spongebob
Wiki
Spoiler alert!
Warning! This article contains spoilers of an episode that has recently aired in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Do not continue reading if you wish not to be spoiled.

"The SquarePants Method" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season 17. In this episode, Mr. Krabs rents out the Krusty Krab for a big blockbuster, thrilled by the promise of free publicity. A famous actor shows up to portray SpongeBob in the movie.

Characters

Synopsis

Marlin Branzino meets SpongeBob.

Marlin Branzino meets SpongeBob.

At the Krusty Krab, Mr. Krabs announces that he is renting out the Krusty Krab for a movie location. Squidward says that movies are for simple minds, until Mr. Krabs says that Marlin Branzino is the star of the film, to Squidward's excitement. Mr. Krabs also says that the actor will shadow SpongeBob. Marlin arrives, to the excitement of many people waiting outside. Squidward acts crazy in front of Marlin, to which the former is kicked out.

Marlin sees SpongeBob, and studies his presence. SpongeBob lets him study him at his job, to which he shows him mopping the floor, cleaning the toilet, and taking out the garbage. Finally, he shows Marlin how to make a Krabby Patty. Marlin is not satisfied with his first try and takes the next seven hours to perfect making one.

The next day, Marlin is in a SpongeBob costume, imitating him. The movie crew shows up and starts filming Marlin playing his role as SpongeBob. The crew and SpongeBob are impressed by his performance. For the next scene, the movie crew set up explosives around the Krusty Krab and blow it up.

Marlin's performance in the film.

Marlin's performance in the film.

After 2 to 3 years of post-production, the movie is finally out. Mr. Krabs, Squidward, and SpongeBob appear in the theater to see the movie. However, only the very end of Marlin's SpongeBob acting appears in the final film, with the Krusty Krab hardly appearing at all. Mr. Krabs, Squidward, and SpongeBob walk out, much to the latter's disappointment as the fighting robots were about to kiss. Krabs is furious that the entire movie was for nothing, as the restaurant was destroyed and the sign wasn't even visible. Squidward starts to slander Marlin, right as he shows up, not to watch the movie, but to imitate Squidward in a costume, saying that his next movie will be about an annoying cashier. Squidward is creeped out by Marlin's costume and runs away while the actor chases after him.

Production

This episode was confirmed on Cartoonlounge.de on August 22, 2025.[2]

On January 25, 2026, the episode's official plot was confirmed by the Nickelodeon Press Schedules.[3]

On January 28, 2026, showrunner and executive producer Vincent Waller confirmed the writer for this episode and its sister.[4] He then confirmed its supervising director the next day.[5]

Music

( ‣ ) Production music
( • ) Original music
( ◦ ) SpongeBob music

 ‣ Honey Blonde - Stuart Crombie, Dennis Berry [Title card.]
 • Drunken Sailor - Nicolas Carr [Opening.]
 • It's Showtime 3 - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [I'm renting out the Krusty Krab for a movie location!"]
 ‣ Four Play Ons/Offs - Ronnie Hazlehurst [SpongeBob's shadow tap dancing.]
 • Another Day in the Park - Nicolas Carr ["Shadow, you're getting a brother!"]
 ‣ Theatre Night - Cyril Watters ["Marlin Branzino! He's one of those fancy method actors."]
 ‣ Special Event (a) - Dick Walter [Crowd outside the Krusty Krab.]
 ‣ Broadway Bustle - Sam Fonteyn [Marlin Branzino appears.]
 ‣ Society Event - Sam Fonteyn [Marlin sees SpongeBob.]
 • Lap Steel-spce_01 - Nicolas Carr [Transition to next scene.]
 • 12th St Rag w_Bass - Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [SpongeBob teaches Marlin.]
 • Lap Steel-spce_01 - Nicolas Carr [Transition to next scene.]
 ‣ Sunshine Whistle March A - H. C. Mylla, Niels Holland [SpongeBob shows how to cook a patty.]
 ‣ Secret Army - Leopold Zeitlberger [Marlin eats the patty.]
 ‣ Cool Cats - Max Saunders [Marlin tries to cook a patty.]
 ‣ Sports Salute - Wilfred Burns [Marlin perfects his patty.]
 • Hot Steel and Slide Licks 40A - Jeremy Wakefield [SpongeBob goes home.]
 • Cream Pie - Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield ["I'm ready!"]
 • ? - Nicolas Carr [Marlin dressed as SpongeBob.]
 • Mr Krabs Happy Jig - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr ["Oh, there you are, Squidward!"]
 • Hot Steel and Slide Licks 37A - Jeremy Wakefield [Squidward sighs.]
 ‣ Showcase - Thomas Elerth [Film crew enters.]
 ‣ Victim 5 - Harry Lubin [Marlin enters the kitchen.]
 ‣ Victim 3 - Harry Lubin [Marlin monologues.]
 • Nude Sting - Nicolas Carr ["Order up!"]
 ‣ Off Broadway - Werner Tautz [Extreme Music] [Film shoot wraps up.]
 ‣ Five More Comical Cuts - Remastered - Ronald Hanmer [Krusty Krab explodes.]
 ‣ Cartoon Fun Link 06 - Harry Lubin [Director hands out tickets.]
 • ? - Nicolas Carr [Cymbal hit.]
 ‣ Show Opener - Stuart Crombie, Dennis Berry [At the movie premiere.]
 ‣ Rhapsody - Laurie Johnson [Movie begins.]
 • Nude Sting - Nicolas Carr ["Order up!"]
 • Megabots Battle - Nicolas Carr [Robots fighting.]
 ‣ Four More Comical Cuts - Remastered - Ronald Hanmer [Krusty Krew exits the theater.]
 ‣ Miss Whimsy - Remastered - Bruce Campbell [Marlin outside the theater.]
 • Free Concert - Nicolas Carr, James King [Marlin playing the clarinet.]
 • Greenhorn Rag - Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [Ending.]

Trivia

General

Episode references

Cultural references

Errors


Videos

References

  1. ^ Nickelodeon UK Program Guide - May 28, 2026
  2. ^ The SquarePants Method (Episode 333b) - SpongeBob SquarePants | Cartoonlounge
  3. ^ Nick Press Schedules
  4. ^ Vincent Waller on Bluesky
  5. ^ Vincent Waller on Bluesky