Appointment TV

Characters

• Template:Data:Links
• Patrick Star
  • Barnacle Star/Barnacle Boy
• Gary the Snail
  • Dirty Bubble
• Eugene H. Krabs
  • Captain Tightwad
• Squidward Tentacles
  • Doctor Negative
• Sheldon J. Plankton
  • Man Ray
• Mrs. Puff
  • Atomic Flounder
• Sandy Cheeks
  • Miss Appear
• Bubble Bass' friends
• Larry the Lobster
  • Mermaid Man
• Flying Dutchman Template:Cameo
• Old Man Jenkins ^{(fat and green)}
• Santa Claus ^{(cameo on one of SpongeBob's VHS tapes)}
• French Narrator
• The Moth Template:Cameo
• Sinister Slug Template:Cameo
• Impound worker Template:Debut
• Incidentals
  • Incidental 41
  • Fred
  • Incidental 82
  • Old Man Walker
  • Incidental 92
  • Incidental 85
  • Incidental 81
  • Incidental 46
  • Incidental 115

Synopsis

The episode begins with SpongeBob talking about the two-part special episode of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy in "The Case of the Curious Cliff Hanger" that has never been seen and is finally airing on TV, and how he is fully prepared to watch it when it airs after the day's shift at the Krusty Krab.

File:Appointment TV 013.png

SpongeBob is excited about seeing "The Case of the Curious Cliff Hanger."

At the Krusty Krab, the day is going very slowly, making SpongeBob annoyed. When the day is finally over, he rushes to get to his house, but is stopped by Mrs. Puff, as she needs him to fix her flat tire. After doing that, he continues rushing to his house, only to get stopped by Patrick, who needs him to find his rock at the Impound Yard. Afterwards, Sandy needs him to do a chore, but after he hears two fans of Mermaid Man talking about how no real fan would miss the show, he leaves Sandy and continues rushing to his house.

However, SpongeBob is constantly stopped by several people as they need him to do their tasks. SpongeBob finally goes back home, hoping that he can at least watch the recorded version, only to see his VCR going haywire and all the other things he set up getting ruined and bursting into flames, which sets his house on fire. He cries so loudly everyone can hear him, and his friends feel guilty for taking advantage of SpongeBob.

File:Appointment TV 138.png

SpongeBob is distraught after his special night is ruined.

To compensate for this, they bring SpongeBob, who is in a depressed state, to see a live performance of the episode on an amphitheater. SpongeBob loves their show and thanks them for showing the love they had for him to make up for missing his show. The episode ends with Old Man Jenkins asking everyone what they are doing at his amphitheater, but this makes everyone run away, despite him just wanting to have a role in the play.

File:Appointment TV 188.png

SpongeBob thanks his friends for cheering him up by reenacting the episode for him.

Running gags

• SpongeBob saying "But 'Mermaid Man'" when helping someone.

Production

The episode was confirmed by Vincent Waller on March 29, 2018.

Storyboards

• File:AppointmentTVBoard1.PNG
• File:AppointmentTVBoard2.PNG

Release

• This episode is available on the SpongeBob SquarePants Vol. 19 and The Complete Eleventh Season DVDs.

Trivia

General

• SpongeBob owns the following VHS tapes:
  • "How to Make a Bed"
    • This is likely a reference to the episode "Pickles."
  • "Krusty Krab Training Video"
    • The bottom of the spine reads "POOP," a reference to the abbreviation "People Order Our Patties" from the same episode.
  • "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" (listed as "Santa Claus is Com'n to Town, without "I" in "Comin'")
  • "Mr. Krab's Birthday Party"
  • "Plankton Ruins Mr. Krab's B-Day"
  • "SpongeBob's Birth" (the tape SpongeBob uses to record the episode over)
• When this episode first aired, it was paired up with "Bubbletown," but it has since been re-airing with its sister episode, "Karen's Virus."
• This episode was originally going to air on October 23, 2018, but due to Brian Robbins being appointed to be the new president of Nickelodeon, it was delayed to October 28, 2018.
• A clip from this episode appears in the Nickelodeon's Unfiltered episode "Cactus Pop Tarts."
• When this episode premiered in Wallonia, it was paired up with "Spin the Bottle."
• SpongeBob is revealed to own a Mermaid Man wristwatch.
• Squidward's backyard retains its appearance from "Bunny Hunt."
• SpongeBob helps many citizens of Bikini Bottom:
  • He helps Mr. Krabs sort loose change.
  • He puts tanning lotion on Larry the Lobster
  • He helps change a light bulb at the Chum Bucket
  • He plants vegetables at Squidward's garden
  • He gives foot massages for the Shady Shoals residents
  • He is a crossing guard directing traffic
  • He mops the Flying Dutchman's ship
• SpongeBob previously watched a lost episode of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy with Patrick in "The Bad Guy Club for Villains."
• This is the first episode to use "Molaka'i Nui (a)" as title card music since "Picture Day."
• This is the second episode in which Plankton wears a Man Ray helmet. The first was "Mermaid Man & Barnacle Boy VI: The Motion Picture."
• The badly-played fanfare accenting the shot of the poster for the lost episode of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy (also heard in "A Flea in Her Dome" and "Mermaid Man vs. SpongeBob") was performed by Stephen Hillenburg himself according to a tweet from sound designer Jeffrey Hutchins.
• This episode premiered during a Nickelodeon airing of Aliens in the Attic.
• The French title of this episode is "L'Épisode À Ne Pas Manquer," which means "The Must-See Episode."
• This is the first episode to use the track "O Makalapua B" since "A Day Without Tears."
  • This is also the first episode to use the track "Rescued" since "Blackened Sponge."

Episode references

• Some objects from older episodes reappear in this episode:
  • SpongeBob's wringer from "Stuck in the Wringer"
  • Toothy Toothpaste from The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
  • The Mermarang from "Shuffleboarding" (seen in a poster)
  • The Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy-themed Krusty Kid's Meal from "Mermaid Man vs. SpongeBob"
  • Tan Accelerator from "Sun Bleached"
• SpongeBob acting like a crossing guard is a nod to "Hall Monitor."
• SpongeBob references "Home Sweet Pineapple" when he hugs his house and says "Home sweet pineapple!"
• This episode is similar to "Best Day Ever," as SpongeBob plans to do something, but his plans are ruined and then his friends make it up to him in the end.
  • This episode is also similar to "The Sponge Who Could Fly," "Overbooked," and "The Abrasive Side," as SpongeBob does multiple favors for his friends.
• When SpongeBob sets his VCR to record so he can "relive the magic over and over forever," he forms a rainbow over his head which is a callback to "Idiot Box."
• Squidward and Mr. Krabs wear their Doctor Negative and Captain Tightwad outfits from "Mermaid Pants."
• Sandy wears her Miss Appear outfit from "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V."

Cultural references

• One of SpongeBob's videotapes references the 1970 Rankin/Bass Christmas special Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, except here, it is listed as "Santa Claus is Com'n to Town," without the "I" in "Comin'."
• The book Mrs. Puff reads alludes to Gone with the Wind.

Errors

• When SpongeBob says "Play," only the left half of his mouth moves.
• When Sandy spins SpongeBob around to make him face the amphitheater, the 5 o'clock shadow on his face disappears.
• The VHS tape that is called "Mr. Krab's Birthday Party" should actually be called "Mr. Krabs' Birthday Party" because his last name is "Krabs," not "Krab." The same thing happens with the tape "Plankton Ruins Mr. Krab's B-Day."

Videos

File:Appointment TV (Promo) United States SpongeBob SquarePants

File:SpongeBob SquarePants Mermaid Man Nickelodeon UK