Camp cartoon star 'is not gay' - ( SpongeBob )

BBC ^ | October 9,, 2002

[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.

[Mo1]

This thread reminds me of the old Disney videos where you could put them in slow motion and hear cursing, or nudity, and profanity.

huh?? .. Wow .. the things one learns here at FR

[L.N. Smithee]

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.

Wrong. Tinky Winky was a burgeoning gay icon in the UK before Falwell ever caught wind of the show. Falwell picked up on that fact, rather than creating it out of thin air.

[Graybeard58]

Littlefoot is OK but Sara needs to be fed to the "Sharp Teeth."


I was watching the one that had the sing along in it, I can't remember the title. My grand daughter on my lap and the words to the songs scrolled across the bottom of the screen and we sang together. I did ok until they started singing a song and there were no words scrolling. She started to sing it, she had them all memorized, when I didn't sing too she turned to me and said "sing grampa, sing" I told her that I didn't know the words. She turned around on my lap and faced me, took my face in her little hands and sang the entire song to me.
It doesn't get any better than that.

[F16Fighter]

"Everybody knows Bugs Bunny was gay. He was always dressing up in women's clothes and kissing Elmer Fudd. Definately gay.

Naah, he was just tweakin' Fudd who was gay...

There was that Peter Lorre-type character episode at the laboratory where Bugs hooked up with that robotic female Bunny at the end.

[Mo1]

Tom and Jerry were cool too

Thank goodness .. I would hate having it explain to my kids

[F16Fighter]

"Or Tom & Jerry

Oh dang .. they must be gay too huh?"

LOL...

And how about Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse? Minute did have issues...

[Mo1]

And how about Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse? Minute did have issues...

and what about Speedy Gonzales .. he must be whacked out on drugs too

Life is not going to be the same for me after this thread

[Graybeard58]

"the funniest thread I've read on FR in"

67 posts so far about cartoon characters. We must not be as stodgy as some thinkle peep we are!

[meanie monster]

Rockie the squirrel coulda been gay but I watched it anyway and I eneded up giving birth 3 times.

[WyPatriot]

The world I live in has some more serious things to worry about than a little purple creature carrying a purse! You need to subscribe to the magazine called "Bad Living" as parodied on Rush Limbaugh!

[meanie monster]

Lighten up. If you live in wyoming, you should watch yellowstone. Ain't she over due to BLOW!

[babaloo999]

Third hat!

[babaloo999]

I don't want to hear anything on this thread about Quick Draw McGraw and Babalouey

[Graybeard58]

What about Woody Woodpecker? How blatant can you get?

[babaloo999]

I'm hitting the abuse button......

[radiohead]

you BASTARDS!!!!!!!

Did somebody kill Kenny?

Seriously, I tried watching SpongeBob and couldn't take it. I do like Teletubbies, but don't make a point of watching them.

The characters in the new cartoons seem weak. What happened to stuff like Transformers? I grew up w/Popeye myself, but it seems like the new cartoons are so busy being inclusive and inoffensive that they aren't worth watching.

What is wrong with knowing who the bad guy is and kicking the sh!t out of him? Works for me.

[Graybeard58]

"I grew up w/Popeye myself"

Then maybe you can tell me why Popeye and Brutis were always fighting over that anorexic wench Olive Oyl?

[babaloo999]

Actually, Spongebob's not that bad. Maybe that's because it's not on regular cable where I live. Heh. That laugh of his is pretty insane, though.
I grew up on Quick Draw McGraw, Huckleberry Hound, and the immortal Underdog, and of course the requesite Popeye and the good ole' violent Tom and Jerry.
Before they made total wimps out of them in the 70s. Blechhh.

[Mo1]

I don't want to hear anything on this thread about Quick Draw McGraw and Babalouey

No comment ;0)

[Graybeard58]

I don't want to hear anything on this thread about Quick Draw McGraw and Babalouey

No comment ;0)

I won't say anything either Mo1. It seems someone is a mite touchy on the subject.