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
• What Zit Tooya
• 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 ($1.00 for each tomato), 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.

APM Music Identification

• Honolulu March - Title card
• When Daylight Shines/Captain Lenoe's - "Welcome to the Krusty Krab! SpongeBob, cater to his every whim, and don't screw this one up."
• The Tip Top Polka/Cliff Polka - SpongeBob takes a "customer's" order
• Vibe Link (b) - "I've got one! A free pair of socks with every meal!"
• A Hat, a Cane - SpongeBob's tap dancing routine with a hippopotamus bubble.
• Theatreland - Red carpet sequence; Ending.
• The Circus Comes to Town! - "The Amazing Mister Absorbency!"
• 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.
• Exotique A - Plankton's magic act.
• Dramatic Cue D - "You may win this time. SHEE-AH KA-ZING!"
• Jazz Fanfare - Squidward's introduction
• Head Over Heels (a) - The first part of Squidward's interpretive dance.