Line #35 WesternAnimation/ChristmasWho


1	[[quoteright:349:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spongebob_christmas_special_episode_2638.JPG]]
2	[[caption-width-right:349:This Christmas feels like the very first Christmas to me!]]
3	->'''Painty:''' Ready for Christmas, kids?\
4	'''[[StudioAudience Kids]]:''' Aye aye, captain!
5
6	'''Christmas Who?'''
7
8	'''Original air date:''' 12/7/2000
9
10	The first ChristmasSpecial from Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}'s ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', as well as the first double-length episode.
11
12	When [=SpongeBob=] is sneaking up on Sandy to try out his latest surprise karate technique, Sandy is taken aback; not by his stealth move, but in discovering that [=SpongeBob=] doesn't know what a Christmas tree is. In fact, [=SpongeBob=]'s never heard of Christmas either. After catching up on what he's missed, he realizes that Bikini Bottom has been missing out for years, and infects everyone in town with the Christmas spirit.
13
14	Everyone except Squidward, that is, who doesn't believe in Santa Claus, and refuses to take part in any of [=SpongeBob=]'s Christmas shenanigans. Unfortunately, Santa's a no-show by morning in Bikini Bottom, everybody blames [=SpongeBob=] for wasting their time, and Squidward rubs it in [=SpongeBob=]'s face, before receiving a special handmade gift that [=SpongeBob=] had crafted for him, thinking that Squidward would feel left out when... [[BreakTheCutie Santa came]]. Feeling like a jerk, Squidward [[SavingChristmas decides to save Christmas]].
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16	Originally the only ''[=SpongeBob=]'' Christmas special, until a stop motion special was released in 2012 as a part of Season 8 entitled ''WesternAnimation/ItsASpongebobChristmas''.
17	----
18	!!"Christmas Who?" contains examples of:
19	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: When [=SpongeBob=] tries to get Squidward to write a letter to Santa.
20	-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' What have you got to lose?\
21	'''Squidward:''' My self-respect. My sanity! ...My lunch.
22	* BalloonBelly: Potty after eating all the cookie dough. He even gets so fat the strings holding him up snap.
23	* BatmanGambit: One could argue that [[spoiler: Santa at the end planned the whole thing what with his note at the end, thanking Squidward for doing the Bikini Bottom run for him]].
24	* BreakingTheFourthWall: Patchy pulls on Potty's strings so hard, the puppeteer operating Potty falls down from above. This is a VisualGag that doubles as an AmusingInjury.
25	* ChristmasEpisode: The first Christmas special in the series (and only one, until ''It's a [=SpongeBob=] Christmas'').
26	* ChristmasSongs: Well there's two, "Santa's Coming Tonight" and "The Very First Christmas". The former is simply a recycling of "Jingle Bells" while the latter is a completely original song.
27	* CrowdSong: "Santa's coming tonight, tonight! Santa's coming tonight!"
28	* DarkReprise: Downplayed on the "dark" part. Squidward sings "The Very First Christmas" in a mocking voice as he gloats to a downhearted [=SpongeBob=] that he was right about Santa Claus not showing up.
29	* DudeNotFunny: InUniverse example when Squidward laughed at [=SpongeBob=].
30	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness:
31	** Potty the Parrot seems to behave more like a typical parrot here, usually repeating minimal phrases. In all later appearances, he talks more human-like. This is also the only time his in-universe puppeteer appears (falling from the ceiling after Patchy yanks on Potty's strings); subsequent episodes don't seem to acknowledge he even has one.
32	** This was the only episode in which the Brazilian dub would translate Patchy the Pirate's name, as ''Olho Tapado, o Pirata''. His next appearances would simply use his English name.
33	* EggLayingMale: At the end of the episode, Patchy takes his hat off and Potty flies out, leaving behind a nest full of eggs wrapped in bows.
34	* EveryoneHatesFruitCakes: When the episode cuts to [=SpongeBob=] telling the others about Christmas, he finishes with "...and everyone ''pretends'' to like the fruitcake!" Mr. Krabs is later seen giving one to Plankton, who tosses it in a trashcan full of other fruit cakes.
35	* FramingDevice: Patchy the Pirate and Potty, in their first ever appearance, decorate their house for Christmas.
36	* FunnyPhotoPhrase: Squidward tells (a very upset) [=SpongeBob=] to say, "Santa Claus" as his picture is taken, as a way of rubbing it in [=SpongeBob's=] face that Santa never showed up.
37	* TheGrinch: Squidward basically becomes the original, down from hating Christmas to saving it for the town. The only part of the trope he doesn't fulfill is actively ruining it for everyone else.
38	* HaHaHaNo: Patchy hears three bells which offscreen children take to mean they're getting free ice cream. Patchy lets out some lighthearted chuckles before yelling "NO!"
39	* JerkassHasAPoint: Squidward had a right to be annoyed with Spongebob's festivities seeing as they tore down a tree in his front yard and redecorating his house without his permission. Plus their singing was keeping him up all night.
40	* JerkassRealization: As a VisualPun after Santa doesn't show up, Squidward's realization that he was being a jackass is followed by an overlayed picture of a live-action donkey, complete with braying.
41	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Squidward's jerk is at its worst at the beginning (until the fifth season), but at the second half, the heart of gold becomes very well known.
42	* KickTheDog: Squidward does this to [=SpongeBob=] when Santa is a no-show. He regrets doing so after [=SpongeBob=] gives him a present, though.
43	* LaughingMad: PlayedForLaughs with [[spoiler:the REAL Santa Claus at the end]].
44	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: As said above, Potty's strings snap after he eats a whole bunch of cookie dough.
45	* MediumBlending: Santa's appearance at the end, played by series writer Mike Bell.
46	* MetaphoricMetamorphosis: Squidward initially revels in [=SpongeBob's=] promises about Santa Claus visiting Bikini Bottom being proven wrong, which leaves the sea sponge a sobbing, heartbroken pariah. However, upon seeing that [=SpongeBob=] made him a custom mechanical clarinet as a Christmas present (in case Santa didn't give him anything when he showed up), Squidward realizes how cruel he acted and states that "I feel like a... I feel like a...," at which point [[VisualPun a braying donkey is superimposed on his head – in other words, he feels like a jackass]]. Squidward then finishes his sentence with the words [[BaitAndSwitchComment "...big jerk!"]]
47	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Squidward feels really bad for mocking [=SpongeBob=] about Santa not arriving. How he made it up to him afterward makes him feel better.
48	* NosyNeighbor: During the "The Very First Christmas to Me" song, Squidward curiously checks on [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick decorating the pineapple house. When they spot him -- under the mistletoe, no less -- he nervously excuses himself and beats a hasty retreat.
49	* OhCrap:
50	** [=SpongeBob=], when the Bikini Bottomites turn to him asking where Santa is.
51	** Squidward, (who is dressed as Santa) when he sees everyone in line waiting for presents.
52	* OurLawyersAdvisedThisTrope: "This letter comes to us from [Name and address withheld]!"
53	* RoundaboutShot: [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick have one during "The Very First Christmas".
54	* SantaClaus: [[spoiler:Double]] Subverted with Squidward. Santa was a no-show. [[spoiler:Or was he?!]]
55	* SantasExistenceClause: Santa does eventually show up, but not before Squidward's taken on the role himself and given away everything he owns as "presents".
56	* SavingChristmas: After Santa didn’t show up, Squidward took on the job himself, and the Christmas spirit once again returned to Bikini Bottom.
57	* ShamedByAMob: When Santa fails to arrive at Bikini Bottom, all of the fish glare at [=SpongeBob=], grumble at him for making them wait all night for nothing, and leave in disappointment.
58	* SingingVoiceDissonance: The normally gravelly-voiced Mr. Krabs sings the last line of "The Very First Christmas" in falsetto (dubbed by Dee Bradley Baker, as Clancy Brown couldn't hit the high notes). However, his other lines in the song are sung in his normal voice.
59	* SmallRoleBigImpact: Sandy only appears in the beginning but is the one who teaches [=SpongeBob=] about Christmas and inspires him to spread the annual tradition to Bikini Bottom. Matter of fact, she's the sole reason why Bikini Bottom even celebrates Christmas to begin with.
60	* SnowySleighBells: The opening uses [[VariationsOnAThemeSong a carol version of the regular [=SpongeBob=] theme song]] and features prominent sleigh bells.
61	* SpecialEditionTitle: The beginning credits are decorated for the holidays, with a Christmas wreath dressed over Painty's portrait, and at the end, instead of [=SpongeBob=]'s nose flute, a choir of Christmas Carolers that have been singing the entire theme song like a caro] sing "Fala la la la la la la la la la la!"
62	* SubbingForSanta: Squidward did it to cheer [=SpongeBob=] up. At first, of course, but the secret didn't stay down for very long.
63	* ThrowTheDogABone: Squidward does a good deed but it really cost him most of his possessions. Though he ends up getting a note from Santa in the end as well, and experiences the real Santa with his own eyes.
64	* TitleDrop:
65	-->'''Sandy:''' Ain't you never seen a Christmas tree before?\
66	'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Christmas who?
67	* TheUnReveal: The reason the real Santa [[spoiler:(who is seen in the sky at the end)]] doesn't visit Bikini Bottom is never explained.
68	* WhamLine: "I still want you to have this" is definitely one to Squidward, as his demeanor instantly changes from maliciously gleeful to uncomfortably guilty in the blink of an eye the moment he hears it.
69	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Sandy is not seen celebrating Christmas with the rest of the Bikini Bottomites, even though she taught [=SpongeBob=] all about the holiday before he spread the word about Christmas to Bikini Bottom.

Context WesternAnimation / ChristmasWho