The SpongeBob SquarePants musical is airing on TV and the internet is divided
6 December 2019, 16:47
"I think it’s best to leave cartoons alone."
SpongeBob SquarePants pretty much dominated most of our childhoods, so it only makes sense that the popular Nickelodeon animation is getting a Squidward spin-off on Netflix, and a live TV version of its Broadway musical adaption.
READ MORE: A SpongeBob Squarepants spin-off about Squidward is coming to Netflix
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical actually debuted in 2016 and tells the story of SpongeBob's life living under the sea with his pet snail Gary, BFF Patrick, neighbour Squidward and his pal Sandy Cheeks.
Throughout its run, the musical received positive reviews and 12 Tony Award nominations. Panic! At The Disco frontman Brendon Urie even wrote a song – '(Just A) Simple Sponge' – for the musical.
The show closed at the Palace Theatre in September last year, so now Nickelodeon is giving viewers the chance to see it by airing it live on TV. Featuring the original Broadway cast The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage! kicks off on Saturday night (7 December) at 7pm.
Although it had been running for sometime on stage, not everyone is so convinced. In fact, people hate it.
Cancel this shit rn. https://t.co/amaIE0beTt
— tisdale (@asheellyy_) December 4, 2019
CANCEL IT. KILL IT WITH FIRE. https://t.co/srIIIQWSF4
— Brad 💎 (@LeBabyB) December 4, 2019
I think it’s best to leave cartoons alone and just have an episode of a musical rather than a live play. This is a no for me, a big no.
— Oscar X Diaz (@hollywoodoxd) December 2, 2019
Did anyone ask for this https://t.co/3yF9xnlJak
— Alastair McKenzie🏴 (@Mckenzieas93) December 5, 2019
Nickelodeon, are you in the right headspace to receive information thst could possibly hurt you ? https://t.co/p1WYwoWHs5
— Ok Booma (@Dababym0mma) December 5, 2019
However, SpongeBob stans leapt to the musical's defence.
Y'know what they say.
— Cree (SPONGEBOB MUSICAL TOMORROW) (@CreeLikesCats) December 1, 2019
THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET! pic.twitter.com/lFGjr1bBBZ
to all the locals trashing the show in this hashtag: why don't you go do the show, either to be professionally filmed for television or 8 times a week on a broadway stage? because i'd LOVE to see y'all try to do anything as good as the actual actors do. #SpongeBobMusicalLive
— christmas canigula (@stephhsus) December 5, 2019
hoooooly shit the amount of people horrifically uninformed about #SpongeBobMusicalLive are some of the dumbest fucks I've ever seen
— Saturn (@BunBunSaturn) December 4, 2019
y'all do realize the play originally came out when stephen hillenburg was alive, right? right?????
Lmao @ everyone in Nickelodeon’s comments pushing the “it’s disrespectful to the creator/not what he would have wanted” narrative about the televised spongebob musical as if Hillenberg wasn’t heavily involved in preproduction, love the show, and died months after it left Broadway
— mariah’s most merriest cashwrap (@themeparktrash) December 5, 2019
I am so done with the SpongeBob and Nickelodeon community. Spreading misinformation and talking shit about the SpongeBob Musical. Being disrespectful and spitting at the talented cast and crew for creating a beautiful tribute to Hillenburg.
— Crimson Mayhem (@mayhem_crimson) December 5, 2019
Nickelodeon responded to the backlash after one Twitter user said the channel should "leave cartoons alone". They said: "Give it a chance. The Broadway musical was loved by everyone who saw it – it was an original plotline with great musical numbers and a cast who really embodied the spirit of the characters. We wanted to share that with everyone so now it's a TV special!"
Give it a chance ❤️ The Broadway musical was loved by everyone who saw it - it was an original plotline with great musical numbers and a cast who really embodied the spirit of the characters. We wanted to share that with everyone so now it's a TV special! 😁
— Nickelodeon (@Nickelodeon) December 2, 2019
