SpongeBob Meets the Strangler

If you were looking for the article about the character, then see Tattletale Strangler.

SpongeBob Meets the Strangler
General
Production code:	5572-221
Season №:	3
Episode №:	60a
Airdate:	November 19, 2002 December 14, 2002 May 10, 2003 January 6, 2004 October 11, 2004 See more... October 21, 2002 (EBS) April 15, 2003 May 5, 2003 September 26, 2003 (Super RTL) October 25, 2003 November 15, 2003 November 15, 2003 December 28, 2003 January 12, 2004 February 27, 2004 (JEI TV) April 30, 2004 (Lativi) July 29, 2004 August 8, 2004 November 10, 2004 February 16, 2005 May 10, 2005 (Orf 1) July 3, 2005 November 4, 2005 (Nickelodeon) February 19, 2006 (Global TV) March 29, 2006 May 17, 2006 (TNT) May 19, 2006 (SRF ZWEI) February 6, 2007 November 23, 2007 February 3, 2008 January 31, 2009 January 24, 2010 November 7, 2010 (QTV) October 3, 2016 April 1, 2018 (PLUS PLUS) April 24, 2018 (TET) August 5, 2019 September 18, 2020 August 23, 2021
U.S. premiere time (ET):	8:00 pm
Copyright year:	2002
U.S. viewers (millions):	4.61
Running time:	11 minutes
Sister episode(s):	"Pranks a Lot"
Credits
Writer(s):	Paul Tibbitt Kent Osborne C.H. Greenblatt Merriwether Williams
Storyboard Artist(s):	Zeus Cervas Chuck Klein Carson Kugler Mike Roth
Storyboard:	Paul Tibbitt Kaz C.H. Greenblatt
Animation:	Tom Yasumi
Creative:	Derek Drymon
Chronology
Previous	"The Sponge Who Could Fly"
Next	"Pranks a Lot"

"SpongeBob Meets the Strangler" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season 3. In this episode, a criminal attempts to get revenge on SpongeBob.

Characters

• SpongeBob SquarePants
• Squidward Tentacles
• King Neptune ^(mentioned)
• Tattletale Strangler ^(debut)
• Dark purple officer ^(debut)
• Eugene H. Krabs
• Larry the Lobster
• Finback fish
• Tough Tavern customers
  • Greaser fish
  • Popeye fish
  • Gaptooth thug
  • Starfish thug
• French Narrator
• Incidentals
  • Incidental 118B
  • Incidental 118
  • Incidental 42
  • Incidental 40
  • Incidental 102
  • Incidental 41
  • Incidental 154
  • Old Man Walker
  • Incidental 102BABY
  • Steven
  • Incidental 30
  • Incidental 69
  • Charlie
  • Dale
  • Incidental 92
  • Incidental 107
  • Incidental 9
  • Incidental 46
  • Incidental 152
  • Tom
  • Incidental 37A
  • Incidental 18
  • Incidental 60
  • Scooter
  • Incidental 150
  • Incidental 68 ^(tan)
  • Incidental 64
• Gary the Snail
• Mrs. Puff
• Patrick Star
• Pearl Krabs
• Sandy Cheeks
• Sheldon J. Plankton

Synopsis

SpongeBob on time.

While on duty at the Krusty Krab, SpongeBob has a great job, until he picks up every litter in the ground. After more litter came out of nowhere, the man is seen responsible for all those littering, an infuriated SpongeBob has a man arrested for littering. After calling the police on him, Squidward appears to ask on the cleaning. After SpongeBob updates him, a scared Squidward reveals that the stranger is, in fact, the Tattletale Strangler, an extremely dangerous criminal, who strangles anyone who reports him to the cops. Squidward promptly flees while SpongeBob talks to the officers about the strangler. They assure him that they have locked down while the latter makes it clear he is coming for him.

Seconds later, the Strangler escapes and begins planning to kill SpongeBob as a revenge for calling the cops on him. SpongeBob begs the officers for protection from the serial killer, but they leave him to his devices, calling him a "tattletale." SpongeBob looks for a bodyguard for protection, but no one will take the job knowing that they would have to face the Strangler. He decides to go into hiding until the Strangler gives up on him, but then a man, who is the Strangler using a fake mustache as a disguise, offers to take the job, intending to lead SpongeBob to a place where he can kill him with no other witnesses. SpongeBob, seemingly oblivious to his identity, hires him. However, SpongeBob needs to run some errands first.

"I'm trying, but my cleats are stuck in your corneas!"

When they finally arrive at SpongeBob's house, the lights then turn on, revealing a "100% on-time average" surprise party. The party goes on for a considerable length of time. Once it ends, the Strangler then attempts to choke him again, but the guests come back for a birthday party for SpongeBob. After the party ends and the two are finally alone, he tries again, but then Patrick shows up for some odd reason. The Strangler tries to get rid of him, saying that he could be the Strangler in disguise. Patrick then runs off thinking that he is the Strangler, breaking through the wall and running off to turn himself in.

SpongeBob is confused upon realizing that Patrick is the Strangler. The real Strangler, enraged, reveals his true identity and intentions by removing his disguise. However, SpongeBob still seemingly fails to understand and is amazed at the Strangler being able to tear off his mustache without using shaving cream. The latter yells at him that it is a fake he bought at the party store. The guests return upon overhearing the word "party." Annoyed and frustrated, the Strangler runs away and crashes the wall, but SpongeBob goes after him, saying he still needs protection from the "bodyguard." He attempts to escape in a series of vehicles, but SpongeBob catches up every time.

Eventually, the Strangler lands in the police department in a jail cell and SpongeBob learns the truth after he is directed to a wanted poster. As SpongeBob finally realizes the truth, the police congratulate him for putting the Strangler behind bars. The Strangler is happy to be away from SpongeBob at first, but then he soon finds himself with Patrick, who is in his cell, asking what he is in for, much to Strangler's dismay.

Production

As Carson Kugler's final episode from the first three seasons (having the production code of 5572-221), he finished storyboard plussing on it during December 2001, which is when he left the SpongeBob SquarePants crew, as the series was wrapping up production.

According to Kenny Pittenger, the episode was shipped out in February 2002, and the finished master was delivered on August 2, 2002.

This episode was first heard of on the internet when it was spotted on the Australian Foxtel schedule guide on December 8, 2002.

Model sheets

Music

( ‣ ) Production music

( • ) Original music

( ◦ ) SpongeBob music

 ‣ Rescue - Cecil Milner [Title card]
 ‣ Power and Glory - Gregor F. Narholz [SpongeBob 100% on time]
 ‣ Hawaiian Cocktail - Richard Myhill [Squidward 12% on time]
 • Idea Sting - Nicolas Carr ["I'm due in the parking lot for early morning litter patrol."]
 ‣ The Mob - Sam Spence [SpongeBob picking up trash]
 ‣ Police Car Chase - Jack Beaver ["That's the Tattletale Strangler!"]
 ‣ Like Strange - Kenny Graham ["Squidward? Squidward?"]
 ‣ Glissando Up [#1.16] - Eric Allen ["Yep, he got away."]
 • Steel Licks 46 - Jeremy Wakefield ["Those officers are right. I need a bodyguard."]
 ‣ Keel Row - Brian Peters [At the Krusty Krab]
 ‣ Dramatic Impact (5) - Ivor Slaney ["The Tattletale Strangler?!"]
 • Cream Pie - Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [SpongeBob looking for a bodyguard]
 • Vibe & Harp Hits - Nicolas Carr ["Bodyguard, huh?"]
 ‣ Dramatic Impact (1) - Ivor Slaney [Strangler wearing a fake mustache]
 ‣ Dramatic Impact (6) - Ivor Slaney [Shot of Strangler's dirty hands]
 • Seaweed 2 - Steve Belfer [SpongeBob hires Strangler as bodyguard]
 ‣ Six Powerful Cues (A) - Wilfred William Burns [SpongeBob and Strangler laughing diabolically]
 ‣ Hawaiian Calypso - Jo Van Wetter [SpongeBob doing errands]
 ‣ Glissando Up [#1.16] - Eric Allen [Strangler's eyes bug out]
 ‣ So Tired - Sammy Burdson, John Charles Fiddy ["There you are, you little rascal."]
 ‣ Terror by Night - Hubert Clifford [SpongeBob unlocks his door]
 ‣ Rescue - Cecil Milner ["I finally got you all alone!"]
 ‣ Saxaboogie - Harry Bluestone [Surprise party]
 ‣ Rescue - Cecil Milner [Strangler laughs diabolically]
 • Thats It ! - Nicolas Carr ["Happy birthday, SpongeBob!"]
 ‣ Saxaboogie - Harry Bluestone ["Let's boogie some more!"]
 ‣ Rescue - Cecil Milner [Strangler grabs SpongeBob]
 • Thats It ! - Nicolas Carr ["Great parties, huh?"]
 ‣ Dramatic Impact (5) - Ivor Slaney ["I'm the Strangler?!"]
 ‣ Drama Link (D) - Hubert Clifford ["I gotta turn myself in!"]
 ‣ Hawaiian Link (B) - Richard Myhill [Strangler reveals himself]
 ‣ Saxaboogie - Harry Bluestone [Strangler running from SpongeBob]
 • Steel Licks 18 - Jeremy Wakefield [Strangler cries]
 ‣ Dramatic Impact (3) - Ivor Slaney ["The Strangler!"]
 • Steel Licks 40 - Jeremy Wakefield ["At least I'm safe from that yellow idiot."]
 • Steel Licks 41 - Jeremy Wakefield [Ending]

Release

• This episode is available on The Seascape Capers DVD and VHS, Complete 3rd Season, Nick Picks Volume 2, Nick Picks Box-Set (Vol, 1-3), Absorbingly SpongeBob, Nickelodeon Double Feature, First 100 Episodes, SpongeBob on DVD, The Ultimate SpongeBob Box Set, SpongeBob SquarePants Vol. 5, The SpongeBob Super Square Collection, SpongeGuard on Duty (Russian), Complete Third Season, From the Beginning, Part 2, Celebrate the Sea, The SpongeBob SquarePants Collection, The SpongeBob SquarePants 8 Season DVD Collection, 2-Season TV Pack, The Third & Fourth Seasons, The Best 200 Episodes Ever, and The Best 300 Episodes Ever DVDs.

Reception

• "SpongeBob Meets the Strangler" was ranked #51 during the Best Day Ever event from November 9–10, 2006.

Trivia

General

• There are several implications that SpongeBob knew that his so-called bodyguard was the Strangler all along:
  • Taking too long with his errands.
  • Taking over six hours and twenty minutes to get into his house, only to subsequently use the key under his doormat.
  • Climbing on top of him to gain entrance by placing his spiky cleats in his eye sockets.
  • At one point, he says "Don't mention it, Strangler—I mean bodyguard."
  • Sending numerous people party invitations and throwing three parties in a row.
  • Chasing him all the way to the police station and placing him behind bars.
• This episode was originally titled "The Litter Bug."
• This episode was released on The Seascape Capers DVD and VHS tape on January 6, 2004, nine months before it aired on American television.
• Behind the scenes footage of this episode was used for a bumper on Nicktoons, sometime in 2002.
• This episode and "Pranks a Lot" were the last episodes produced and aired before the release of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. In addition, the episode's production code is 5572-221, meaning that this was also the last episode in production order before The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie began production. Once production of the film was completed, Stephen Hillenburg wanted to end the series so the show wouldn't "jump the shark," but popular demand led Nickelodeon to renew the series for a fourth season on September 22, 2004. Stephen Hillenburg appointed Paul Tibbitt to replace him as showrunner after the first movie from 2005 to 2015.
• This episode takes place on July 14, SpongeBob's birthday, which is celebrated in the episode.
  • This is also the first episode to take place on SpongeBob's birthday.
• This episode reveals that Bikini Bottom has an airport.
• This is the fifth episode where the title card is animated, the first being "SB-129," the second being "Prehibernation Week," the third being "Idiot Box," and the fourth being "One Krabs Trash."
• The Strangler's number (555-1234) is the same as the accident company's number in "No Free Rides."
• When SpongeBob hires the strangler as his bodyguard, he finds the strangler's receipt for the Phony Baloney Mustache Emporium (where the strangler bought his fake mustache). But later, when the strangler confesses, he actually contradicts his own receipt by saying he bought his "mustache" at a party store.
• This episode was paired up with different episodes in different marathons:
  • On the November 10, 2006 airing, this episode was paired up with "Dying for Pie."
  • On the November 6, 2009 airing, this episode was paired up with "The Secret Box."
• Karen is the only main character to not appear in this episode.
• Frames from this episode were later used in "Friendiversary" when SpongeBob remembers Squidward.
• According to the advertisement sticker on The Seascape Capers VHS. This episode, along with "Pranks a Lot" were originally supposed to be aired in January 2005, but got pushed up to October 2004 instead.
• This is the first episode to premiere in Indonesia before the United States.

Episode references

• The scene in which SpongeBob realizes that his key was placed under his doormat is a callback to the end of "Party Pooper Pants."
• The flower wallpaper seen in SpongeBob's house when the parties are thrown is the same one seen in "Party Pooper Pants."
• This is the second episode in which Patrick crashes through SpongeBob's wall and creates a symmetrical five-pointed star-shaped hole in the wall. The first was "I Was a Teenage Gary."
• This is the second episode Patrick believes he managed to live a secret life as a criminal without his own knowledge. The first was "The Smoking Peanut."

Cultural references

• The scene where the Tattletale Strangler jumps out of a place with a parachute, only to find out that the parachute is SpongeBob references the classic 1943 Looney Tunes cartoon "Yankee Doodle Daffy," where Porky jumps out of a place with Daffy as a parachute.
• In one scene, the Tattletale Strangler is holding a serial number that says "122068." This could be interpreted as December 20, 1968, the date when the Zodiac Killer killed two victims.
  • In later scenes, when his serial number changed to "021066." This could be interpreted as February 10, 1966, the date when Raymond Edmunds killed two victims.

Errors

On the bubble transition it says, "Rough Draft Korea."

• At one point in the episode, a bubble transition is shown. For a brief second, "Rough Draft Korea" in green writing and the date May 17, 2002 appear at the bottom of the screen. This error was made by Rough Draft Korea, where they animated the episode.
• When SpongeBob checks in for work, there are six slips below the clock, despite there being only two employees.

The clock is not moving. Also there are six slips even though SpongeBob and Squidward are the only employees.

• After SpongeBob puts in his slip, the clock arms stop moving.

The Krusty Krab sign is missing, and the path to the Chum Bucket is also missing.

• When SpongeBob leaves the Krusty Krab for litterbug patrol, the Krusty Krab sign and the road leading to the restaurant are missing.

SpongeBob with black pant legs.

• When SpongeBob goes out of the Krusty Krab to clean up litter, for a couple of seconds his pant legs are black. In the next shot, they are brown.

The chain on his eyes disappears.

He is Prisoner number 122068.

Now he is Prisoner number 021066.

• When Squidward shows SpongeBob the picture with the Strangler on it, the number he is holding says "122068," but when SpongeBob shows Mr. Krabs the picture of the Strangler, the number is "021066."
• When SpongeBob shows Mr. Krabs the picture of the Strangler, the name "TattleTale Strangler" is covered in censor bars. This error continues when SpongeBob shows the people the "Wanted" sign.
• After SpongeBob says that he has to run some errands and the Strangler gets mad, the latter's white undershirt disappears.

The bus on a left side.

• When the Strangler first attempts to strangle SpongeBob with his "dirty" hands and a bus briefly stops to see this, the bus' right side is shown, but the bus has no left side to it since some of the clouds in the background could be seen through the windows, behind the people.
• When SpongeBob is in front of his house looking for his key, he does not have a mat, but when he gets the key, the mat is there.
• When SpongeBob and Strangler enter SpongeBob's house and the latter closes the door, the light on the former's face makes it appear as though two doors were closing.
• Pearl is shown to be smaller than Larry in this episode. However, in most episodes, she is shown to be bigger.
• In the scene where the Strangler is walking to SpongeBob's chair during the party, Squidward's right hand disappears and then reappears.
• When SpongeBob arrives with the Strangler inside his house, a bamboo wallpaper is up, but when the party is revealed, the wallpaper changes to green with flowers. When the party members leave, it changes back to the old wallpaper, then back to the flower wallpaper when the party members arrive again.
• Plankton doesn't appear during the party scenes, but he is shown leaving when the party members leave for the first time.
• Patrick also appears in the party scenes, but he isn't shown leaving when the party members leave for the first time.

SpongeBob's yellow teeth.

• While laughing maniacally, SpongeBob's teeth turn yellow for a split second.
• It appears to be revealed that invitations are sent out by SpongeBob for a surprise party. This is incorrect as invitations are not for surprise parties.
• When Pearl enters the party for the second time, the white part of her face is colored gray.
• The Strangler gets through the airport and into the airplane without being noticed by anyone.
• The Strangler has 10 fully functional separate fingers, similar to Incidental 116, who has eight, as well as SpongeBob himself. However, in later scenes, his fingers are replaced by a fin.

SpongeBob without teeth.

• When SpongeBob says "The Strangler could have been on that plane," his teeth are missing for a frame.
• The Strangler's eyes briefly separate so that the police could put the handcuffs on his eyes. However, when the police handcuff his hair, the handcuffs on his eyes are gone and his eyes are placed back close to each other.

Videos

SpongeBob SquarePants The Seascape Capers DVD and VHS Commercial (2004)

Bikini Bottom's Most Wanted promo (October 2004)

SpongeBob Meets the Strangler promo (Incomplete)

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Spanish	Bob Esponja conoce al estrangulador	SpongeBob Meets the Strangler

References

This page uses content from Wikipedia (original • authors). Both Encyclopedia SpongeBobia and Wikipedia are licensed under the CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported license.

Awards and nominations for SpongeBob SquarePants V • E Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing in Television Animation – Music Nominees: Stephen Hillenburg, Donna Castricone, Nicholas R. Jennings, Alan Smart, Peter Burns, Doug Lawrence, Derek Drymon, Alex Gordon, Donna Grillo, Jennie Monica, Krandal Crews, Jim Leber, Justin Brinsfield, Tony Ostyn, Nicolas Carr (for "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy"/"Pickles;" 2000) • Nicolas Carr (for "Fools in April"/"Neptune's Spatula" in 2001; for "Jellyfish Hunter"/"The Fry Cook Games" in 2002; for "Wet Painters"/"Krusty Krab Training Video" in 2003; for "The Great Snail Race"/"Mid-Life Crustacean" in 2004) • Jimmy Lifton, D.J. Lynch, Jeff Hutchins, Tony Ostyn and Paulette Lifton (for "Mid-Life Crustacean;" 2004) Best Sound Editing in Television Animation – Sound Nominees: Nicolas Carr (for "Karate Choppers;" 2000) • Andrea Anderson, Jimmy Lifton, Monette Holderer, D.J. Lynch, Vincent Gutisetti, Jeff Hutchins and Gabriel Rosas (for "Rock Bottom"/"Arrgh!;" 2001) Best Sound Editing in Television – Animation Nominees: Timothy J. Borquez, Jeff Hutchins and Daisuke Sawa (for "The Secret Box"/"Band Geeks;" 2002) Best Sound Editing in Television Animation Nominees: Jimmy Lifton, Jeff Hutchins, Tony Ostyn and Chris Gresham (for "Nasty Patty"/"Idiot Box;" 2003) Best Sound Editing in Television: Animated Nominees: Jimmy Lifton, Nicolas Carr, D.J. Lynch, Jeff Hutchins, Tony Ostyn, Chris Gresham and Paulette Lifton (for "Pranks a Lot"/"SpongeBob Meets the Strangler;" 2005) • Vincent Gutisetti, Jimmy Lifton, Nicolas Carr, Monique Reymond, D.J. Lynch, Mark Howlett, Jeff Hutchins, Aran Tanchum, Mishelle Smith and Paulette Lifton (for "Have You Seen This Snail?;" 2006) • Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Tom Syslo, Jason Stiff, Tony Orozco and Kimberlee Vanek (for "SpongeHenge;" 2008) Best Sound Editing: Television Animation Nominees: : Chiho Oyamada Carr, Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Daisuke Sawa, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Tom Syslo, Eric Freeman, Dan Cubert, Lawrence Reyes, Jason Stiff, Tony Orozco and Kimberlee Vanek (for "Suction Cup Symphony;" 2009) • Chino Oyamada Carr, Nicolas Carr, Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Eric Freeman, Tom Syslo, Keith Dickens, Jason Stiff, Sergio Silva, Tony Orozco and Kimberlee Vanek (for "SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One;" 2010) Best Sound Editing – Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR Animation in Television Nominees: Devon Bowman, Justin Brinsfield, Nicolas Carr, Andrea Anderson, Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Eric Freeman, Tony Orozco and Danny Tchibinda (for "Gary's New Toy;" 2013) • Mishelle Fordham, Monette Becktold, Jeff Hutchins, Timothy J. Borquez, Tom Syslo, Eric Freeman, Bobby Crew, Keith Dickens, Gabriel Rossas and Tony Orozco (for "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!;" 2013)