Posted on 08/26/2003 9:39:07 PM PDT by UnklGene
Wednesday, 9 October, 2002, 15:44 GMT 16:44 UK Camp cartoon star 'is not gay'
SpongeBob SquarePants: A hit with adults and children
The creator of one of the most popular new cartoon characters for years, SpongeBob SquarePants, has rejected claims that his cheerful creation is gay. SpongeBob has become an icon among homosexuals in the United States as well as a huge hit with children, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Who is SpongeBob? A yellow sea sponge whose home is a giant pineapple Lives in Bikini Bottom on the bed of the Pacific Ocean Best friend is pink starfish called Patrick Likes winding up his neighbour, Squidward Tentacles Goes to Mrs Puff's Boating School He holds hands with his pink best friend, lives in an underwater pineapple and gets boating lessons from a teacher called Mrs Puff.
SpongeBob may be "kind of special", but he was not designed to be a gay character, his creator Stephen Hillenburg has told the Wall Street Journal.
The gay community likes the show because it has a tolerant attitude, Mr Hillenburg said.
"Everybody is different, and the show embraces that. The character SpongeBob is an oddball. He's kind of weird, but he's kind of special," he said.
"I always think of them as being somewhat asexual."
The US religious right said Tinky Winky was gay
SpongeBob is the latest sensation on children's cable channel Nickelodeon, and was recently voted among the top 10 cartoon characters of all time by fans.
His sexuality has become the biggest talking point since US campaigners claimed handbag-carrying Teletubby Tinky Winky, an import from the UK, was a bad role-model.
SpongeBob's innocent optimism, "soft" personality and bright, camp world have endeared him to gay men, the Journal said.
Adult fans
Nickelodeon says the show is not aimed at a homosexual audience, but it is the channel's most popular show with adult viewers.
It may be designed for children between two and 11, but almost one in four viewers is aged between 18 and 49, the paper says.
It is screened at 2330, and at 2300 on MTV, as well as more child-friendly times.
In the UK, the channel said 40% of the show's one million viewers were over 16.
The Wall Street Journal says part of its reported $500m (£322m) merchandise sales have come from gay men snapping up branded toys, lunch boxes and even thongs.
And none wore any pants.
Brace yourself. They're making a live action version.
Squidward listens to public radio according to the movie.
To a squirrel? How does that work?
Hey 4MC - I'm an oldie and I still love the Looney Tunes shows. They get funnier as you get older!
A main writer for that show was Steve Marmel, a known right-winger and creator of the cancelled show "This Just In" which was clever but died on Spike TV. Steve also wrote for Season 1 (the best one) of Family Guy.
Moreover Falwell's magazine (not Falwell himself) reported it in the context of warning parents not to come across Tinky Winky discussion boards, etc.
I always figured he's a homo...
I don't think the Wiggles are gay. Three of the four are married with kids, I think.
All cartoon characters are gay. If they weren't, they'd be working on Wall Street instead of prancing around in bright colors across from the Find-a-Word and the horoscopes.
I've seen a few of the Wiggles DVD's (over-and-over-and-over) and my favorite is the Christmas one that we just bought. They do some of the traditional Christmas songs (Away in a Manger, O Come All Ye Faithful, etc.) I really see the Wiggles as a kind of aerobics for kids-something to make them get up and move.
I am the great AKU!!!
How about "we watch anime because it's generally better drawn, the voice actors have talent, and the topics are worthwhile?
Spongebob - I won't go there. The art is so lousy, it hurts. Most American animated shows are poorly drawn and badly voiced. While some in the last fifteen years have been funny, like "Animaniacs" or "Pinky and the Brain", very few have been meaningful in any way.
Anyway, why should I watch Cartoon Network when I can download the latest show from Japan? Anyone who likes "Fairly Oddparents" should see "Full Moon wo Sagashite", a nice little Japanese story with a slightly similar storyline (child has a pair of magical beings granting wishes) only "Full Moon" actually does more than slapstick with the premise.
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