The wimpiest creature on TV dominates the toughest guys. A recent cable ratings had SpongeBob SquarePants with more viewers than the football game on the NFL Channel. Even more startling is how nine of the top 18 shows on cable during that week were episodes of SpongeBob. Eleven years since his debut and the porous and yellow character still sucks up viewer eyeballs by the millions. He ought to be painted in gold. SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 6, Volume 2 contains 23 more cases of nautical nonsense from a sea-sensation.
Fans of recurring characters Merman (Ernest Borgnine) and Barnacle Boy (Tim Conway) are in for a treat with three appearances although one is a cheat. “The Card” has SpongeBob go nuts when the new Merman and Barnacle Boy trading cards arrive at the comic bookstore. Turns out there’s an extremely rare 3-D talking motion hologram card and SpongeBob won’t stop buying packs till he gets one. Patrick screws up his mission in life. This is a cheat since Merman doesn’t say much although it’s repeated a lot. “Ditchin'” does bring together as the voices as Merman and Barnacle Boy are scheduled to sign their new comicbook that tells all the secrets. SpongeBob wants to come, but it’s the same time as his boating school class. He plots with Patrick on how to duck the class without getting marked absent. “Shuffleboarding” has Merman dinged up so bad that he can’t make a personal appearance. He make the sad mistake of sending SpongeBob and Patrick in his outfit with fake heads. The new guys cause trouble instead of doing their assigned duty. It’s a thrill to hear the voices of McHale’s Navy mingling with SpongeBob.
“Porous Pockets” brings unexpected riches to Patrick and SpongeBob. Does money ruin their friendship? Well it makes a good attempt of turning SpongeBob into a snob. “Krusty Krushers” lets Mr. Krabs go wild for the sake of winning a million bucks if he can beat up tag team wrestlers. Of course he’s too smart to get his shell cracked so he lures SpongeBob and Patrick into the ring. The battle between Plankton and Mr. Krabs keeps elevating until Patrick gets hired to create “Chum Bucket Supreme.” Who knew this goofy starfish could be a marketing genius. The big episode of this time is the double length “The Clash of Triton.” King Neptune chooses the Krusty Krab for his 5,000 birthday party. Everyone is there except his son Triton. There’s family issues that SponeBob wants to heal. It doesn’t go well and Bikini Bottom resembles the set of The Jerry Springer Show.
Normally there’s a fast ratings decay for kid shows. One second they’re the hot cultural rage. After a year or so, the kids are ready to move on. The toys that inspired fist fights at Christmas end up on the discount rack before Easter. SpongeBob hasn’t lost his steam. He’s still a goofy diversion of underwater weirdness. The same characters are causing troubles around Bikini Bottom. The producers haven’t resorted to a ScrappyBob to stir things up. SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 6, Volume 2 keeps up a show that’s as consistently tasty as a Krabby Patty.
The Episodes
“Porous Pockets,” “Choir Boys,” “Krusty Krushers,” “The Card,” “Dear Vikings,” “Ditchin’,” “Pineapple Fever,” “Chum Caverns,” “Grandpappy the Pirate,” “Cephalopod Lodge,” “Shuffleboarding,” “Professor Squidward,” “Pets or Pests,” “Komputer Overload,” “Overbooked,” “No Hat for Pat,” “Toy Store of Doom,” “The Clash of Triton,” “Sand Castles in the Sand,” “Shell Shocked,” “Chum Bucket Supreme” and “Single Cell Anniversary.”
The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The transfers are crisp and clean without any issues. The audio is Dolby Digital 2.0. The sound mix isn’t too fancy. The levels are fine. The episodes are Closed Captioned.
Bollywood Bob (1:54) is the greatest promo ever filmed. They give him the true Indian cinema experience with a massive dance number.
How to Make SpongeBob SquarePants (5:29) demonstrates how to make your own doll. It’s a cute craft project perfect for a rainy day.
“The Clash of Triton” Shorts are promos. SpongeGod (1:04) is a short musical clip with SpongeBob singing about what he’d do as a deity. Neptune’s Origins (0:36) is strange mythology tale.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 6, Volume 2 brings a triple does of Merman and Barnacle Boy. There can never be enough Ernest Borgnine in your life. The little yellow guy has plenty of twisted tales deep under the sea. After over a decade, there’s fresh angles on his square stature.
Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon present SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 6, Volume 2. Starring: Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Bill Fagerbakke and Rodger Bumpass. Boxset Contents: 23 episodes on 2 DVDs. Released on DVD: December 7, 2010.
