"Christmas Who?" (also known as "The SpongeBob Christmas Special") is a SpongeBob SquarePants special episode from season two. The episode aired in the United States on December 6, 2000. It is the series' first double-length episode. The episode marks the first appearance of Patchy the Pirate (played by Tom Kenny), and his pet parrot, Potty (voiced by series' creator Stephen Hillenburg). The episode follows SpongeBob as he learns what Christmas is about, and creates excitement in everyone in Bikini Bottom.
Plot
While heading to the tree dome of Sandy Cheeks for a surprise visit, SpongeBob SquarePants is horrified to see her electrifying the tree with an arrangement of colored Christmas lights and perceives it as a house-fire. While attempting to extinguish the alleged travesty, Sandy chastises him by informing that she is simply preparing for the holiday season, to which SpongeBob is thoroughly oblivious. After having customary Christmas traditions explained to him and enchanted by the promise of a visit from Santa Claus, SpongeBob spreads the news of the previously-undiscovered holiday amongst the townspeople and assists them in preparing wish lists for Santa Claus. However, a dubious Squidward refuses to participate in the celebration of Christmas, doubtful to the existence of Santa and attempting to disprove a spirited SpongeBob's claims to no avail. Nonetheless, the anticipated Bikini Bottomites enthusiastically prepare for the upcoming holiday; however, their faith is shattered after Santa fails to arrive on Christmas Eve. This is mostly because all the townspeople stay up all night waiting for him. Furious with SpongeBob, they reject him, and when Santa Claus still fails to deliver presents to the people of town even SpongeBob's excitement is soiled. Seeing the error of his ways after being presented with an exquisite homemade gift from SpongeBob, Squidward tries to compensate for his rudeness by masquerading as Santa Claus to uplift his neighbor's spirits; however, he later winds up distributing his every possession among the residents of Bikini Bottom as Christmas gifts. After the excitement has settled, Squidward encounters a note from Santa Claus, gratiously thanking him for his sacrifices, and soon sights his sleigh soaring overhead; however, he dismisses himself as being crazy.
Release
"Christmas Who?" was originally broadcast Wednesday, December 6, 2000. The special was later released on DVD under the same title in late 2003. The DVD features commentaries from its writers, cast, and directors. As of 2011, it is still rebroadcast on Nickelodeon during the Christmas season. On December 6, 2012, exactly 12 years after "Christmas Who?", another SpongeBob Christmas episode was released called "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!".
Reception
The special received positive reviews; a reviewer on Reviewstream.com calls it "a great story of the holiday spirit". The episode currently holds a rating of 8.9/10 based on 196 votes at TV.com. In the DVD released by Nickelodeon, the episode was ranked at number 10 as one of SpongeBob SquarePants's 10 Happiest Moments.
References
External links
- "Christmas Who?" at the Internet Movie Database
- "Christmas Who?" at TV.com
