I'm 30 and I'm rewatching these episodes and still laughing hysterically. This was one of the most brilliant kids cartoons of its era. I hear it's not great now, which makes sense, especially after the passing of Hillenburg. But the first few seasons were as good as cartoons get.
The first episode I used to call my favorite. Not sure if it's better than Band Geeks, but def Top 5 SpongeBobs of all time. Can we talk about something though? Doesn't Spongebob know that crazy guy? He was literally at his house party the episode before and he's seen at the Krusty Krab plenty of times. I think he might be the "what did you do to my drink?!" Guy too. Unless those are all different fish who look exactly the same and they're all related.
The devious con artist is such a jerk but I gotta give him props!
This episode is so good because EVERY SINGLE JOKE lands. It's just so consistently funny. The funniest scene comes when Sponge and Pat meet an elderly woman and her 1,000 year old mother.
"THEY'RE SELLIN WHAT?!"
"CHOCOLATES!!!"
"WHAT ARE THEY SELLIN?!"
The Mermaidman and Barnacle Boy episode is adorable. I don't know who the Commissioner guy is but he's hilarious. It's a little more PG than most eps which is fun! It's fun to have a superhero episode and it all comes to an end in a very silly and heartwarming, charming ending.
If you don't let your kids watch this, because you're worried about it rotting their brains, you're not a good parent. If your kid is enjoying it and laughing, you should be watching with them. Even if you don't get it!