(From syracusenewtimes.com)
As I sat watching the silliness of “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” Saturday at Destiny USA in Syracuse, I kept puffing up my chest like I took in too much water, thinking, I know SpongeBob.
Well, sort of but not really. It is a cartoon character, you know, even when the animation stops and the plot shifts to Hollywood …
You can today’s installment of my weekly Film Review blog at the Syracuse New Times by clicking the link below.
http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/his-pants-may-be-square-but-spongebob-is-hip/
Tom Kenny, left, with Gary Frenay, right, at the 2014 Syracuse Area Music Awards.
What I mean by the quizzical lead paragraph above is that when I worked for the big daily, my responsiblities brought me around the personable gent Tomcat Kenny, a comedian and singer and all-around entertainer who’s a native of East Syracuse who got his start here in cahoots with another talented man by the name of Bobcat Goldthwaite and then made his way to Hollywood.
I remember in the 1990s, before a variety show to raise money for the continued restoration of the downtown Landmark Theatre, then executive director Frank Malfitano (still the man who founded and runs the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest) introduced me to Kenny, who was dressed in an old-time theater usher’s uniform. Which he put on the night of the show as part of his shenanigans.
I kept in touch with Kenny over the years. In 2006, he got to sing as part of a SpongeBob music album.
Here’s the link to a Q and A that ran on the big daily’s site.
In 2009, Kenny got to record SpongeBob Christmas music, and I got to write about that, too.
Last year I had just a moment to shake hands and say hello after Kenny sang with his old friend Gary Frenay and the Flashcubes as they played a set because they were inducted into the Syracuse Area Music Awards Hall of Fame.
So, yeah, SpongeBob may have had one squish up as a sat down in the theater.
Do you like the cartoon character SpongeBob? Do you still like animated movies, and do you like the concept of turning a cartoon into live action part of the way through? What cartoon has or would best translate into a full-length movie for your? Please explain.
Mark Bialczak 
All I have to say is: Who lives in a pineapple under the sea… Okay, no, that’s not it. I’m too old to appreciate Sponge Bob, but my kids liked him. I didn’t even know until several years later that the pink guy he hangs out with was actually not a drop of slime, but was a starfish! I think that you should submit Tomcat Kenny and Bobcat Goldthwaite to your funny names blog! 🙂
LikeLike
I loved SpongeBob when I was a kid, but as I grew up the sponge and I drifted apart. I still love animated movies though, guess it’s my inner child. If there was an animated movie that I’d have to see it would hopefully be the sequel to The Simpsons Movie. The first one was hilarious, and I can still remember sitting in the theater laughing from start to finish.
LikeLike
Yes, Chelsea, the Simpsons has kept its edge. I agree with you on that opinion!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Alright high five to that. 🙂
LikeLike
I’M READY! I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready….. I love SpongeBob 🙂
LikeLike
Have fun at the movie, Leyla. It is so silly. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
SpongeBob is awesome! My daughter worked with Roger Bumpass (Squidward) for 5 days at a convention in Sacramento. Roger is literally the biggest SB fan ever, haha.
LikeLike
I can see that Roger would be, Audrey. Thanks for adding that four cents worth. 🙂
LikeLike
no on the Spongebob Squarepants. Not a fan. Looking forward to what you thought of the movie. Saw the trailer (ha) and didn’t make me change my mind about SBS.
Am curious about the peeps movie that is rumored to come out eventually. Does that count as animated?
Cool story on the music connection. A Spongebob music collection? Perish the thought, lol. What next, singing chipmunks? 😉
LikeLike
Peeps counts as animated, I think. Marsh-mation?
Ah, I just want a hula hoop. Dave?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I favor Patrick, Mark, although I haven’t watched SpongeBob for many years. Nice review! Hope you get picked to be Hall Monitor soon. 😉
LikeLike
Ha! Thank you, Ermine. There’s an extra hall pass waiting for you. ;-o
LikeLike
I never could stand the Sponge. Don’t know why….I just can’t . But I LOVE animated movies. Love them. Always have. Always will.
I’m not sure I understand your’s and Marissa’s exchange…… HAHAHAHAHAHA…..no….really. 😉
LikeLike
I was not a Spiccoli, MDB Colleen, but the Spiccolis of the world were said to have been into the Sponge. 🙂 Is what Marissa and I were discussing.
LikeLike
Haha! I got the “stoner” reference. I was being a bit facetious. 😉 AND you will be ever so proud of me to know I got the Spiccolis reference. I am being a bit boastful right now!!!!
LikeLike
Isn’t it our time, Mr. Hand? 🙂
LikeLike
Hahahahahahahahaha! I need to watch that again!!! I watched a couple of clips when Taylor Negron passed. I think I might add that to our Friday night movie agenda. There’s a couple of young people that I know have not seen it yet.
LikeLike
I love that dang movie, Colleen. Can’t help it.
LikeLike
WHO DOESN’T!!!!!!!!!!! Just the thought of it makes me laugh. 🙂 Seriously, I have to see it again.
LikeLike
Very cool! You truly get around, you know. Not a huge fan of SpongeBob, but early on I thought he was funny. Then I had a child and thought…”wait…that’s not very nice. ” Typical prudish first time parent behavior. 🙂
LikeLike
Must. Protect. The Offspring. 🙂
LikeLike
Unlike my husband, I have grown out of animated characters. I hear the movie was a stoner’s paradise.
LikeLike
And I straight-out enjoyed it, Marissa.
LikeLike
I have little doubt…
LikeLike
great title on your snt post, mark. this does actually look funny to me, so i’m sure i’ll be watching it at some point in time. how cool your sponge bob connection, we are all linked in so many ways, it’s amazing.
LikeLike
Thanks, Beth. I’m glad you liked the title. It was the last thing I wrote to top off the review. Enjoy the hip SpongeGuy when you meet up with him. 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, I like SpongeBob Yes, I like cartoons. Mutual readers of our blogs are shocked, I know. 😀
LikeLike
Yes, Sheena, big surprise here!
LikeLike