SpongeBob SquarePants: Insensitive to the 9/11 tragedies?

[christo]

Had the niece and nephew over the other day and, to keep them from smashing furniture and ripping up the carpeting, I put in a tape of SpongeBob that I've made and let my favorite invertibrate amuse them while I made lunch. OK, I was watching too, it's one of my favorite shows.

So their mother arrives to take them home and the episode called "F.U.N." comes on. In it SpongeBob decides to befriend Mr. Krabs arch-enemy, the evil Plankton. OK, Plankton's not THAT evil, but he does have some issues.

Anyway, SpongeBob befriends Plankton in an effort to make him turn over a new leaf. He invites Plankton to have fun with him. "Fun?" Plankton booms, "what's fun?" And to explain, SBSP sings a little song that goes like this:

F is for friends who do stuff together,
U is for U and me!
N is for aNytime and aNyplace at all,
(chorus) Down here in the deep blue sea!

Then Plankton tries his hand:

F is for fire that burns down the whole town!
U is for uranium......bombs!
N is for no surviiiiiivors!

And that's where Spongebob interrupts him, to say that Plankton doesn't quite have the hang of it yet.

My sister-in-law, hearing this, said, "Wow, I'm surprised they showed this after what happened." I was laughing at the time (this was one of my favorite episodes) but I saw her point. With countless shows and movies being altered to omit references or shots of the Twin Towers it did seem a bit strange that a kids cartoon show would have a little song about nuclear weapons.

So, any opinons on this? I'm actually OK with it, mostly because I laughed my head off the first time I saw it. And the second. And the third.

 

[Phoenyx]

Anyway, SpongeBob befriends Plankton in an effort to make him turn over a new leaf. He invites Plankton to have fun with him. "Fun?" Plankton booms, "what's fun?" And to explain, SBSP sings a little song that goes like this:

F is for friends who do stuff together,
U is for U and me!
N is for aNytime and aNyplace at all,
(chorus) Down here in the deep blue sea!

Sound like Bob is harboring some sexual fanatsies that he wants to act out very badly.

 

[christo]

I don't know, SpongeBob is, well, a sponge, so he's supposed to be asexual, reproducting by budding (as he does on the show occasionally for a joke).

And what's the deal with SB and Sandy? I mean, of course it can't work out, he's a sea critter, she's a land squirrel, but I thought at the start she was a kind of romantic interest for our equilateral hero. Just friends, I guess.

My God, I gotta get a life. Psychoanalyzing a cartoon. Time for another beer.

 

[cuz cracker]

i tried to watch that show, but it hurts to much.

 

[p_p_man]

So, any opinons on this? I'm actually OK with it, mostly because I laughed my head off the first time I saw it. And the second. And the third.

ahem...how old did you say you were?

 

[flawed_ethics]

Re: Re: SpongeBob SquarePants: Insensitive to the 9/11 tragedies?

ahem...how old did you say you were?

Noting the poking-in-the-ribs simley, but what's the deal with that misconception? A good cartoon is enjoyable to all ages with an open mind. The Simpsons, SG:C2C, and even Dragonball (don't start - 'cause even my old mom watches this!) come to mind concerning this. Be it the imaginational forces behind Ducktales or the creative wit of Ren & Stimpy, they can be a joy to watch. I'll admit to never having watched Squarepants Spongebob, but from what I understand, its a growing cult favorite amoungst us young adults.

As for SB being 'insensitive'? That's a load of crap. The whole censoring thing is a bit much anyway. If this is too horrible for you to endure, your life is way to sheltered and/or pampered.

 

[p_p_man]

Oh!

Just curious is all...

 

[Starfish]

Mr. Plankton is on Crack, what do you want from him?

I know first hand. He is fucked up.

 

[Renegade]

Let me get a little back on topic of a minute here. A week after the attacks when regular T.V. shows began to be shown over here again, I thought it was interesting how the first episode of the Simpsons shown over here in syndication was the episode where Homer gets a job working with a man named Hank Scorpio.

For those who don't know, Hank Scorpio is a *gasp* terrorist and during the episode he's basicly shown as a man with plans to overthrow the government. He even blows up a bridge (forget which one, but it's a real one) at one point to send a message to congress. Anywho, just thought that was an interesting choice to show a week after the attacks.

And, yes, Mr. Plankton is one fucked up guy. Damn crackhead.

 

[Mellon Collie]

And, yes, Mr. Plankton is one fucked up guy. Damn crackhead.

He's not that bad of a guy, he's just misunderstood.

 

[Renegade]

You know, I used to think that also. That was before he popped my little red balloon. *sighs* The big bully.

 

[Mellon Collie]

You know, I used to think that also. That was before he popped my little red balloon. *sighs* The big bully.

Well, I had no idea. Maybe it was an accident?

 

[Renegade]

Actualy, it was an accident from what I hear. The knife he threw was supposed to hit my head, not the balloon.

 

[Mellon Collie]

Oh my. I guess he's a meanie after all. Want my blue balloon? It may help the emotional trauma of loosing your red one.

 

[Renegade]

*Sniff* *Sniff* That might help. Thank you. *drying tears away*

 

[Mellon Collie]

Awwww. *hugs*
Here have a tissue too.

 

[Renegade]

You're too kind. *Starts blowing nose* Uh, I don't think you'll be wanting this tissue back, huh?

 

[Mellon Collie]

Eh, no. You can keep it.