Special guest alert: "SpongeBob BingePants" with Frankie Grande and Hector Navarro
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Season 2: Episode 17 Description
Ten News Gets Extra: 🧽 Do you love SpongeBob? We do! Host Bethany Van Delft talks with Frankie Grande and Hector Navarro about their new podcast, "SpongeBob BingePants." 📺 Hear what they learned while re-watching the TV series. 🌊 And test your Bikini Bottom knowledge in today's Trivia on the Ten. ✅
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TRANSCRIPT:
Bethany Van Delft 0:02
Are you a SpongeBob SquarePants fan? Because we are. So, grab your snorkels because today we're going to Bikini Bottom. I'm Bethany Van Delft. It's Saturday, October 9th, and this is The Ten News Gets Extra.
Various Voices 0:27
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Bethany Van Delft 0:35
You probably know he lives in a pineapple under the sea and you've probably seen his show in movies. But have you heard? There's now a podcast all about everyone's favorite sea sponge. Frankie Grande and Hector Navarro are the hosts of the new podcast SpongeBob BingePants, where they rewatch all the SpongeBob TV episodes. Then they share fun and interesting facts about the show. And they welcome special guests from the world of Bikini Bottom. And they're right here on The Ten News to tell us all about it. So, we're so excited that you could join us we're super big fans of SpongeBob SquarePants. And we're so excited for the new podcast. So, what I was wondering is, you both do so many things, Frankie, Broadway shows, off-Broadway shows, YouTube channel, America's Best Dance Crew judge. Hector, you host Geek & Sundry, superhero news, animation podcasts, and my favorite fact is self-described cartoon nerd.
Hector Navarro 1:47
Yes.
Bethany Van Delft 1:48
So how did you get involved with this podcast? And what drew you to it?
Hector Navarro 1:52
They asked if I wanted to come and audition, so I got to meet Frankie. We hit it off. And then I heard it's going to be you and Frankie, you guys are going to do this together. And we're recording the show from home. But, we meet once a week and we talk about SpongeBob and we talk to SpongeBob people.
Frankie Grande 2:06
And, it's a dream come true. It's a dream come true that I didn't even know is a dream of mine, to be honest. When I got you to know asked like do you want to host the SpongeBob podcast? My first thought was like, wow, that's genius for me. Like, what an incredible idea? I am so happy you asked because a) yes and b) like, Oh, why didn't I think of that? I also like when I met Hector, I was like, it's all about the co-host right? It really is all about chemistry because no one wants to listen to me talk by myself for an hour except for me. Chemistry is mysteries every day and I'm telling you working with Hector has been such a dream come true. And will be for all 7,000 episodes in our history together.
Bethany Van Delft 2:55
Alright, so SpongeBob SquarePants started in 1999 I believe that means he is 18 years old, old enough to vote at least. At least. What is it about this show that makes it fun for all ages?
Frankie Grande 3:12
It's relatable. You know, I think no matter what age you are, there's a person or a character or an element of SpongeBob you're like wow, that's exactly what I'm going through right now. So I think that's like that is just so relatable no matter who you are or what your circumstance is, or what age you make it the show that will last the test of time. We all love cartoons that we watched when we were kids. And Frankie and I were growing up and we're watching SpongeBob and there are not too many cartoons that you can watch when you're an adult and it feels the same. Yeah, or it feels just as special. Yeah, you know a lot of great cartoons I think are better when they're viewed in their time period, in their context. And like Frankie saying this show is so relatable so brilliant, it's cross-generational so it's been so much fun to go back and rewatch the show from the very beginning from the first episode and look at, oh my gosh, everything that they had in place is still in place today it's the same character the same voice actors the same relationship dynamic and it really is unbelievable it's a different show and shows. Today we've got three shows: you got SpongeBob, we've got the Patrick Star show, we've got Camp Coral. There have been movies there are so many different SpongeBob things in the world, but you can still go back to the first season of the first show and go like 90% of it is there and there's all these great add ons over the years but it's all there, the formula was perfect from beginning to now.
Bethany Van Delft 4:37
That is such a rarity. I love that. Do you know what's your favorite episode? Do you have one? Do you love them all? Or is there one that is resonating with you today or this week?
Frankie Grande 4:48
I think that that is actually pretty accurate like there's a different episode that comes to mind. Every once in a while or a different SpongeBob moment. Um, my overarching I think favorite, we've only talked about the first four of our last four so far, which we really did a deep dive into. But I think my overarching favorite is probably, Best Day Ever. You know, the sun is shining, it's a wonderful day. This is going to be the best day ever. It's an attitude that I try to channel every single day in my life. I love it. I love the animation in that episode. So it resonates with me. Yeah, for sure.
Bethany Van Delft 5:28
Is there anything that you didn't notice, say the first time you saw the episode, but in this second viewing or third viewing, you noticed something completely different?
Frankie Grande 5:38
Yes. And I think that also speaks to the fact that we're older now than we were when we first saw them. So we relate to different elements or different aspects of the show. Like, for instance, like, you know, I'm an adult who has, you know, done a lot of growing in my life and a lot of self-work and self-exploration. And so I'm relating to some of the struggles that I see Squidward going through, which as a kid, I did not relate to that at all. Like I didn't know what it was to doubt yourself, or to have FOMO, you know, jealousy amongst fringe groups like those kinds of emotion, those kinds of feelings. When I first saw the show like me, I don't think I was self-aware enough to know that that's what I was watching. But now I'm like, oh, my goodness, I know exactly what's going on in Squidward’s head right now and I relate to that.
Hector Navarro 6:31
Yeah, I think when we were kids, I was like, stop hanging out with Squidward That guy is that guy. He's got an attitude problem. Stop hanging out with him. But now I'm like, but included, you got to ask him. You know, I'm doing all this. He's so endearing. I was like, I relate to your struggles. It's very sad. It's kind of bummed out right now. So you know, go cheer him up. Oh, there's fun. Bobby's gonna cheer him up. Mom, it didn't work out. I just want to play the clarinet. An artist.
Bethany Van Delft 6:56
I was Squidward. So, that brings me to the next thing if you had the choice to be either SpongeBob or Patrick or Squidward. Who would you be?
Frankie Grande & Hector Navarro 7:12
I'm gonna go with Patrick. I'm gonna go with Patrick because he's so funny. And he is so free. And you know, the same ignorance is bliss. Yes, he's gotta be the most blissful. Yeah. It's a beautiful life. He's so happy. He's got a great friend. He's got. He's got an awesome family that we see in the Patrick Starr show. Yeah, but I know who Frank is going to pick. Yes, he is here. I pick it every morning and I choose to be SpongeBob everyday life and I will always choose to be SpongeBob as long as I can. Yes.
Bethany Van Delft 7:43
I feel like there needs to be a t-shirt, "I choose Spongebob."
Frankie Grande & Hector Navarro 7:47
That's right. SpongeBob is a choice. Choose it. That's right. The best.
Bethany Van Delft 7:52
I love that. What do I mean? We could end it right there. That's such a great takeaway. So, this is the fun part. What is your favorite fun fact and this could be about anything, Spongebob, shoes, the universe, anything… Go!
Frankie Grande & Hector Navarro 8:10
I think I got one, go. I don't want to say that. It's 100% I need to double-check. I need to double-check. But, I remembered this fact as soon as I learned it. And it has stayed with me since I learned it years and years and years ago. But did you know that the original Gameboy from the late 80's early 90's the original, big gray brick Gameboy had more processing power than all of the computers put together that sent the first man to the moon? Get out. Isn't that amazing? No way. Double-check it but I'm pretty sure that is a true fun fact. Yeah, okay, one of my favorite facts, which we do talk about on the show because in Bikini Bottom there is an ocean under the ocean. Yeah. And that actually is something that happens in the real world. There is what looks like an ocean under the ocean. It's called the halocline level. And it has to do with differences in salinity factors or temperature factors within the ocean. Frankie has a degree in marine biology, I kid you not he brings that expertise to the show. It is so cool. I think it is so crazy and removed from reality and then Frankie's like actually that's scientifically accurate. Yeah. And it's fun to talk to some people on the show. They were like yeah, Stephen Hillenburg. Like had his biology textbooks like he was sure.
Bethany Van Delft 9:29
Like he knew that. That is a great fact. Both of them are fantastic. That's amazing. This is so much fun. I cannot wait to listen to the podcast. Thank you so so much. Oh my gosh, it was so much fun. The new podcast SpongeBob BingePants is available now wherever you listen to your podcasts, like in this one. Lucky you, it's time for...
Various Voices 10:01
What, what, what's the big idea?
Bethany Van Delft 10:04
Trivia on The Ten. In their new podcast, Hector and Frankie talk with lots of different people who have worked on the SpongeBob Square Pants TV show. Do you know how long it takes to make a single episode? Is it a) one week? b) six months? or c) one year? Did you guess it? The answer is C. It takes a whole year to make one episode of the wonderful ocean friends. Here's what Frankie had to say about it.
Frankie Grande 10:46
I thought that the episodes were very quick to make like one person drawing and then the episode was recorded and then it was made. It takes almost a year to make one 11 minute SpongeBob episode, kids. When you're watching these episodes, they started production about a year before. Yep. Which is crazy to me. Crazy. Yeah, I had no idea it took so long. So, that's why it's so perfect. But like yeah, that's why so that's just thinking about that kids when you're watching the newest episode of SpongeBob. It's over a year old.
Bethany Van Delft 11:25
That is so crazy. But we are so grateful to everybody who worked so hard for that whole year to bring us our episodes. They're perfect. Time's up. But before we go, here's a quick note for the grownups. Thanks for listening to The Ten News. Look out for our new episodes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and extras on Saturdays. The Ten News is a co-production of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter Podcasts and is distributed by iHeart Radio. The Ten News creative team is eating Krabby Patties and includes Tracey Crooks, Pete Musto, Andrew Hall, and Nathalie Alonso. Our production director is Jeremiah Tittle and our executive producers are Donald Albright and show creator Tracy Leeds Kaplan. I'm Bethany Van Delft, and thanks for listening to The Ten News. Okay, I'm gonna go get my binge pants on now. Oh. It's probably, maybe a little bit longer. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SpongeBob BingePants.
