The Krusty Sponge

If you were looking for the article about the restaurant, then see Krusty Sponge.

Template:Episode/89a

Characters

• Squidward Tentacles
• Orange fish ^(debut)
• Dale
• Jimmy Gus
• Peterson Nat Tucker
• King Neptune ^(mentioned)
• SpongeBob SquarePants
• Eugene H. Krabs
• Clay
• Dave, Frank, Percy, Isabelle, Harold
• Evelyn
• Gene Scallop ^(debut)
• Bob ^(debut)
• Barbara ^(debut)
• Kittens ^(debut)
• Harv
• Sadie
• Nazz-Mimi
• Norma Rechid
• Harold Bill Reginald Scott
• Fred
• Wobbles
• Goat ^(mentioned)
• Frank (red shirt)
• Frankie Billy
• Anchovy
• Billy
• Gus
• Tom
• Martha Smith
• Shubie
• Archie
• Harry
• Tina Fran
• Ivy
• Medley Fishbowl
• Vera Fishbowl
• John
• Francis
• Henry-Bart
• Joe
• Thaddeus
• Franco
• Lloyd-Rich
• Paco
• Miss Shell
• Sandals
• Tyler
• Abigail Marge
• Shelly Fishbowl
• Harold
• Taylor Fishbowl
• Miss Rechid
• Cara
• Charlie
• Debbie Rechid
• Dennis
• Frank (lifeguard)
• Mable
• Old Man Jenkins
• Perry
• Scooter
• Mrs. Tentacles ^(mentioned)
• Susie Rechid
• Nancy Suzy Fish
• Nathiel Waters
• Lonnie
• FBI agent
• Bailiff
• Horace A. Whopper ^(debut)
• Norma
• Halbert

Synopsis

One day at the Krusty Krab, Squidward had noticed that SpongeBob was not filling orders, so he goes to investigate with Mr. Krabs. He discovers that SpongeBob has something Mr. Krabs describes as the "1,000 yard stare" before asking him what the problem. They then discover a calendar in his hat that has the date of that day circled and on that day, a food critic was coming for a visit.

Squidward remarks only a moron would worry about that, in which both Mr. Krabs and SpongeBob are both in shock. Squidward states his point was proven and leaves. Soon Gene Scallop (the food critic) walks in the doors. As he is having his first glimpse of the restaurant, Squidward rudely talked to him, and nearly drove him away with other rude comments. Mr. Krabs stops him and SpongeBob serves him a Krabby Patty. Gene then takes a bite and leaves the restaurant in a hurry. Mr. Krabs loses hope.

SpongeBob, Mr. Krabs, and Squidward watch as Gene gave his review on the Krusty Krab, only to soil it. He says that the Krusty Krab smells "like the rear end of a goat" and that "you could find livelier help in a graveyard." The customers hear the review and they begin to leave in displeasure. However, an excited Gene says that the Krusty Krab is a big success because of the Krabby Patty and SpongeBob was no square when it came to cooking, ending with a good review. The customers come back pleased and prepared to eat. With things okay, SpongeBob is relieved and goes to cook while Mr. Krabs gets a money making idea.

File:Thekrustysponge3.jpeg

The next day, SpongeBob goes to work and sees that there is a new sign at the Krusty Krab, reading The Krusty Sponge, he also sees a long line, and Squidward in a SpongeBob costume as the restaurant's mascot. SpongeBob is oblivious to the costume and compliments him on his shoes but Squidward scares him off with a hiss. A boy named Tyler asks Squidward in his SpongeBob costume for his autograph and Squidward accidentally slaps him, disappointing Mr. Krabs especially when the kid wouldn't pay for an autograph. Mr. Krabs assigns Squidward to cook while SpongeBob finds out that his new job is to run a train outside the Krusty Krab, which Mr. Krabs charged customers to ride.

File:Thekrustysponge66.png

Mr. Krabs overly obsessed with SpongeBob themed items.

Mr. Krabs has Squidward cook and bathes in his money before Squidward tells him of delivery man here to see him. It is shown he has continued to order more SpongeBob related items such ice, aprons, and other things as Squidward questions if he is going too far. Mr. Krabs insists Squidward while showing clear signs of delusion. Mr. Krabs later has Squidward (who has managed to cook) serve the new Spongy Patties (actually tainted meat), Krabby Patties that look like SpongeBob since they couldn't fit in the fridge with the ice cubes. When Squidward questions him on serving rotten meat, Mr. Krabs realizes his point before he doubles the price for them.

When SpongeBob is out of energy from driving the train, he stops pedaling but his passengers unfortunately do not care in the slightest at how obviously exhausted he is and believe that he is an impersonator of SpongeBob. They soon threaten to riot. Using this distraction, SpongeBob manages to slip away after putting his statue in his place. He enters the Krusty Krab and discovers Mr. Krabs had gotten all kinds of new products, customized to look like SpongeBob.

File:Thekrustysponge79.png

The customers sick from the spongy patties

He also discovers that the new Spongy Patties were making people sick by turning them yellow with green spots (making them resemble SpongeBob) and giving them terrible stomach pains. SpongeBob gets Mr. Krabs to come out and when he sees the customers, he thinks he is invaded by zombies who want to eat his money and tries to protect his fortune. However, SpongeBob stops him and explains they are actually his customers who ate the Spongy Patties. A customer eats one of his sick friend's patty and is disgusted. He confronts Mr. Krabs over it and the latter meekly explains before the customer gets sick as well. A distraught SpongeBob tells his boss that he has poisoned all of his customers with the rotten patties. Mr. Krabs is shocked and guilty, as he realizes what he has done, he tries to explain but is arrested by the angry customer who is actually a cop.

In court, Mr. Krabs feels guilty on his actions and the jury headed by Gene Scallop finds him guilty, and Mr. Krabs accepts the charges. Just as Mr. Krabs is about to go to prison, he realizes the Judge has a SpongeBob gavel, and it turns out he is a huge SpongeBob fan. The deal is that SpongeBob goes back to cooking while Squidward has to drive the Judge around on the SpongeBob Train for the rest of the day if Mr. Krabs does not want go to prison. Squidward depressingly drives the Judge around the SpongeBob train and the Krusty Krab returns to normal.

Production

Music

( ‣ ) Production music

( • ) Original music

( ◦ ) SpongeBob music

 ‣ The Drunken Sailor - Nicolas Carr [title card]

 ‣ The Achterhoek Dances - Jan Rap [opening]
 ‣ Vibe Sting - Nicolas Carr [SpongeBob not moving]
 ‣ The Pollywog Strut - Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony ["Well, his spatula's still warm."]
 ‣ Dramatic Impact 6 - Ivor Slaney [Krabs enters]
 ‣ Someone Coming - Raymond C. Jones ["He's got the thousand-yard stare."]
 ‣ Vibe Q Sting - Nicolas Carr ["Important food critic visits Krusty Krab?!"]
 ‣ Nude Sting - Nicolas Carr [SpongeBob and Krabs shivering]
 ‣ High Noon - John Anthony [Gene Scallop enters]
 ‣ The Tip Top Polka/The Cliff Polka - Chelmsford Folk Band ["Well, hello!"]
 ‣ High Noon - John Anthony [Gene walks up to the register]
 ‣ The Tip Top Polka/The Cliff Polka - Chelmsford Folk Band [Gene's about to leave]
 ‣ The Gunfighter - Franco Micalizzi, Roberto Predagio [SpongeBob makes Gene a Krabby Patty]
 ‣ Bikini Bottom News Theme - Nicolas Carr [news on TV]
 ‣ Steel Sting - Jeremy Wakefield [customers start to leave]
 ‣ Keel Row - Brian Peters [Gene praises SpongeBob]
 ‣ Hollywood Glitz [#12] - Harry Bluestone, Emil Cadkin [new sign]
 ‣ The Tip Top Polka/The Cliff Polka - Chelmsford Folk Band ["Just making a few cosmetic changes."]
 ‣ Captain Lenoe's - The Folk Players ["Captain! My spatula is missing, sir!"]
 ‣ Steel Sting (a) - Jeremy Wakefield [Krabs puts Squidward on grill duty]
 ‣ SpongeBob SquarePants Theme - train ride
 ‣ Goofy Conversation - Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony [Squidward in the kitchen]
 ‣ SpongeBob SquarePants Theme - SpongeBob getting tired at the train ride
 ‣ Goofy Conversation - Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony [Squidward enters Mr. Krabs' office]
 ‣ The Rake Hornpipe - Robert Alexander White [boxes of SpongeBob merchandise]
 ‣ The Achterhoek Dances - Jan Rap [rotten yellow patties]
 ‣ SpongeBob SquarePants Theme - SpongeBob gets tired at the train ride
 ‣ Tension Bits - Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [everyone yelling at SpongeBob]
 ‣ Furtive Footsteps - Paddy Kingsland [SpongeBob sneaks away]
 ‣ Drama Link (d) - Hubert Clifford [SpongeBob screams]
 ‣ House of Horror - W. Merrick Farran [zombies]
 ‣ Vibe Q Sting - Nicolas Carr [Krabs having dinner with his money]
 ‣ Cellar Search - Philippe Pares ["Great Neptune's mother's stockings!"]
 ‣ Steel Licks (d) - Jeremy Wakefield [sick customers]
 ‣ Drama Link (d) - Hubert Clifford ["Mr. Krabs, what have you done?"]
 ‣ Steel Licks - Jeremy Wakefield [Krabs arrested]
 ‣ People's Court - Alan Stanley Tew [Krabs in court]
 ‣ Funeral Music - Alfred Kluten [Krabs found guilty]
 ‣ Harp Ding - Nicolas Carr ["Eh, hang on a second there, judge."]
 ‣ Lap Steel - Nicolas Carr ["Permission to approach the bench, Your Honor."]
 ‣ The Tip Top Polka/The Cliff Polka - Chelmsford Folk Band [SpongeBob back in the kitchen]
 ‣ SpongeBob SquarePants Theme - ending

Release

• This episode is available on the SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis, Season 5 Volume 1, Complete Fifth Season, and First 100 Episodes DVDs.

Trivia

General

• This episode seems to be a lampooning at Nickelodeon's over-commercialization of the franchise and Stephen Hillenburg's resentment towards it (such as marathons, merchandising, theme park attractions, live appearances, and more).
• When this episode premiered, it was paired with "Squid Wood".
• This is the only season 5 episode where Mr. Krabs is the main antagonist.
• This episode aired in Germany on June 28, 2007, before it aired in the USA.
• This is one of two episodes where the Bikini Bottomites actually DO become zombies. The other one is "Krabby Patty Creature Feature."
• The calendar in SpongeBob's Krusty Krab Employee Hat has a lion on it. This is the Zodiac sign Leo, which indicates it was probably between July and August 23.
• This is one of few episodes to reveal what time the Krusty Krab closes.
• When it's revealed that SpongeBob is petrified because he's worried about an important food critic's visit, Squidward says, "Only a complete moron would worry about what some critic has to say." In other episodes, Squidward himself is worried about what other critics have to say about his art.
• Gene Scallop has a similar appearance to the DJ in the Thug Tug from The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.

Gene Shallots fact.

• According to the episode's Bubble Burst Trivia Facts (found on Season 5 Volume 1 DVD Special features), Gene Scallop could have been named Gene Shallots, since shallots are also food.
• The sign next to Squidward (when wearing a SpongeBob costume) says "As Seen on TV," a reference to the episode of the same name.
• The SpongeBob costume that Squidward wears is based on the actual SpongeBob costume since he is unable to use his actual arms like the real costume and its arms are like sticks.
• The music heard at The Krusty Sponge Fun Train is a carnival version of the SpongeBob SquarePants Theme Song.

Mr. Krabs having a back issue.

• When Mr. Krabs escorts the SpongeBob boxes into his kitchen, he is seen spazzing, as to indicate that Mr. Krabs either pulled a muscle or cracked his back. This was first seen and mentioned in "The Lost Mattress."
• The changes Mr. Krabs made were:
  • New Krusty Sponge sign
  • Krusty Sponge Fun Train
  • Krusty Sponge napkins
  • Tangy Sponge Sauce
  • Mild Bobby Sauce
  • SpongeBob drinking straws
  • Coasters
  • Bibs
  • SpongeBob ice cubes
  • Spongy Patties (which were really rotten patties)
  • SpongeBob costumes
• The combination of spots and yellow skin is a reference to chicken pox and yellow fever, both of which show symptoms on a person's skin.
• A customer is seen holding a spoon and a fork at the Krusty Krab. Even though, it is shown that there are no meals that require silverware at the Krusty Krab.
• Bikini Bottomites thought they were zombies before in the episode "Once Bitten."
• Some fish from "Krabs vs. Plankton" are seen in the court. That might be because the producers might have reused the court backgrounds.
• One could question how legal it would be for Mr. Krabs to bribe the judge with Squidward's services, yet Mr. Krabs is not shown to be in trouble with the law in future episodes.
• Mr. Krabs' greed is really shown as he would sell rotten patties and double the price for profit while disregarding the health violations. Of course, like in most episodes, Mr. Krabs greed makes him act stupid to not realize the health violations.
• For Gene to have food poison, implies he made a second (off-screen) visit to the Krusty Krab.
• In Bahasa Malaysia version, the prison's word is replaced with river.
• In the Welsh dub, Gene Scallop is named Dudley Dwr.
• This episode premiered on the same day Behold, No Cavities! was published and two years before My Pet Sea Monster was published.
• In the Croatian dub, the episode's name is "Spužva Bobova Poslastica", which would translate, if it was the name of the restaurant "SpongeBob's Confectionery."
• Irony: A fish riding the fun train says "That's the worst SpongeBob costume I've ever seen," yet the actual SpongeBob is operating the train.
• This is the second time Mr. Krabs goes to court. The first was in "Krabs vs. Plankton."
• Interestingly, this episode's title card has a plate, even though it fits another Season 5 episode, "The Krusty Plate" more, which has a similar title.

Cultural references

• The thousand-yard stare is a real condition wherein a person suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder stares into deep space after continuous exposure to traumatic events.
• Gene Scallop is an animated caricature of his real-life counterpart Gene Shalit.
• The Krusty Sponge's monument of a giant SpongeBob holding a giant Krabby Patty is a spoof of the Big Boy Restaurants chain.
• The judge's last name is "Whopper," which is a fishing term for a very large fish, especially one that got away.
• The judge's name may also be a reference to Judge Joseph A. Wapner, a retired former American judge and former TV judge in the courtroom reality show The People's Court. The show's theme plays during the episode after the cut to the courtroom.

Errors

• In the beginning, Dale and Jimmy Gus are behind the orange fish customer, but in the next scene, Nat gets his order taken. 
• When Squidward is hissing at SpongeBob, his mouth is shown, even though the part of the SpongeBob costume (the Krusty Krab hat) doesn't have a hole for it.
• Squidward's arms cannot move when he is trying to give the child an autograph while he is in the SpongeBob costume, but they can when the judge rides the SpongeBob train.

File:089a - The Krusty Sponge (317).jpg

Frank in the background with his miscolored area above his mouth.

• When Mr. Krabs is showing Squidward the SpongeBob napkins, the lighter area of Frank's body above his lips is miscolored like the rest of his body.
• When Squidward is cooking Krabby Patties with his nose, the grill is on the opposite side of the kitchen. This error also happened in "Your Shoe's Untied." Although, earlier in the episode, the grill is in its original area.

File:089a - The Krusty Sponge (450).jpg

Mr. Krabs' weirdly placed eyestalks.

• Right before Mr. Krabs throws the Spongy Patty on the grill, his eyes are placed much farther down than usual.
• When the train is first shown in the second to last car, Miss Rechid is gray, but in the next shot she is blue.
• Even though the patties make the fish yellow with green spots, when Jimmy Gus is shown in the stands he is normal with yellow spots.
• At the end, with Squidward driving the Judge on the train, and SpongeBob behind the grill, it is not mentioned if there is still a cashier at the Krusty Krab.
• When a female fish says "That's the worst SpongeBob costume I've ever seen," she has a man's voice.
• In the courtroom scene, Gene Scallop says: "We, the jury, find the defendant, Eugene A. Krabs, guilty of all charges," but Mr. Krabs' middle name starts with H. It is possible that since Gene Scallop doesn't know Krabs very well (other than poisoning his customers, including Gene Scallop himself) is why he thought A was Krabs' middle initial.
• Squidward in the SpongeBob costume was seen near a sign, but when the kid comes to ask for his autograph, it's gone.