Why These ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ Episodes Were Taken Out of Rotation

You won't catch SpongeBob and the gang in the episodes “Mid-Life Crustacean” or “Kwarantined Krab” anytime soon, as both have been pulled over their storylines.

March 30, 2021

Two episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants are now out of rotation—one for its similarities to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the other likely for glorifying Mr. Krabs’ “panty raid.”

You won’t be catching SpongeBob and the gang in episodes “Mid-Life Crustacean” or “Kwarantined Krab” anytime soon, as initially reported by IGN, which discovered “Mid-Life Crustacean” is “out of rotation” due to a “standards review.” Meanwhile “Kwarantined Krab,” a new episode that focuses on a “virus storyline,” has also been shelved by Nickelodeon.

“Mid-Life Crustacean,” the Season 3 episode that first aired in 2003, features Mr. Krabs going through a mid-life crisis, as he tags along with SpongeBob and Patrick to feel young again. They eventually embark on a “panty raid” and break into Mr. Krabs’ mother’s home to steal her underpants, not realizing it was her home.

“’Mid-Life Crustacean’ has been out of rotation since 2018, following a standards review in which we determined some story elements were not kid-appropriate,” a Nickelodeon representative told IGN, not specifying if the station considered a “content warning” before the episode.

The Season 12 episode “Kwarantined Krab” follows a health inspector who discovers the “Clam Flu” at the Krusty Krab, and quarantines Bikini Bottom residents inside the eatery.

“The ‘Kwarantined Crab’ centers on a virus storyline, so we have decided to not air it due to sensitivities surrounding the global, real-world pandemic,” Nickeledeon told Deadline in a Tuesday statement.