|briefsummary = {{Link|SpongeBob}} is recruiting to cook in the big leagues, but first, he must prove his worth in the test kitchen
|briefsummary = {{Link|SpongeBob}} is recruited to cook in the big leagues, but first, he must prove his worth in the test kitchen.
}}
}}
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*[[Restaurant manager]] {{Single appearance}}
*[[Restaurant manager]] {{Single appearance}}
*[[Fondue man]]
*[[Fondue man]]
*[[Incidentals]]
*[[Fancy guy]]
*[[Fancy guy]]
*{{Link|Incidentals}}
**[[Fred]]
**[[Fred]]
**[[Incidental 8]]
**[[Incidental 8]]
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**[[Incidental 16]]
**[[Incidental 16]]
**[[Incidental 31]]
**[[Incidental 31]]
**[[Scooter (Inc 37B)|Scooter]]
**[[Incidental 37B]]
**[[Harold]]
**[[Harold (Inc 40)]]
**[[Incidental 42]]
**[[Incidental 42]]
**[[Judy]]
**[[Judy]]
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**[[Harris]]
**[[Harris]]
**[[Incidental 93]]
**[[Incidental 93]]
**[[Reporter flute]]
**[[Incidental 95]]
**[[Incidental 104]]
**[[Gale]]
**[[Steve]]
**[[Steve]]
**[[Dale]]
**[[Dale]]
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**[[Incidental 164]]
**[[Incidental 164]]
**[[Incidental 180]]
**[[Incidental 180]]
**[[Teen 7]]
**[[Cindy]]
**[[Teen 12]]
**[[Teen 12]]
**[[Incidental F19]]
**[[Incidental F19]]
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==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
[[File:Screenshot 2024-08-12 10.01.59 PM.png|thumb|200px|The restaurant manager arrives at the Krusty Krab.]]
[[File:Big League Bob 003.png|thumb|200px|The restaurant manager arrives at the Krusty Krab.]]
A restaurant manager makes his way to the [[Krusty Krab]], attempting to find one more candidate for his new stadium restaurant. He sees SpongeBob fancily preparing a [[Krabby Patty]] and complements his cooking. After eating the Krabby Patty, the manager thinks that SpongeBob can be his next culinary superstar at his restaurant. He gives Mr. Krabs a fortune of money to take SpongeBob to his restaurant. Despite SpongeBob not wanting to leave the Krusty Krab, Mr. Krabs finds the manager's offer too good to turn down, as the manager leaves with SpongeBob.
A restaurant manager makes his way to the [[Krusty Krab]], attempting to find one more candidate for his new stadium restaurant. He sees SpongeBob fancily preparing a [[Krabby Patty]] and complements his cooking. After eating the Krabby Patty, the manager thinks that SpongeBob can be his next culinary superstar at his restaurant. He gives Mr. Krabs a fortune of money to take SpongeBob to his restaurant. Despite SpongeBob not wanting to leave the Krusty Krab, Mr. Krabs finds the manager's offer too good to turn down, as the manager leaves with SpongeBob.
At the tryouts kitchen, the manager gives SpongeBob and three other chefs cooking tests to decide who will be his chef at the stadium, with those who are eliminated forced to sell hot dogs on the freeway. The manager first assigns the chefs to cook soup. The sea turtle sabotages SpongeBob and the eel chef, but SpongeBob soon gets the idea to use his tie, and he dips it in his soup. As the manager judges the soups, he eliminates the eel chef after noticing the nails that were poured by the sea turtle as sabotage. At the end of judging, he declares SpongeBob the winner of the round.
At the tryouts kitchen, the manager gives SpongeBob and three other chefs cooking tests to decide who will be his chef at the stadium, with those who are eliminated forced to sell hot dogs on the freeway. The manager first assigns the chefs to cook soup. The sea turtle sabotages SpongeBob and the eel chef, but SpongeBob soon gets the idea to use his tie, and he dips it in his soup. As the manager judges the soups, he eliminates the eel chef after noticing the nails that were poured by the sea turtle as sabotage. At the end of judging, he declares SpongeBob the winner of the round.
[[File:Screenshot 2024-08-12 10.08.54 PM.png|thumb|200px|SpongeBob wins the final round.]]
[[File:Big League Bob 127.png|thumb|200px|SpongeBob winning the final round.|left]]
The manager's next test for the chefs is pizza. The sea turtle apologizes to SpongeBob for sabotaging him earlier, but he proceeds to trick him with a "special pizza dough" made of chewed gum. The shrimp chef tries to issue payback to the sea turtle, who threw nails at him prior, by putting nails on his pizza, but the sea turtle notices him. The manager soon proceeds to judge the pizzas and eliminates the sea turtle after noticing the nails on his pizza. The sea turtle declares revenge on SpongeBob while he is eliminated. The manager tastes SpongeBob's pizza, which had the shrimp chef inside. The manager complements the pizza for its unique flavor and declares SpongeBob the winner of the competition.
The manager's next test for the chefs is pizza. The sea turtle apologizes to SpongeBob for sabotaging him earlier, but he proceeds to trick him with a "special pizza dough" made of chewed gum. The shrimp chef tries to issue payback to the sea turtle, who threw nails at him prior, by putting nails on his pizza, but the sea turtle notices him. The manager soon proceeds to judge the pizzas and eliminates the sea turtle after noticing the nails on his pizza. The sea turtle declares revenge on SpongeBob while he is eliminated. The manager tastes SpongeBob's pizza, which had the shrimp chef inside. The manager complements the pizza for its unique flavor and declares SpongeBob the winner of the competition.
At the Culinary Stadium, SpongeBob prepares to go on. SpongeBob manages to handle the orders with his skills and precision, but unbeknown to him, the sea turtle shows up at the stadium with a timed bomb, attempting to once again sabotage SpongeBob. Meanwhile, Mr. Krabs and Squidward arrive and are surprised that only the wealthy customers get to eat the food SpongeBob eats while everyone is forced to sit and watch the show. Now under pressure from time, SpongeBob panics as the food on stage starts to fall apart. Mr. Krabs, in the stands, gives SpongeBob an order of Krabby Patties to help him win. SpongeBob successfully prepares Krabby Patties and serves them to the customers outside the premium seats.
At the [[Oyster Stadium|Culinary Stadium]], SpongeBob prepares to go on. SpongeBob manages to handle the orders with his skills and precision, but unbeknown to him, the sea turtle shows up at the stadium with a timed bomb, attempting to once again sabotage SpongeBob. Meanwhile, Mr. Krabs and Squidward arrive and are surprised that only the wealthy customers get to eat the food SpongeBob eats while everyone is forced to sit and watch the show. Now under pressure from time, SpongeBob panics as the food on stage starts to fall apart. Mr. Krabs, in the stands, gives SpongeBob an order of Krabby Patties to help him win. SpongeBob successfully prepares Krabby Patties and serves them to the customers outside the premium seats.
The manager stops the competition due to Krabby Patties not fitting his standard of quality food, as SpongeBob forfeits, wanting to go back to the Krusty Krab. Patrick instructs SpongeBob to go back on stage as the crowd cheers for him in the background. The bomb, still active on the stage, explodes, and launches SpongeBob into the stands, as Patrick catches him and reminds SpongeBob of his high status among the customers.
The manager stops the competition due to Krabby Patties not fitting his standard of quality food, as SpongeBob forfeits, wanting to go back to the Krusty Krab. Patrick instructs SpongeBob to go back on stage as the crowd cheers for him in the background. The bomb, still active on the stage, explodes, and launches SpongeBob into the stands, as Patrick catches him and reminds SpongeBob of his high status among the customers.
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===Art===
===Art===
====Background design====
====Background design====
*Supervised by Ann Lee and Lucy Tanashian-Gentry, traditionally painted in gouache by [[Amy Lewis]] and Abril Aello Fregozo. Scanned in with lines painted digitally on top.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/C95Rrioq-6T/ Amy Lewis on Instagram - "WARNING: Filthy SpongeBob background paintings..."]</ref><ref>[https://abrilaello.myportfolio.com/professional Abril Aello - Professional]</ref>
*Supervised by [[Ann Lee]] and [[Lucy Tanashian-Gentry]], traditionally painted in gouache by [[Amy Lewis]] and [[Abril Aello Fregozo]]. Scanned in with lines painted digitally on top.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/C95Rrioq-6T/ Amy Lewis on Instagram - "WARNING: Filthy SpongeBob background paintings..."]</ref><ref>[https://abrilaello.myportfolio.com/professional Abril Aello - Professional]</ref>
1428 background 1.jpg|SpongeBob's food-stained tie
1428 background 1.jpg|SpongeBob's food-stained tie
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==Trivia==
==Trivia==
===General===
===General===
*This is the second time SpongeBob participates in a cooking competition, the first being "[[Neptune's Spatula]]."
[[File:Welcome to the Big Leagues.jpeg|center|250px]]
*The title card for this episode is similar to those of "[[Dying for Pie]]," "[[The Krusty Sponge]]," "[[Someone's in the Kitchen with Sandy]]," and "[[Company Picnic]]," except for the plate, fork, spoon, and knife.
*This episode was originally titled "Welcome to the Big Leagues."
*Along with [[Sammy Suckerfish|its sister episode]], this is the first episode to use the 2024 Nickelodeon Productions logo at the end of the credits to represent the splat rebrand.
*The title card background is similar to those of "[[Dying for Pie]]," "[[The Krusty Sponge]]," "[[Someone's in the Kitchen with Sandy]]," and "[[Company Picnic]]," except for the plate, fork, spoon, and knife.
**Because of the Paramount byline in the Nickelodeon Productions logo, the copyright info is baked into the credits, after the Executive in Charge of Nickelodeon credit.
[[File:Vlcsnap-2024-08-23-17h53m04s916.png|thumb|260px|The 2024 Nickelodeon Productions logo, seen at the end of the credits. Notice the lack of copyright info.]]
[[File:Vlcsnap-2024-08-23-17h53m04s916.png|thumb|260px|The 2024 Nickelodeon Productions logo, seen at the end of the credits. Notice the lack of copyright info.]]
[[File:Vlcsnap-2024-08-23-17h52m15s245.png|thumb|260px|Copyright info is placed in the actual credits rather than the Nickelodeon Productions logo.]]
[[File:Vlcsnap-2024-08-23-17h52m15s245.png|thumb|260px|Copyright info is placed in the actual credits rather than the Nickelodeon Productions logo.]]
*The episode, alongside "[[Sammy Suckerfish]]" were called season 14 episodes in TV guides on their premiere and subsequent reruns.
*Along with [[Sammy Suckerfish|its sister episode]], this is the first episode in airing order to use the {{Time|2024}} [[Nickelodeon]] Productions logo at the end of the credits to represent the splat rebrand. In packaging order, however, "[[Sandy's Country Christmas]]" is the first.
**Because of the Paramount byline in the Nickelodeon Productions logo, the copyright info is baked into the credits, after the Executive in Charge of Nickelodeon credit.
*This is the second time SpongeBob participates in a cooking competition, the first being "[[Neptune's Spatula]]."
[[File:Sammy Suckerfish Season 14 Nickelodeon Website.png|thumb|260px|Sammy Suckerfish and Big League Bob listed as season 14 episodes on Nick.com.]]
[[File:Sammy Suckerfish and Big League Bob on Amazon.png|thumb|260px|Sammy Suckerfish and Big League Bob listed as season 14 episodes on Amazon.]]
*This episode was originally produced in the production cycle of [[season 14]]. However, Nickelodeon split the packaged season in half during production, thus becoming a season 15 episode.
**The episode, alongside "[[Sammy Suckerfish]]" were called season 14 episodes in TV guides on their premiere, subsequent reruns, {{W|Amazon}}, and {{W|Nick.com}}.
*Some of the fancy food SpongeBob serves up is re-used models from earlier episodes: two plates of gum food from "[[Lost and Found]]" and the [[Krabby Pâté]] from "[[Krusty Katering]]."
*This episode has a [[List of episodes with Nick UK sensitivity warnings|sensitivity warning]] on Nickelodeon UK for the scene where a bomb is planted in the stadium. It has also not aired in the UK and Ireland since {{Time|December 28}}, {{Time|2024}}.<ref>[https://tv24.co.uk/channel/nickelodeon/2024-12-28 Nickelodeon UK - December 28, 2024]</ref><ref>[[:File:Nickelodeon UK email - June 25, 2025.png]]</ref>
{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}
==Video==
===Episode references===
[[File:Check out the latest Nickelodeon Animation Spot (Nickelodeon U.S.)|thumb|center|460px]]
*[[Oyster Stadium]] bears the snail race sign from "[[The Great Snail Race]]."
*The banner shown at the final tournament features the show's {{Time|1999}}-{{Time|2008}} logo, alongside a redraw of a [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/spongebob/images/e/e7/GTXUR1hWQAAUR1b.png/revision/latest?cb=20240913054542 SpongeBob stock art piece], with a few alterations, including the change to a chef's outfit.
Big League Bob 130.png|The show's logo from 1999-2008 logo on the banner shown at the final tournament.
Bob1.svg|The logo that was referenced on the final tournament banner for SpongeBob.
GTXUR1hWQAAUR1b.png|The stock art that was referenced on the final tournament banner for SpongeBob.
</gallery>
===Cultural references===
*The [[restaurant manager]] bears a resemblance to Phil Silvers from ''{{W|The Phil Silvers Show}}''.
*The design of the [[turtle]] is a parody of {{W|Bluto}} from the ''{{W|Popeye}}'' comics.
=== Errors ===
[[File:The first shot.png|thumb|Frame 1]]
* When the restaurant manager bites the first patty SpongeBob makes in the episode, the lettuce slice changes places.[[File:Bitten patty.png|thumb|Next shot]]
A restaurant manager makes his way to the Krusty Krab, attempting to find one more candidate for his new stadium restaurant. He sees SpongeBob fancily preparing a Krabby Patty and complements his cooking. After eating the Krabby Patty, the manager thinks that SpongeBob can be his next culinary superstar at his restaurant. He gives Mr. Krabs a fortune of money to take SpongeBob to his restaurant. Despite SpongeBob not wanting to leave the Krusty Krab, Mr. Krabs finds the manager's offer too good to turn down, as the manager leaves with SpongeBob.
At the tryouts kitchen, the manager gives SpongeBob and three other chefs cooking tests to decide who will be his chef at the stadium, with those who are eliminated forced to sell hot dogs on the freeway. The manager first assigns the chefs to cook soup. The sea turtle sabotages SpongeBob and the eel chef, but SpongeBob soon gets the idea to use his tie, and he dips it in his soup. As the manager judges the soups, he eliminates the eel chef after noticing the nails that were poured by the sea turtle as sabotage. At the end of judging, he declares SpongeBob the winner of the round.
The manager's next test for the chefs is pizza. The sea turtle apologizes to SpongeBob for sabotaging him earlier, but he proceeds to trick him with a "special pizza dough" made of chewed gum. The shrimp chef tries to issue payback to the sea turtle, who threw nails at him prior, by putting nails on his pizza, but the sea turtle notices him. The manager soon proceeds to judge the pizzas and eliminates the sea turtle after noticing the nails on his pizza. The sea turtle declares revenge on SpongeBob while he is eliminated. The manager tastes SpongeBob's pizza, which had the shrimp chef inside. The manager complements the pizza for its unique flavor and declares SpongeBob the winner of the competition.
At the Culinary Stadium, SpongeBob prepares to go on. SpongeBob manages to handle the orders with his skills and precision, but unbeknown to him, the sea turtle shows up at the stadium with a timed bomb, attempting to once again sabotage SpongeBob. Meanwhile, Mr. Krabs and Squidward arrive and are surprised that only the wealthy customers get to eat the food SpongeBob eats while everyone is forced to sit and watch the show. Now under pressure from time, SpongeBob panics as the food on stage starts to fall apart. Mr. Krabs, in the stands, gives SpongeBob an order of Krabby Patties to help him win. SpongeBob successfully prepares Krabby Patties and serves them to the customers outside the premium seats.
The manager stops the competition due to Krabby Patties not fitting his standard of quality food, as SpongeBob forfeits, wanting to go back to the Krusty Krab. Patrick instructs SpongeBob to go back on stage as the crowd cheers for him in the background. The bomb, still active on the stage, explodes, and launches SpongeBob into the stands, as Patrick catches him and reminds SpongeBob of his high status among the customers.
Along with its sister episode, this is the first episode in airing order to use the 2024Nickelodeon Productions logo at the end of the credits to represent the splat rebrand. In packaging order, however, "Sandy's Country Christmas" is the first.
Because of the Paramount byline in the Nickelodeon Productions logo, the copyright info is baked into the credits, after the Executive in Charge of Nickelodeon credit.
This is the second time SpongeBob participates in a cooking competition, the first being "Neptune's Spatula."
This episode was originally produced in the production cycle of season 14. However, Nickelodeon split the packaged season in half during production, thus becoming a season 15 episode.
The episode, alongside "Sammy Suckerfish" were called season 14 episodes in TV guides on their premiere, subsequent reruns, Amazon, and Nick.com.
Some of the fancy food SpongeBob serves up is re-used models from earlier episodes: two plates of gum food from "Lost and Found" and the Krabby Pâté from "Krusty Katering."
This episode has a sensitivity warning on Nickelodeon UK for the scene where a bomb is planted in the stadium. It has also not aired in the UK and Ireland since December 28, 2024.[5][6]
The banner shown at the final tournament features the show's 1999-2008 logo, alongside a redraw of a SpongeBob stock art piece, with a few alterations, including the change to a chef's outfit.
