Yikes...
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.
They are a little odd. I try not to let my 2 yo watch them, but they are on after Sesame St. and sometimes she catches part of it.
Spongebob is so last year, The Fairly Oddparents rock!!
"for the record, all four of those stupid teletubby thingies are flat out gay."
Yep, and not to be outdone, Disney has the Wiggles. That is the gayest bunch on TV.
Spongebob is infatuated with Sandy the Squirrel. Where do these people come up with this crap?
Spongebob is not a sea sponge. He is a rectangular household sponge. Probably cellulose.
Yikes...
IMO - The gays always seem to find something that we all find acceptable then clamp onto it thinking that if we think Sponge Bob is acceptable then being gay is acceptable.
He's not gay - the latest boxers have him in a Heff-styled bathrobe with a slogan of: Chicks dig the Sponge
Wow, talk about delayed reaction, I posted that observation over a year ago. OK, OK I stand corrected.
I liked the repeated gag where Olive would climb out of a tub of wallpaper paste (or similar gooey substance) and her legs would be appear to be very shapely, causing both boys to commence with the wolf whistles. Then the paste would run down onto the floor, leaving only her pipe-cleaner legs (and two disappointed guys). They must've used that idea 100 times.
Also, since it's getting close to Christmas, here's a bit of fun trivia: "Aunt Bethany" in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (the one who gift-wrapped her cat) was played by the late Mae Questrel (sp?) - the voice of Olive Oyl in hundreds of those Popeye 'toons. I *knew* that voice sounded familiar.
The episodes with Widder Hen chasing FL are great. He and Yosemite Sam are among my favorites. Spongebob is terrific as well.
Good old threads never die. They just lie dormant for 15 months and then reappear.
My boys, (30 years old) told me recently that they have always known that Bert and Ernie are homos.
"Son, now that's a chicken!"
What in hell for? To see O'Reilly bloviate or Gretta minutely dissect the latest idiotic lawyer yammering in some absurd trial? Watching Fox for an hour a day provides even the most dense with sufficient information to understand the happenings of the day.
But one cannot see too many cartoons. They are a great insight into out culture.
ROTFLMAO! I got to get a pair of those.
Chicks dig the Sponge. LMAO! Brilliant.
I think the creator had to speak out against this perception because homosexuality is box office/viewer poison for childrens and general public programing.
Hadji, yes. Jonny, no...
Yogi and Boo-Boo, and Heckle and Jeckle? Flamers...
The Powder-Puff Girls...nope never watched them.
"Choo-Choo" from 'Top Cat' was definitely gay.
And how about that centaur from 'The Mighty Hercules'?? No telling what it was into...
My kids love "The Wiggles"...while it may be hard (as an adult) to figure out why 4 guys are always so 'animated' all the time, I keep reminding myself that their demographic is the 1-5 year olds. They need to 'over'act to grab the kids attention.
Not that it's that hard to keep their attention - lots of characters, colors, music, etc. I'm not too worried about the 'gay' factor here, either, as I've heard that at least 3 of them are married.
Turned out to be Mr. Crab's mom's house, though...MUD
"Who lives in a pineapple under the sea!?"
That's who.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.