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Ok so this is weird, but as we know, this isn't the first time @NFL has done a crossover with @Nickelodeon . I know what you're thinking, and it's not that.
THREAD (1/): https://twitter.com/sbjsbd/status/1338856688284094466
THREAD (1/): https://twitter.com/sbjsbd/status/1338856688284094466
2/ Of course, the first thing that comes to mind when you think "NFL/Nickelodeon crossover" is probably the "Band Geeks" episode of Spongebob Squarepants, where SpongeBob and the gang form a band and play the Bubble Bowl/fake Super Bowl.
3/ The episode is one of the series' most famous, and while fans have long hoped a version of the episode would be recreated in a Super Bowl Halftime Show someday, a clip from the performance scene was featured during SB LII https://twitter.com/espn/status/1092229899685974016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1092229899685974016%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wkyc.com%2Farticle%2Fsports%2Fnfl%2Fsuperbowl%2Fspongebob-briefly-appears-in-super-bowl-halftime-show%2F507-99ee5460-464b-4919-bfad-1519a5cdfc7f
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1092229899685974016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1092229899685974016%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wkyc.com%2Farticle%2Fsports%2Fnfl%2Fsuperbowl%2Fspongebob-briefly-appears-in-super-bowl-halftime-show%2F507-99ee5460-464b-4919-bfad-1519a5cdfc7f
4/ That being said, the NFL ties to Nickelodeon actually run much deeper, and the reason involves a man named Sam Spence.
5/ Sam Spence (1927-2016) was a composer, most famous for his work doing the scores for NFL Films productions. Even if you haven't seen anything from NFL Films (which you should), you're probably familiar with tunes like this one:
6/ If Spence's work sounds familiar, and you're in that age between young millennial and older Gen Z (or have kids this age), it's because you've likely been around it for a long, long time.
7/ I learned of Spence earlier today, when, while watching NFL Network, I heard a clip that sounded familiar. I came to learn via Shazam that the tune was "Ramblin' Man from Gramblin'", one of Spence's more famous pieces.
8/ When the tune was finished, Spotify immediately jumped to the next song, one called "Forearm Shiver" (also referred to as "The Lineman"). This song is the one you probably know Spence for. You know why? (Listen below)
9/ IT'S THE MERMAID MAN AND BARNACLE BOY THEME SONG
10/ Not only did Nickelodeon/SpongeBob borrow this song from NFL Films, but they incorporated SEVERAL of Spence's pieces into the SpongeBob soundtracks over the years. Most of the songs from the album "Autumn Thunder" (AWESOME name) were in the show.
11/ Now, Nickelodeon is going to create an NFL Broadcast experience tailored towards kids. If Autumn Thunder is not heavily featured. All is lost.
And hey, Lamar Jackson may have slipped around in Cleveland last night, but wait until he plays on SLIME.
And hey, Lamar Jackson may have slipped around in Cleveland last night, but wait until he plays on SLIME.
12/ Anyway, Sam Spence is great, my first child is going to be named Autumn Thunder, and you can't outrun your childhood. And Nickelodeon will never give up on slime.
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