Line #12 Recap/SpongebobSquarepantsS2E17ProcrastinationImWithStupid


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/be8f3469_51dc_40ac_a5c3_b930118d5712.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:''[[Music/TheDarkSideOfTheMoon Ticking away, the moments that make up a dull day...]]'']]
3
4	'''Procrastination'''
5
6	'''Original air date:''' 10/19/2001
7
8	[=SpongeBob=] has to write an essay for boating school about what not to do at a stoplight, but keeps putting it off by the most mundane things.
9	----
10	!!"Procrastination" contains examples of:
11	* AnAesop:
12	** Don't procrastinate, and learn time-management. If you get stuck or can't focus on an assignment, your main priority should be racking your brain, not avoiding it and coming back to it later.
13	** If you're a teacher, always be practical with your due dates.
14	* AllForNothing: After [=SpongeBob=] spends the episode procrastinating and then jotting down a bunch of things just before class starts, he's told by Mrs. Puff that the assignment has been cancelled because she has to go to a conference. She will, instead, take the class on a field trip to a stoplight[[note]]which is just as well, considering everything [=SpongeBob=] wrote down about what not to do at a stoplight had nothing to do with driving, thus he would've failed anyway[[/note]].
15	* AllJustADream: As the episode goes on, the events that happen slowly become more outlandish, starting with people who should have no knowledge of [=SpongeBob's=] essay calling him out, before growing into [[WorstNewsJudgmentEver the news reporting on him]], his chair talking to him, [[NotWearingPantsDream his pants running away]], his clock coming to life and a sentient flame burning down his house which screams at him to stop wasting time. Within the last few minutes, it's revealed that [=SpongeBob=] had fallen asleep at his desk, and most of the prior evening's events didn't happen.
16	* BigNo: By [=SpongeBob=] when the candle flame burns his essay, and then sets the house on fire shortly after.
17	* {{Bowdlerise}}: [=SpongeBob=]'s brief little workout, in which he stretches his arms, eyelashes and nose, were rather jarringly cut from syndication after too many people complained that his nose exercises [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything looked phallic]].
18	* CatapultNightmare: [=SpongeBob=] when he wakes up from his procrastinating-induced nightmare near the end of the episode.
19	* CompressedVice: Before this, [=SpongeBob=] has never, ''ever'' been shown to put off a task, given how big a {{Workaholic}} he is.
20	* DigitalDestruction: When Nickelodeon started airing the edited version of "Procrastination", the colors became noticeably washed out and less saturated. This extended to its sister episode as well. The reason why this happened is unknown. The [=DVDs=], Amazon Prime, Nicktoons and overseas airings have the episode's normal colors intact.
21	* DumbassHasAPoint: Patrick through BrutalHonesty calls out [[RidiculousProcrastinator SpongeBob]] for trying to have a conversation with him when he has an essay to write (which he shouldn't even be aware of; makes sense because this is [=SpongeBob=]'s dream).
22	-->'''Patrick:''' [=SpongeBob=], you and I both know that you're just using me as a distraction, so you don't have to write your essay.
23	* EvilLivingFlames: During [=SpongeBob's=] dream sequence, a candle flame comes to life, reads [=SpongeBob's=] unfinished essay disapprovingly, then decides to punish him by burning down his house.
24	* {{Foreshadowing}}: The scenes where Patrick and the mailman point out [=SpongeBob=] is not writing his essay, and the fish anchorman giving a news report about it (seemingly implying that literally '''everyone in the world''' knows about [=SpongeBob's=] assignment and procrastination), and all of the MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext moments (even outlandish by [=SpongeBob=] standards) are hints that this is AllJustADream.
25	* ForTheEvulz: The candle flame who simply burns down [=SpongeBob=]'s essay and then his pineapple house for his own amusement.
26	* HalfTheManHeUsedToBe: At the end of the episode, [=SpongeBob=] rips his paper in half, then rips himself in half.
27	* LaboriousLaziness: [=SpongeBob=] spends several hours spot-cleaning his kitchen just to avoid having to work on his essay.
28	* LiteralMinded:
29	-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' So, do you like delivering mail?\
30	'''Mailman:''' It puts bread on the table.\
31	'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Rye or pumpernickel? ''(laughs)''
32	* MediumShiftGag: As [=SpongeBob=] muses about getting his driver's license, it cuts to a live-action motor car racing down a track, then immediately crashing.
33	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: "Help! ''Help!'' My house is on fire!"
34	* OneWordTitle: "Procrastination", which is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin what SpongeBob spends the episode doing]].
35	* OverlyLongGag: In the beginning when Mrs. Puff is bringing up the stoplight assignment, [=SpongeBob=] repeatedly annoys the student next to him with, "Did you hear that?! (Rest of spiel)!". In the end when Mrs. Puff says it's 800 words long, the student then tries to give [=SpongeBob=] a taste of his own medicine by imitating him complete with buckteeth, [[InsultBackfire but [=SpongeBob=] only smiles and says, "Yeah, I know!".]]
36	* RepeatingSoTheAudienceCanHear: [=SpongeBob=] does this during a conversation with Gary.
37	--> '''[=SpongeBob=]:''' How 'bout you let old [=SpongeBob=] fix you up something to eat?\
38	'''Gary:''' Meow\
39	'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' What do you mean you're not hungry?\
40	'''Gary:''' Meow\
41	'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' I know I have an essay to write!
42	* RidiculousProcrastinator: As the title implies. [=SpongeBob=] is initially very eager and motivated to writing the 800 word essay due the following day, unlike the rest of class, but when upon discovering that coming up with ideas isn't as easy as he thought it would be, he starts finding any possible way to avoid it, from feeding Gary an enormous amount of food and saying he's not leaving until he eats it all... which he does in about two seconds. [=SpongeBob=] then decides that he must clean up Gary's enormous mess he made (actually just one small drop of snail food) and the rest of the kitchen pristine before going back to work. He then decides to stop goofing up and we see a monologue of him appearing to be writing something very creative, but we see he actually just wrote the word "the" in a very fancy manner. Several other humorous distractions occur.
43	* SapientHouse: The pineapple house became this after the candle set it on fire after burning the essay and proceeds to chew out [=SpongeBob=] for procrastinating on the assignment.
44	-->'''[=SpongeBob's House=]:''' [=SpongeBob, why?! Why did you set me on fire, SpongeBob?!=] Why didn't you just write your essay?! ''STOP WASTING TIIIIIME!!''
45	* ShaggyDogStory: [=SpongeBob=] completes the essay, but Mrs. Puff ends up having to leave for a teacher's convention and she tells him she decided to cancel the assignment. [[note]] Probably a good thing too, since the resulting report (filled with non-driving related things like "karate chopping the TV" and "shooting the breeze with the mailman") would almost definitely get him an F if it actually mattered. [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption Not that [=SpongeBob=] can ever get a passing grade anyway]].[[/note]]
46	* SnarkyInanimateObject: Like in "Ripped Pants", [=SpongeBob=]'s pants make a snarky comment and run off.
47	* TheTelevisionTalksBack: After receiving a package from the mailman, [=SpongeBob=] walks past his television, where the realistic fish news reporter not only discusses how he still hasn't finished his essay, but pokes his head out of the screen into [=SpongeBob's=] living room to emphasize his point.
48	* TitleDrop: In the German dub, the episode is simply titled "Der Aufsatz" ("The Essay").
49	** Averted within the English version. Where the term "Procrastination" is never used. Being only referred to as "Goofing off".
50	* UnimpressiveProgressReveal: After learning it's 10:00, [=SpongeBob=] turns back to the essay and we get a montage of his hard work...but once he looks it over, it is revealed he only wrote down a fancy "THE".
51	* WhamLine: Most of the events that occur after [=SpongeBob=] started struggling to write his essay seem normal enough, until the mailman stops [[MotorMouth his rambling conversation]] with this:
52	-->'''Mailman:''' Don't you have a paper to write?
53	* WorstNewsJudgmentEver: Johnny the newsfish apparently considers reporting on [=SpongeBob's=] procrastination and unfinished essay worthy of the evening timeslot. [[JustifiedTrope It's pretty reasonable]] considering this happens in [=SpongeBob's=] dream.
54	----
55	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6563e917_e611_4407_90ea_14e89c25c41f.png]]
56	[[caption-width-right:350:It certainly makes Wednesday dinners more interesting.]]
57
58	'''I'm with Stupid'''
59
60	'''Original air date:''' 10/19/2001
61
62	Patrick's parents are visiting and he doesn't want them to think that he's an idiot, so he asks [=SpongeBob=] to act like an idiot to make Patrick seem smart by comparison. Unfortunately, Patrick starts [[BelievingTheirOwnLies believing his own lies]].
63	----
64	!!"I'm with Stupid" contains examples of:
65	* TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects:
66	** Patrick's house rocking on its foundation at the beginning is clearly done with three-dimensional computer graphics.
67	** Though not as noticeable, Patrick's rock opening after Squidward rang his bell is also an example.
68	* AnAesop:
69	** Love your children no matter what. Also, don't treat them condescendingly, whether they're younger or grown-up.
70	** Make sure people you will associate with are who they say they are.
71	** Don't put down other people to make yourself look good in front of others.
72	** Don't act stupid just to make someone else look smart.
73	** Don't forget who your parents are.
74	** [[SpoofAesop Starfish are VERY stupid.]]
75	* BelievingTheirOwnLies: The entire plot is kicked off when [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick come up with a plan to make Patrick's parents believe that [=SpongeBob=] is a complete idiot so that Patrick will look smarter by comparison. Unfortunately, Patrick takes it too seriously and soon ends up believing that he truly is a genius and [=SpongeBob=] really is dumb.
76	* BigNo: By [=SpongeBob=] when Marty thinks Patrick taught him math. He assumes this to be singing.
77	* CallBack: This isn't the first time Patrick said "Who are you people?!"
78	* CaptainErsatz: Marty and Janet are noticeable parodies of [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Homer and Marge Simpson]], respectively, in both design and voice. The only big diversion (aside from species and name) is that unlike Homer and Marge, Marty and Janet don't have a son, and the Marge expy is a lot dumber.
79	* CassandraTruth: [=SpongeBob=] is unable to convince Patrick and his parents that he's not really stupid.
80	* DumbassHasAPoint: Hypocritical as he is, Patrick's statement on how dumb people are [[IgnorantOfTheirOwnIgnorance clueless about their stupidity]] is actually correct. He just described the Dunning-Kruger effect.
81	-->'''Patrick:''' Dumb people are always blissfully unaware of how dumb they really are.
82	* EverybodyLaughsEnding: The episode ends with Patrick and his (real) parents laughing as his rock house closes down on them.
83	* EyePop: Done by Patrick when [=SpongeBob=] pushes his buttons.
84	* FiveSecondForeshadowing: Patrick's dad comments that he feels like he's meeting him for the first time... right before it's revealed that he's not actually Patrick's father; ergo, he actually ''is'' meeting him for the first time.
85	* {{Foreshadowing}}:
86	** Patrick's “parents” are initially impressed that their son immediately recognizes them (their first line is, "Wow, son! You actually recognized us this time!"), and Patrick doesn't bother to defend himself. As it turns out, they're not his parents. Patrick doesn't realize this because, as hinted at, he frequently forgets what his real parents look like.
87	** When getting ready to act stupid for Patrick, Gary questions [=SpongeBob=] and he replies, "[[TemptingFate What could go wrong?]]". Well, something ''will'' go wrong indeed -- Patrick [[BelievingTheirOwnLies begins to believe]] [=SpongeBob=] really ''is'' stupid.
88	** Patrick acts uninterested when he first sees Janet and Marty.
89	* GainaxEnding: Patrick discovered that the two people he's been entertaining aren't his parents, finds his real parents right outside and the three of them laugh while the fake parents simply shrug it off, remembering that they don't even ''have'' a son, and walk off. Rock closes. The end. [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse We never even find out what happened to [=SpongeBob=] after he ran off screaming]].
90	* GoneHorriblyRight: [=SpongeBob=] fakes dumbness as part of his and Patrick's plan, but Patrick begins to believe he's actually dumb.
91	* HypocriticalHumor:
92	-->'''Patrick:''' Dumb people are always blissfully unaware of how dumb they really are... [[StupidlyLongFillerSound duuuuh...]]
93	* IgnorantOfTheirOwnIgnorance: Patrick, of course. He starts treating [=SpongeBob=] like a moron because he's forgotten that he ''told'' [=SpongeBob=] to act like a moron.
94	* ImpactSilhouette: [=SpongeBob=] leaves a himself-shaped hole in the wall when he makes a hasty retreat (somehow, as Patrick's home interior is under the ground).
95	* IronicEcho: Patrick’s “parents” say “Wow son, you recognized us this time!” His real parents say the same thing to him.
96	* JerkassBall: Patrick starts to believe that [=SpongeBob=] really ''is'' dumb, forgetting that [=SpongeBob=] is only pretending. Patrick then starts making personal insults, and when [=SpongeBob=] tries to remind him that they're only pretending, he denies it.
97	* KarmaHoudini: Patrick gets no punishment for essentially [[DrivenToMadness tormenting SpongeBob into insanity]]. The most Janet and Marty get is Patrick's interrupted FreakOut when he realizes they might not really be his parents and the fact that his ''real'' parents still think he's as dumb as ever.
98	* KickTheDog: Is this how Patrick would treat [=SpongeBob=] if he really was stupid?
99	* NoodleIncident: "Patrick! You forgot how to eat again! Come on, we'll get the funnel!" The only elaboration this receives is an offhanded comment from [=SpongeBob=] claiming that he liked using the funnel.
100	* ObfuscatingStupidity: [=SpongeBob=] pretends to be stupid to make Patrick look smarter in front of his parents. Unfortunately, Patrick starts to believe that he ''is'' stupid.
101	* ObliviousToHisOwnDescription: Patrick's infamous line about how dumb people are ignorant of their own dumbness, told to [=SpongeBob=] because Patrick has stupidly forgotten that it was all an act.
102	* ParentalHypocrisy: Patrick's parents turn out to be this when we see that even though they called out Patrick for being dumb, they themselves couldn't locate/remember where Patrick's house is and asked Squidward where he was.
103	* PlotHole:
104	** When [=SpongeBob=] makes an ImpactSilhouette through Patrick's walls to run away, you can clearly see the blue sky outside even though it should be underground because Patrick's rock lid lies on the ground.
105	** Despite not being Patrick's real parents, Janet and Marty know several specific facts about him.
106	* PoorCommunicationKills: A lot of confusion could've been avoided if Marty and Janet told Patrick their names in the first place.
107	* RageBreakingPoint: Marty and Janet still thinking [=SpongeBob=] actually is dumb even when he tried to convince them he isn't is enough to push his insanity over the limit, leading him to escape.
108	* TheScream: [=SpongeBob=] lets out a long and frustrated one when he is unable to convince Patrick's parents' he's not really dumb, before running out.
109	* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: After various failed attempts at getting Patrick's parents to believe he's not actually dumb, [=SpongeBob=] screams and runs out of the house in frustration. What he doesn't know is that the starfish couple he met are not Patrick's real parents.
110	* ShaggyDogStory: Patrick manages to impress his parents -- at the cost of [[DrivenToMadness poor [=SpongeBob's=] sanity]]. Then, Squidward brings over Patrick's ''real parents'', who'd been standing outside his house all day asking him where their son was. And [=SpongeBob=] didn't get the whole idea.
111	* SmallRoleBigImpact: Gary is only present for one scene as [=SpongeBob=] is getting ready to act stupid for Patrick, but that particular moment -- when he asks [=SpongeBob=] if it's okay and [=SpongeBob=] wonders what could go wrong -- plays a huge part, as it serves as a foreshadowing of Patrick treating him like he's a real idiot.
112	* SpotTheImposter: When Marty and Janet refer to each other by name, Patrick immediately realizes they are not his parents (his actual parents' names are Herb and Margie).
113	* TitleDrop: Downplayed. Patrick briefly wears an "I'm With Stupid" [[FunTShirt T-shirt]] that actually says "I'm with the dummy".
114	* TooDumbToLive:
115	** Patrick lampshades this, feeling this is how his parents view him. It turns out they aren't exactly mistaken about their son, who can't even ''recognize'' them until after he's already mistaken two other people for his parents! Though they themselves don't seem to know where he lives either, and apparently kept bothering Squidward about it.
116	** On that note, Marty and Janet are ''definitely'' this, for thinking Patrick was their son in the first place and going through the trouble to see him only to remember they have no son.
117	* VisualPun: A classic example.
118	-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' ''(in response to a piece of paper Patrick is holding)'' Hey, a note! ''(takes it to reveal that there's a music note on it)''\
119	'''Patrick:''' Yeah, but turn it over! There's a letter!\
120	'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' ''(turns the "note" around to reveal the letter B on the back)'' You're right!
121	* WhamLine: When [=SpongeBob=] has had enough of Patrick's parents treating him like an idiot and runs out of the house in anger, it looks like a happy ending for Patrick, when suddenly...
122	-->'''Marty:''' I feel like I'm really meeting you for the first time. Isn't that right, ''Janet''?\
123	'''Janet:''' You bet, ''Marty''!\
124	'''Patrick:''' ''(eyes widen in shock)'' Janet? Marty?! ''Who are you people?!''
125	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse:
126	** [=SpongeBob=] is somehow never seen or mentioned again after he runs off screaming.
127	** How Janet and Marty seem to know several facts about Patrick, let alone his own name is never explained.

Context Recap / SpongebobSquarepantsS2E17ProcrastinationImWithStupid