Alas Poor Spongbob, you where too good for us all

[TheArsenal]

This is sort of an unoficial burial for The Great cartoon show, Spongebob.

I Know its still alive as a zombie, but I want to remember the Spongebob that was alive.

The one that said lines like:

"And the only way out is-THE PERFUME DEPARTMENT!"

But alas, now you are a cash cow, riding on nostalgia.

[CoffeeIncluded]

*Sigh* Sadly, I agree.

[super dark33]

Cash cow he is. they also turned everything into ''Super child safe''.
which means: nothing sharp or metalic is used to harm anything else.
Some of the former actors seems to think that way too.
Every once in a while, they include an episode that was probably written by Stephen Hillenburg, for example one about ''kid magazines'' or anything his show represent.
but bah, most are garbage.

[Aotrs Commander]

Personally, I kinda like the newer episodes more than some of the older ones, and I'd be hard-pressed to be able to tell you, aside from the change of animation, when such a transition occurred. (It doesn't help that both Nickelodeon and Nicktoons show Spongebob in endless loops and random orders over here.)



My favourite episode is the one were Squidward was organising a band for the bubblebowl, which falls somewhere in the middle, I think. Maybe. I dunno.

[Shpadoinkle]

I watched a few episodes when it was new and at its most popular, and... I just don't get what was supposed to be so great about the show. I didn't really think it was bad, but I honestly couldn't (and still can't) see why it was one of the biggest shows on TV at the time. I might have liked it more when I was younger, but at the time I saw it, it just seemed like most kids' shows.

[byaku rai]

My favourite episode is the one were Squidward was organising a band for the bubblebowl, which falls somewhere in the middle, I think. Maybe. I dunno.

That's one of the earlier ones. (also one of my favorites cuz I was in a marching band. *brohoof*)

I have two younger siblings, so I've gotten to watch the decline in Spongebob firsthand, and it is truly saddening. The characters have gotten progressively more caricaturesque, and all of them except maybe Sandy have lost several dozen IQ points throughout the show. It's gotten to the point where I can't enjoy it anymore, and with its loss and the loss of other, similar shows, I simply don't watch television anymore.

[Sunken Valley]

And this is any different to the deaths of Family Guy, The Simpsons and South Park how?

[TheArsenal]

That its part of my childhood.

No other show was that integral to me growing up as spongebob was.

Watching the 'Spongebob Movie" I realise that that was the final "Goodby" to everybody.

I was laughing like a maniac when spogebob went drunk from eating ice cream (Complete with a hangover).

I realy apreciated it for clever non profane humor. The hardest humor to make.

Here is a part I loved:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFer7...eature=related

[Anarion]

It's gotten to the point where I can't enjoy it anymore, and with its loss and the loss of other, similar shows, I simply don't watch television anymore.

Says the poster with a unicorn pony avatar.
--
I think that Spongebob himself suffered from a decline, less so with the surrounding characters. Patrick was always incredibly stupid and Squidward utterly ineffectual. It was just that in the beginning Spongebob was naive but somewhat thoughtful, whereas he shifted towards complete absurdity.

I also never really thought that Spongebob was that good, even when it premiered. I grew up watching Doug, Rugrats, and Hey Arnold!, which were all better shows imo.

[Lord Seth]

Spongebob is a monster. Seriously, look at last week's Cable Top 25:

Rank Shows Net Day Time Viewers Live+SD (000) HH Rating
1 NFL REGULAR SEASON L (BEARS/EAGLES) ESPN MONDAY 8:30 PM 16,847 10.7
2 Walking Dead (205 CHUPACABRA) AMC SUNDAY 9:00 PM 6,124 3.6
3 COLLEGE FOOTBALL AFT L (NEBRASKA/PENN STATE) ESPN SATURDAY 12:04 PM 5,426 3.6
4 NFL REGULAR SEASON GAME (2011 - OAK VS. SD) NFLN THURSDAY 8:30 PM 5,277 3.3
5 GEEK CHARMING DSNY FRIDAY 8:00 PM 4,910 2.8
6 NASCAR SPRINT CUP L (PHOENIX (NOV)) ESPN SUNDAY 3:00 PM 4,766 2.9
7 SpongeBob NICK SATURDAY 9:30 AM 4,448 2.9
8 SpongeBob NICK SATURDAY 9:00 AM 4,445 2.9
9 SPORTSCENTER: L ESPN MONDAY 11:57 PM 4,353 3.0
10 SpongeBob NICK SATURDAY 10:00 AM 4,295 2.7
11 COLL FTBL SCOREBOARD L ESPN SATURDAY 3:36 PM 4,232 2.8
12 WWE Entertainment (WWE Raw) USA MONDAY 9:00 PM 4,172 2.5
13 GOLD RUSH (FAMILY FEUD) DISC FRIDAY 9:00 PM 4,147 2.5
14 SpongeBob NICK SATURDAY 8:30 AM 4,065 2.7
15 Sons Of Anarchy (HANDS) FX TUESDAY 10:00 PM 3,925 2.4
16 COLL FTBL SCOREBOARD L ESPN SATURDAY 11:48 AM 3,912 2.7
17 MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN L ESPN MONDAY 7:00 PM 3,860 2.5
18 COLLEGE BKBL REG SSN L (NORTH CAROLINA/MICHIGAN STATE) ESPN FRIDAY 7:00 PM 3,859 2.4
19 WWE Entertainment (WWE Raw) USA MONDAY 10:00 PM 3,858 2.4
20 HELL ON WHEELS (102 IMMORAL MATHEMATICS) AMC SUNDAY 10:00 PM 3,838 2.4
21 SpongeBob NICK TUESDAY 6:30 PM 3,694 2.2
22 SpongeBob NICK TUESDAY 7:00 PM 3,681 2.2
23 NCIS (015 ENIGMA) USA WEDNESDAY 8:00 PM 3,629 2.5
24 SpongeBob NICK FRIDAY 5:00 PM 3,570 2.1
25 SpongeBob NICK SUNDAY 10:00 AM 3,548 2.2

Link if you want to see a more "clean" version of the table.

[turbo164]

My favourite episode is the one were Squidward was organising a band for the bubblebowl, which falls somewhere in the middle, I think. Maybe. I dunno.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1JA-nh0IfI

Band Geeks was probably my favorite too :)

[Lord Seth]

Spongebob is a monster. Seriously, look at last week's Cable Top 25:

Rank Shows Net Day Time Viewers Live+SD (000) HH Rating
1 NFL REGULAR SEASON L (BEARS/EAGLES) ESPN MONDAY 8:30 PM 16,847 10.7
2 Walking Dead (205 CHUPACABRA) AMC SUNDAY 9:00 PM 6,124 3.6
3 COLLEGE FOOTBALL AFT L (NEBRASKA/PENN STATE) ESPN SATURDAY 12:04 PM 5,426 3.6
4 NFL REGULAR SEASON GAME (2011 - OAK VS. SD) NFLN THURSDAY 8:30 PM 5,277 3.3
5 GEEK CHARMING DSNY FRIDAY 8:00 PM 4,910 2.8
6 NASCAR SPRINT CUP L (PHOENIX (NOV)) ESPN SUNDAY 3:00 PM 4,766 2.9
7 SpongeBob NICK SATURDAY 9:30 AM 4,448 2.9
8 SpongeBob NICK SATURDAY 9:00 AM 4,445 2.9
9 SPORTSCENTER: L ESPN MONDAY 11:57 PM 4,353 3.0
10 SpongeBob NICK SATURDAY 10:00 AM 4,295 2.7
11 COLL FTBL SCOREBOARD L ESPN SATURDAY 3:36 PM 4,232 2.8
12 WWE Entertainment (WWE Raw) USA MONDAY 9:00 PM 4,172 2.5
13 GOLD RUSH (FAMILY FEUD) DISC FRIDAY 9:00 PM 4,147 2.5
14 SpongeBob NICK SATURDAY 8:30 AM 4,065 2.7
15 Sons Of Anarchy (HANDS) FX TUESDAY 10:00 PM 3,925 2.4
16 COLL FTBL SCOREBOARD L ESPN SATURDAY 11:48 AM 3,912 2.7
17 MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN L ESPN MONDAY 7:00 PM 3,860 2.5
18 COLLEGE BKBL REG SSN L (NORTH CAROLINA/MICHIGAN STATE) ESPN FRIDAY 7:00 PM 3,859 2.4
19 WWE Entertainment (WWE Raw) USA MONDAY 10:00 PM 3,858 2.4
20 HELL ON WHEELS (102 IMMORAL MATHEMATICS) AMC SUNDAY 10:00 PM 3,838 2.4
21 SpongeBob NICK TUESDAY 6:30 PM 3,694 2.2
22 SpongeBob NICK TUESDAY 7:00 PM 3,681 2.2
23 NCIS (015 ENIGMA) USA WEDNESDAY 8:00 PM 3,629 2.5
24 SpongeBob NICK FRIDAY 5:00 PM 3,570 2.1
25 SpongeBob NICK SUNDAY 10:00 AM 3,548 2.2

Link if you want to see a more "clean" version of the table.

[Dr.Epic]

But alas, now you are a cash cow, riding on nostalgia.

When was Spongebob not a cash cow?

[byaku rai]

Says the poster with a unicorn pony avatar.
--
I think that Spongebob himself suffered from a decline, less so with the surrounding characters. Patrick was always incredibly stupid and Squidward utterly ineffectual. It was just that in the beginning Spongebob was naive but somewhat thoughtful, whereas he shifted towards complete absurdity.

I also never really thought that Spongebob was that good, even when it premiered. I grew up watching Doug, Rugrats, and Hey Arnold!, which were all better shows imo.

PONY DOES NOT COUNT AS TELEVISION *disappears in a cloud of smoke*

... seriously tho, I don't think of MLP as TV, considering I watched the whole first season on Youtube and now routinely stream the new episodes. I don't even /have/ a TV in my apartment right now, and even if I did it would only be to play console games on/have a bigger screen for PC games. >.>

[/derail]

[SamBurke]

PONY DOES NOT COUNT AS TELEVISION *disappears in a cloud of smoke*

... seriously tho, I don't think of MLP as TV, considering I watched the whole first season on Youtube and now routinely stream the new episodes. I don't even /have/ a TV in my apartment right now, and even if I did it would only be to play console games on/have a bigger screen for PC games. >.>

[/derail]

MLP is just sheer awesome. It has well-placed, sensible humor (even if a good half is slapstsick, it's well done anyway), that adults and kids alike can watch.

Personally, IMO, Spongebob is not.

[Maxios]

It's sad really. I grew up watching this show, all the way from Spongebob getting a job at the Krusty Krab to Mr. Krabs starting a hotel. The older episodes were classic; they were hilarious and original.
But these newer episodes; they're not innovative and rely on gross-out humor. It relies on tried and used out tricks, with more focus on merchandising then soul. Like that episode where the Krusty Krab was bought out and turned into a sports bar.

When I was 8, I actually met Tom Kenny once. He's a pretty nice guy.

My favorite episode was the one with the fry cook tournament.

[TheArsenal]

When was Spongebob not a cash cow?

If something makes money and is good, its not a cash cow.

[Dr.Epic]

If something makes money and is good, its not a cash cow.

1. No. A cash cow is something successful, something so successful it generates a great amount of income. Quality doesn't effect if something is a cash cow.

2. When was it good? The show's always been bad to me.

[TheArsenal]

In my opinion Cash cow is when something is riding only on nostalgia.

I won't blame you if you don't like the early humor, but I realy enjoyed it.

[Fredaintdead]

2. When was it good? The show's always been bad to me.

Yeah, I have to agree with this. I have never in my life enjoyed any moment of Spongebob. Okay, I tell a lie, the song about victory when they do the marching band thing, that was good... everything else... eh, personal preferences.

[thorgrim29]

In my opinion Cash cow is when something is riding only on nostalgia.

From a marketing perspective, a cash cow is a product that makes piles of money and requires little to no investment to continue doing so for a period of time.

[Dr.Epic]

Yeah, I have to agree with this. I have never in my life enjoyed any moment of Spongebob. Okay, I tell a lie, the song about victory when they do the marching band thing, that was good... everything else... eh, personal preferences.

I too will admit I watched it when it first came on...like when I was 10. I eventually grew out of it.

[Psyren]

Did I miss something? Was the show cancelled?

I was never a fan of "idiot protagonists." Give me Dexter over Spongebob any day. About the only thing I really enjoyed about Spongebob was how easily his expressions lent themselves to lip-synch/poop-style mashups. Most everything else was an irritant, particularly that godawful laugh.

(EDIT: replaced with far better japanese version)

[Knaight]

Did I miss something? Was the show cancelled?

I was never a fan of "idiot protagonists." Give me Dexter over Spongebob any day. About the only thing I really enjoyed about Spongebob was how easily his expressions lent themselves to lip-synch/poop-style mashups. Most everything else was an irritant, particularly that godawful laugh.

I assume you refer to the Dexter from Dexter's Lab? If so, that is an example of western animation on the major U.S. networks that was really quite good.

[Psyren]

I assume you refer to the Dexter from Dexter's Lab? If so, that is an example of western animation on the major U.S. networks that was really quite good.

That's the one. Tartakovsky was a genius in my books.

(He was also behind Samurai Jack and PPG.)

[Tectonic Robot]

Aye, yeah, Spongebob's not as good as it was. It had some funny bits, but now the new episodes are mostly just boring, uninspired and generally painful to watch.

I think, uh, you're using the wrong form of were in the title! Could you, perhaps, change that? If you wouldn't mind? And, also, if it's possible?

[Prime32]

That's the one. Tartakovsky was a genius in my books.

(He was also behind Samurai Jack and PPG.)

And Star Wars: Clone Wars. The traditionally animated one, not the CGI one.

[Dr.Epic]

Give me Dexter over Spongebob any day.

Be careful what you say. Remember the last season or two when the art style completely shifted? Or are you referring to the live action show with the killer I've only heard about and haven't seen?

[Psyren]

Be careful what you say. Remember the last season or two when the art style completely shifted? Or are you referring to the live action show with the killer I've only heard about and haven't seen?

No, not the serial killer show obviously.

CN commonly reran them or aired them out of order so I couldn't actually tell you which ones were from the last season or not before it was cancelled. All I know is that I found it funnier that Spongebob.

[Dr.Epic]

No, not the serial killer show obviously.

CN commonly reran them or aired them out of order so I couldn't actually tell you which ones were from the last season or not before it was cancelled. All I know is that I found it funnier that Spongebob.

Well, it isn't that difficult to tell the last episodes of Dexter. The art style drastically shifted and the episodes were far worse.