spongebob deserves immunity.

Look at that face! Those eyes! That tie! The boxed shirt/shorts combo. And if that doesn't do it for you, what about his obnoxious laugh? His BFF Patrick? And the way he flips those Krabby Patties ever so gently.

So who could possibly hate SpongeBob SquarePants?

Apparently many. Bikini Bottom's favorite yellow sponge is being scrutinized after a study suggested that watching just nine minutes of the show can cause short-term attention and learning problems in 4-year-olds.

Now, before we divulge into the details, this isn't the first time that SpongeBob has been criticized. Since it's 1999 premier on Nickelodeon, SpongeBob has run into a number of controversial situations.

1) Soon after the show's debut, Mr. SquarePants was attacked for contributing to child obesity. Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, senior Democrat on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee told the Associated Press back in 2005, "We like to think that SpongeBob SquarePants and Shrek and the pretty little princesses are likable, kid-friendly characters, but they're being used to manipulate vulnerable children to make unhealthy choices."

2) The creator, Stephen Hillenburg, was confronted in 2002 with the idea that SpongeBob was gay. Many claimed to believe that SpongeBob made kids gay, since SpongeBob and Patrick hold hands while watching "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy".

3) In 2005, a promotional video showed SpongeBob with other children's show characters singing together to promote diversity and tolerance. The video was attacked by evangelical group in the U.S. because they saw SpongeBob as an advocate for homosexuality.

Which brings us to our latest Sponge-tastrophe:

The Journal Pediatrics recently published a study stating that SpongeBob could ruin kid's abilities to pay attention, delay gratification and think. Boston Herald writer Margery Eagan describes the study saying, "Researchers applied the so-called 'marshmallow' test, telling children they could eat two marshmallows or Goldfish crackers right away or wait a few minutes and eat all 10. The ability to wait supposedly predicts both good health and successful careers."

In addition to Eagan's information, there were 60 4-year-olds tested and SpongeBob was up against PBS's slower-paced cartoon Caillou. And of course, kids who watched SpongeBob ate all of their snacks right away.

(FYI- I always eat all of my snacks right away during SpongeBob, too.)

Which brings us to this:

Immunity.

If this was Survivor for cartoons, SpongeBob would have some serious immunity.

The first problem with this test? Age.

Nickelodeon spokesman David Bittler immediately disputed the study, saying SpongeBob SquarePants is aimed at kids 6-11, not 4. The show has still has quite an adult following and is often compared to the likes of Ren & Stimpy, another controversial Nickelodeon based show.

The second issue? The kids. Bittler added, "Having 60 non-diverse kids, who are not part of the show's targeted (audience), watch nine minutes of programming is questionable methodology and could not possibly provide the basis for any valid findings that parents could trust."


So why all the SpongeHaters? Some say it's not just about SpongeBob but cartoons in general. Some say it's SpongeBob's semi-adult sense of humor. And some just agree with the studies and believe SpongeBob truly affects children's brains.

But after all the smoke clears, SpongeBob SquarePants still remains one of the longest running cartoons on Nickelodeon. With millions in merchandise, movies and even help from The Hoff himself, SpongeBob SquarePants truly deserves immunity from all the cartoon's critics.