SpongeBob's Truth or Square

{{About||the video game based on the movie|SpongeBob's Truth or Square (video game)}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Spongebob TruthOrSquare.jpg

| caption = DVD cover

| alt_name = Stuck in the Freezer

| director = Andrew Overtoom (animation)
Alan Smart (animation)
Tom Yasumi (animation)

| executive_producer = Stephen Hillenburg
Paul Tibbitt

| writer = Luke Brookshier
Nate Cash
Steven Banks
Paul Tibbitt

| screenplay =

| story =

| based_on = {{based on|SpongeBob SquarePants|Stephen Hillenburg}}

| narrator = Ricky Gervais (uncredited)

| starring = Tom Kenny
Bill Fagerbakke
Clancy Brown
Rodger Bumpass
Mr. Lawrence
Jill Talley
Carolyn Lawrence
Paul Tibbitt
P!nk

| music =

| cinematography =

| editor =

| company = United Plankton Pictures
Nickelodeon Animation Studio

| network = Nickelodeon

| released = {{Start date|2009|11|6}}

| runtime = 52 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

}}

SpongeBob's Truth or Square (also known as Stuck in the Freezer) is a 2009 made-for-television comedy television film and an hour-long episode of the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants that was produced as the 123rd and 124th episodes of the series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bcdb.com/cartoon/114035-Truth-Or-Square|title=Truth or Square (NickToon Productions)|access-date=January 13, 2021}}{{dead link|date=January 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The special originally aired on Nickelodeon in the United States on November 6, 2009, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the television series. This is the second SpongeBob SquarePants television film, following SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis. Its animation was directed by supervising director Alan Smart, Andrew Overtoom and Tom Yasumi.

In the special, SpongeBob and his friends are accidentally locked inside the Krusty Krab on the day of its "Eleventy-Seventh" anniversary celebration. As they crawl through the ventilation system trying to escape, they look back on shared memories through flashback moments. Meanwhile, Patchy the Pirate is holding a TV Extravaganza, and is waiting for SpongeBob to show up to it, but with no reply, Patchy sets out to Bikini Bottom in a fit of rage.

Truth or Square was written by Luke Brookshier, Nate Cash, Steven Banks, and Paul Tibbitt. Guest stars include Rosario Dawson, Eddie Deezen, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, LeBron James, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, Craig Ferguson, Robin Williams, and P!nk, with Ricky Gervais having an uncredited voice cameo as the narrator. Upon release, the special attracted an estimated 7.7 million viewers, but was met with mixed reviews from critics; although some generally spoke positively of the special's main animated segments, most criticized the Patchy the Pirate segments, which were described as unfunny and filler.

Plot

SpongeBob wakes up one morning and realizes that the Krusty Krab is celebrating its "Eleventy-Seventh" anniversary. He remembers his first visit to the Krusty Krab and tells his pet snail Gary all about it. SpongeBob then leaves to go to the restaurant, but as soon as he exits his house, he bumps into the back of a long line of customers waiting to get inside. SpongeBob jumps on top of every customer in the line, eventually reaching the Krusty Krab.

Mr. Krabs tells SpongeBob and Squidward that the anniversary celebration will be the perfect opportunity for Plankton to steal the Krabby Patty formula. To prevent Plankton from breaking in, Mr. Krabs has hired Patrick Star as a security guard, so he does not have to pay for a real one. SpongeBob spectacularly decorates the Krusty Krab with ketchup, toilet paper, and mustard. When he shows Patrick, Squidward, and Mr. Krabs a Krabby Patty ice sculpture that he made himself, they accidentally trap themselves inside the freezer during an unsuccessful attempt to take the sculpture outside. Mr. Krabs remembers a way out of the freezer through the ventilation system. While finding their way through the maze of air vents, they look back at some memorable moments in their lives.

To get out of the air vents, SpongeBob molds Squidward, Patrick, and Mr. Krabs into a battering ram and breaks out of the shaft, only to find that all the customers have left after waiting for so long without getting any food. Mr. Krabs is heartbroken, but SpongeBob manages to summon all the customers back as he sings a song called "O Krusty Krab". Meanwhile, Plankton finds the perfect opportunity to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula, but fails, having been caught by Mr. Krabs. The "Eleventy-Seventh" anniversary celebration then goes ahead.

Throughout the special, Patchy the Pirate attempts to hold a celebration of the tenth anniversary of when he started the SpongeBob fan club, and attempts to bring in SpongeBob himself. When Patchy is told SpongeBob is not coming, he vows to get him by any means necessary. He travels to Bikini Bottom, but ends up getting eaten by a whale. Inside the whale, he watches some old tapes of the show (including a theme song for Squidward, Patrick, and Mr. Krabs) before the whale sneezes him out, sending him flying back to the studio, where he dreams of meeting SpongeBob. He wakes up and decides he will never meet his hero, but his guests assure him otherwise, causing him to faint again.

Cast

Actor/Actress	Character Role
class="wikitable"
Tom Kenny	SpongeBob SquarePants Gary the Snail Harold SquarePants French Narrator Patchy the Pirate Additional voices
Bill Fagerbakke	Patrick Star Additional voices
Rodger Bumpass	Squidward Tentacles Security Guard Additional voices
Clancy Brown	Mr. Krabs
Mr. Lawrence	Sheldon Plankton Additional voices
Jill Talley	Karen Plankton Additional voices
Carolyn Lawrence	Sandy Cheeks
Paul Tibbitt	Potty the Parrot Patchy's good and bad sides
P!nk	Herself
Dave Allen	Abraham Lincoln (credited as "The Guy on the Penny")
Gregg Turkington	Camera Operator
Bob Joles	Painty the Pirate

Production

File:Ricky Gervais 2010.jpg narrated the special uncredited.]]

Production began and ended in 2009.

=Writing and music=

Truth or Square was written by Luke Brookshier, Nate Cash, Steven Banks, and Paul Tibbitt. The writers have described the television movie as "Seinfeld-esque" that parodies the recycled flashback episodes seen in Seinfeld, Friends and other U.S. shows.{{cite web|date=January 9, 2009|title=2009 Is The Year To Get 'Happy Squared' As Nickelodeon Celebrates 10 Years Of SpongeBob SquarePants|url=http://ir.viacom.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=627885|access-date=August 8, 2013|publisher=Viacom|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203025757/http://ir.viacom.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=627885|url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=October 22, 2009|title=Pink makes SpongeBob appearance|url=http://metro.co.uk/2009/10/22/pink-makes-spongebob-appearance-494586/|access-date=May 28, 2013|work=Metro|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203015358/http://metro.co.uk/2009/10/22/pink-makes-spongebob-appearance-494586/|url-status=live}} The featured song, "We've Got Scurvy", was sung by American singer and actress Pink (singer).{{cite web|last=Yi|first=David|date=June 29, 2009|title=Pink sings for SpongeBob's tenth birthday: We've got scurvy!|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/06/29/pink-sings-for-spongebobs-tenth-birthday-weve-got-scurvy/|access-date=May 28, 2013|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=November 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127000831/http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/06/29/pink-sings-for-spongebobs-tenth-birthday-weve-got-scurvy/|url-status=live}}

=Cast=

Truth or Square stars most of the series' main cast members including Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Clancy Brown, Mr. Lawrence, Jill Talley, and Carolyn Lawrence (Mary Jo Catlett and Lori Alan's characters both appear, but they do not speak). In addition to the series' cast, it features Rosario Dawson, Eddie Deezen, Craig Ferguson, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, LeBron James, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog (Robert Smigel), and Robin Williams as guest actors appearing as themselves in the live-action sequences, while Ricky Gervais provided an uncredited vocal cameo as the narrator.{{cite web|date=October 13, 2009|title=Nickelodeon Culminates SpongeBob's 10th Anniversary Celebration with Star-Studded Prime Time TV Event SpongeBob SquarePants 'Truth or Square' Premiering Friday, Nov. 6 at 8:00 p.m.|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nickelodeon-culminates-spongebobs-10th-anniversary-celebration-with-star-studded-prime-time-tv-event-spongebob-squarepants-truth-or-square-premiering-friday-nov-6-at-800-pm-64092142.html|access-date=May 27, 2013|publisher=PR Newswire|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304213047/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nickelodeon-culminates-spongebobs-10th-anniversary-celebration-with-star-studded-prime-time-tv-event-spongebob-squarepants-truth-or-square-premiering-friday-nov-6-at-800-pm-64092142.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Goldman|first=Eric|date=November 6, 2009|title=SpongeBob Meets Tina Fey, Will Ferrell and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog|url=https://ign.com/articles/2009/11/06/spongebob-meets-tina-fey-will-ferrell-and-triumph-the-insult-comic-dog|access-date=May 27, 2013|publisher=IGN|archive-date=February 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221224028/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/11/06/spongebob-meets-tina-fey-will-ferrell-and-triumph-the-insult-comic-dog|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Maclntyre|first=April|date=October 14, 2009|title=SpongeBob SquarePants "Truth or Square, Friday Nov. 6|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1506939.php/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Truth-or-Square-Friday-Nov-6|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112073718/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1506939.php/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Truth-or-Square-Friday-Nov-6|archive-date=November 12, 2013|access-date=May 27, 2013|publisher=Monsters and Critics|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|date=July 1, 2009|title=Ricky Gervais, Will Ferrell and Robin Williams pay tribute to SpongeBob SquarePants|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/ricky-gervais-will-ferrell-and-robin-williams-403690|access-date=May 23, 2013|work=Mirror|archive-date=October 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024021016/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/ricky-gervais-will-ferrell-and-robin-williams-403690|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Maclntyre|first=April|date=October 14, 2009|title=SpongeBob SquarePantsTruth or Square, Friday Nov. 6|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1506939.php/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Truth-or-Square-Friday-Nov-6|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112073718/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1506939.php/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Truth-or-Square-Friday-Nov-6|archive-date=November 12, 2013|access-date=May 23, 2013|work=Monsters and Critics|df=mdy-all}} Nickelodeon animation president Brown Johnson said "Over the past decade, SpongeBob has become one of the most beloved characters in television history[...] And we're excited to cap off the year's celebration with this star-studded special anniversary event."

=Directing and animating=

Andrew Overtoom, supervising director, Alan Smart, and Tom Yasumi served as the special's animation directors while Luke Brookshier and Nate Cash handled the storyboard direction. This was the first episode of the series to be produced in 16:9 widescreen, this would later be used in "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!" from the eighth season before permanently switching over in the ninth season. It was a part of the series' tenth anniversary celebration.{{cite web|date=October 14, 2009|title=Nickelodeon Culminates SpongeBob's 10th Anniversary Celebration with Star-Studded Prime Time TV Event SpongeBob SquarePants 'Truth or Square' Premiering Friday, Nov. 6 at 8:00 p.m|url=http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=105665|access-date=August 24, 2011|publisher=Webwire.com|archive-date=March 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307223428/http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=105665|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Zahed|first=Ramin|date=July 24, 2009|title=Soaking in the Festivities|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/soaking-in-the-festivities/|access-date=May 27, 2013|work=Animation|archive-date=March 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328160647/http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/soaking-in-the-festivities/|url-status=live}}

The title sequence of SpongeBob for the special was made exclusively for the series' tenth anniversary.{{cite AV media|title=Behind the Scenes of the SpongeBob Opening|date=November 10, 2009|people=Alan Smart, Andrew Overtoom and Tom Yasumi (Directors)|publisher=Nickelodeon|location=United States|medium=DVD}} It was animated in stop-motion animation, with Cee Lo Green performing the theme.{{cite web|title=Hit Recording Artists P!nk and Cee-Lo Green Join SpongeBob SquarePants' 10th Anniversary Celebration With Nickelodeon/Sony Music Entertainment's Release of SpongeBob's Greatest Hits, Available in Stores and iTunes July 14|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hit-recording-artists-pnk-and-cee-lo-green-join-spongebob-squarepants-10th-anniversary-celebration-with-nickelodeonsony-music-entertainments-release-of-spongebobs-greatest-hits-available-in-stores-and-itunes-july-14-61883612.html|access-date=May 27, 2013|publisher=PR Newswire|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042223/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hit-recording-artists-pnk-and-cee-lo-green-join-spongebob-squarepants-10th-anniversary-celebration-with-nickelodeonsony-music-entertainments-release-of-spongebobs-greatest-hits-available-in-stores-and-itunes-july-14-61883612.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=July 21, 2009|title=P!nk And Cee-lo Green Join SpongeBob SquarePants' 10th Anniversary Celebration|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/press_releases/pnk_and_cee-lo_green_join_spongebob_squarepants_10th_anniversary_celebration.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603061517/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/press_releases/pnk_and_cee-lo_green_join_spongebob_squarepants_10th_anniversary_celebration.html|archive-date=June 3, 2012|access-date=May 27, 2013|work=Ultimate Guitar|df=mdy-all}} Mark Caballero, Seamus Walsh and Chris Finnegan of Screen Novelties animated its opening titles.{{cite web|last=Beck|first=Jerry|date=November 6, 2012|title=It's A SpongeBob Stop-Mo Christmas|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/stop-motion/its-a-spongebob-stop-mo-christmas-72872.html|access-date=January 17, 2013|work=Cartoon Brew|archive-date=November 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113114929/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/stop-motion/its-a-spongebob-stop-mo-christmas-72872.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Zahed|first=Ramin|date=November 21, 2012|title=Stop Motion Casts a Spell on SpongeBob|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/stop-motion-casts-a-spell-on-spongebob/|access-date=January 17, 2013|work=Animation|archive-date=December 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212164211/http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/stop-motion-casts-a-spell-on-spongebob/|url-status=live}} Finnegan claimed that the crew were "thrill[ed]" to do the title sequence because "the original title sequence is so recognizable and everyone seen it over and over and it's so great in its own way". Executive producer and the episode's writer Paul Tibbitt said "We don't just want to redraw it [the original title sequence], we want it to be something special and different[...] So we thought we would do it in three dimensions[...]" Nickelodeon animation president Brown Johnson lauded the new title sequence and said it is "SO great!"{{cite web|last=Zahed|first=Ramin|date=July 24, 2009|title=Bikini Bottom Confessions|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/bikini-bottom-confessions/|access-date=July 30, 2013|work=Animation|quote=Fave episode: 'There's a great new episode that's part of the celebration which will be aired this fall, in which SpongeBob, Patrick, Mr. Krabs and Squidward get struck in the freezer at the Krusty Krab. As they reminisce about the good times, we get new flashbacks: Footage of SpongeBob as a baby, the first Krusty Krab commercials and lots more. We even made a new open in stop motion that is SO great!'|archive-date=March 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315064118/http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/bikini-bottom-confessions/|url-status=live}} Some traditional animation on scraps of brown paper are intermixed into the stop-motion.

Tibbitt said that the "biggest surprise" for him in the new title sequence was "the treatment of Painty the Pirate in the beginning" as seen in a fortune-teller machine. Mark Caballero, one of its animators, explained "our idea was like our goal is like the more disturbing, the better because I don't think there is a fortune telling machine out there that doesn't disturb when you see it. Tibbitt said "it was a great idea[...] I was just expecting maybe a 3D version of the painting but we got something totally different and it's very cool."

Release

In a press release, Nickelodeon officially announced the special "event" on October 13, 2009. According to the network, the special include "SpongeBob's first visit to the Krusty Krab as a baby, a vintage Krusty Krab TV commercial, how SpongeBob found his beloved pineapple house, and the time that SpongeBob and Sandy got married!"{{cite web|date=October 13, 2009|title=SpongeBob & Sandy Get Married In New Special|url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/10/13/spongebob_aamp_sandy_get_married_in_new_|access-date=May 28, 2013|work=Starpulse|archive-date=June 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602150550/http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/10/13/spongebob_aamp_sandy_get_married_in_new_|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Oldenburg|first=Ann|date=October 13, 2009|title=SpongeBob marries Sandy!|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2009/10/68500867/1#.UaPyIdIwe5I|access-date=May 28, 2013|work=USA Today|archive-date=December 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226221306/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2009/10/68500867/1#.UaPyIdIwe5I|url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=November 2, 2009|title=SpongeBob turns 10 with 'Truth or Square'|url=http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20091102/PC1205/311029929|access-date=May 28, 2013|work=The Post and Courier|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203020255/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20091102/PC1205/311029929|url-status=live}} Prior to the official announcement of the television special, Entertainment Weekly broke the news by releasing a clip featuring a scene where SpongeBob and Sandy getting married.{{cite news|last=Slezak|first=Michael|date=October 12, 2009|title=EW Exclusive: A first look at the SpongeBob SquarePants wedding!|newspaper=Entertainment Weekly|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/10/12/spongebob-squarepants-wedding-sandy-squirrel/|access-date=May 28, 2013|archive-date=April 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410023156/http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/10/12/spongebob-squarepants-wedding-sandy-squirrel/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Price|first=Matthew|date=October 14, 2009|title=SpongeBob SquarePants getting married?|url=http://newsok.com/spongebob-squarepants-getting-married/article/3793754|access-date=May 28, 2013|publisher=Newsok.com|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203015930/http://newsok.com/spongebob-squarepants-getting-married/article/3793754|url-status=live}}

It originally aired on Nickelodeon in the United States on November 6, 2009, as one of many SpongeBob TV events to air that year (with April featuring "SpongeBob vs. The Big One", and July featuring "The Ultimate SpongeBob SpongeBash" marathon, Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants documentary, and twelve new episodes).{{cite news|last=Hinckley|first=David|date=July 13, 2009|title='SpongeBob SquarePants' gets closer look on VH1 with 10th anniversary documentary on Nickelodeon hit|work=Daily News|location=New York|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/07/14/2009-07-14_spongebob_squarepants_gets_.html|access-date=November 17, 2009|archive-date=August 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819084743/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/07/14/2009-07-14_spongebob_squarepants_gets_.html|url-status=live}}

=Marketing=

In late 2009, Burger King released tie-in toys based on the episode, featuring the characters in block shapes.{{cite web|date=October 16, 2009|title=New SpongeBob toys from Burger King|url=http://www.superpunch.net/2009/10/new-spongebob-toys-from-burger-king.html|access-date=August 2, 2013|publisher=SuperPunch.net|archive-date=June 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616030611/http://www.superpunch.net/2009/10/new-spongebob-toys-from-burger-king.html|url-status=live}}

A book adaptation of the special, titled The Great Escape!, was also released. The book was written by Emily Sollinger, published by Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon, and was released on September 8, 2009.{{cite web|title=The Great Escape|url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6902077-the-great-escape|access-date=July 27, 2013|publisher=Goodreads|archive-date=December 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206054600/http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6902077-the-great-escape|url-status=live}}{{cite book|title=SpongeBob SquarePants : the great escape|publisher=WorldCat|oclc=791641967}} Another tie-in book to the special was also released.{{cite web|title=SpongeBob: Good Times! – SpongeBob SquarePants (Paperback)|url=http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/nickelodeon/spongebob/7554423/|access-date=July 30, 2013|publisher=Waterstones|archive-date=July 30, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130730102630/http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/nickelodeon/spongebob/7554423/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Good Times! (SpongeBob SquarePants, #16; Ready-to-Read Level 2)|url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7180965-good-times|access-date=July 30, 2013|publisher=Goodreads|archive-date=December 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206060143/http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7180965-good-times|url-status=live}} The book titled Good Times! was written by Erica David, illustrated by the Artifacts Group, and published by Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon. Good Times! was first released on September 8, 2009, then re-released in 2011.{{cite book|title=SpongeBob SquarePants Good Times|publisher=WorldCat|oclc=793916425}}

On November 10, 2009, it was released on a DVD compilation of the same name in the United States and Canada,{{cite web|last=Lambert|first=David|date=November 8, 2009|title=SpongeBob SquarePants – Truth or Square Officially Announced: Package Art, Extras & More!|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Truth-or-Square/12462|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105133819/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Truth-or-Square/12462|archive-date=January 5, 2015|access-date=May 27, 2013|publisher=TV Shows on DVD|df=mdy-all}} on November 16, 2009, in region 2,{{cite web|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Truth Or Square [DVD]|date=November 16, 2009|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spongebob-Squarepants-Truth-Square-DVD/dp/B002JPYIZM|access-date=May 27, 2013|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|archive-date=October 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005184919/http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spongebob-Squarepants-Truth-Square-DVD/dp/B002JPYIZM|url-status=live}} and on October 29, 2009, in region 4.{{cite web|title=SpongeBob SquarePants – Truth or Square|url=http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/spongebob-squarepants-spongebobs-truth-or-square/dp/808540|access-date=May 27, 2013|publisher=EzyDVD|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203081839/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/spongebob-squarepants-spongebobs-truth-or-square/dp/808540|url-status=dead}} The DVD consists of five season six episodes, a short called Behind the Scenes of the SpongeBob Opening, and karaoke-mode songs: "F.U.N.", "Campfire Song", and "We've Got Scurvy".{{cite web|last=Mavis|first=Paul|date=November 10, 2009|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Truth or Square|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/41269/spongebob-squarepants-truth-or-square/|access-date=May 27, 2013|publisher=DVD Talk|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203031833/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/41269/spongebob-squarepants-truth-or-square/|url-status=live}} It was also released in the series' season six DVD compilation.{{cite web|last=Lambert|first=David|date=August 9, 2009|title=SpongeBob SquarePants – Dive Into Season 6, Volume 1 on DVD this December! **UPDATE: PACKAGE ART!**|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Season-6-Volume-1/12639|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110231612/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/SpongeBob-SquarePants-Season-6-Volume-1/12639|archive-date=November 10, 2013|access-date=May 28, 2013|publisher=TV Shows on DVD|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|last=Mavis|first=Paul|date=December 7, 2009|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 6, Volume 1|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/39656/spongebob-squarepants-season-6-v1/|access-date=May 28, 2013|publisher=DVD Talk|archive-date=November 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110235705/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/39656/spongebob-squarepants-season-6-v1/|url-status=live}} On June 4, 2019, "Truth or Square" was released on the SpongeBob SquarePants: The Next 100 Episodes DVD, alongside all the episodes of seasons six through nine.{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/tvshowsondvd/photos/a.10151614436896063/10156879245486063/?type=3&theater |title=Facebook |website=Facebook |access-date=January 31, 2020 |archive-date=September 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923204714/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftvshowsondvd%2Fphotos%2Fa.10151614436896063%2F10156879245486063%2F%3Ftype%3D3%26theater |url-status=live }} On April 28, 2020, "Truth or Square" was released on the SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom Bash DVD.{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/tvshowsondvd/posts/10157808945056063?__tn__=K-R |title=Archived copy |website=Facebook |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108143839/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftvshowsondvd%2Fposts%2F10157808945056063%3F__tn__%3DK-R |url-status=live }}

Reception

=Ratings=

The premiere of Truth or Square on Friday, November 6 drew 7.7 million total viewers, ranking as basic cable's number-one entertainment show for the week.{{cite web|last=Gorman|first=Bill|date=November 10, 2009|title=Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants "Truth or Square" Grabs 7.7 Million Viewers, Tops Basic Cable|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2009/11/10/nickelodeons-spongebob-squarepants-truth-or-square-grabs-7-7-million-viewers-tops-basic-cable/33252/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413170210/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2009/11/10/nickelodeons-spongebob-squarepants-truth-or-square-grabs-7-7-million-viewers-tops-basic-cable/33252|archive-date=April 13, 2011|access-date=May 27, 2013|work=TV by the Numbers|publisher=Zap2it}} It was also ranked as the week's number one program among children in the demographic groups ages 6–11 and 2–11.{{cite web|date=November 10, 2009|title=Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants 'Truth or Square' Grabs 7.7 Million Total Viewers, Ranks as Number-One Entertainment Show on Basic Cable for Week|url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/entertainment/1783900/nickelodeons_spongebob_squarepants_truth_or_square_grabs_77_million_total/|access-date=May 27, 2013|publisher=Red Orbit|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005128/http://www.redorbit.com/news/entertainment/1783900/nickelodeons_spongebob_squarepants_truth_or_square_grabs_77_million_total/|url-status=live}}

=Critical response=

File:Tom Kenny by Gage Skidmore.jpg was awarded at the 37th Annie Awards for his performance as the voice of the titular character.]]

Truth or Square received generally polarized reviews from critics and fans, and was criticized mainly due to the Patchy the Pirate segments, with many comparing them to the segments from "Christmas Who", "The Sponge Who Could Fly", and "Ugh". Paul Mavis from DVD Talk said "Truth or Square is a strange mix of some truly memorable animated SpongeBob moments interrupted unfortunately by the largely unfunny Patchy the Pirate segments." He added "All of those amusing moments in Truth or Square, along with the Charlie Brown Christmas ending, make one forget the patchy Patchy segments in Truth or Square." Roy Hrab of DVD Verdict gave the episode a negative review saying "Wow... This is without a doubt the lamest SpongeBob episode I have ever seen[...] In fact, nothing interesting happens at all. The Patchy interludes and reliance on cameos merely draws attention to the episode's lack of substance."{{cite web|last=Hrab|first=Roy|date=November 20, 2009|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Truth Or Square|url=https://dvdverdict.com/reviews/truthorsquare.php|access-date=May 27, 2013|publisher=DVD Verdict|archive-date=March 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320015003/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/truthorsquare.php|url-status=dead}}

Nancy Basile of the About.com praised the special and wrote, "I had doubts that the recent Truth or Square special of SpongeBob SquarePants would be funny or clever. I was quite wrong." She added that "My kids and I were mesmerized."{{cite web|last=Basile|first=Nancy|date=November 14, 2009|title=Truth or Square Turns Out Well-Rounded|url=http://animatedtv.about.com/b/2009/11/14/truth-or-square-turns-out-well-rounded.htm|access-date=May 3, 2013|publisher=About.com|archive-date=May 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513070107/http://animatedtv.about.com/b/2009/11/14/truth-or-square-turns-out-well-rounded.htm|url-status=live}} Jose Strike of the Animation World Network positively reacted to the special and wrote "Truth or Square is a major treat; in fact, I'm so happy I think I'll drop on the deck and flop like a fish..."{{cite web|last=Strike|first=Joe|date=November 6, 2009|title=TV Review: SpongeBob SquarePants: Truth or Square|url=http://www.awn.com/blogs/miscweant/ddd|access-date=May 3, 2013|publisher=Animation World Network|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203082447/http://www.awn.com/blogs/miscweant/ddd|url-status=live}} Ian Jane of DVD Talk said "Truth or Square isn't your typical episode, as it mixes up a lot of live action material in with the more traditional animated sequences to very unusual effect."{{cite web|last=Jane|first=Ian|date=November 10, 2009|title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Truth or Square|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/39169/spongebob-squarepants-truth-or-square/|access-date=May 27, 2013|publisher=DVD Talk|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203031649/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/39169/spongebob-squarepants-truth-or-square/|url-status=live}} He added "[...]but there's enough here in terms of the gags and the jokes that even if it's not a classic episode, it's still one worth seeing." Nickelodeon animation president Brown Johnson said that the special is her favorite among the series.

In 2010, Tom Kenny won at the 37th Annie Awards for the Best Voice Acting in a Television Production category for his performance as the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants in the special.{{cite web|title=37th Annual Annie Nominations|url=http://www.annieawards.org/consideration.html#20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124032256/http://www.annieawards.org/consideration.html#20|archive-date=January 24, 2010|access-date=May 21, 2013|publisher=Annie Award}}{{cite web|last=Spring|first=Mike|title=Annie Awards Winners Announced|url=http://voicecoaches.com/blog/2010/02/annie-awards-winners-announced/|access-date=May 21, 2013|publisher=Voice Coaches|archive-date=November 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105120532/http://voicecoaches.com/blog/2010/02/annie-awards-winners-announced/|url-status=live}}

=Retrospective=

In an October 2023 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Pink expressed regret over performing the "We've Got Scurvy" song used during the special, labeling the song "a real mistake", and stated that she would have not done that retrospectively.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-04 |title=Pink on Tina Turner, Jann Wenner and her 'desperate need for connection' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-10-04/pink-sofi-stadium-trustfall |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

Video game

The video game SpongeBob's Truth or Square that was based on the SpongeBob SquarePants television special was released for PlayStation Portable,{{cite web|title=SpongeBob's Truth or Square – PlayStation Portable|url=https://ign.com/games/spongebobs-truth-or-square/psp-14351955|access-date=May 28, 2013|publisher=IGN|archive-date=March 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322015831/http://www.ign.com/games/spongebobs-truth-or-square/psp-14351955|url-status=live}} Wii,{{cite web|title=SpongeBob's Truth or Square – Wii|url=https://ign.com/games/spongebobs-truth-or-square/wii-14351674|access-date=May 28, 2013|publisher=IGN|archive-date=January 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106182455/http://www.ign.com/games/spongebobs-truth-or-square/wii-14351674|url-status=live}} Xbox 360,{{cite web|title=SpongeBob's Truth or Square – Xbox 360|url=https://ign.com/games/spongebobs-truth-or-square/xbox-360-14351956|access-date=May 28, 2013|publisher=IGN|archive-date=June 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613204343/http://www.ign.com/games/spongebobs-truth-or-square/xbox-360-14351956|url-status=live}} and Nintendo DS.{{cite web|title=SpongeBob's Truth or Square – Nintendo DS|url=https://ign.com/games/spongebobs-truth-or-square/nds-14351954|access-date=May 28, 2013|publisher=IGN|archive-date=March 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325235949/http://www.ign.com/games/spongebobs-truth-or-square/nds-14351954|url-status=live}} The game was first announced by THQ on May 21, 2009, and was originally titled SpongeBob SquarePants: Happiness Squared before being changed early in development. It was published by THQ,{{cite web|title=THQ Celebrates SpongeBob'S 10th Anniversary With SpongeBob's Truth or Square|url=http://us.thq.com/us/gamenews/show/7048/5300/SpongeBob%20Truth%20or%20Square|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703144249/http://us.thq.com/us/gamenews/show/7048/5300/SpongeBob%20Truth%20or%20Square|archive-date=July 3, 2010|access-date=May 28, 2013|publisher=THQ}} developed by Heavy Iron Studios,{{cite web|date=May 21, 2009|title=THQ Celebrates SpongeBob's 10th Anniversary with SpongeBob's Truth or Square|url=https://ign.com/articles/2009/05/21/thq-celebrates-spongebobs-10th-anniversary-with-spongebobs-truth-or-square|access-date=July 12, 2013|publisher=IGN|archive-date=March 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327072400/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/21/thq-celebrates-spongebobs-10th-anniversary-with-spongebobs-truth-or-square|url-status=live}} and was released on October 26, 2009, in North America.{{cite web|date=October 26, 2009|title=The Ultimate SpongeBob Videogame from THQ, SpongeBob's Truth Or Square Ships|url=https://ign.com/articles/2009/10/26/the-ultimate-spongebob-videogame-from-thq-spongebobs-truth-or-square-ships|access-date=May 28, 2013|publisher=IGN|archive-date=March 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327072404/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/10/26/the-ultimate-spongebob-videogame-from-thq-spongebobs-truth-or-square-ships|url-status=live}}