AS SEEN ON TV

Episode Title: "As Seen on TV"

Episode Airing Number: 44

Episode Production Number: 47

Original Airdate: March 8, 2002

Season: 3

On DVD:"SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete Third Season," "Christmas"

On VHS: (none)

Aired With Episode: "Can You Spare a Dime?"

Running Time:11:29

Storyboard Director: Aaron Springer

Storyboard Artist: C.H. Greenblatt

Writers: Aaron Springer, C.H. Greenblatt and Merriwether Williams

Animation Director: Frank Weiss

Creative Director: Derek Drymon

In Brief: Mr. Krabs films the first ever Krusty Krab commercial.

Story: Mr. Krabs heads down to the Krusty Krab where Squidward is getting everything ready to film the Krusty Krab commercial. Mr. Krabs sees all the crew and props and gets angry because he doesn't want to spend that much money. He tells Squidward that he's got the cheapest crew in the world, him and SpongeBob. Mr. Krabs announces that the commercial will be airing that night during a prime time slot.

Early the next morning SpongeBob sits in front of the TV, anxious for the commercial to start. It begins and shows Pearl and Squidward, whose wearing a blonde wig, standing outside the Krusty Krab. SpongeBob is very excited, despite the fact that he barely appears in the commercial at all. After it's over he says that was the best 60 seconds of his life.

The next morning while walking to work, an old man stops SpongeBob and tells him he saw him on TV, in a commercial. It turns out the old man got him confused with a cereal box. After arriving at the Krusty Krab a fish calls SpongeBob by name after reading his name tag and another customer asks for a napkin, but SpongeBob thinks he wants an autograph. All this attention quickly goes to SpongeBob's head and he thinks he's a big star. He overhears two customers in the bathroom, talking about somebody being a big star and cutting a solo record. Of course SpongeBob thinks they're talking about him.

SpongeBob goes to Mr. Krabs' office and tells him that he's an entertainer deep down and won't be a fry cook anymore. SpongeBob walks out of the office and all the customers are upset because they've been waiting for their food. SpongeBob thinks that they want him to entertain them. He dims the lights and starts to sing. The crowd is getting angrier and angrier. SpongeBob runs back to the kitchen and starts to juggle patties and tell jokes. He flips some patties on the grill and everyone cheers. SpongeBob sees that they like it so he tosses some more. SpongeBob gets some buns, onions, and cheese and makes patties and gives them to all the customers. SpongeBob thinks he's still entertaining and says he's happy he gave up fry cooking for this.

Song: "Striped Sweater" (sung by SpongeBob)

I'd like to call this little number "Striped Sweater"

The best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time

One with a collar, turtleneck, that's the kind

'Cause when you're wearing that one...special...sweater...

Quotes:

Mr. Krabs: I got a sweet deal on a prime time slot.

Narrator: 3:28 a.m.

SpongeBob: Why, sir. I'm flattered..

Fish: Really? I don't smell anything.

Fred: Excuse me. Could I get a napkin?

SpongeBob: Why of course, dear sir, and next time feel free to approach me. It must be so degrading to ask from across the room. And who am I making this bad boy out to?

Fred: To my tail fin! I'll get it myself!

Mr. Krabs: I've never felt such a strange combination of pitty and intergestion.

SpongeBob: What do you call a vampire whose car breaks down 3 miles from the blood bank? A cab.

Fish: We're losing our appetites!

SpongeBob: Okay, there's a nun, an astronaut, and a hairdryer. . .

Observations:

Pet Worm Mr. Krabs' worm, first seen in "Sandy's Rocket" returns in this episode. His name is also mentioned: Mr. Doodles.

Prime Time Slot The Krusty Krab commercial is shown at 3:28 a.m.

Moto The Krusty Krab's moto is "Come Spend Your Money Here!"

Bran Flakes An old man confuses SpongeBob for a box of Bran Flakes cereal.

Talk Show We find out that Flounderman is the late night talk show host that everybody watches.

Dimmer The dimmer switch at the Krusty Krab is shaped like a ship's helm (steering wheel).

Uncooked patties SpongeBob puts a huge pile of patties on the grill. The ones on top won't get cooked like that.