Every day, Watch This offers staff recommendations inspired by the week’s new releases or premieres. This week: With the Primetime Emmy Awards taking place September 20, we’re looking at “award shows”—episodes that depict award ceremonies, that is.
SpongeBob SquarePants, “Kracked Krabs” (season seven, episode six; originally aired 9/11/2010)
As Nickelodeon series go, the continuity within the universe of SpongeBob Squarepants may not be as consistent as that of, say, Avatar: The Last Airbender. But one trait that has remained a defining attribute of Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob’s boss at the Krusty Krab, is that he’s really, really cheap. As such, it should have come as no surprise to regular viewers when, during the series’ seventh season, Krabs was honored with a nomination for the Cheapest Krab Award.
In accordance with his character, Krabs and his guest for the evening (it’s SpongeBob, of course) spend precisely 1 cent on transportation, only to discover upon checking into their cheap hotel that one of the other nominees—the brilliantly-named Chintzy McGee—spent nothing at all. Although Krabs is clearly in his element and is soon enjoying the opportunity to school SpongeBob on tricks of the cheapness trade, such as tying a string to a quarter before using it tip the hotel bellboy (to yank the coin back as they leave), he soon grows intimidated by the other nominees and worries that his chances at victory might not be as substantial as he’d previously believed. Desperate to snatch victory from the clutches of defeat, Krabs concocts a plan to buff up his reputation, asking SpongeBob if he wouldn’t mind exaggerating his cheapness, which leads to a wacky misunderstanding where SpongeBob gets confused about the definition of “exaggerate” and offers testimony to the contrary instead, effectively described his boss as a rather charitable sort.
Needless to say, Krabs is disqualified and takes the news hard, bursting into tears. But it’s impossible to be around SpongeBob and stay depressed (Squidward not withstanding), and the two soon find a common bond when SpongeBob begins stuffing everything from their hotel room that he possibly can into his suitcase. “But isn’t that stealing?” asks Krabs. SpongeBob scoffs and explains, “We’re exaggerating,” and the next thing you know, they’ve “exaggerated” the entire room. They’re ultimately busted when their bags explode from having been packed over their limit, but Krabs’ actions so impress his peers that they reverse their earlier decision and give him the Cheapest Krab Award after all. Not that he gets to keep ittThere are some strings attached to the victory—but at least there’s no question in anyone’s mind that he’s earned it… and then some.
Availability: “Kracked Krabs” is streaming on Amazon Prime and is available for digital purchase on Amazon Instant Video, iTunes, and YouTube’s Nickelodeon Play.