View source for A Taste of Plankton

{{Episode
|title = A Taste of Plankton
|code = 325-1442
|airdate = {{Flag|USA}} {{Time|February 28}}, {{Time|2025}}<br>{{Flag|CAN}} {{Time|March 29}}, {{Time|2025}}<br>{{Flag|YT}} {{Flag|UK}} {{Flag|IRL}} {{Time|May 3}}, {{Time|2025}}<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAoAym1CyjQ Jeffy T's Prankwell Emporium 💥 + A Taste of Plankton 👅 | SpongeBob FULL EPISODES | Nickelodeon UK]</ref><br>{{Flag|UK}} {{Flag|IRL}} {{Time|May 5}}, {{Time|2025}}<ref>[https://tv24.co.uk/channel/nickelodeon/2025-05-05 Nickelodeon UK - May 5, 2025]</ref><br>{{Flag|P+}} {{Flag|AUS}} {{Flag|NZ}} {{Time|May 7}}, {{Time|2025}}<br>{{Flag|AUS}} {{Flag|NZ}} {{Time|May 13}}, {{Time|2025}} (Nickelodeon){{SeeMore}}{{Flag|CHE}} {{Time|May 10}}, {{Time|2025}}<ref>https://cartoonlounge.de/tv-programm/channels?id=657&hl=en&time_zone=CET&date=2025-05-10</ref> (7+)<br>{{Flag|TUR}} {{Flag|EU}} {{Flag|POL}} {{Flag|GER}} {{Flag|ARL}} {{Flag|AFR}} {{Flag|NOR}} {{Flag|SWE}} {{Flag|DEN}} {{Flag|BRA}} {{Flag|LAM}} {{Flag|ESP}} {{Flag|POR}} {{Flag|AUT}} {{Flag|CHE}} {{Flag|BEN}} {{Flag|FRA}} {{Flag|CIS}} {{Flag|UKR}} {{Flag|KZ}} {{Flag|SEA}} {{Time|May 13}}, {{Time|2025}}<br>{{Flag|ITA}} {{Time|May 19}}, {{Time|2025}}<br>{{Flag|ISR}} {{Time|May 24}}, {{Time|2025}} (TeenNick; translated)<br>{{Flag|ISR}} {{Time|July 6}}, {{Time|2025}} (Nick Israel; dubbed){{SeeMoreEnd}}
|year = {{Time|2025}}
|sisterep = Jeffy T's Prankwell Emporium
|writer = [[Luke Brookshier]]
|supervising producer = [[Marc Ceccarelli]]<br>[[Vincent Waller]]
|supervising director = [[Dave Cunningham]]
|line producer = [[Joe Crowley]]
|director-storyboard = [[Zeus Cervas]]
|director-animation = [[Eric Bryan]]
|briefsummary = {{Link|Plankton}} tries to get a taste of the [[Krabby Patty secret formula|secret formula]] by attaching himself to {{Link|SpongeBob}}'s tongue.
}}

===Characters===
*{{Link|SpongeBob SquarePants}}
*[[Sheldon J. Plankton]]
*[[Karen Plankton]]
*[[Realistic Fish Head]]
*[[Squidward Tentacles]]
*[[Eugene H. Krabs]]
*[[Patrick Star]]
*[[Ice Cream King]]
*[[Hillbilly]]
*[[Kelpy G]] {{Sup|(pictured)}}
*{{Link|Incidentals}}
**[[Fred]] {{Sup|(Incidental 111)}}
**[[Incidental 3]]
**[[Steven]]
**[[Incidental 7]]
**[[Incidental 8]]
**[[Incidental 12]]
**[[Incidental 13]]
**[[Incidental 14]]
**[[Incidental 15]]
**[[Incidental 20]]
**[[Charlie (Inc 23)|Charlie]]
**[[Incidental 24]]
**[[Harold (Inc 36)|Harold]]
**[[Incidental 41]]
**[[Incidental 46]]
**[[Incidental 47]]
**[[Incidental 48]]
**[[Incidental 49]]
**[[Incidental 64]]
**[[Incidental 95]] {{Sup|(alternate colors)}}
**[[Incidental 103]]
**[[Steve]]
**[[Dale]]
**[[Incidental 111]] {{Sup|(color palette only)}}
**[[Incidental 118C]]

==Synopsis==
At the [[Chum Bucket]], Plankton watches a [[The World of Gross Sea Life|TV show about strange sea creatures]], featuring a parasitic isopod that lives on fish tongues. Inspired, he comes up with a plan to glue himself to SpongeBob’s tongue to steal a sample of a [[Krabby Patty]]. Disguising himself in pink to blend in with a tongue, he grabs some glue and a sample jar. SpongeBob is at home ironing his [[SpongeBob's pants|pants]] when Karen, disguised as a candy vendor, rings the doorbell. After reciting a dull poem, she gives him a free box of bon-bons, with Plankton hidden inside as one piece of chocolate. SpongeBob eats the entire box except for the last piece, which is Plankton, and leaves it for Gary. After Plankton gets through Gary's intestine, SpongeBob tosses him into the trash, leaving Plankton to rethink his strategy. Just then, SpongeBob unknowingly steps on him, mistakes him for discarded chewing gum, and pops him into his mouth instead of wasting it.
[[File:A Taste of Plankton 067.png|thumb|200px|Plankton as SpongeBob's tongue.]]
As Plankton is chewed and inflated like a gum, he attempts to use his glue to attach himself to SpongeBob’s tongue, but he struggles to open the bottle. However, SpongeBob accidentally bites it, causing the glue to spill all over his tongue and Plankton, fusing them together. On his way to work, SpongeBob practices tongue twisters from a book, unknowingly causing Plankton pain. Upon arriving at the [[Krusty Krab]], SpongeBob greets Squidward, who complains about his bad breath. To freshen up, SpongeBob uses a breath spray, which irritates Plankton’s eye. SpongeBob then heads to get frozen patties but finds the freezer empty. Deciding to make his own, he opens a cabinet filled with mysterious secret ingredients from A to Z, much to Plankton's dismay. After mixing the components, SpongeBob tastes the mixture but can’t detect any flavor because the glue covered his taste buds.

He adds Limburger cheese but still can’t taste it — unlike Plankton, who suffers greatly. He then throws in sauerkraut, [[Flying Dutchman]] peppers, and even the Dutchman’s toe jam. While SpongeBob remains unfazed when tasting it again, Plankton experiences overwhelming agony, realizing his plan was a huge mistake. Since SpongeBob can’t taste anything, he uses the bad mixture to make Krabby Patties, which turn out horribly. When SpongeBob serves them to the customers, they are disgusted, with one even claiming they’re worse than [[chum]], catching Mr. Krabs’ attention while he bathes in his [[money]]. After he rushes out of his office to taste a Krabby Patty himself, Mr. Krabs is appalled and demands an explanation from SpongeBob. SpongeBob tells that, for some reason, the Krabby Patties have no flavor, while Mr. Krabs finds them very intense, leading him to believe that SpongeBob has a problem with his tongue. Upon taking a closer look at his tongue, Mr. Krabs concludes that SpongeBob's taste buds are worn out and sends him home to rest. As SpongeBob walks out of the Krusty Krab sadly, Plankton, seeing his plan as a failure, tries to remove his disguise and abandon the scheme, but the zipper is stuck because of the glue.
[[File:A Taste of Plankton 196.png|thumb|200px|Patrick competes in the Chum Eating Contest.]]
SpongeBob seeks advice from Patrick, who assumes his tongue is just dirty, since the same thing always happens to him. SpongeBob washes his tongue (and Plankton) with soap at home, and even takes it further by an intense cleaning at the [[Boat Wash]]. After the procedure, SpongeBob asks a man for his hat to lick, but it remains flavorless. At home, SpongeBob finally realizes his tongue is truly worn out. He heads to his tongue collection and replaces it with a fresh one, immediately wondering why he didn't think of this sooner. Soon after, Patrick is at the door, asking to borrow SpongeBob’s old tongue — the one with Plankton still attached to it. Plankton is overjoyed, believing he finally has a chance to obtain a Krabby Patty sample since Patrick eats so many. However, his excitement quickly fades when he discovers that Patrick is actually entering the Chum Eating Contest at the Chum Bucket. Forced to consume chum, Plankton laments about his fate, wishing he had a removable tongue of his own.

==Production==
This episode was confirmed by Cartoonlounge.de on {{Time|July 29}}, {{Time|2024}}.<ref>[https://cartoonlounge.de/spongebob-schwammkopf/episode/314b-a-taste-of-plankton.php A Taste of Plankton (Episode 314b) - SpongeBob SquarePants | Cartoonlounge]</ref>

===Art===
====Background design====
*Layouts designed by [[George Nachev]], traditionally painted by [[Amy Lewis]] in gouache. Scanned in with lines drawn digitally on top.<ref>[https://x.com/AmyLewis_Art/status/1896237383567475111 Amy Lewis on Twitter - "2 of the backgrounds I painted..."]</ref>
<gallery widths="180" captionalign="center" position="center">
1442 background 1.jpeg|Close-up of Patrick's tongue
1442 background 2.jpeg|Close-up of Patrick's mouth
1442 process photo 1.jpeg|Process photo #1
1442 process photo 2.jpeg|Process photo #2
</gallery>

===Storyboards===
*Storyboarded by [[Zeus Cervas]], supervised by [[Dave Cunningham]], plussed by [[Benjamin Arcand]] and [[Nick Lauer]].<ref>[https://bsky.app/profile/crazybaloney.bsky.social/post/3lpnphg2ht226 Benjamin Arcand on Bluesky - "(I'm so late but) Thanks! And..."]</ref><ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/DHJ37VJyW8u/ Nick Lauer on Instagram - "Buncha drawings I did for a few..."]</ref>
**Lauer's board panel of Krabs taking a money bath was altered in the final episode, while the panel of SpongeBob sucking on a lemon was removed altogether.
[[File:1442BenjaminArcand.mp4|250px|center]]
<gallery widths="180" captionalign="center" position="center">
1442 Nick Lauer boards 1.jpg
1442 Nick Lauer boards 2.jpg
</gallery>

====Deleted scenes====
*Proposed intro scene for the episode, plussed by Nick Lauer.<ref>[https://bsky.app/profile/nicklauerart.bsky.social/post/3ljgpodi2dc24 Nick Lauer on Bluesky - "An intro I came up with to set up..."]</ref>
<gallery widths="180" position="center">
1442 Nick Lauer deleted scene 1.jpg
1442 Nick Lauer deleted scene 2.jpg
1442 Nick Lauer deleted scene 3.jpg
1442 Nick Lauer deleted scene 4.jpg
</gallery>


===Music===
{{MLegend}}
{{OM|Another Best Day Ever|Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield|Title card.}}
{{APM|z|Zero Gravity (Gravità Zero)|Romano Di Bari|Opening.}}
{{APM|p|Praying Mantis|Sam Sklair|Plankton gets an idea.}}
{{OM|Lap Steel#Lap Steel-spce_01{{!}}Lap Steel-spce_01|Nicolas Carr|Transition to next scene.}}
{{OM|A Simple Conversation#A Simple Conversation 1{{!}}A Simple Conversation 1|Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony|Plankton disguised as a tongue.}}
{{OM|Silly Bob Conversation#Silly Bob Conversation 2{{!}}Silly Bob Conversation 2|Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony|SpongeBob eating candies.}}
{{OM|Hot Steel and Slide Licks 22#Hot Steel and Slide Licks 22A{{!}}Hot Steel and Slide Licks 22A|Jeremy Wakefield|SpongeBob takes out the trash.}}
{{APM-article|Zoo Doings|Jack Shaindlin|SpongeBob puts Plankton in his mouth.}}
{{OM|Skipping to School|Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield|SpongeBob walks to work.}}
{{APM-article|Drama Unlimited#Drama Unlimited 4{{!}}Drama Unlimited 4 - Remastered|Ronald Hanmer|"Oh, no! We're out of patties!"}}
{{APM-article|Bridge 3 - Remastered|Wilfred Burns|"Which means I get to make a whole new batch!"}}
{{OM|Slide Whistle Stooges 2#Slide Whistle Stooges 2 No Whistle{{!}}Slide Whistle Stooges 2 No Whistle|Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield|SpongeBob making patties.}}
{{APM|n|Nervous Tension 1|Dick De Benedictis|"Oh, I made a critical error."}}
{{OM|Jovial Pirate's Jig|Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr|SpongeBob serving patties.}}
{{OM-nonarticle|||Nicolas Carr|"Worse than chum?!"}}
{{OM|Hot Steel and Slide Licks 20#Hot Steel and Slide Licks 20A{{!}}Hot Steel and Slide Licks 20A|Jeremy Wakefield|"What have you done to my patties?!"}}
{{OM|Sad Sailor Waltz|Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr|"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Krabs."}}
{{OM|Hot Steel and Slide Licks 40#Hot Steel and Slide Licks 40E{{!}}Hot Steel and Slide Licks 40E|Jeremy Wakefield|SpongeBob leaves work.}}
{{OM|A Fishy Conversation#A Short Fishy Conversation{{!}}A Short Fishy Conversation|Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony|Plankton can't unzip his costume.}}
{{OM|Nothing Going On|Daniel Stimac|SpongeBob visits Patrick.}}
{{OM|Hot Steel and Slide Licks 7#Hot Steel and Slide Licks 7I{{!}}Hot Steel and Slide Licks 7I|Jeremy Wakefield|Close-up of Patrick's tongue.}}
{{OM-nonarticle|||Nicolas Carr|"You're the smartest smart person who ever smarted!"}}
{{OM|Coconut Cream Pie#Coconut Cream Pie Dry Mix{{!}}Coconut Cream Pie Dry Mix|Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield|SpongeBob tries to clean his tongue.}}
{{APM-article|Brown Threat{{!}}Brown Threat - Remastered|Alan Owen|SpongeBob licks a man's hat.}}
{{OM|Hgliss & Bell|Nicolas Carr|"Guess it's time for a new one!"}}
{{OM|Clowning Around#Clowning Around 2{{!}}Clowning Around 2|Barry Anthony|SpongeBob puts on a new tongue.}}
{{OM|12th St Rag#12th Street Rag w Bass{{!}}12th Street Rag w Bass|Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield|Ending.}}

==Trivia==
===General===
*The title card represents tongue prints.
*This episode premiered as part of the {{Time|2025}} event "[[Friday Night Hits]]."
*Plankton [[List of fourth wall breaks|breaks the fourth wall]] twice by looking at the camera.
*This is the fourth episode where SpongeBob is unaware that Plankton is in the same location as him, following "[[20,000 Patties Under the Sea]]," "[[Banned in Bikini Bottom]]," and "[[Free Samples]]."
*This is the fourth episode where SpongeBob's tongue is shown to be detachable, after "[[Karate Choppers]]," "[[Fools in April]]," and "[[The Main Drain]]."
*This episode marks the seventh instance of Plankton going inside SpongeBob's body. The first is "[[Plankton!]]," the second is "[[The Inside Job]]," the third is ''[[The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water]]'', the fourth is "[[House Worming]]," the fifth is "[[The Krusty Slammer]]," and the sixth is "[[Parasite Pals]]." Ironically, both this episode and "The Inside Job" are written by Luke Brookshier.

===Episode references===
*When Plankton is stuck to the glue and Karen pulls him out, his lower half is pink with underwear, like in "[[Single Cell Anniversary]]."
*One of the contestants in the chum-eating contest is the hillbilly who bought 20 [[chocolate bar]]s to "make him sound smart" in "[[Chocolate with Nuts]]."

==Names in other languages==
{{Foreign names
|Rus = Вкус Планктона
|RusR = Vkus Planktona
|RusM = A Taste of Plankton
|Spa=Sabor a Plankton|SpaM=Taste of Plankton|Pol=Smak Planktona|PolM=The taste of Plankton}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}