Christmas Who?

"Christmas Who?" (also known as "The SpongeBob Christmas Special") is a double length SpongeBob SquarePants special episode produced by Nickelodeon.

The episode aired in the United States on December 6, 2000 as part of the second season of SpongeBob. It is the series' first double-length episode. The episode marks the first appearance of Patchy the Pirate (played by Tom Kenny), and his bird, Potty (voiced by series creator Stephen Hillenburg).

In the special, SpongeBob learns what Christmas is about, and creates excitement in everyone in Bikini Bottom. However, the one grinch who decides to not partake in all the merriment is Squidward.

Plot

SpongeBob is outside Sandy's treedome, planning a surprise karate attack on her. He bursts in and sees Sandy's Christmas tree, which she has just hooked up with lights, and mistakes it for a fire. Sandy realizes SpongeBob has never seen a Christmas tree before, and does not even know what Christmas is (along with all the other citizens of Bikini Bottom). She begins to describe the festive holiday to SpongeBob, who is very interested (Note: One of the things Sandy was acting out for Christmas, looked like the Road Runner from Looney Tunes).

The next day in the Krusty Krab, SpongeBob tells Mr. Krabs, Patrick and Squidward all about Christmas and everything that Sandy had said about it. He concludes by saying that if you write a letter to Santa Claus, he will give you gifts on Christmas Day. Patrick and Mr. Krabs are very enthusiastic about the idea, with Patrick as part of a running gag continues to rip his letter when he writes improperly, and says when they mention Santa Claus, "Just Like a genie", and Mr. Krabs says his letter is as good as a "Blank check direct from the First National Bank of Santa Claus", while Squidward grumpily refuses. Squidward says that Santa Claus does not exist and Christmas is not a holiday. SpongeBob soon gets the entire city of Bikini Bottom interested in Christmas, and they all write letters to Santa. SpongeBob creates a device that shoots the wish lists (placed inside bottles) to the surface of the ocean so Santa can get to them.

Everybody afterwards sings a Christmas song about the celebration of Christmas while Squidward gets outraged when he learns that SpongeBob and Patrick chopped down his precious coral tree and property for their Christmas tree and when they vandilize his home by decorating his house for Christmas. Squidward suffers the Christmas happiness, song, and decorations all season until Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve arrives and everybody in Bikini Bottom helps decorate the city with lights and ornaments. SpongeBob panicks when he realizes that Squidward still has not written a letter. He goes to Squidward's house to try and write the letter for him, but is stopped by Squidward, who forces SpongeBob to leave. SpongeBob tries to persuade him to write a letter but Squidward says he will never believe in Santa Claus. As Squidward settles down to sleep for the night, SpongeBob, Patrick (presumably Mr. Krabs) and a bunch of other fish give up on persuading Squidward to believe in Santa, and they stand outside and eagerly wait for Santa's arrival while chanting "Santa's coming tonight, tonight."

On Christmas Day, the fish are still wearily chanting, and then realize that Santa never came. They all angrily leave, including Patrick, and SpongeBob is left completely alone with a snowman as his only friend to have company with. Squidward wakes up happily to see everybody get angry at SpongeBob and rushes outside to laugh in SpongeBob's face and make fun of him for ever believing in Santa Claus. Sad and depressed, SpongeBob gives Squidward a present: a wooden clarinet that he had made for Squidward the night before so he would not feel left out when Santa came and gave everybody their presents. Squidward is so touched by his present and begins to feel like a huge jerk for laughing at SpongeBob. He decides to do something to cheer SpongeBob up.

Squidward dresses up as Santa Claus and appears to SpongeBob, who is very happy to see that Santa did come after all. However, Squidward's plan backfires when a large group of fish come happily and demand gifts from him. Squidward quickly goes through his entire house and gives away all of his possessions until the fish are all gone and he has nothing left. Weary, Squidward finds a note at his doorstep and reads it. It is from the REAL Santa Claus, thanking Squidward for all of his work. Squidward then looks up to find Santa riding in his sleigh in the sky, laughing and shouting "Merry Christmas!" and Squidward calls himself "insane" before he plays his wooden clarinet and goes inside his house and shuts the door.

Note: The little girls who wishes for front teeth is a parody of Tiny Tim's All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.

Broadcast notes

Christmas Who? was originally broadcast Wednesday, December 6, 2000. The special was later released on DVD under the same title in late 2003. Special features included a commentary from the show’s writers, cast, and directors.

Reception

The special received positive reviews; a reviewer on Reviewstream.com calls it "a great story of the holiday spirit".

Songs

SpongeBob and friends sing two songs in this episode: "Feels Like the Very First Christmas" (SpongeBob, Patrick and Squidward, 2nd version includes extras and Mr Krabs with a falsetto solo) and "Santa's Coming Tonight". The latter was redone by Squidward.

External links

• Christmas Who? at IMDb