SpongeGuard on Duty

This is the page about the episode. For other uses, see SpongeGuard on Duty (disambiguation).

SpongeGuard on Duty
General
Production code:	5571-187 (formerly) 5572-187
Season №:	3
Episode №:	41b
Airdate:	March 22, 2002 September 2, 2002 October 19, 2002 November 23, 2002 See more... August 26, 2002 (EBS) September 2, 2002 September 28, 2002 September 30, 2002 October 2, 2002 July 5, 2003 August 9, 2003 September 1, 2003 (Super RTL) December 13, 2003 (JEI TV) February 7, 2004 July 1, 2004 October 2, 2004 October 15, 2004 December 22, 2004 April 8, 2005 (Orf 1) June 1, 2005 September 18, 2005 (Nickelodeon) January 27, 2006 March 10, 2006 April 24, 2006 (SRF ZWEI) June 5, 2006 October 29, 2007 December 1, 2007 November 21, 2009 October 7, 2010 (QTV) January 2, 2011 September 15, 2016> March 13, 2018 (PLUS PLUS) April 5, 2018 (TET) July 2, 2019 August 25, 2020 July 27, 2021
U.S. premiere time (ET):	8:15 pm
Copyright year:	2001
U.S. viewers (millions):	4.55
Running time:	11 minutes
Sister episode(s):	"The Algae's Always Greener"
Credits
Writer(s):	Jay Lender Sam Henderson Mark O'Hare
Storyboard Artist(s):	Caleb Meurer
Storyboard:	Jay Lender Sam Henderson
Animation:	Sean Dempsey
Creative:	Derek Drymon
Chronology
Previous	"The Algae's Always Greener"
Next	"Club SpongeBob"

"SpongeGuard on Duty" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season 3. In this episode, SpongeBob becomes a lifeguard at Goo Lagoon.

Characters

• French Narrator
• SpongeBob SquarePants
  • Daydream SpongeBob
• Patrick Star
• Larry the Lobster
• Incidentals
  • Incidental 64
  • Incidental 37B
  • Incidental 46
  • Incidental 30
  • Incidental 41
  • Incidental 13
  • Incidental 7
  • Incidental 49
  • Incidental 37A
  • Incidental 11
  • Incidental 104
  • Incidental 153
  • Incidental 152 ^{(normal; pink)}
  • Incidental 69
  • Incidental 20
  • Incidental 17
  • Incidental 68 ^{(looks different)}
  • Incidental 63
  • Incidental 60
  • Charlie ^{(female; normal)}
  • Incidental 31
  • Incidental 8
  • Incidental 103
  • Incidental 15
  • Incidental 49
  • Harold
  • Incidental 115
  • Incidental 45
  • Incidental 38A
  • Sandals
  • Incidental 92
  • Incidental 82
  • Incidental 14 ^{(named Annette)}
  • Incidental 27
  • Incidental 2
  • Incidental 3
  • Incidental 47
  • Incidental 106
  • Incidental 12
  • Old Man Walker
  • Incidental 150
  • Incidental 102
  • Incidental 10
  • Incidental 16
  • Harold
  • Incidental 42
  • Carol
  • Incidental 24
  • Incidental 34
  • Billy
  • Incidental 105
  • Incidental 67
  • Incidental 48
  • Incidental 28
  • Incidental 30A
• Shark nerd
• Shark mom ^(debut)
• Shark son ^(debut)
• Shark daughter ^(debut)
• Seamonster ^(debut)
• Orca kid ^(debut)

Synopsis

One day at Goo Lagoon, SpongeBob and Patrick are sunbathing. SpongeBob notices the adoration that the lifeguard, Larry the Lobster, receives, and fantasizes about how "cool" it would be if he was a lifeguard himself, but Patrick has no fondness for lifeguards. After being told to conceal his large gut by another beach-goer, Patrick stomps off to the snack bar. SpongeBob declares that he is already as cool as Larry and that nothing but an airborne ice cream truck striking him down could prove otherwise.

One such collision later, Larry helps SpongeBob up and sees that vanilla ice cream has been smeared on his nose. Thinking that it is sunscreen and that therefore he is a lifeguard, Larry enlists the all-too-eager SpongeBob in helping him with his duties. As a lifeguard, SpongeBob becomes very popular and does many fun activities, and is happy to accept taking the second shift solo. However, Larry hears a swimmer drowning and saves him, causing SpongeBob to realize too late that the role of a lifeguard is a serious one that involves rescuing people from mortal danger.

"That's the last time I read and swim!"

His shift now over, Larry heads off for the tanning booth with some girls, leaving SpongeBob, who cannot swim, in charge of the beach. SpongeBob tries to laugh off his fears, but cannot help but imagine the sea of swimmers in the lagoon as a sea of tombstones instead. In a panic, he alerts all the fish to an "emergency" and orders to get them out of the lagoon. When asked what is happening, he claims that sharks have infested the lagoon, a comment that does not sit well with a family of sapient sharks in the crowd. He then raves about a sea monster, and is then confronted by an actual sea monster who slaps SpongeBob in the face. The frustrated crowd then disperses and heads back to the lagoon, much to SpongeBob's dismay.

Stressed out from watching the beach-goers engaging in risky activities, SpongeBob resorts to luring everyone out of the lagoon with free ice cream. Once everyone has some to eat, SpongeBob points out that they must now wait one hour to re-enter the lagoon, then binds them with police tape to enforce this rule. Patrick (who has been in the restroom) runs out in search of ice cream when SpongeBob gloats about how his trick makes him superior to Larry. Misreading the police tape as a sign for ice cream, he breaks through it to go into the lagoon, where he gets butt cramps and starts drowning.

The crowd tries to alert SpongeBob to this real emergency, but he initially refuses to believe them. However, he eventually sees Patrick and springs into action, desperate to find a way to save him without having to swim. First, he tries tossing a life saver, which does not go very far to reach; next, after running around in a circle, trying to figure out another way to rescue Patrick, SpongeBob gets an idea and suggests preventing Patrick from drowning if there is no water, so he uses a straw that he grabs to simply just drink all the water in the lagoon, but accidentally drinks up Patrick too, in which the starfish gets trapped inside SpongeBob, who has to spit him and the lagoon back out. He then confiscates a boatmobile from a couple in the parking lot, though he returns their hot dog.

SpongeBob rows the boat out to the lagoon in a rescue attempt, but the frantic Patrick tears it apart in a panic while flailing his arms. Upon realizing his actions, he and SpongeBob both start drowning, with Patrick actively harming SpongeBob up to stay afloat. Now knowing the truth about SpongeBob, the beachgoers leave the charlatan lifeguard and his friend to their fate. As they say their goodbyes, Larry arrives in time to pull them up from the ankle-deep lagoon.

"Ow! Butt cramps!"

Realizing that SpongeBob does not know how to swim, Larry sets him and Patrick to work practicing their swimming in a kiddie pool, but not before asking the former if he is a lifeguard, to which he confesses that he is not. They both somehow wind up with butt cramps, which ends the episode with Patrick still lamenting his lack of ice cream.

Production

This episode was in production in 2001.

Art

Sketch of SpongeBob's close up on Jay Lender's Facebook.

Animatic

SpongeGuard on Duty (storyboard)

Music

( ‣ ) Production music

( • ) Original music

( ◦ ) SpongeBob music

 ‣ Surfin' Summer (B) - Richard Myhill [Title card]
 ‣ Beach Party - The White Caps, Harry Bluestone [Opening at Goo Lagoon/"Hey, it's Larry, the lifeguard."/"Hows's the tubage?"]
 ‣ Facing the Challenge - Gregor F. Narholz [SpongeBob imagines himself as a lifeguard]
 ‣ Tympup A - Sammy Burdson, John Charles Fiddy [Patrick's belly is shown]
 ‣ Hawaiian Link (A) - Richard Myhill ["I'm cool."]
 ‣ Dramatic Impact (2) - Ivor Slaney [Lightning]
 ‣ Dramatic Impact (1) - Ivor Slaney [Flying ice cream truck]
 • Steel Licks 54 - Jeremy Wakefield ["Please do not land flying ice cream trucks on the bathers."]
 • Vibe & Harp Hits - Nicolas Carr ["Hey!"]
 ‣ Saxaboogie - The White Caps, Harry Bluestone [SpongeBob and Larry patrolling the beach]
 ‣ Advance Attack - Sam Fonteyn [Larry rescues someone drowning]
 ‣ Advance Attack Alt. End - Sam Fonteyn ["That's the last time I read and swim."]
 ‣ South Pacific Island II - Victor Cavini [Larry leaves SpongeBob in charge]
 ‣ On Fire - Gregor F. Narholz [SpongeBob orders everyone out of the lagoon]
 • Steel Licks 54 - Jeremy Wakefield [Everyone goes back in]
 ‣ Dangerous A - Mladen Franko [SpongeBob panicking]
 ‣ Dangerous C - Mladen Franko ["Free ice cream!"]
 ‣ Stars and Games - Alf Saro [Everyone eating ice cream]
 • Steel Licks 22 - Jeremy Wakefield [Do not cross changes to Ice cream]
 ‣ Menace [#42] - Harry Bluestone, Emil Cadkin ["Cramp!"]
 ‣ Danger Sign - Harry Bluestone, Emil Cadkin [Patrick drowning]
 ‣ Dramatic Impact (3) - Ivor Slaney ["... Patrick isn't drowning!"]
 • 12th St Rag - Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [SpongeBob trying to rescue Patrick/"Help, I'm drowning! I've got butt cramps! I want ice cream and now it's dark!"]
 ‣ Dramatic Cue (G) - Ronald Hanmer [SpongeBob and Patrick drowning]
 • Steel Licks 78 - Jeremy Wakefield ["Goodbye, Patrick!"]
 ‣ Beach Party - The White Caps, Harry Bluestone [Ending]

Release

• This episode is available on the SpongeGuard on Duty DVD (with storyboard version on the special features) and VHS, Complete 3rd Season, The Seahorse, First 100 Episodes, Working is Amazing!?, Sponge in Service, SpongeBob SquarePants Vol. 4, Complete Third Season, 2-Season TV Pack, Beach Bob, The Best 300 Episodes Ever, The Ultimate SpongeBob Box Set, The SpongeBob SquarePants Collection, The SpongeBob SquarePants 8 Season DVD Collection, Favorite Episodes, High Tides and Wild Rides, From the Beginning, Part 1, Super Spongy Square Games, Calling All Heroes!, The Third & Fourth Seasons, and The Best 200 Episodes Ever DVDs.

Trivia

General

• According to the first half of the production code of this episode, (5571-187) it was originally meant to be a part of season 2. However, it was later moved to the third season, later being given the code of 5572-187.
• This is the first episode for several things:
  • The first episode where Larry is a lifeguard. In "Ripped Pants," "MuscleBob BuffPants," "Walking Small," and "Bubble Buddy," Larry is just a beach-goer.
  • The first episode where Larry the Lobster plays a major role.
  • The first episode to be written by Sam Henderson.
  • The first episode to play the tracks "Beach Party," "Saxaboogie," "Danger Sign," and "Dramatic Impact (1)."

SpongeBob live-action costume with his normal clothes.

• This is the fourth episode in which, at no point, SpongeBob wears his normal clothes, not counting the live-action SpongeBob costume. The first was "Ripped Pants," the second was "Walking Small," and the third was "The Fry Cook Games."
• On some TV guides, the air date for this episode is not listed.
• The grunts that Larry makes would later appear in the online game Reef Rumble.
• This and "Snowball Effect" are Incidental 30A's only appearances in season 3.
• SpongeBob reveals in this episode that he cannot swim, which is ironic since he is a sea sponge (though sea sponges do not actually swim).
  • In some future episodes such as "Slide Whistle Stooges," SpongeBob swims just fine.
  • SpongeBob says he can't swim again in "It Came from Goo Lagoon" and the Battle for Bikini Bottom game.
    • Interestingly, "Slide Whistle Stooges" and "It Came from Goo Lagoon" have almost the exact same writers.
  • In "Valentine's Day," SpongeBob does not think to jump into the goo and swim to get away from Patrick, which likely foreshadowed he can't swim.
• In the 2012 commercial for General Mills breakfast cereals, a clip of SpongeBob sucking up all of the water is used to advertise their SpongeBob squirters in specially marked boxes of brands.
• The SpongeBob mascot costume worn in numerous Nickelodeon theme parks appears in this episode during SpongeBob's fantasy.
• Along with "The Algae's Always Greener," this episode preceded the premiere of the Nickelodeon animated series ChalkZone.
• The sea monster in the episode is voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.
• In the scene where Larry saves the drowning fish, a crowd of fish is shown worried. In said crowd is a fish with the same Incidental model as the drowning fish.

Notice the shark fins.

• When the beach goers go back in the water, shark fins can be seen swimming around the fish in the lower right (the one sitting on a tube and reading), either implying SpongeBob was right that there were dangerous sharks in there, or the fins belong to the sapient sharks who feel insulted by SpongeBob's warnings.
• Comcast/Xfinity listings miscapitalize the title of this episode as "Spongeguard on duty."
• There are two DVDs named after (and featuring) this episode, one for the North American and British markets, and one for the Greek market.
• This episode was paired with different episodes in certain marathons:
  • On the August 9, 2010 airing, this episode was paired with "Hooky."
  • During the SpongeBob vs. The Goo marathon, this episode was paired with "Sand Castles in the Sand."
• According to production art, this episode was originally called "Summer of Sponge."
• The still shot of SpongeBob with huge eyes and his pants all up in a dorky manner when he says, "I'm cool!" has been used in a popular meme, where there are copies of him with insect wings and flying around, annoying Squidward who says "We have come for your nectar," and a furious Squidward kicking them out.

Dub facts

• In the Middle East airings, the scene where SpongeBob and Patrick check on their "tan" is removed.
  • In some airings of the Malay dub, the same scene is cut, likely due to nudity.

Episode references

• The shark father was previously seen in the episode "MuscleBob BuffPants" in the in-universe advertisement for Anchor Arms, as a picture of the spokesperson before he started using the product.

Cultural references

• The episode's title is a reference to beach signs which say "Lifeguard on Duty."
• When the crowd of people is running while holding Larry, they can be faintly heard singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."
• When Larry introduced SpongeBob to his friend, Annette she has the same first name as the late actress Annette Funicello from the 1965 film, Beach Blanket Bingo.

Errors

• At the end of the montage, a bubble transition appears. In there is a little bit of a blue screen at the bottom by Rough Draft Korea, which was made sometime in 2001.
• When SpongeBob raises his arms to call the people for ice cream, upon examining the crowd closely as he gives the ice cream out, he never visibly lowers his arms as he gives it to them.
• In the shot where the sea monster asserts his people's strides in science and literature, Annette's hair is missing.
  • It is not Evelyn, however, because two shots later and for the rest of the episode, Annette has her hair back.

SpongeBob's nose turns normal.

• During the montage where he enjoys his "duties" as lifeguard, SpongeBob is shown struggling to lift a barbell made of two soda cups, yet later, he is shown capable of lifting an entire boat and holding it up with one hand.
• When Patrick smashes an anchor on SpongeBob's head, the cream on the latter's nose disappears for a frame or two.
• When SpongeBob sees that Patrick is drowning, his eyes burst through and break the lenses of his binoculars, but the lenses are back when SpongeBob announces his intentions to rescue Patrick.
• When SpongeBob hands out ice cream, the white fish is shown with a pink ice cream cone in his hands. In the next shot of him, the ice cream is white. In the same scene, Incidental 41 is shown with a red popsicle in his hands. In the next shot of him, the popsicle is blue.
• During Larry's line, "Let's go, guys," SpongeBob's lips also move to, "Let's."
• After Larry says, "Very good. You fellas are learning fast," his mouth closes very briefly and takes on a similar shape to when he speaks for the rest of the shot, despite no further dialog.
• When Patrick looks at the Do Not Cross sign, there is one part of the sign that says "Do No Cross."
• When Larry rescues SpongeBob and Patrick, the water is ankle-deep. However, Patrick is shown sinking under the water multiple times, and is far out where the water would not come up to the ankles.

Videos

On Duty 🏖️ in 5 Minutes SpongeBob

SpongeBob SquarePants - Patrick's Butt Cramps (S3, E1) - Paramount+