Culture Shock

"Culture Shock" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season 1. In this episode, Squidward hosts a talent show at the Krusty Krab

Characters

• SpongeBob SquarePants
• Squidward Tentacles
• Eugene H. Krabs
• Francis (cameo)
• Pearl Krabs
• Sheldon J. Plankton
• Gary the Snail (cameo)
• Mrs. SquarePants
• Harold SquarePants
• Patrick Star
• Sandy Cheeks (speaking cameo)
• Bikini Bottomites
• Lisa (cameo)
• What Zit Tooya (cameo)

Synopsis

Business is slow at the Krusty Krab. A customer soon arrives to get change for a dollar in coins, 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 after practicing a tap-dancing routine with Hippopotamus bubble, but for some unknown reason, possibly because he hates him, 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 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.

Production

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 (debut) - "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.
• In House Jazz B - The second part of Squidward's interpretive dance.
• K-55 - The Woodies - Opening scene

Release

This episode is available on DVD on Home Sweet Pineapple, The Complete 1st Season, The First 100 Episodes, and 10 Happiest Moments.

Trivia

• This is the first time tables with table cloth in the Krusty Krab appear. The second time in Squirrel Jokes, third time in Pranks a Lot.
• This is the first time a stage is in the Krusty Krab. Second time in Squirrel Jokes, third time in Whale of a Birthday. The fourth was in The Play's The Thing.
• The German version of this title card is the same as Sandy's Rocket.
• This is the first time What Zit Tooya appears as a cameo. He appeared next as an actual character in Good Ol' Whatshisname, then another cameo in Toy Store of Doom.
• This is the first time the main characters (SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Squidward Tentacles, Eugene Krabs, Sandy Cheeks, Sheldon Plankton, and Gary the Snail) all appear in the same episode.
• While Gary is reading poetry Squidward says "Come on Ginsberg" as an allusion to the beat poet Allen Ginsberg.
• The title card will later be reused in SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One and A Pal for Gary.
• Here are all the contestants from the Talent Show and the talent they performed:
  • Pearl does cheerleading for the Krusty Krab.
  • Plankton does a magic trick (trying to make the Krabby Patty "disappear", but Mr. Krabs catches him).
  • Gary meows poetry.
  • Squidward dances to techno music.
  • SpongeBob mops.
• MY LEG: Pearl finishes her cheerleading just as the people crashed everywhere.
• Squidward's dance can be classified in two parts. The first part has Squidward dancing to classical music with arm-wheeling movements in a swimsuit. The second has Squidward dancing to a freestyle/synthesized didgeridoo pattern with Squidward doing a type of Wave dance with foot-sliding included as well as spluttering, in a swimsuit.

Errors

• After being driven off the stage by the patrons, Squidward later hears them cheering (for SpongeBob). Even though the patrons made it clear that they hated his act, Squidward actually thinks they want an encore.
• In the scene where SpongeBob's parents come in, Patrick is standing next to Mr. Krabs and in the next scene, he isn't.
• When Squidward introduces his act, the clock above the doors is not there.
• The curtains change colors in this episode: Red, Green, and Purple.
• When Squidward orders the performers to gather around, Plankton is seen, although it would've been a great time to steal the Krabby Patty formula.