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Μπομπ Σφουγγαράκης (BobSfoungarákis) is the Greek dub of SpongeBob SquarePants. In Greece and Cyprus, it has previously aired on one of Alpha TV's sister stations: Alpha Cinema 1 and Channel 9 (formerly called TVCosmopolis and Polis), and Star Channel. It's currently airing on Nickelodeon's local station in both countries (formerly called LocalTV). It is part of International SpongeBob SquarePants.
Yes, Chef!: When the Chef lets his daughter (as he has to make a Dish of the Chef) on Trifonas, the daughter decides to play Hide and Seek. Every time Trifonas says "1 Μπομπ Σφουγγαράκης, 2 Μπομπ Σφουγγαράκης[...]." At the end he says "100 Πάτρικ και βγαίνω![...]."
Cooking Maliatsis: Episode 61: One man from the team is mentioning the [Greek] voice of Plankton, setting the start of a conversation about the show, while cooking.
Hara's Cafe: In the last episode, while Boulitsa is asking Stavroula if the café will still be called "Hara's Café," because Hara is leaving, she holds a SpongeBob plush doll.
Karagiozis: He refers sometimes SpongeBob as the guy who can drink the ocean.
Minoas Editions (Greek Εκδόσεις Μίνωας) had previously released several books with stories/comics/stickers/puzzles/coloring pages of SpongeBob. In 2014, further books were released by Pedio Editions.
Other
LEGO, Imaginext and Mega Bloks products have been released in Greece.
In February 2007, SpongeBob appeared on the packaging of EVGA Folie Croissants, Nestle Laky Boy ice creams in May 2013, and Laky Cap ice creams in May 2014. The latter would include surprise items inside the caps, such as figurines, brelocks, stickers, and so on. [5][6][7][8]
Greek food company Melissa S.A. released the Melissa "Pasta Kids" brand in 2009, in which pastas would come in different shapes, showing kids-related things. A variant of the product was released, where the pasta would represent the main characters. In February 2015, Melissa would hold a contest of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, with the prizes being SpongeBob-related.[9]
Greek yogurt company Farm Koukaki (Φάρμα Κουκάκη) released a line of SpongeBob-branded yogurt.[10] Three packs of strawberry, biscuit, and banana flavored yogurt were released[11][12][13] in 2021,[14] which come with one, or in other releases two flavors of cereal balls. Two packs were also released as far back as 2018.[15][16] Singularly packaged yogurts were also released, although their release date is unclear, but it is likely that they were the first to be released. Both the single and two packs are likely to be discontinued, however.
ODEON S.A. had released 13 DVDs in Greece with episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants, from seasons 1-3, except the 12th (with the season 6 special episode, "SpongeBob vs. The Big One") and 13th (with the season 5 special episode "What Ever Happened to SpongeBob?"). Also, English and Greek audio tracks were featured, alongside Greek Subtitles. ODEON is also responsible for distributing films released by Paramount Home Entertainment, including the SpongeBob movies.
Collectible entire season DVDs have been produced by Pedio Editions. Seasons 1–4 were initially issued as a supplement in the magazine Tiletheatis, while seasons 5–8 were first published in the newspaper Eleytheros Typos tis Kyriakis. Except for seasons 7 to 9, which were divided into nine CDs each, each season was divided into eight discs. In addition, the seasons 1 to 3 DVDs would be re-released in small markets in 4-DVD bundles for a total of 10 euros. The 9th Season 7 DVD and the 9th Season 8 DVD were also sold (in collaboration with The Penwest Company) in stores, particularly supermarkets, for the usual price of 2 euros. [20][21]
A VCD called Το Πάρτι του Μπομπ Σφουγγαράκη (SpongeBob's Party) including the episode Party Pooper Pants was published as a gift with the purchase of the Greek SpongeBob magazine.
Streaming
The show is available on various streaming with a subscription of Nickelodeon+. Cosmote TV has seasons 9-11, except "Sanctuary!"/"What's Eating Patrick?"), Vodafone TV has seasons 7-12, including "Kwarantined Krab" at the time being unaired, and EON TV has seasons 11-12.
Controversy
“
The disputed show allegedly contains violent scenes
„
~ John Laskaridis on Newspaper "Ethnos"
Μπομπ Σφουγγαράκης has been the subject of controversy in Greece since its premiere.
Channel 9 airings (2007)
File:Kkouiz 1.jpgPoster distributed by "Φοιτητές σε Κρίση Ταυτότητας," criticizing accusations against gay people.
During airings of the series on Channel 9 in 2007, the National Council for Radio and Television (Εθνικό Συμβούλιο Ραδιοτηλεόρασης) started investigations regarding a claim made by one of its members, in which he says that "the show contains violent scenes for children."[22]
The reaction of audiences and fans of the show in Greece was rather negative, with people criticizing the fact that NCRTV was focusing on "mindless" children shows, and not on other "awful" at the time, shows on TV, and saying ironically that NCRTV should also ban other cartoons.
Despite the Council taking action in order to ban the cartoon on the network, the exact reason for the cancellation of airings there till this day, are unknown.
During the run of the Ellinofreneia early TV series on the Greek channel SKAI, a talk of the Greek politician George Alogoskoufis was satirized with an actor's hands, holding a SpongeBob and Patrick plush. The actor was moving SpongeBob and Patrick, with a censored way.
Later, a child's mother did a report about the censored scene at the radio series of the same name, because her child was watching that. The radio series host tried to say that NCRTV has claimed that the series is for adults (as it has also claimed that it has violence and sexual references).
KKE response to Alexis Tsipras
In a speech of Alexis Tsipras, chairman of SYRIZA (Coalition of Radical Left) and former prime minister of Greece, in 2013, about the newly-founded at the time station that was about to completely replace the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, NERIT (New Hellenic Radio, Internet and Television), he told that "You illegally emitted from a private studio a pirated signal that exposes the country internationally, with aesthetics referring to the Soviet Union channels of the 1970s and to Bolek and Lolek cartoons."
KKE (Communist Party of Greece) responded to the speech, saying:
“
But what do Bolek and Lolek have to do with that? [...] You should know that the Polish boys Bolek and Lolek, are one of the best in children's entertainment. Cartoons far superior than any pedagogical point of view, displaying ideals and values particularly beneficial to young children who build their personality. PS. Does Mr. Tsipras prefer today's modern capitalist animation industry trash that shows competition and violence? Is SpongeBob, who always serves his boss Mr. Krabs who oppresses him and exploits him, his role model?[23]
„
~ KKE (Communists Party of Greece)
Episodes restricted on Greek Free-to-air television
Due to NCRTV and other television content rating system companies from other countries growing stricter over the years, the following episodes no longer air as normal on Nickelodeon Greece's Free-to-air television channel, which led to them either airing at a later time with a stricter rating (for example, "Ghoul Fools," which was premiered in the time of 10:00 PM) or even being completely skipped in future reruns. All these episodes are available without any restrictions on streaming services and home media releases.
"Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy IV": SpongeBob trying to bring Squidward back to his normal size and the Bikini Bottomites hitting SpongeBob's inside organs after shrinking.
"One Krabs Trash": Mr. Krabs telling SpongeBob that he looks like a girl while wearing the soda drinking hat, which may reference transgenderism.
"Krab Borg": SpongeBob having nightmares from watching Night of the Robot and the scene where SpongeBob and Squidward tie Mr. Krabs in a chair thinking he's an evil robot.
"Party Pooper Pants": SpongeBob being locked out of his house and trying to break in dressed as a bunny and the police officers mistaking him for a burglar.
"Mid-Life Crustacean": The scene where SpongeBob, Patrick and Mr. Krabs partake in a panty raid.
"Extreme Spots": Patrick getting pushed by Granny down the hill, the pillow fight scene and the Drasticals getting injured at Jellyfish Fields.
"Don't Look Now": SpongeBob and Patrick watching Fisherman 4: Attack of the Hook, mistaking shadows, Squidward and Gary for the Fisherman and dropping various things upon Squidward.
"Séance Shméance": SpongeBob and Patrick performing a seance and the ghosts causing chaos at the Krusty Krab.
"Lame and Fortune": The ending in which Plankton is mistaken for real-life food.
"Food Con Castaways": SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, and Mr. Krabs spending the night at a forest with horrific sounds, and the small snail that turns into a giant, flying monster.
"Trident Trouble": The Krabby Patties attacking the customers, the pacifier eating the baby, the grass chasing to mow a fish, King Neptune battling against Krakens and the trident attacking King Neptune.
"The Getaway": SpongeBob and Mrs. Puff driving with Sticky Fins Whiting and Dorsal Dan with the two latters being escaped convicts, respectively.
"Drive Happy": Coupe waking up SpongeBob abruptly with a loud car noise while sleeping.
"Doodle Dimension": DoodleBob constantly attacking SpongeBob and Patrick.
"Ink Lemonade": Squidward getting locked in the haunted area made in his house.
"Plankton Paranoia": Mr. Krabs starts getting insane and imagines Plankton as a demon on every object he looks.
"The Night Patty": The scary creatures and night atmosphere present in the episode.
"Squid's on a Bus": Squidward driving into the Crush County, the Grim Reaper being one of the people who want to take the bus and then trying to attack it because Squidward drove past him out of fear.
"SpongeBob in RandomLand": The scene where Squidward opens the door with Baby Squidward, as the audio from Red Mist Squidward was retained in this dub and even just the abrupt loud audio could be really scary for young children.
"The Ghost of Plankton": The horrific imagery present in the majority of the episode.
"My Two Krabses": Pearl's friends making fun of Mr. Krabs being naked.
"Kwarantined Krab": The dark ending of the episode.
Subtitled version
The special "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!," alongside two episodes of Seasons 6 and 7, would air on MTV Greece with subtitles, between December 24, 2013 and December 26, 2013, on 6pm.[24]
The promo for the airings is done by Athens-based company XYZ Productions,[25] and Sandy Cheeks is played by Georgina Razack,[26] the female narrator for most Nickelodeon Greece promos.
Promo for the Season 8 episodes rerun/premieres on Nickelodeon Greece Note: The promo for the Season 7 episodes rerun was messed up with that one, so Season 7 clips are shown instead.
A scene from the episode "Arrgh!," uploaded by the official Nickelodeon Greece YouTube channel, as part of the International Talk Like a Pirate Day 2016
In "Dunces and Dragons," the lyrics of some Squidly's songs are muted.
In the episodes "Your Shoe's Untied" and "Squid's Day Off," the original English names of the restaurants are used instead of the Greek ones.
Actors like Ntinos Soutis, Alkis Zervos, Spyros Zoupanos and the dubbing cast of seasons 8-12 have taken part in a variety of other Nicktoons/foreign series distributed by Nickelodeon Greece.
Nickelodeon's Greek feed originally went by "Local TV," which would rebrand on September 3, 2010.
There's a cleaning service in Thessaloniki, Greece, that has its name given after the name of the show in Greek.[27]
SpongeBob's last name in this dub is "Τετραγωνοπαντελονής," which can be heard before the Captain laughs in the intro.
Black and White Licensing was responsible for most of the merchandising of the show in Greece in the late 2000s
In some airings of "Pizza Delivery" on Nickelodeon Greece, Squidward's line "Oh, my aching tentacles!" at the end of the episode is cut.
In the VCD release of "Party Pooper Pants," the "after these messages" line is cut.