"Christmas Who?" (also known as "Patchy The Pirate Presents The SpongeBob Christmas Special") is the eighth episode in

season two Season 2 may refer to: * ''Season 2'' (Infinite album) * ''2econd Season ''2econd Season'' is the second and most recent album by Atlanta-based rapper Unk. Release It was released on November 4, 2008. Guest Performers The album features gue ...

of ''

SpongeBob SquarePants ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' (or simply ''SpongeBob'') is an American Animated series, animated Television comedy, comedy Television show, television series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. It ...

'' and the 28th episode overall, which serves as the first double-length episode of the series. The episode aired on

Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television television channel, channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its List of assets owned by Param ...

in the United States on December 7, 2000. The episode marks the first appearance of both Patchy the Pirate and his pet parrot, Potty in the main show. The episode follows

SpongeBob ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' (or simply ''SpongeBob'') is an American animated comedy television series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. It chronicles the adventures of the title character a ...

as he learns what

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...

is about, and as he creates excitement for everyone in Bikini Bottom.

Plot

Encino, California Encino ( Spanish for "oak") is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. History In 1769, the Spanish Portolá expedition, first Europeans to see inland areas of California, traveled north through Sepulved ...

, the French Narrator introduces the president of the SpongeBob SquarePants fan club,

Patchy the Pirate The characters in the American animated television series ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' were created by artist, animator, and former marine biologist Stephen Hillenburg. The series chronicles the adventures of the title character and his various ...

, along with his "pet,"

Potty the Parrot The characters in the American animated television series '' SpongeBob SquarePants'' were created by artist, animator, and former marine biologist Stephen Hillenburg. The series chronicles the adventures of the title character and his variou ...

. Patchy receives a

fan letter Fan mail is mail sent to a public figure, especially a celebrity, by their admirers or " fans". In return for a fan's support and admiration, public figures may send an autographed poster, photo, reply letter or note thanking their fans for ...

, asking if SpongeBob likes

as much as he does. Patchy explains that they did not always celebrate Christmas in

Bikini Bottom ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' (or simply ''SpongeBob'') is an American animated comedy television series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. It chronicles the adventures of the title character ...

, and decides to show how they were introduced to it. While heading to

Sandy's Sandy's was a chain of American fast-food restaurants begun in 1956 by four entrepreneurs from Kewanee, Illinois: Gus "Brick" Lundberg, Robert C. Wenger, Paul White and W. K. Davidson. Sandy's was the ancestor of the midwestern franchises of th ...

treedome for a surprise visit,

is horrified to see her electrifying the tree with

Christmas lights Christmas lights (also known as fairy lights, festive lights or string lights) are lights often used for decoration in celebration of Christmas, often on display throughout the Christmas and holiday season, Christmas season including Advent and ...

, perceiving it as a house-fire. Sandy informs SpongeBob that she is preparing for the holiday season, and explains customary Christmas traditions to him. SpongeBob becomes excited of a visit from

Santa Claus Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnigh ...

, and spreads the news to the rest of Bikini Bottom. However,

Squidward Squidward Q. Tentacles is a fictional character voiced by actor Rodger Bumpass in the Nickelodeon animated television series ''SpongeBob SquarePants''. Squidward was created and designed by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg. He ...

refuses to participate in the celebrations, claiming that Santa does not exist. The citizens of Bikini Bottom enthusiastically prepare for the upcoming holiday, but their faith is shattered after Santa fails to arrive on

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas Day, the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipati ...

. Furious with SpongeBob, they reject him and declare that Santa doesn't exist. After being presented with a homemade gift from SpongeBob, Squidward feels guilty for hurting his feelings and tries to compensate for his rudeness by masquerading as Santa Claus to SpongeBob; however, he later winds up distributing all his possessions to the residents of Bikini Bottom as Christmas gifts. Squidward encounters a note from Santa Claus, graciously thanking him, and sees his sleigh soaring overhead. Dismissing Santa as a sign of his insanity, Squidward goes inside his house to play his clarinet. After the SpongeBob episode ends, Potty gives Patchy a little present. Patchy then steps under a

mistletoe Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they extract water and nutrients from the host plant ...

, hoping to be kissed by a woman, only for Potty to start chasing after him with the intention of kissing him. Seeing that Patchy is busy at the moment, the French Narrator wishes the audience a happy holidays.

Release

Broadcast

"Christmas Who?" was originally broadcast Thursday, December 7, 2000 at 8:30pm. As of 2020, it is still rebroadcast on Nickelodeon during the Christmas season. On December 6, 2012, almost 12 years after "Christmas Who?", another ''SpongeBob'' Christmas episode was released on Nickelodeon called "

It's a SpongeBob Christmas! "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!" is the 23rd episode of the eighth season, and the 175th episode overall, of the American animated television series ''SpongeBob SquarePants''. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on November 23, 2012, ...

Home media

"Christmas Who?" was released on the DVD compilation called ''Christmas'' on September 30, 2003. The episode was also included in '' SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete 2nd Season'' DVD released on October 19, 2004.''SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete 2nd Season''. DVD. Paramount Home Entertainment, 2004. On September 22, 2009, "Christmas Who?" was released on the ''SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes'' DVD, alongside all the episodes of seasons one through five.

Reception

The special received generally positive reviews; a reviewer on Reviewstream.com calls it "a great story of the holiday spirit". In the DVD released by

, the episode was ranked at number 10 as one of SpongeBob SquarePants's 10 Happiest Moments.

References

External links

* {{SpongeBob SquarePants episodes 2000s animated television specials 2000 American television episodes 2000 television specials 2000s American television specials American Christmas television specials SpongeBob SquarePants episodes Television episodes with live action and animation