Culture Shock

Template:Episode "Culture Shock" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season one.

Brief summary: When the Krusty Krab's profit goes down, the Krusty Krew arranges a talent show in order to gain publicity.

Characters:

• Squidward Tentacles
• SpongeBob SquarePants
• Mr. Krabs
• Pearl Krabs
• Plankton
• Gary the Snail
• Mrs. SquarePants
• Mr. SquarePants
• Bikini Bottomites
• Patrick Star
• Sandy Cheeks

Plot

Business is slow at the Krusty Krab. After a customer arrives to get change for a dollar, with unfortunate results, Mr Krabs calls Spongebob and Squidward into his office, and tells him that profits are down and that they need a gimmick to bring in customers. Squidward suggests that the Krusty Krab hold a talent show, intending to showcase his talent, and Mr. Krabs agrees.

Spongebob is eager to participate in the show, but Squidward tells him that he has no talent and refuses to let him go on. When the night of the show arrives, it is a major success, attracting a full house of customers. Acts include Pearl, who performs a cheerleading routine, and whose massive weight causes the floor to shake whenever she jumps, Plankton who performs a magic trick which is actually an attempt to steal a Krabby Patty, and Gary, who recites a poem that, to the viewer, consists entirely of indiscernible meowing, among others. Backstage, Spongebob begs Squidward to be in the show, and Squidward gives him the duty of mopping up after the show, which he accepts enthusiastically.

The grand finale of the show is Squidward's act, which the audience hates. They begin throwing tomatoes from the free salad bar at him, and Mr. Krabs, seeing opportunity in this, puts a price on the salad bar, which the customers willingly pay as they continue to pelt Squidward with tomatoes. Eventually, Squidward furiously leaves the stage, and tells Spongebob that the show is over. Spongebob goes onstage and begins mopping up the mess, which the audience enjoys and starts cheering. Squidward, thinking they are cheering for him, goes back onstage, but is ignored. He soon realizes that the audience is cheering for Spongebob, and tries to mimic him, but they invariably cheer for Spongebob and ignore Squidward. He eventually gives up and goes backstage as Spongebob is showered with applause. Mr. Krabs approaches Squidward in a wheelbarrow of money from the salad bar, and tells him that he will need another wheelbarrow for next week's show.

Trivia

• Culture Shock is a phrase referring to the feelings experienced by people operating in an unfamiliar foreign environment.
• The talent show is stated to be an annual event, but at the end of the episode Mr. Krabs mentions "next week's show." It is possible that he made the talent show a weekly event due to its success.
• This episode was featured on the Home Sweet Pineapple DVD.
• Mr. Krabs' right claw briefly turns pink as he rolls up the profits map.
• The curtains that are on the stage change color throughout the episode. At first, the curtains are red. When Squidward says that he has "saved the best for last", the curtains are green. When Squidward is performing, the curtains are purple.
• When Spongebob gives change for a dollar, when he snaps, the coins are in a different order.
• The scene where Spongebob dances with a hippopotamus is a parody of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby's dance in Road to Bali
• The name "Squidward Live" and the music heard as it is introduced is a parody of Saturday Night Live.

APM Music Identification

• The Tip Top Polka/Cliff Polka - SpongeBob takes a "customer's" order
• Vibe Link (b) - "I got it! A free pair of socks with every meal!"
• Fates - "Please Squidward! Let me be in your show! I'll do anything, ANYTHING!"
• Whisper from the Past - "So this is what it feels like. (sniff) The big time. With this mop, I shape my destiny!"
• Walking Bass - Gary's poetry.