Defictionalization: The store Hot Topic sells the "Eels and Escalators" game.
Enforced Method Acting: According to Tom Kenny, all of the voice actors really were swearing, then having the offending words Censored for Comedy, because they couldn't get the right intonation with non-offending words.
What Could Have Been: The episode included a few more decipherable uses of bad words, such as SpongeBob saying "Go (Dolphin noise) yourself" followed by Patrick saying "(Dolphin noise) you too!" during the Eels and Escalators Game. For obvious reasons, this was removed.
Artist Unknown:
Defictionalization: You can now buy wall art prints of Bold and Brash on websites like Amazon or Etsy.
Reality Subtext: Squidward's harsh criticism of SpongeBob not creating art "by the rules" even though he produces amazing works of art reflects Stephen Hillenburg and some of the other crew members' real life struggles with their by-the-book professors in art school.
Working Title: The episode was originally going to be named "Squidward's Cooking Class".
