I was glooking around spongebob.com and noticed some new Crew Interviews have been added, and one of them is specially about the upcoming special SpongeBob vs. The Big One so I thought you guys would like to read it!
(I'm not including question #1 becaus it's like a biography of Vince Waller)
2. Where did you guys come up with the idea for "SpongeBob vs. The Big One"?
We were looking for an idea that would involve the whole cast going on an adventure and be exciting enough to be a special when Paul and Steve ran in excitedly with an outline in hand shouting "We've got it! We've got it! We all looked up and yelled back "Go put your pants on!" When they returned in proper attire we realized they did indeed have it, and the rest is history.
3. Do you surf? If not, why not? If you do, do you think that makes you better than me?
Do I surf? When I first moved to California a friend asked if I wanted to go body surfing. I jumped at the chance. Being from Texas, I was excited to go see some big waves that weren't caused by a hurricane. We arrived at ocean side and he explained that all you had to do is swim out past the breaks. Then when you see a wave coming you start swimming for all your worth toward shore and the wave would do the rest. Well he was right. I started swimming and the wave scooped me up and held me out in front of it like a kid running with a toy airplane. I was superman! I was flying! Then the wave must have grown tired pretending I was an airplane, and suddenly thought I'd make an even better submarine. At which time it drove my happy smiling face directly to the bottom of the ocean, and then tried its level best to sand my face off. Then the wave thought it would be great fun to show my what my jeans feel like when they are in my washer during the spin cycle. Then thankfully the wave vomited me onto the shore. After four more tries, and four more bashings my friend thought it was now a good time to tell that once you catch your wave, you should use you arm as an oar and veer right or left before the wave actually breaks. I thanked him for the timely explanation of what to do once you actually catch a wave, and staggered to shore, where I collapsed in a heap on the warm California sand. The experience did do wonders to prepare me to work on SpongeBob, as I am intimately familiar with the floor of the ocean.
4. I hear Steve Hillenburg (Creator of SpongeBob) and Alan Smart (SpongeBob's Supervising Director) both love to surf. Did they have more input/suggestions for this episode than normal? If so, what were they and how did they change the show?
Yes, Alan Smart in particular. You see, this story was originally about a chuck wagon following a wagon train through the desert. But Mr. Smart kept sneaking in at night, changing storyboard panels. It started slow with just a surf board added to the back of a wagon in this panel, a surfer dude added to the back of that panel, and before we knew what happened, we had a show about surfing. It kind of worked out, I don't miss the wagons...much.
5. How does the process of making a special differ from making a regular episode? Do you like making specials more (or less) than regular episodes?
The process of making a special is exactly the same as making any other episode, except that the episode needs to be Special. It's important to feel Special when you're making a Special, so the crew wears our "Special" pants. They're very low cut with giant bell bottoms, made of vinyl with a sparkly blue color not unlike you'd find on a fancy bicycle seat. When everyone on the other productions sees that the SpongeBob crew is in their "Special" pants, they know to give us extra room. It gets us VIP access to the water cooler. We get to go to the head of the line, and such. Oh and first dibs on the good muffins in the morning. People understand the pressure we're under when we wear our "Special" pants.
What was the coolest thing about working on "SpongeBob vs. The Big One"?
Let's see...did I mentioned I get paid to be silly, make funny drawings, and hang out with funny talented people all day? That's pretty cool.
7. The original version of this episode's storyboard was much longer than the final version. What were the major plot/storyline changes that came from cutting the board down?
Well this was an Aaron Springer board, which means it was chocked full of these beautiful, little, strange and hilarious human moments. He has a very special way of seeing, and then expressing the human condition. The moments ring so true that they are universally funny. If we could make the shows longer, we would leave them all in the show.
8. What is your favorite bit/gag/thing that got cut from the final airing version of the episode?
Well, I miss the talking cash register scene in the beginning of the show:
Squidward: (Suffering from the heat, looks at his steaming tentacles) "I always new my name would be in Print..(Sags)...just not on a menu."
Register: "Don't worry, calamari is really unpopular these days. Especially among pregnant females. Makes sense I suppose...I mean you don't see many pregnant males around!"
Register (Cont.): (thinks) "...Although I did see this funny looking seahorse once..."
Squidward (Interrupts): "No one asked you to say anything." (Shoves the register shut.)
Krabs: "Were you talking to me Squidward?"
Squidward: "No, just hallucinating."
It's a bit that was both funny and educational.
Also Squidward's dream sequence when he gets hit in the face with a surfboard. In the dream he tries to become JKL's friend, only to be usurped once again by Patrick and SpongeBob. Even in his dreams Squidward has his dreams crushed.
9. Johnny Depp voices one of the characters in this special. Who do you think could bench press more, you or him?
The first time we did a press off he won. But the second time, I took him down like a three legged gazelle. He said it wasn't fair that I tickled him as he was trying to lift, but that's just whiny baby talk as far as I'm concerned. I wouldn't have had to step it up to that level, but he proved to be impervious to me passing gas next to his head. I don't think he has a sense of smell.
10. Where does this episode stand in your list of favorite SpongeBob episodes?
It stands right over there. On top of that chair and next to the bookshelf that holds my Emmy Nomination certificate. Oh, you mean in comparison to the other episodes? Well this is a tough one to beat. It has our regular multi-talented cast. Five people with the voice of thousands. It has Patrick at his one toothed dumbest. It has really, really, REALLY long surfboards. It has man-eating waves. It has The Flying Dutchman. It has frightening storms. It has enlightened beings. Plus Johnny "The Sore Loser " D, a very Special look into Davy Jones' Locker, as well as the introduction of two of my favorite new characters, Twitch and Cough. I think they should have there own show. I want to know more about them. Hey...where are you going? Come back here! I have lots more to ...say.......I...I...sigh.
Vince Waller, Creative Director on SpongeBob SquarePants
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I still go "wow" by the removed scenes! I can tell why they removed it, I mean the theme of pregnancy have never been touched on SpongeBob, but it would have been funny, and the dream too