Don't Feed the Clowns

Characters

• Template:Data:Links
• Patrick Star
• Jellyfish
• Elephant snail Template:Debut
• Ringmaster Template:Debut
• Ringmaster's assistant Template:Debut
• Mrs. Puff
• Clowns
  • Little clown Template:Debut
• Vendor Template:Debut
• CEO Template:Debut
• Fire fish
• Head baker Template:Debut
• Flats the Flounder
• Bikini Bottomites
  • Frankie Billy
  • Nat Peterson
  • Fred
  • Tina Fran
  • Clay
  • Horace
  • Norma Rechid
  • Billy (brown fish)
  • Medley Fishbowl
  • Buddy
  • Cara
  • Anchovies
  • Jennifer Millie
  • Lloyd-Rich

Synopsis

SpongeBob and Patrick are watching clowns perform acts at the circus. SpongeBob then sees a little clown who seems hungry, so he offers him a piece of popcorn, though the ringmaster prevents this and tells SpongeBob not to feed the clowns. SpongeBob and Patrick then witness the other clowns saving no pieces of candy in a box for the little clown. Out of sympathy, SpongeBob tries to feed the clown a bag of popcorn. The little clown is then found hiding in a popcorn bucket and reveals that he wants a job.

SpongeBob then sees a hot dog stand and suggests that little clown get a job as a hot dog vendor. He shows him the ropes, but little clown does not serve them properly. Just then, a muscular fish spots the two interfering with his hot dog stand. He squeezes SpongeBob and the clown into a bun and then proceeds to throw it.

Later, at SpongeBob's house, SpongeBob tries making little clown's appearance less clown-like and more presentable for a job. Afterward, the clown gets a job as a businessman. Due to him slamming his stamp ink-covered face onto the papers and stamping his co-workers' faces, he gets fired from the job.

The next job that little clown gets is a fireman. He drives a firetruck to Mrs. Puff's Boating School, which is on fire. Instead of using a hose to put it out, he uses clown streamers. Afterward, the school burns down and Mrs. Puff furiously screams at little clown that he is fired.

The final job that little clown gets is a baker at the Bikini Bottom Bakery. SpongeBob has his sentient eyes enter the bakery to make sure he does not mess his job up this time. As with his previous occupations, he does not follow directions and instead throws pies at the customers. As a result, the little clown is fired. He and SpongeBob are then rolled into a pie by the head baker.

After this catastrophe, SpongeBob concludes that little clown is unfortunately not fit for a job. However, he then finds a place suitable for him in Kelp Forest. SpongeBob cuts the kelp with a machete and then reveals a colorful world full of clowns. The little clown, after a long time of suffering through misery, is finally happy thanks to this place.

Production

The episode was confirmed by Vincent Waller on November 2, 2017.

Art

File:Dont Feed the Clowns!

File:Don't Feed the Clowns Final

Reception

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Trivia

General

• Norway accidentally aired this episode on February 16, 2018, just 4 days after its release in the United States.
• This episode premiered seven years after "Love That Squid" and "Tunnel of Glove," four years after SpongeBob Comics No. 29 was released, and three years after "Germany 1" and "Germany 2" premiered and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water was released in Azerbaijan, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Portugal, and Russia.
• Even though SpongeBob helps a clown in this episode, he is not afraid of them, contrary to other episodes such as "Tunnel of Glove" and "Rodeo Daze."
  • This episode may take place after he conquered his fear.

Cultural references

• The title is a pun on the phrase "don't feed the animals."
• When the ringmaster said "Send in the clowns!", it is a reference to a song from the 1973 musical, A Little Night Music.

Errors

• The closed captioning has some typos, such as "Don't Feed the Clolos."

Running gags

• The ringmaster using his assistant as a whip
• The ringmaster shouting "Don't feed the clowns!"
• The little clown getting fired from various jobs
• The little clown throwing pies at people's faces