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[[caption-width-right:350:Who's down to see another show next week?]]

'''Culture Shock'''

'''Original air date:''' 9/18/1999

Business is slow at the Krusty Krab, so Squidward talks Mr. Krabs into letting him hold a talent show to bring in customers.
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!!"Culture Shock" contains examples of:
* ActuallyPrettyFunny: When Squidward cracks a joke on stage, it puts Patrick into hysterics.
* BottleEpisode: The whole episode is set at the Krusty Krab.
* BreakTheHaughty: After spending the whole episode rudely ignoring [=SpongeBob=], belittling the other contestants, and pumping up his act, Squidward is booed off the stage with a hail of vegetables and told by all of Bikini Bottom that he has no talent. And [=SpongeBob=] wins over the crowd and brings the house down despite Squidward telling him the whole time he had no talent.
* BrickJoke: The first scene in the episode involves Mr. Krabs setting up a free salad bar in the Krusty Krab to bring in customers. Later in the episode, customers run to the same salad bar to get tomatoes to throw at the dancing Squidward. Mr. Krabs takes notice of this and puts a small label reading "$1.00" on the salad bar. The audience doesn't care, with one member stating "It's worth every penny".
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Krabs actually offers free salad out of desperation to get customers. Once people start using it to pelt Squidward, naturally he starts charging for it.
* ContinuityNod: When Plankton's SmokeOut fails, he says, "Well, this stinks." He says the same thing in his debut episode, after he's trapped in Karen's analyzer.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In later seasons, Mr. Krabs would never be desperate enough to try a "free" anything in his business.
* ExactWords: Squidward promises to save the best act for last and he did. Unfortunately, it is not Squidward's dancing that is the best act. It was [=SpongeBob=] cleaning the stage.
* AGoodOldFashionedPaintWatching: A variant. All of the other acts are dead on arrival, but [=SpongeBob=] just mopping the stage ''brings the house down''!
* HereWeGoAgain: The talent show is a massive success, and Mr. Krabs has plans to hold another one next week.
* HuggyHuggyHippos: [=SpongeBob=]’s first idea for an act is to blow a bubble hippo with a hat and cane, who then tap dances alongside him.
* InsultBackfire: When an angry Squidward fires back at his booing audience, they prove good at wordplay.
-->'''Squidward:''' You bottom feeders! You don't even ''know'' talent!\\
'''Audience:''' ''NO'' TALENT! NO TALENT! NO TALENT!
* ItsAllAboutMe: Squidward makes almost no effort to hide that the talent show is more for his own gain than for the Krusty Krab. When it's time for his act, he presents it with a ton of fanfare. Within seconds, he's booed at and pelted with fruits and vegetables. Even after this, when he hears the crowd cheering for [=SpongeBob=], he ''somehow'' believes they're cheering for ''him''.
* LaserGuidedKarma: Squidward gets booed and forced off the stage by the audience while they embrace [=SpongeBob=] as perfect karma for the abrasive way Squidward treated the latter, shooting down his (admittedly impressive) act ideas.
* LongSongShortScene: Squidward's interpretive dance is scored by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARKfea6GonQ "In House Jazz"]] by Laszlo Bencker. The song's full length is 3:32, yet in the episode, it only plays for roughly 30 seconds.
* MathematiciansAnswer: Squidward's response to [=SpongeBob=]'s question on disinfectants.
-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Squidward. Should I use... Mr. Cleanser, or, Dr. Clean?\\
'''Squidward:''' ''(walks away)'' Yes.
* MoodWhiplash: Squidward's dance routine instantly changes mood on a dime from graceful to heavy rave.
* {{Narcissist}}: Squidward couldn't care less about the other acts, but he presents his own act with such enthusiasm.
* {{Nepotism}}: Pearl only got to be in the talent show because she's Mr. Krabs' daughter. On the other hand, Krabs only agreed to host the talent show in the first place because Squidward offered Pearl her own act.
-->'''Squidward:''' Our next act is living proof that nepotism is alive and well.
* OnlyOneFindsItFun: At the start of the show, when Squidward makes a couple of snarky comments, Patrick is the only one who laughs. He then continues to laugh at everything Squidward says until he leaves the stage for Pearl.
* OwMyBodyPart: After Pearl performs her cheerleading routine, which results in the customers being thrown about, Fred shouts "My leg!"
* ProducePelting: The audience hits Squidward with produce from the free salad bar, prompting Mr. Krabs to start charging.
-->'''Customer:''' [[WorthIt It's worth every penny!]]
* ShoutOut: Squidward calling Gary "Ginsberg" is an allusion to the beat poet Creator/AllenGinsberg.
* SmallNameBigEgo: Squidward sets up a talent show largely for his own gain, presents his own act with a ton of fanfare, and declares it to be the best... but within minutes, the audience is [[ProducePelting pelting him with tomatoes]] and booing him off the stage.
* SmokeOut: Plankton attempts it, but [[EpicFail fails.]]
-->'''Plankton:''' Well, this stinks. ''(pathetically leaves the Krusty Krab while being booed at)''
* SoProudOfYou: [=SpongeBob's=] parents express how happy they are that their son got a standing ovation.
* StylisticSuck: Squidward’s show is cheesy, but ultimately hilarious.
* TakeOurWordForIt: Gary's beat poetry, which somehow brings Sandy to tears despite it being just meowing.
* TremorTrampoline: When Pearl does her cheerleading routine.
* WaterIsAir: [=SpongeBob=]'s act as "The Amazing Mister Absorbency" has him absorb water... while he ''is'' underwater.
* WholePlotReference: To the classic ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' short ''WesternAnimation/ShowBizBugs'', down to the floor-sweeping scenes.
* WingdingEyes:
** Mr. Krabs has dollar signs in his eyes when a customer leaves a penny on the table.
** Squidward has stars in his eyes when he tells Mr. Krabs about his plans for the talent show.
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[[caption-width-right:350:"I'll bet if he had just ''one'' friend, he wouldn't be such a meanie..."]]

'''F.U.N.'''

'''Original air date:''' 9/18/1999

[=SpongeBob=] believes Plankton to be NotEvilJustMisunderstood, and teaches him how to have fun. Unfortunately, Plankton really ''is'' evil and is trying to con [=SpongeBob=] into giving him the Krabby Patty formula.
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!!"F.U.N." contains examples of:
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Absolutely everyone hates Plankton in Bikini Bottom, as suggested when they all call him a loser while [=SpongeBob=] was trying to console him.
-->'''Squidward:''' How does it feel to be the most hated thing in Bikini Bottom, Plankton?! [[WelcomeToHell It hurts, does it?! I know!]]
* AnthropomorphicTypography: Downplayed. During the F.U.N. Song, [=SpongeBob=] forms himself into an "N".
* ArtisticLicense: In real life, Plankton's escape attempt in the movie theater would've been successful, as there isn't a wall of solid concrete behind movie screens. Rather, there's a large, open space where the speakers are placed.
* TheBadGuyWins: [=SpongeBob=] believes this to be the case after Plankton flees through a movie theater screen with a Krabby Patty in tow, only for Mr. Krabs to pull back the screen and reveal a [[SubvertedTrope wall of concrete that blocked Plankton's escape]].
* BattleStrip: Parodied. [=SpongeBob=] rips off a layer of himself to reveal the same appearance before he chases Plankton.
* BecomingTheMask: Though he does eventually snap out of it, it becomes apparent to Karen that Plankton is taking too much sincere enjoyment out of his time with Spongebob.
* BefriendingTheEnemy: "I bet if Plankton had just one friend, he wouldn't be such a meanie."
* BigNo: Done by Mr. Krabs in the beginning when Squidward says Plankton escaped.
* BlatantLies: After [=SpongeBob=] pulls out the Krabby Patty Plankton hid in his pockets, Plankton tries to deny what it is, until [=SpongeBob=] makes him crack.
* BondVillainStupidity: Plankton could have won if he just ran straight to the Chum Bucket instead of running around the city to lose [=SpongeBob=]. It ''is'' across the street from the Krusty Krab after all!
* CelebratoryBodyTossing: After foiling Plankton, [=SpongeBob=] is made Honorary Town Rookie of the Day and is tossed in the air while wearing a giant donut, as the citizens sing, "For he's a jolly good rookie!" [=SpongeBob=], however, is not in a celebratory mood, as he's feeling sorry for Plankton.
* CharacterisationClickMoment: This is the first episode to show a more pitiful side of Plankton rather than just the SmugSnake he was previously. Several key factors of his personality are established here, the Chum Bucket having zero customers, his FriendlyEnemy dynamic with Spongebob, and his computer being a sentient nagging housewife. He even seemed willing to give up villainy until Karen talked him back into it.
* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: [=SpongeBob=] inadvertently does this to Plankton when he puts on a disguise from a magic shop, [=SpongeBob=] tells him how he once saw a magician who said, "If you believe in yourself, and with a tiny pinch of magic, all your dreams will come true." The sentimentality irritates Plankton so much, he drops his disguise.
-->'''Plankton:''' And after all these years, I thought ''I'' was the master of torture. But, ''that''?! [[EvenEvilHasStandards That just wasn't fair!]]
* DarkReprise: Plankton's version of the Fun Song.
-->'''Plankton:''' F is for fire that burns down the whole town!\\
U is for uranium... bombs!\\
N is for no survivors, WHEN YOU-\\
'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Plankton! Those things aren't what fun is all about!
* DisruptingTheTheater: When [=SpongeBob=] and Plankton are at the movies, Mr. Krabs interrupts the movie to warn [=SpongeBob=] that Plankton is only pretending to be his friend in order to obtain the Krabby Patty formula.
* DonutMessWithACop: When a police officer names [=SpongeBob=] Honorary Town Rookie of the Day, he places him into an inner tube designed like a donut.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness:
** At the start of the episode, [=SpongeBob=] is briefly seen cooking on the Krusty Krab's stove while wearing a hairnet. [=SpongeBob=] is never seen doing either of those things again, to the point that Season 4's "Wigstruck" makes it a plot point that he has to ''start'' wearing a hairnet over the titular wig.
** The Krusty Krabs' security is far more advanced here than later on in the series, as sirens go off and the windows become blocked with metal when it is detected that Plankton stole a Krabby Patty, which doesn't happen with Plankton's future schemes in the Krusty Krab.
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Plankton doesn't even understand what fun is.
* EvilFeelsGood: Plankton's quote about stealing the Krabby Patty contributes this trope:
-->'''Plankton:''' Being evil is just too much fun!
* ForbiddenFriendship: It's very clear that Mr. Krabs does NOT want [=SpongeBob=] and Plankton to become friends. Justified as Plankton ultimately uses [=SpongeBob=] to get close to the Krabby Patty formula as Mr. Krabs has feared. In one scene it's downplayed as Mr. Krabs genuinely contemplates the idea that Plankton pulled a HeelFaceTurn thanks to [=SpongeBob=].
** Same goes for Karen, who condescends Plankton he must not befriend [=SpongeBob=] and only use him to get the Krabby Patty.
* FreezeFrameBonus: When the Krusty Krab goes into lockdown during Plankton's infiltration, the pot that [=SpongeBob=] is cooking with has a little metal door close over it.
* GoingNative: Karen accuses Plankton of this after catching him wearing square pants.
* GreaterScopeVillain: Karen. She's the one who egged on Plankton to take advantage of [=SpongeBob=] in order to get the Krabby Patty, even though Plankton was sincerely enjoying a day of fun with his new spongy friend.
* {{Hammerspace}}: Plankton hides a Krabby Patty ten times his size in his pocket.
* HardTruthAesop: A sobering reminder that even if you get on someone's good side, you can't change who they are for better or worse. Only they can.
* IgnoredEpiphany: Plankton, for once realized what it meant to be friends with someone and to care, but he couldn’t retain the lesson and carried on with stealing the Krabby Patty instead.
* ImpossibleTheft: Plankton manages to steal a Krabby Patty and replace it with a cardboard standee without even touching it, and with the camera on it the whole time.
* IndulgentFantasySegue: Plankton has one of him using a jellyfish to become the new dictator of Bikini Bottom as he triumphantly declares he's won.
* InstantFlightJustAddSpinning: [=SpongeBob=] is able to fly by twirling a cop's baton as a rotor.
* KneelBeforeZod: During Plankton's ImagineSpot of using a giant jellyfish to conquer Bikini Bottom.
-->'''Plankton:''' All knees will bow to Plankton! Hail Plankton! I win! I win!...
* MoodWhiplash: [=SpongeBob's=] song, compared to Plankton's song.
* MoralityPet: [=SpongeBob=] tries and fails to become one for Plankton.
* MovieTheaterEpisode: This episode's climax has [=SpongeBob=] and Plankton go to the movie theater after having spent a friendly day out together the previous day. While in the theater, Mr. Krabs interrupts the movie to tell [=SpongeBob=] that Plankton is only pretending to be his friend to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula. When [=SpongeBob=] discovers that Mr. Krabs is right, Plankton attempts to escape with a stolen Krabby Patty through the movie projection screen, but his plan is foiled by the solid concrete behind it.
* NotSoGreatEscape: Plankton attempts to escape by tearing through a movie screen, but [[DidNotThinkThisThrough doesn't count on the concrete wall behind it.]]
* PapaWolf: Mr. Krabs shows shades of this when it comes to his (rightful) suspicions of Plankton.
* ProperlyParanoid: Mr. Krabs isn't happy when he sees [=SpongeBob=] and Plankton bonding, since he thinks Plankton is only doing it to take advantage of [=SpongeBob=] to steal a Krabby Patty. Turns out that is exactly what happened.
* PutOnABus: This would be the last appearance of Bubble Bass for several seasons.
* ARoundOfDrinksForTheHouse: After foiling Plankton, Mr. Krabs offers to give [=SpongeBob=] a Krabby Patty "on me", but then reconsiders and adds "Well, maybe at a discount."
* ShoutOut: Mr. Krabs' line "[[SarcasmMode And maybe scallops'll fly out of my pants]]!" is a [[{{Bowdlerize}} G-rated version]] of a similar line from ''Film/WaynesWorld''. ("Yeah, right! And maybe monkeys'll fly outta my butt!")
* SickeninglySweet: [=SpongeBob=]'s story about the magician who told him to believe in himself was so sickeningly sweet, it forced Plankton to turn himself in.
* SpellingSong: "The Fun Song". Doubles as a FriendshipSong.
-->F is for friends who do stuff together\\
U is for you and me.\\
N is for anywhere and anytime at all\\
Down here in the deep blue sea!
* SympathyForTheDevil: What kicks off the story. [=SpongeBob=] feels so bad for Plankton that he figures that being friends with him might turn him into a nicer person.
* TalkingTheMonsterToDeath: Plankton disguises himself and stands in front of a magic shop when [=SpongeBob=] arrives. He doesn't recognize Plankton, but when he sees the magic shop he starts gushing about a magician he saw once, until Plankton has enough and gives up.
-->'''Plankton:''' And after all these years, I thought ''I'' was the master of torture. But, ''that''?! That just wasn't fair!
* TearingThroughTheMovieScreen: Inverted. Plankton runs ''into'' the movie screen to escape, tearing the screen apart and stopping the movie right after the female lead tells her lover that [[{{Irony}} nothing could ever tear them apart]].
* UnPaused: Plankton closes the door on [=SpongeBob=] in the middle of saying "I'd like to go jelly..." When he returns sometime later, [=SpongeBob=] finishes where he left off: "...fishing with my friends at Jellyfish Fields."
* VillainousGlutton: Bubble Bass only abandons his seat (even after being told he’s sitting on someone) when Spongebob throws a few pieces of popcorn away to distract him.
* VisualPun: In the last verse of "The F.U.N. Song", [=SpongeBob=] and Plankton state that "'N' is for nose-picking, sharing gum and sand-licking," with the first of these phrases being accompanied by the duo shopping for prosthetic noses.
* WhamShot: At first, it appears that Mr. Krabs' suspicions about Plankton [[HeelFaceTurn going straight]] were unfounded... [[FalselyReformedVillain until a cardboard cutout of the Krabby Patty he was trying to trap Plankton with falls over.]]
* [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove What Is This Thing You Call "Fun"?]]: Plankton starts scheming to use the jellyfish's stingers to wreak havoc on Bikini Bottom and become their new dictator so that he can finally win. [=SpongeBob=] then says jellyfishing isn't about winning, it's about having fun. Plankton asks what "fun" means. Cue the F.U.N. song.
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