(source) Producers for the hit animated TV show SpongeBob Squarepants have announced plans to move ahead with a controversial episode in which the residents of Bikini Bottom deal with the unplanned pregnancy of its main teenaged character, Pearl. Creator Stephen Hillenburg said it’s a natural progression for the edgy series.
“We’ve tackled tough subjects before, like the dangers of too much sun, forgetting to feed your pet, or what happens when you write a letter to vikings and they actually show up at your place of employment,” said Hillenburg. “It just makes sense for us to take that next step to something bigger.”
The storyline script had originally been shelved following complaints by the parental groups Focus On The Family and Mothers Against Everything, both of whom lobbied successfully against the airing of the PBS children’s show, Sex! With Ruff Ruffman. The critics charge that such touchy topics should be left to shows like Kim Possible and Suite Life.
“If I want my kids asking questions I’m not prepared to answer, I’ll have them watch Cartoon Network,” said Focus On The Family chairman James Dobson. “This show should stick to what it does best - the hidden homosexual agenda between SpongeBob and Patrick and their misguided attempts to have a threesome with Squidward.
“God, what I wouldn’t do to be Squidward for a day,” added Dobson. “What a titillating quandary that would be.”
In the episode, entitled Abortions Are For Sissies, Mr Krabs learns that his teenage daughter Pearl is pregnant at the hands of his arch enemy, Plankton. Convinced that the pregnancy is merely a ploy by Plankton to get close to his family in order to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula, Mr Krabs tries to convince Pearl to get an abortion but later relents when he realizes he can employ the child at the Krusty Krab without having to pay him because he is family.
“Like so many episodes before it, this one works on multiple levels,” noted TV and film critic Roger Ebert wrote on his website after reviewing the show. “Whether it’s Squidward playing the clarinet at Pearl’s tummy for the little kids, or Pearl defying her father and getting it on with his rival for the older kids, SpongeBob once again delights, entertains and educates all in the span of 30 minutes.
“Plus that thing that Patrick does with the condom is just pure comic genius,” Ebert added.
The episode is scheduled to air in the spring and is expected to pave the way for spin-offs of other popular kids shows, including Fairly Young Parents, iPregnant, and Mr Meaty Meets Purple & Brown.