Goofy Goober
A few years ago I became aware of a little yellow fellow named SpongeBob Squarepants. My children and husband found him to be quite funny and I was intrigued by the constant laughter coming from them as they watched his show.
I sat down and watched his show for a few minutes on several occasions and I was very unimpressed. It seemed to me that every time I saw him he was cutting off his sponge and walking around with his brain exposed or blowing snot everywhere. My motherly nature kicked in and I felt the need to ban him from my home but my husband intervened and said that I needed to give SpongeBob a chance. I agreed to let his presence remain in my house but I didn’t intend to partake in his laughter inducing ways.
One day my family was watching SpongeBob and for some reason I sat down to watch. It was the episode where SpongeBob (SB) had been eating some homemade concoction and it gave him really bad breath. He was walking around talking to all of his friends and each friend started to shrivel and wilt, or run away screaming, or vaporize. SB assumed that his friends reacted that way because everyone thought he was so ugly.
SB was devastated and shared his agony with his best friend Patrick. The problem was that Patrick has no nose so he could not tell SB that he had terrible breath so Patrick just went with SB’s theory of ugliness. He then tried to make the inhabitants of Bikini Bottom more accepting of SB by making them look at him. He was really no help at all. Eventually Patrick ate the leftovers of the homemade concoction and when he started talking to SB and SB smelled Patrick’s breath SB realized that he wasn’t ugly he just had really bad breath.
I spent that half hour laughing so hard that at times I lost my breath. I fell in love with SB in that half hour. He was so insecure and was so flawed that I couldn’t help but relate to him. I now watch him on a regular basis with my children and have tentatively agreed to let my son have a SB bedroom theme.
SpongeBob said it best in a song, “I’m a goofy goober. We’re all goofy goobers!” He reminds me that we’re all flawed and nerdy, each in our own way. Some of us try to hide it hoping to appear calm, cool, and collected to the outside world. If that’s you I hope you will one day learn to love and accept your goofy nature. Maybe SpongeBob can help.
I initially hated SpongeBob too. But, like you, I was forced to take a second look. While most of the cartoons are pretty dumb and aimed at kids, some of them are absolutely brilliant and are aimed at adults. The one episode that converted me was “Hooky”, when SpongBob says “I dont know Patrick, I dont think we should do this, it might be dangerous”, Patrick jams a bunch of fishooks into his mouth, with the points disfiguring his cheeks and asks SpongeBob “Does this look dangerous to you?” The ones with Plankton in them are pretty good too, the one where they sing the FUN song is very funny.
Comment by Kurt — February 27, 2006 @ 6:47 am
Oh Kurt you have shown me that there are many SB episodes that I have yet to see. Thanks!
Comment by Kristen J — February 27, 2006 @ 8:56 am
There are quite a few episodes but not enough. It seems like the same ones are on over and over. For instance, I feel like every other time I see Spongebob it is the episode where he is making fun of Sandy in his comedy act. But I do love that little yellow guy. You have to appreciate his geniune sweetness and naivete.
Comment by Geoff J — February 27, 2006 @ 10:45 am
Netflix has all of them, sign up for a free trial and then rent the ones that you haven’t seen yet.
Comment by Kurt — February 27, 2006 @ 12:16 pm
My favorite episodes are those that feature Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy. Especially when the Dirty Bubble shows up. (My son was “The Quickster” for Halloween.) Last night I saw the one where Plankton unplugs his computer wife and starts courting Mr. Krab’s Mom (“Soon, I’ll be your father!!”). Totally hilarious, and really added a lot of depth to Plankton — he wants love even more than he wants the secret Krabby Patty formula. I also recommend “Texas” (about Sandy’s homesickness), and the one where our heroes adopt a clam.
Comment by GAC — February 27, 2006 @ 1:44 pm
You’ve gotta see the movie. It’s hilarious.
Spongebob makes me happy. My kids make fun of me for my Spongebob pillow, but just looking at him makes me happy. I love Spongebob.
http://qsysue.tagplazen.org/pics/vegas-2/037_37.JPG
My favorite episode is probably the one where Spongebob has Mermaid Man’s magic belt, and accidentally starts shrinking everyone.
Also, opposite day.
Comment by Susan M — February 27, 2006 @ 2:28 pm
We don’t have any small children around and still have spongebob on occasionally. He’s great! In fact he helped us with our family motto: “Embrace your wierdness!”
Comment by chronicler — February 27, 2006 @ 3:11 pm
You know which episodes I hate? The Mrs. Puffs episodes. I just feel so bad for her. I really think SpongeBob needs to move on with his life and leave her be.
Comment by Kristen J — February 27, 2006 @ 6:24 pm
I’m really not too impressed with Spongebob, however I do like the fact that many of the episodes have lessons woven into them that are good for the kids to learn. I liked the episode where Spongebob is cussing and everytime he does they play the sound of a foghorn or a dolphin chattering or something — it really cracked me up for some reason. I prefer Ren & Stimpy (the Nickelodeon version, I mean) to SB because it’s way more outrageous, but my wife gets mad if I put it on when our son is around (even though she likes it too).
Comment by James D. — February 28, 2006 @ 8:52 am
Susan M., one of the most traumatic experiences in my life was sitting through that whole movie with my granddaughter, it was her birthday.
I find cartoons mind numbingly boring. I probably missed a lot as I was sitting there trying to sit still. Me and Bill take turns who takes the grandkids (used to be our daughter) to cartoons and Disney films.
Comment by annegb — February 28, 2006 @ 9:20 am
Oh I know how that is, Annegb. Just be glad it wasn’t a Pokemon movie.
Comment by Susan M — March 1, 2006 @ 8:51 am
I took the kids to see Curious George last week. Loved it. Beautiful colors, excellent soundtrack by Jack Johnson, and a sweet, gentle storyline (with Tobias from Arrested Development doing the voice for a character that was drawn to look just like the actor, no less).
Comment by Geoff J — March 1, 2006 @ 9:08 am
You all are getting off the subject of (SB) and are going to CURIOUS GEORGE. This is a (SB) website
Comment by Xanatos — March 16, 2006 @ 8:48 pm
Stick to that theme
Comment by Xanatos — March 16, 2006 @ 8:56 pm
Are you talking on this any more
Comment by Xanatos — March 21, 2006 @ 2:42 pm
Nah, I think we’re done.
Comment by Kristen J — March 21, 2006 @ 3:10 pm
I LOVE Spongebob! He’s AWESOME! HE ROCKS!
Comment by Trevor — March 31, 2006 @ 4:55 pm
Look, Spongebob is off the chain. For all those who hatin’ on my yellow playa, lighten up. Wouldn’t ya much rather have yo kids watchin this than watchin some porn flick? Give em a break, he doin good fo them lil’ shorties watchin and the olda ones 2. Hey, if you can get sommin good out of em’ why not watch em. Sponegebob my big dawg. Keep ya hata blockas on !!!
Comment by LaLa — September 18, 2006 @ 4:23 pm
Spongebob is the most RETARDED thing in the whole world. If you are older than the age of 6 and watching that show, you are more stupid than anyone would ever think. Patrick and the dumb sponge should be getting married any time soon to have another clam. Dur-ta-dur!!!! Go kiss your grandmother and she’ll give you a kiss that won’t wash off. YEAH RIGHT DUMB TALKING SPONGE!!!!!!!!
Comment by Cathy — January 19, 2007 @ 10:41 am
I LOVE THE GOOFY GOOBER SONG! IT KICKS ARSH!!!I AM A TRUE GOOFY GOOBER!!!
Comment by ETHAN — March 5, 2007 @ 12:10 pm
My favorite SB line is from the movie, where Squidward tells Plankton, “You can’t fool me! I listen to PUBLIC RADIO!!!” I almost fell off the chair laughing, even though nobody else in the (northern Utah county) audience made a sound…
I think I liked it because my poor wife probably hears me say those very words dozens of times each day.
Comment by Rick — March 5, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
Heya!! :)
Im 11 jst turned it & i just want to say,
SPONGEBOB OWNS!!
=]] he provides laughter and cheerfulness,
also i need to say i ranaround my scholl singing goofy goober for 20 minutes whooo!
Comment by Jenny — August 6, 2007 @ 11:43 am