone's job — ironically leaving the protest in Pat-Tron's robot hands.
SpongeBob then follows Perch, who takes shelter in "the Old Reporters' Row," a place where news agents end up after their careers end. As SpongeBob enters the alley, all the reporters try to interview him, but he runs away and spots Perch in a corner burning magazines. SpongeBob suggests they leave, but Perch insists on staying, believing no one would hire him. SpongeBob disagrees, saying many places could use Perch's skills. SpongeBob then takes him to Barg'N-Mart, where he immediately brings him to the manager. The manager welcomes Perch, assigning him to handle in-store announcements. Perch begins his new job by announcing that cheese is on sale, which quickly causes a rush of customers. Perch continues his work with drawing attention to the marked down flowers, which satisfies him. Just then, he hears the sound of glass breaking and sees that Bubble Bass has dropped a jar of pickles. As he interviews him to find out exactly what happened, customers keep slipping on the spilled pickle brine. However, because Perch interviewed the messmaker instead of taking action to call for a cleanup, the manager fires him.
As he leaves the store disappointed, SpongeBob catches up to him and tells him he has another job opportunity at the Krusty Krab. Mr. Krabs welcomes him and hires him for drive-thru duty, saying it's nice to have a former celebrity on the team. Perch takes an order from Larry the Lobster, giving him some offers, but then shifts into a long interview, blocking the boatmobiles in the process, which results in him being fired by Mr. Krabs again. Perch sadly walks back to Old Reporters' Row, but SpongeBob stops him, saying that he should return to the news industry because that's what he's truly good at. Perch asks what they should do, and SpongeBob comes up with an idea: crying and begging outside BBTV's entrance. The news network manager opens the door and asks why he should rehire Perch, to which SpongeBob replies that Perch could out-interview his robot anytime, anywhere. Newsbot then appears, saying he would like to see Perch try; Perch refuses at first but agrees to compete after SpongeBob encourages him.
Perch confronts Newsbot 2000.
The competition is won by whoever can deliver the most news stories. Newsbot starts by reporting that a huge manatee blimp has popped, but Perch interrupts with breaking news about crashes caused by a pileup. Newsbot announces that a tower is in flames, but Perch extinguishes it with a tidal wave while surfing and interviewing it at the same time. Newsbot then shifts into high gear, reporting that Bikini Bottom's streets are full of potholes, someone is tipping over elderly ladies, and the bridge to Shell City has collapsed — completely overwhelming Perch. Just as he believes he has no chance, Perch realizes there is a way to defeat Newsbot. As Newsbot continues to report stories nonstop, Perch cuts him off with a special report, revealing that all of Newsbot's news were actually caused by Newsbot himself. He then catches Newsbot in the act, cutting the brake of a bus full of adorable baby sea snails. Perch confronts Newsbot and overwhelms him with an aggressive interview, causing Newsbot to explode. A robot manager reinstates Perch and returns his hair, but it catches fire, and he screams — just as the episode ends.
Production[]
This episode was confirmed by Cartoonlounge.de on July 29, 2024.[1]
Art[]
Background design[]
- Layouts designed by George Nachev, traditionally painted by Amy Lewis in gouache. Scanned in with lines drawn digitally on top.[2]
Music[]
| ( ‣ ) Production music |
| ( • ) Original music |
| ( ◦ ) SpongeBob music |
‣ One Zero Zero - Harry Breuer, Jean-Jacques Perrey [Title card.]
• Lap Steel Lullabye - Nicolas Carr [Opening.]
‣ ? ["Wake up, Gary!"]
• Sir Urchin and Snail Fail Theme - Nicolas Carr [The Sir Urchin and Snail Fail Show!]
• Bikini Bottom Public Access - Nicolas Carr [Bikini Bottom TV opening.]
• Bikini Bottom News Theme - Nicolas Carr ["Good evening, Bikini Bottom!"]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 31B - Jeremy Wakefield ["Get me out of here, ya'll!"]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 31D - Jeremy Wakefield ["Must be embarrassing for whoever that is!"]
• Bikini Bottom News Theme - Nicolas Carr ["Radical changes in machine intelligence were made today"]
‣ Russian Rump - Harry Breuer, Jean-Jacques Perrey [Robot launches Sandy out of the well.]
• Whats This Sting - Nicolas Carr [Perch receives a letter.]
• Bikini Bottom News Theme - Nicolas Carr ["Local TV news reporter Perch Perkins has been fired."]
‣ Horror Strike [#44] - Harry Bluestone, Emil Cadkin ["Fired?!"]
‣ Horror Strike [#46] - Harry Bluestone, Emil Cadkin [Perch gets replaced with Newsbot 2000.]
‣ One Zero Zero - Harry Breuer, Jean-Jacques Perrey [Perch gets kicked out of set.]
‣ ? [Perch gets all his stuff taken away.]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 4B - Jeremy Wakefield ["That wasn't a toupee."]
‣ The Ogre - Ralph Dollimore [sees Perch getting fired.]
‣ Cartoon Fun Link 06 - Harry Lubin [SpongeBob protesting.]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 13D - Jeremy Wakefield ["Perch Perkins is my favorite newsman in the whole ocean."]
• New Vibe Hits - Nicolas Carr ["Perch, is that you?"]
‣ One Zero Zero - Harry Breuer, Jean-Jacques Perrey ["No loitering!"]
‣ Agonized - Harry Lubin [Old Reporters' Row.]
• Saltwaterworks - Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [SpongeBob finds Perch sitting alone.]
• Shop O Rama - Nicolas Carr, Fabian Fernandez [Perch gets hired at the Barg'N-Mart.]
‣ Cartoon Link 02 - Harry Lubin [Bubble Bass drops a jar of pickles.]
‣ Comic Walk - Sidney Torch [Perch gets fired from the Barg'N-Mart.]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 7A - Jeremy Wakefield [Perch walks out of the store.]
‣ Comic Walk - Sidney Torch ["I lined up another job for ya"]
• Another Krusty Krab Day 2 - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [Perch gets hired at the Krusty Krab.]
• Bikini Bottom News Theme - Nicolas Carr ["Several hard-hitting hours later."]
‣ Victim 2 - Harry Lubin [Larry shares his story.]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 18 - Jeremy Wakefield [Long line of customers/Perch gets fired from the Krusty Krab.]
‣ Comedy Punctuations And Bridges 3 - Fredric Bayco [SpongeBob consoles Perch.]
• Hot Steel and Slide Licks 8C - Jeremy Wakefield [SpongeBob begs for Perch to be rehired.]
‣ Comedy Punctuations And Bridges 4 - Fredric Bayco [Manager asks why Perch should be rehired.]
‣ One Zero Zero - Harry Breuer, Jean-Jacques Perrey [Newsbot appears.]
• Breathing Underwater 2 - Nicolas Carr ["I believe in you, Perch Perkins!"]
• ? ["Okay."]
‣ All Star March - Larry Hochman [News-Off.]
‣ Horror Strike [#46] - Harry Bluestone, Emil Cadkin [The manatee balloon pops.]
‣ ? ["A simple News-Off turned ugly today when-"]
• Bikini Bottom News Theme - Nicolas Carr [Perch reports on a boat crash.]
• Superfriends Wipe- 1 - Nicolas Carr ["This just in!"]
‣ Shock Attack [#25] - Harry Bluestone, Emil Cadkin [Newsbot reports on a burning building.]
• Bikini Bottom News Theme - Nicolas Carr [Perch reports on a tidal wave.]
• Monster Wave w sax - Nicolas Carr, Fabian Fernandez, James King [Perch surfs the tidal wave and extinguishes the burning building.]
‣ ? [Newsbot reports on several accidents.]
• New Vibe Hits - Nicolas Carr ["Unless."]
• ? [Perch gets an idea.]
‣ Robot March - Harry Bluestone, Emil Cadkin [Newsbot reports on more incidents.]
• Bikini Bottom News Theme - Nicolas Carr [Special report.]
‣ Robot March - Harry Bluestone, Emil Cadkin [Perch exposes Newsbot.]
‣ Brown Threat - Remastered - Alan Owen [Perch interrogates Newsbot.]
• Tension Bits - Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [Newsbot malfunctions.]
‣ One Zero Zero - Harry Breuer, Jean-Jacques Perrey [Ending.]
Trivia[]
General[]
- This episode was originally titled "Requiem for a Perch" and "Perch Perkins, You're Fired!"
- The title is a pun on the term "artificial intelligence."
- This is Perch Perkins' first major role in the main show.
- He previously had a major role in the Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years episode "Gimme a News Break."
- This is the anchor fish's first in-person appearance.
- He previously had on-TV appearances in the season 7 episodes "A Day Without Tears" and "Karate Star."
- This is the first episode to acknowledge the version of the Krusty Krab drive-thru that previously had background appearances in various season 1 and season 2 episodes.
- Its absence — since either "Graveyard Shift," 22 and a half years ago (for that version), or "Bubble Bass's Tab" nearly 4 years ago (for any version) — is also referenced with Mr. Krabs saying, "Haven't used it in a couple of years."
- The "Several Hard-Hitting Hours Later..." time card background for this episode uses the same background as "Squirrel Jokes."
- When SpongeBob announces the news-off he breaks the fourth wall by grabbing the screen.
Cultural references[]
- Newsbot 2000 saying "Oh, the huge manatee" after a blimp crashes is a parody of Herbert Morrison's broadcast of the Hindenburg disaster.