Extreme Spots
"Extreme Spots" | |
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SpongeBob SquarePants episode | |
![]() Title card | |
Episode no. | Season 9 Episode 1a (179a) |
Directed by | Tom Yasumi (animation) Luke Brookshier (storyboard) Marc Ceccarelli (storyboard) Alan Smart (supervising) |
Written by | Luke Brookshier Marc Ceccarelli Derek Iversen |
Original air date | July 21, 2012 |
Guest appearance | |
Johnny Knoxville as Johnny Krill | |
"Extreme Spots" is the first half of the first episode of season 9 and the 179th overall episode of the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. The episode originally aired on Nickelodeon in the United States on July 21, 2012. The series follows the adventures and endeavors of SpongeBob and his various friends in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom. In this episode, SpongeBob and Patrick try to do their best to join the extreme sports team the Drasticals, by completing dangerous and extreme tasks. The episode will see the duo try their hand at many extreme sports, trying to impress the Drasticals in the process.
The episode was written by Luke Brookshier, Marc Ceccarelli, and Derek Iversen, and the animation was directed by Tom Yasumi. The episode features the guest appearance of Johnny Knoxville as the voice of Johnny Krill. Upon release, the episode drew 3.7 million viewers, and was met with positive reviews.
Plot summary
SpongeBob and Patrick are at the Sand Mountain where they see the Drasticals, doing extreme sports. A British fancy fish tells them about the Drasticals, and because he spoke in lisp, they have mistaken for "extreme spots". Covered with jellyfish sting "spots", SpongeBob and Patrick stand in front of the team, wanting the Drasticals to join them because of theirs. Johnny Krill, the leader of the Drasticals, corrects them for "sports" and lets them try to be them. Johnny gives SpongeBob and Patrick tasks in order to pass, including motorbiking and surfing, but they ended up to be terrible at it. Johnny decides that his team's activities are too "extreme" for the two. Eventually, SpongeBob tells Johnny various activities they can do that are "extreme".
SpongeBob and Patrick do ordinary activities, then the Drasticals make it "extreme" because Johnny was unimpressed. Johnny asks if SpongeBob and Patrick can do other activities and SpongeBob says there is one sport—jellyfishing. And while they are doing it, the Drasticals catch jellyfish extremely. Later, the team got injured and are covered in jellyfish stings saying that the "spots" are way "extreme".
Production
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Johnny_Knoxville_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/150px-Johnny_Knoxville_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg)
"Extreme Spots" was written by Luke Brookshier, Marc Ceccarelli, and Derek Iversen, and the animation was directed by Tom Yasumi. Brookshier and Ceccarelli also functioned as storyboard directors. The episode was the first regular-length episode to be produced in high-definition.[1] It originally aired on Nickelodeon in the United States on July 21, 2012,[2] with a TV-Y7 parental rating.[3] It was a part of the network's "The Super Spongy Square Games" marathon which debuted sports-themed episodes of the series.[4][5][6][7]
In addition to the regular cast, American stunt performer and Jackass actor Johnny Knoxville guest starred in the episode as the voice of Johnny Krill, the leader of an extreme sports team called the Drasticals and a champion of undersea extreme sports.[8][9] The writing staff wrote the episode specifically for Knoxville.[10] Executive producer Paul Tibbitt said "[Nickelodeon] wanted to do a show about extreme sports and the first thing that came to mind was Johnny Knoxville, because there are few humans living that are as extreme as him." Knoxville accepted the role because he is a fan of the show.[11][12] Knoxville said "I got a lot of street cred in the office for doing SpongeBob. Everyone is psyched[...] As soon as I was done recording this episode, I started begging them to let me come back and record another one."[10] Knoxville asked if he needed to come up with a funny voice for his character. However, the producers said "No, we want [your voice]."[11] Knoxville claimed that "it's not easy" providing a vocal cameo. He added "It's a different kind of work."[11]
Aside from providing vocal cameo, Knoxville also did a photo shoot with a SpongeBob plush toy for the episode.[13] Knoxville said "They loaded me up with a bunch of schwag! Every toy they ever made—skateboards, wristbands, all kinds of great stuff. They just don't quit with the perks." He added "They [the crews] let me do my own stunts for this episode. It was amazing."[14]
On January 15, 2013, "Extreme Spots" became available on the DVD compilation SpongeBob SquarePants: Extreme Kah-Rah-Tay along with fellow eighth and ninth-season episodes "Squid Defense", "The Way of the Sponge", "House Sittin' For Sandy", "The Krabby Patty That Ate Bikini Bottom", "Squirrel Record", "Face Freeze!", and "Demolition Doofus".[15][1][16] On October 10, 2017, "Extreme Spots" was released on the SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete Ninth Season DVD, alongside all episodes of the ninth season.[17]
Reception
The premiere of "Extreme Spots" on July 21, 2012 as part of "The Super Spongy Square Games" marathon scored 3.7 million total viewers, ranking as the most watched kids program among total viewers for the entire week.[18] The episode, alongside "Squirrel Record", "Demolition Doofus", and "Face Freeze!", posted a double-digit increase with kid demographic, averaging 5.57 million Kids 2-11 (+50%) from 2011.[18]
"Extreme Spots" received positive reviews from critics. Paul Mavis of DVD Talk enjoyed the episode and said "'Extreme Spots' gets big laughs from some very funny bits." He added that the "stereotypical Britisher fish, complete with monocle and bad teeth, is a scream."[1] In his review for the Inside Pulse, Joe Corey said that the episode is "equally dangerous" with the remaining episodes of the Extreme Kah-Rah-Tay DVD.[19]
References
- ^ a b c Mavis, Paul (January 14, 2013). "SpongeBob SquarePants: Extreme Kah-Rah-Tay". DVD Talk. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ Basile, Nancy (July 16, 2012). "Johnny Knoxville on SpongeBob". About.com. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ "Extreme Spots". Zap2it. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ "Nickelodeon Debuts 4 New Episodes of SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS in 'The Super Spongy Square Games', 7/21". Broadway World. July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (July 2, 2012). "Nickelodeon Debuts Four Brand-New Episodes of 'Spongebob Squarepants' in 'The Super Spongy Square Games' One Hour TV Event". TV by the Numbers. Zap2it. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ Zahed, Ramin (July 2, 2012). "Nick Plans Special 'SpongeBob' Marathon in July". Animation. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ Raymundo, Neil (July 3, 2012). "Spongebob Squarepants Marathon Planned for July". Toon Barn. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ Raymundo, Neil (January 5, 2012). "Johnny Knoxville Visits Spongebob Squarepants". Toon Barn. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ Morrow, Terry (January 8, 2012). "Johnny Knoxville to put on his 'Squarepants'". KnoxNews.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b Zahed, Ramin (January 5, 2012). "Johnny Knoxville Visits SpongeBob and Friends". Animation. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ a b c Morrow, Terry (July 18, 2012). "Terry Morrow: Johnny Knoxville absorbs chance to do 'SpongeBob'". Knoxville.com. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ Lee, Michelle (July 17, 2012). "SPONGEBOB GOES 'JACKASS' WITH JOHNNY KNOXVILLE — EXCLUSIVE PIC". Hollywood.com. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ "Johnny Knoxville with a SpongeBob SquarePants plush toy". MTV. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Montgomery, James. "Johnny Knoxville's 'SpongeBob' Cameo: Exclusive First Look!". MTV. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ Lambert, David (October 15, 2012). "SpongeBob SquarePants - Street Date Announced for an 'Extreme Kah-Rah-Tay' DVD". TVSowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Spongebob Squarepants: Extreme Kah-Rah-Tay [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 26, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b "Nickelodeon's Debut of SpongeBob SquarePants "The Super Spongy Square Games" Ranks as Most Watched Kids Program With 3.7 Million Total Viewers for the Week". The Futon Critic. July 24, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ Corey, Joe (February 9, 2013). "DVD Review: SpongeBob SquarePants: Extreme Kah-Rah-Tay". Inside Pulse. Retrieved July 14, 2013.