History Recap / SpongeBobSquarePantsS3E20SpongeBobMeetsTheStranglerPranksALot

'''Original air date''': 10/11/2004 ''(produced in 2002)'' [[note]]First premiered on YTV in Canada on 11/19/02. "[=SpongeBob=] Meets the Strangler" and "Pranks a Lot" were also both released on the ''Seascape Capers'' DVD set on 1/6/04.[[/note]]

'''Pranks A Lot'''

'''Original air date''': 10/11/2004 ''(produced in 2002)'' [[note]]First premiered on YTV in Canada on 11/19/02. "[=SpongeBob=] Meets the Strangler" and "Pranks a Lot" were also both released on the ''Seascape Capers'' DVD set on 1/6/04.[[/note]]

-->'''Frank:''' There's your first lesson, Son, the Granddaddy of all Pranks: the Joybuzzer!

-->'''Patrick:''' Oh, the nerve of that guy and his driving eyeballs!

** AesopAmnesia: Downplayed. The episode has the exact same aesop as "Fools in April" from Season 1, in which [=SpongeBob=] was the victim of the PrankGoneTooFar, while here, he's the perpetrator. Unlike Squidward in that episode, however, [=SpongeBob=] isn't acting out of malice and isn't trying to cause any physical or emotional harm; he's simply getting carried away.

* InvisibleJerkass: [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick spend most of the episode tormenting everyone in Bikini Bottom while invisible.

* TheDreaded: The Tattletale Strangler. When [=SpongeBob=] approaches several characters, such as Mr. Krabs and Larry, for protection, they refuse to help and flee in fear. Even the thugs at the Tough Tavern are terrified of him.

* HereWeGoAgain: After the Strangler ends up in a cell away from [=SpongeBob=], he's initially relieved to be away from the 'idiot'...but then discovers that he's sharing a cell with Patrick.

* {{Jerkass}}: While nowhere near to the point of PoliceBrutality, the cops are complete jerks to [=SpongeBob=] when he asks them to protect him.

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Implied. For much of the episode, [=SpongeBob=] seems to be convinced that his [[PaperThinDisguise mustachioed "bodyguard"]] isn't the Strangler, but unintentionally puts him through a lot of comic suffering. But at one point, [=SpongeBob=] calls him "Strangler", but then corrects himself with a VerbalBackspace, implying that [=SpongeBob=] knew all along that that was the Strangler. Though him being horrified when his “bodyguard” points out he’s the strangler, (While he’s behind bars, no less) otherwise says he genuinely didn’t know. [[AmbiguousSituation Then again,]] he just as likely could've been doing that to push The Strangler's buttons even further. So who knows?

* ShamSupernatural: Spongebob and Patrick take advantage of a can of invisible spray and scare the entire town. Then they get the idea to "haunt" Mr. Krabs. They end up regretting it after trying to burn a dollar right in front of the greedy crustacean.

* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: '''''We should have bought the whoopee cushion!'''''

->''[[TheStinger "We should've got the whoopee cushion!"]]''

[[caption-width-right:350:The [[BlatantLies best bodyguard]] a fella could have.]]

!! [=SpongeBob=] Meets the Strangler contains examples of:

--> '''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Bodyguard, let me just be the first to say you're the best bodyguard a fella could hope to have.\\

'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Don't mention it, Strangler. ''[gasp]'' I mean, Bodyguard.

--> '''Patrick''': "We just do what the invitations say. Let's boogie some more!"

!! Pranks a Lot contains examples of:

-->'''Patrick:''' Oh, the nerve of that guy and his driving eyeballs.

--> '''Patrick''': ''[sprays [=SpongeBob=]'s hand and it disappears]'' I gotta ''hand'' it to you, [=SpongeBob=]. You look kinda funny.
--> '''[=SpongeBob=]''': ''[sprays Patrick making a hole in the middle of his body]'' Kind of gives you an ''empty'' feeling, huh?
--> '''Patrick''': Yeah. ''[sprays one of [=SpongeBob=]'s eyes]'' I ''see'' what you mean!
--> '''[=SpongeBob=]''': ''[takes the spray can and sprays Patrick's lower half]'' No ''guts'', no glory!
--> '''Narrator''': '''''[[LamePunReaction Several bad puns later...]]'''''

-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' "The Krusty Krab presents: 'Live Nude Pranksters!' Starring the Bikini Bottom Ghosts!"
* PlotHole:

** [[Film/Ghostbusters1984 “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts!”]]
** One of Mr. Krabs’ anti-ghost protections (Actually just a paddleball) is called [[WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom the Specter Deflector]].

* YourHeadASplode: This happens to Patrick after chewing a piece of [[DeadlyPrank exploding chewing gum]]. [[ArtisticLicenseBiology A large, femur-like bone is exposed afterwards. And he's still able to say that he doesn't get it, despite his lack of a mouth.]]

The one where [=SpongeBob=], well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin meets the Strangler]].

The one with toast.

** Technically, [=SpongeBob=] sprayed Patrick's ''crotch'' when he said, "No guts, no glory!". He already sprayed the guts when he said, "Kinda gives you an ''empty'' feeling, huh?".

* AssholeVictim: If the Strangler weren't established to be a violent criminal beforehand, all of the mental and physical torment [=SpongeBob=] puts him through would be a lot crueler.

* TheDreaded: The Tattletale Strangler. When [=SpongeBob=] approaches several characters, such as Mr. Krabs and Larry, for protection, they refuse to help and flee in fear.

'''Original air date''': 10/11/2004[[note]]"[=SpongeBob=] Meets the Strangler" and "Pranks a Lot" were both released on the ''Seascape Capers'' DVD set on January 6, 2004.[[/note]] ''(produced in 2002)''

The one with the spiked cleats.

'''Original air date''': 10/11/2004[[note]]"[=SpongeBob=] Meets the Strangler" and "Pranks a Lot" were both released on the ''Seascape Capers'' DVD set on January 6, 2004.[[/note]] ''(produced in 2002)''

The one with the toast.

** If you see suspicious activity, call the police instead of confronting it yourself. Handling the situation yourself may make things worse, including putting you at risk. Unless the police are complete jerks and mock you for snitching.

* OutOfCharacterMoment: In order to emphasize how the Strangler keeps failing, not only do Squidward, Mrs. Puff and Plankton show up to ''both'' of [=SpongeBob=]'s parties, but they are shown clearly having the time of his life.

* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Patrick's [[YourHeadASplode head explodes]] from chewing explosive gum and a bone, [[StockFemurBone not even a vertebrae]], is exposed. Starfish are invertebrates. But [[RuleOfFunny this is a cartoon]], so it's okay.

* BedsheetGhost: [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick disguise themselves this way to scare Sandy. Sandy knows it's them, but when she pulls the sheets away and sees no one there, she screams and launches herself back to Texas.

'''Original air date''': 10/11/2004[[note]]"SpongeBob Meets the Strangler" and "Pranks a Lot" were both released on the ''Seascape Capers'' DVD set on January 6, 2004.[[/note]] ''(produced in 2002)''

'''Original air date''': 10/11/2004 ''(produced in 2002)''

* {{Jerkass}}: While nowhere near to the point of PoliceBrutality, the cops are complete dicks to [=SpongeBob=] when he asks them to protect him.

-->'''SpongeBob:''' Hmm, looks good to me. You're hired!

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Implied. For much of the episode, [=SpongeBob=] seems to be convinced that his [[PaperThinDisguise mustachioed "bodyguard"]] isn't the Strangler, but unintentionally puts him through a lot of comic suffering. But at one point, [=SpongeBob=] calls him "Strangler", but then corrects himself with a VerbalBackspace, implying that [=SpongeBob=] knew all along that that was the Strangler. Though him being horrified when his “bodyguard” points out he’s the strangler, (While he’s behind bars, no less) otherwise says he genuinely didn’t know.

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Implied. For much of the episode, [=SpongeBob=] seems to be convinced that his [[PaperThinDisguise mustachioed "bodyguard"]] isn't the Strangler, but unintentionally puts him through a lot of comic suffering. But at one point, [=SpongeBob=] calls him "Strangler", but then corrects himself with a VerbalBackspace, implying that [=SpongeBob=] knew all along that that was the Strangler.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Patrick is nowhere to be seen as [=SpongeBob=] is saying goodbye to his guests after the first party.

** If you see suspicious activity, call the police instead of confronting it yourself. Handling the situation yourself may make things worse, including putting you at risk. Unless the police are complete assholes and mock you for snitching.

** AesopAmnesia: Downplayed. The episode has the exact same aesop as "Fools in April" from Season 1, in which [=SpongeBob=] was the victim of the CruelPrank, while here, he's the perpetrator. Unlike Squidward in that episode, however, [=SpongeBob=] isn't acting out of malice and isn't trying to cause any physical harm; he's simply getting carried away.