Christmas Who

Plot

In Encino, California, the French Narrator introduces the president of the SpongeBob SquarePants fan club, Patchy the Pirate (played by Tom Kenny), a live-action character who is currently preparing for Christmas, along with his "pet," Potty the Parrot (voiced by series' creator Stephen Hillenburg), a crudely made puppet with very obvious strings. Patchy receives a fan letter from a person, asking if SpongeBob likes Christmas as much as he does. Patchy explains that they didn't always celebrate Christmas in Bikini Bottom, and decides to show how they were introduced to it, beginning the proper episode.

While heading to the tree dome of Sandy Cheeks for a surprise visit, SpongeBob SquarePants is horrified to see her electrifying the tree with an arrangement of colored Christmas lights and perceives it as a house-fire. While attempting to extinguish the alleged travesty, Sandy chastises him by informing that she is simply preparing for the holiday season, to which SpongeBob is thoroughly oblivious. After having customary Christmas traditions explained to him and enchanted by the promise of a visit from Santa Claus, SpongeBob spreads the news of the previously-undiscovered holiday amongst the townspeople and assists them in preparing wish lists for Santa Claus. However, a dubious Squidward refuses to participate in the celebration of Christmas, doubtful to the existence of Santa and attempting to disprove a spirited SpongeBob's claims to no avail. Nonetheless, the anticipated Bikini Bottomites enthusiastically prepare for the upcoming holiday; however, their faith is shattered after Santa fails to arrive on Christmas Eve. This is mostly because all the townspeople stay up all night waiting for him. Furious with SpongeBob, they reject him, and when Santa Claus still fails to deliver presents to the people of town even SpongeBob's excitement is soiled. Seeing the error of his ways after being presented with an exquisite homemade gift from SpongeBob, Squidward tries to compensate for his rudeness by masquerading as Santa Claus to uplift his neighbor's spirits; however, he later winds up distributing his every possession among the residents of Bikini Bottom as Christmas gifts. After the excitement has settled, Squidward encounters a note from Santa Claus, gratiously thanking him for his sacrifices, and soon sights his sleigh soaring overhead; however, he dismisses himself as being crazy.

After the SpongeBob episode ends, Patchy's house is seen again, and Potty gives Patchy a little present. Patchy then steps under a mistletoe, 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 Narrator says "Goodnight, and Happy Holidays."

Release

"Christmas Who?" was originally broadcast Wednesday, December 6, 2000. The special was later released on the Christmas DVD on September 30, 2003. The DVD features commentaries from its writers, cast, and directors. As of 2016, it is still rebroadcast on Nickelodeon during the Christmas season. On December 6, 2012, exactly 12 years after "Christmas Who?", another SpongeBob Christmas episode was released called "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!".

Reception

The special received positive reviews; a reviewer on Reviewstream.com calls it "a great story of the holiday spirit". The episode currently holds a rating of 8.9/10 based on 196 votes at TV.com. In the DVD released by Nickelodeon, the episode was ranked at number 10 as one of SpongeBob SquarePants's 10 Happiest Moments.