Pranks a Lot (Episode)

"Pranks a Lot" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season three. It was the last episode that aired before the movie was released in theatres. It is also the last episode of season 3. It premiered on October 11, 2004.

Episode Summary

Brief summary: After receiving a hard-to-find can of invisible paint from a prank store, SpongeBob and Patrick decide to spray themselves and play innocent tricks on people. They eventually pretend to be ghosts and frighten everyone in Bikini Bottom.

Time Cards

Time cards shown:

• Several bad puns later (not real time card)

Month/Day/Time/Date

Time/Date:

• 2:50 PM: A resident, SpongeBob, and Patrick figure out the time.

Characters

Characters Present:

• SpongeBob SquarePants
• Patrick Star
• Frank (Palace of Pranks Manager)
• Sandy Cheeks
• Mrs. Puff
• Mr. Krabs
• Squidward Tentacles
• Guy and his driving eyeballs
• Bikini Bottomites
  • Tom
  • Fred
  • Mrs. Smith

Plot

Template:Spoiler SpongeBob and Patrick go to a prank store in search of the ultimate prank. To their delight, the manager sells them a rare can of invisible paint for one dollar. Before they decide on their prank, Patrick remembers the fact that the paint they purchased from Franks stains clothes, and he and SpongeBob take their clothes off so they aren't stained with the invisble paint. They decide to spray a park bench and sit on it, but get in an argument over who gets to spray the bench. During the fight they spray each other until they are both completely invisible.

SpongeBob realises that he and Patrick can trick the residents of Bikini Bottom into thinking the town is haunted. They pretend to be ghosts and frigthen all of the citizens except for Mr. Krabs, who "ain't afraid of no ghosts". They attempt to frighten him and succeed until they attempt to burn a dollar bill. Mr. Krabs' fear is overcome by his love of money, and he attempts to extinguish the match with a bucket of water. The invisible spray is washed off of Patrick and SpongeBob, exposing their identities, and their nudity.

Though embarassed, Mr. Krabs comforts SpongeBob and Patrick by saying he forgives them and was fond of pulling pranks in his youth. But he embarasses them in front of the entire Bikini Bottom by revealing their nudity as a punishment.

Trivia/Goofs

• The German Title: Die Geister von Bikini Bottom Meaning The Ghosts Of Bikini Bottom
• Mr. Krabs' line "I ain't afraid of no ghosts" is an obvious reference to the Ghostbusters theme song.
• When Sandy Cheeks is frightened by the "ghosts", her escape pod breaks the Treedome. Sandy said the dome was made of polyurethane in Tea at the Treedome, rather than glass. Furthermore, water should have flooded the dome when it shattered. The dome is fixed in the next shot.
• Mr. Krabs' Ghost Prevention Good Luck Charms includes having his underwear tied in a Melvin knot. A Melvin knot is used to hold a sail to a sailboat.
• SpongeBob and Patrick are not wearing water helmets when they are in Sandy's Treedome. Nevertheless, bubbles appear when Sandy removes their sheets.
• When the episode is aired in Spanish, the fish that says "toast" says "Fantasmas", or "ghost". In the Hebrew version, he says "sandwich"; in Korean, "What's that?," in the Chinese version, "You go now! No credit! You pay now! You go or I call police!"
• The spectre deflector and Sandy's escape pod are also used on Danny Phantom and The Fairly OddParents, respectively. Both are also popular shows on Nickelodeon.
• The prank toys Frank offers to SpongeBob are the Joy Buzzer (Hand Buzzer), Exploding Chewing Gum, Fake Dollar, Whoopie Cushion, Fake Vomit, Real Vomit, and Invisible Spray.
• When Mr. Krabs is inside the Krusty Krab, the windows have blinds; in subsequent scenes the blinds are gone.
• The "Exploding chewing gum" prank may be a reference to Mission: Impossible
• When SpongeBob bought the Invisible Spray for $1,he gave a couple of dollars, but he did not obtain any change.This must mean that they don't give change away like The Krusty Krab.
• It is revealed that Patrick apparently likes seanut brittle.
• When the invisible spray is washed off Patrick, his belly button is gone.
• Sandy went to Texas with the rocket but in the end she was in the Krusty Krab.
• The title card is a reference to comic book ads full of pranks for sale in the mail.