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Simon Willison’s Weblog

The return of the Spong Monkeys

Via Eric Meyer, at least I’m not the only one selling out. Joel Veitch’s infamous Spong Monkeys can now be seen in two TV ads for Quiznos sandwhiches: We love the subs and Take a buck off (Quicktime movies). It’s nice to see such awesome and uniquely British talent recognised at a global level.

Posted 4th February 2004 at 6:12 am

This is The return of the Spong Monkeys by Simon Willison, posted on 4th February 2004.

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70 comments

  1. I just saw those on TV the other day and started jumping up and down shouting. My friends had no idea what I was so excited about and thought I was completely mad... well, more than usual. Very cool!

    Tristan - 4th February 2004 09:45 - #

  2. I just saw an ad (We Love the Sub, I guess), and having had no previous exposure to the characters, I can only say I'm unimpressed.

    I'm sure there's more to it, and the cartoon will be a success to those in the know... but I just didn't get it.

    Jeremy Dunck - 4th February 2004 14:27 - #

  3. It's nice to see such awesome and uniquely British talent recognised at a global level.

    Please tell me you were being sarcastic, Simon. I get enough hassle in the US for being British as it is!

    Simon Jessey - 4th February 2004 19:45 - #

  4. I've never heard of Spongmonkeys before. Those Quiznos commercials freak me out.

    Chris Burkhardt - 5th February 2004 19:49 - #

  5. i can't believe they used this piece of crap for an ad. my son who is three could come up w/ something funnier than that!

    dude walker - 11th February 2004 15:40 - #

  6. I'm not even a stoner anymore, and I still think the spongmonkeys are just the funniest things to come along since...well, ever.

    ben dover - 13th February 2004 02:00 - #

  7. those commercials are awesome. complete randomness + catchy song + $1 off subs with ANY coupon = pure brilliance

    crazy ninja dan - 13th February 2004 07:23 - #

  8. Spongemonkeys rule. I'm driving my girlfriend crazy screeching the song lines. My favorite: "ANY COUPON WORKS!" "THEY HAVE A PEPPER BAR!" Quiznos -- never ate there, but soon will!

    Flunkie - 17th February 2004 01:13 - #

  9. I hated the commercial at first, so much so that I went on line to find out just what the heck those creatures were. I couldn't figure out if they were pieces of bread or roadkill or what. I found the spongemokey website and listened to "we love the moon" and it got stuck in my head completely (we love the moon - but not as much as a spoon!!). Now I love the commercial - it is refreshing when a company takes a chance on something so unusual instead of the usual sentimental crap they try to use to sell fast food.

    Mary - 18th February 2004 17:24 - #

  10. I hated the commercial in the beginning as well....as a matter of fact, I'm still not sure I like it. However, I have had one heck of a time getting it out of my head. All the people I work with are talking about it and have actually looked up the Spongemonkey website. So, to all the people at Quiznos who decided to put the ad on the air, all I have to say is you are GENIOUS! It doesn't matter if you hate it or love it...it works, we all remember it! Congratulations. (And I hope you got a raise)

    email=Gdog Gdog Gdog Gdog - 20th February 2004 02:02 - #

  11. These spongmonkeys whack me out, yo. They are WIERD ASS animals. Looks like someone took a hamster and squeezed it until its eyes popped out.Wierdos.

    Jillian - 24th February 2004 02:38 - #

  12. They got a pepper bar!!!!! I love those things! I had never heard of spong monkeys before but I loved the Quizno's commercials from the first time I saw them. HILARIOUS. SOOOO FUNNY. I recently found the "We love the moon" song and I nearly pissed myself. I love them. And I'm not even British.

    ana - 24th February 2004 04:08 - #

  13. One of my 7th grade students told me about the spong monkey website when the class was discussing the Quizno's commercials before class began. I checked it out, and I have to say that those weird things are funny! I don't know what they are supposed to be, but the commercials are definitely memorable!

    Cassie - 25th February 2004 03:15 - #

  14. I looked up the spong monkeys online and found out what they were and went into work to tell people they were spong monkeys.... no one believed me.... Then it came out in the paper what they were :) lol.... guess the'll listen to me now :)

    s2ua7 - 25th February 2004 15:08 - #

  15. To anyone who has a problem with these commercials, I want you to do one thing. Get the song out of your head, forget about Spong Monkeys and pretend they never existed. You can't, can you? That's the point of advertising. Now this is stuck in your head, for better or worse, you're going to be thinking about Quizno's more than you ever did before. Oh, and for the record, they really are the best subs I've ever had, and I knew that before the commercials. :)

    Chris - 26th February 2004 03:27 - #

  16. Yank here - - I LOVE THE SPONG MONKEYS!!!! I adore the moon song even more than the Quizno's songs!! (Do you have Quizno's in England?) I went to Quizno's today and made sure I mentioned how much I love the spong monkeys. Sometimes during the course of a tough week, ya just need something mindless and silly to pick up your spirits.

    Lala - 26th February 2004 03:57 - #

  17. What the heck???????????? And that's supposed to make me want a sandwich????????

    Red - 26th February 2004 07:42 - #

  18. Well, I'm 60 this year, and I'm nutso about those things. Funniest thing I've ever seen on TV. I couldn't believe it. I'm driving my wife nutso with me. Gonna git my old arse to Quiznos, too. Dick

    dick - 27th February 2004 14:15 - #

  19. I love the sponge monkeys,I love them as much as the the moon They have big eyes as big as the moon They are more famous then the moon!

    Diane Hopps - 28th February 2004 02:04 - #

  20. Im not quit sure about the commercial. Spong Monkeys look like dead rodents. Thats very disturbing. But then again... That silly out of tune song... Im curious to see "Quiznos" finacial progress since the airing of the commercial.

    Josephina - 28th February 2004 06:28 - #

  21. THE AD ROCKS! PLEASE MORE MONKEYS!

    Sean - 28th February 2004 20:48 - #

  22. I would certainly like to meet the ad exec who sold this idea to Quizno's and I would also like to know with what he laced their drinks! We have certainly reached a new low mark in the creative advertising industry, not to mention good taste, but this guy (or gal) apparently knew his/her market and did not have to aim very high. I don't want those THINGS anywhere near MY food!

    Eloise Lukas - 29th February 2004 01:06 - #

  23. SPONG MONKEYS for President! They are the best I hope they make a movie very soon. They may be kinda weird at first but once you get to know them they really are a nice bunch of microwaved hampsters. I really think the guitar player and the singer should create band and tour the WORLD!!!! Oh yes thats one concert I would pay hundereds for. I want the Spong Monkeys hoodie. I am now going to watch "We Like the Moon"

    Alec - 29th February 2004 13:53 - #

  24. This commercial is awesome! My friends and I sing the spong monkey's songs at work and on lunch breaks! We even started talking like them in our normal conversation! All I can say is that whatever the spong monkeys sing, it's catchy! YaY for the spong monkeys!!!!!

    Kristen - 29th February 2004 20:54 - #

  25. i have been turning people on to spongmonkeys for nearly 2 years.if you like them try the singing kittens.

    phil - 29th February 2004 23:18 - #

  26. I love those commercials!!!!!!!!!!!!

    D-man - 1st March 2004 00:11 - #

  27. Simon, The commercials are great, neh? Congrats on surpassing my site in google searches for "spong monkey". Enjoy the extra hits. I know I do.

    RD - 2nd March 2004 21:51 - #

  28. me and my friend marie love those guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i hhave a picture of them on my binder!!!!!!!!!! yaaaaaaaaaaaa

    skylar - 2nd March 2004 23:18 - #

  29. Those monkeys scare me...But I love the ad XD

    o.o.... - 3rd March 2004 00:48 - #

  30. Me and my friends Alex and Logan love SPONGE MONKEYS!We even stapled their picture on the buletin board at school. ( We got busted for that afterwards)We have lost friends for singing their anoying(but cool) song all the time.THEY ARE AWESOME! P.S. I love you Morgan!(Even more than sponge monkeys)

    Benathin 12 - 3rd March 2004 01:21 - #

  31. Where can I get one? Does Quiznos have a kids meal these creatures will be offered in? Perhaps you can get one with a combo meal for an extra 5 bucks.......beats the hell out of promotional drink glass for the holidays.

    anna - 3rd March 2004 03:31 - #

  32. the sponge monkeys! Is that what they are supposed to be? I thought they were roadkill, and I'm thinking why in the hell would someone put roadkill on a food commercial. It's sick and you need to get a new mascot.

    rachel - 3rd March 2004 14:48 - #

  33. I loved this before I ever found out they were actually from "We love the moon". I found a new favorite website (www.rathergood.com) from which "We love the moon" hails, and decided Quizno's may not have the best food, but have the best ideas. Great advertising campaign!

    alex - 3rd March 2004 23:10 - #

  34. The Spong Monkeys are great. They should try out for American Idol next year. Anyone who is freaked out by them needs to get the stick out their bums. Wonderful job by Quizno's in loosening up this tight American culture!

    Michele - 4th March 2004 06:29 - #

  35. Love the monkeys....love the subs! Quiznos rocks!

    Mike - 4th March 2004 14:22 - #

  36. Ok, what the heck. I have been all over the internet looking for those stupid sponge monkeys.....cant find any. So if you know where i can find them tell me. Im getting angry because i dont think they are real because not even Discovery Channel has them and if they dont....no one does. So PLEASE HELP ME FIND A SITE WITH THEM!!!!

    Zak - 7th March 2004 22:40 - #

  37. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THOSE GUYS LOOK HILARIOUS! BRING OUT SOME MORE!

    TOM - 8th March 2004 05:44 - #

  38. They're actually called spongmonkeys, according the the guy who created them, so maybe a change in spelling would help you out some. I found another clip of them singing about the moon and other such pleasures on www.rathergood.com if you'd like to see the spongmonkeys at their musical work some more.

    Lil - 12th March 2004 12:50 - #

  39. If you really love the spong monkeys like I do Listen to Q101 around 8:50 pm They get new ones on fat tuesday drugs and a thing called love kobe brian stone age queens they are the beeeeeeeest!

    yuri Kammerer - 12th March 2004 12:52 - #

  40. I know what a sea monkey is. Anyone here has a link somewhere showing what a real spong monkey look like? It is just a nicer name for rats on crack?

    d - 15th March 2004 22:18 - #

  41. I laugh so hard I scare the neighbors (maybe I do that already) ...but when I want to scream at the news, to have a reason to laugh is a good thing.

    mark - 15th March 2004 22:52 - #

  42. Those Spongemonkeys look like mice that were ran over. God Bless Britain for giving us Americans the Pet Shop Boys but it can keep its stupid and annoying Spongemonkeys

    paul - 17th March 2004 05:54 - #

  43. Those spong monkeys scared the $h*t out of me the first time i saw that commercial!?!?!?!? Now that i know what the fu*# they are.......they're COOL!!!!!!! i CAN'T get that song out of my head [the quizno's subs......they are good to us......the quizno's subs.......they are tasty, they are crunchy, they are warm because they toast 'em!.........they have a pepper bar!] That is the COOLEST song EVER! -Brandon

    brandon long - 21st March 2004 22:12 - #

  44. Spongmonkeys rock!The first time I saw the commercial, I was like, oh wow, ...what was that, then laughed really hard. Like Really hard. but now I love them even more. Rock on peeps, moose, kelp, marmots, and spongmonkeys! Love ya!

    Sam Glasswood - 23rd March 2004 01:44 - #

  45. Spongmonkeys rock!The first time I saw the commercial, I was like, oh wow, ...what was that, then laughed really hard. Like Really hard. but now I love them even more. Rock on peeps, moose, kelp, marmots, and spongmonkeys! Love ya!

    Sam Glasswood - 23rd March 2004 01:45 - #

  46. What's the problem with the Quizno's commercial.... I don't like toasted subs... but I would eat there just because I think that commercialis genius... my boyfriend has started eating there once a week because he loves it!!!

    Spork - 23rd March 2004 17:20 - #

  47. THE SPONGEMONKEYS ARE COOL BUT THE SUB SANDWICH PLACE SHOULD NOT USE SOMEBODIES ELSES IDEA ABOUT THE SPONGEMONKEYS. WWW.RATHERGOOD.COM HAS THE BEST AND TRUE SPONGEMONKEYS

    melanie gAlison - 23rd March 2004 17:51 - #

  48. The spongemonkeys are o.k. The sub sandwhich place should not mess with a song that they just found on www.rathergood.com But... If they are that lazy not to create their own song I suggest they should use the dancing bananna TRY GOOGLE SEARCH: "it's peanut butter jelly time dancing bannana guy"

    MELANIE - 23rd March 2004 17:59 - #

  49. THE REAL LYRICS TO THE SPONGE MONKEY SONG we like da moon, cause it is really close ta us. we like the moon, unless it's not with a spoon. cause spoons are used for eating soup! unless you have many vegtables, so you would be better off with a chopstick. unlike the moon, its so very high, it lights up the sky at night the moon is so bright too. you see them in zepelins, or maybe in puffins too. Maybe not as high as the moon! we really like the moon WAY DIFFERENT RIGHT! DONT BELIVE ME? GO TO WWW.RATHERGOOD.COM THEN CLICK ON "THE MOON SONG"

    melanie - 23rd March 2004 18:09 - #

  50. OH my gosh. I have never heard of a spong monkey before. So when I found out that's what those road kill looking things were I laughed. Those commercials are funny. The first time I saw it I thought I was just reaaly tired or I had imagined them. At first they are kind of disturbing, but the second time aroung the song catches on and then they become hilarious. I always sing it when it comes on voice and all, and my boyfriend thinks I am nuts. I called Quizno's customer service and told them those were very funny commercials. some people think they are stupid but I think they are genius. Everybody is talking about them and that to me makes a good commercial.

    andrea - 24th March 2004 01:16 - #

  51. Those "spong monkeys" are based on actual creatures called tarsiers.

    roger - 29th March 2004 20:51 - #

  52. sponge monkeys are da bomb and kick ass! me an' all mi friends always sing da song from the Quiznos commercial. I thought they were so kool I looked 'em up and found this. We love da moon!

    spongemonkey luva - 1st April 2004 00:53 - #

  53. I love the subs!!! Coz they are good to me!! I love the Quiznos song and the spongemonkeys and thank you Joel Veitch for creating this. I want a We Like The Moon hoodie or t-shirt (or thong, LOL) I showed this to my teacher and she is now as obsessed as I am. She even played it in class and we were laughing so hard but nobody else knew what was going on...hilarious!! Anyone who hasn't seen them should go to www.rathergood.com and see for yourself. But one question, is it spongmonkey or spongemonkey? Anyways, thanks Joel Veitch, your spongemonkeys are awesome(and a good way to spend Spanish class)!!

    Emilie - 7th April 2004 00:16 - #

  54. *Spong(e) monkeys are the greatest things ever! and im not even kidding. when we first saw this commercial we presented it to our 7th hour math class, and everyone almost peed themselves. and ever since that fateful day that hollering quiznos subs songs became a daily routine for our friends and us, we draw them everywhere, because they have inspired us to live everyday up to its toasty satisfactory potential spongey level. because a day without spongemonkeys is like a day without breathing, they are our american idols for life! (plus they got a freakin pepper bar)~!*

    tori and jessica - 11th April 2004 03:59 - #

  55. I LOVE the sponge monkeys!!! I can do a pretty good imitation of them too.......

    Shay - 14th April 2004 19:46 - #

  56. We Love de Sponge monkeys coz they are good to us The sponge monekys rock!

    Angel - 20th April 2004 04:33 - #

  57. ALL OF YOU PEOPLE WITH NO SENSE OF HUMOR CAN GO TO HELL!!! THE SPONGEMONKEYS ARE THE BEST THING TO COME FROM BRITAN SINCE MONTY PYTHON!!!! PEACE OUT CUPCAKE

    Ryan - 25th April 2004 18:29 - #

  58. We LOVE THA Sponge Monkeys!!!! GIVE US MORE SPONGE MONKEYS, JOEL VEICH!!!! WE LOVE THE MOON, SPONGE MONKEYS, ZEPPELINS, DIREGIBLES, AND CHEESE....ROCK ON SPONGE MONKEY â?¥-ERS!!! Did anyone else on here see the on on Spoon Guard?? PEACE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!â?¥

    The Moon-lovers (peace out) - 22nd May 2004 23:15 - #

  59. Did anyone see the new commercial, its way cool, now they are vikings. Nothing tops 'we like the moon'. My sister has been singing for 2 months straight. Love that humor from across the pond.

    Jim - 29th May 2004 17:02 - #

  60. Spngmonkeys, Spongemonkeys, whatever they are, have convinced me never, EVER to eat at Quizno's again. Good God,those things look like they just crawled out of the hellish depths of a Hieronymous Bosch painting. They scared the crap (literally) out of my five month old daughter. They are hurtful to the eye and harmful to the intellect. The guy that created them should probably leave the mescaline and LSD alone, and should definitely leave me alone if he plans on hawking anymore of these abhorrent, irritating and unnerving creations on an innocent public. Whatinhell did we ever do to deserve this??? Are the British still that pissed off about the revolution? If so, I apologize, now please make those hideous things go AWAY!

    Kneon_Knight - 31st July 2004 06:52 - #

  61. The Spongmonkeys are a reat, albeit fugly, piece of viral marketing. Viral marketing is an ad that you see that is so unusual, that you have to tell someone about it. Word of the new interesting ad, and the website it is found on, spreads across peers, like a virus. Hence the term "viral marketing." A very good one is http://trojangames.co.uk A very, very, odd sort of site. I downloaded the "Vaulting" Flash file over P2P, and was hooked immediately. No, there's no porn, just soft nudity, but the way they engineered the set, it won the Viral Factory, its creators, several awards. For more of the Viral Factory's works, check out http://www.theviralfactory.com Aside from the Trojan Games, they made some interesting Honda ads, and a neat Ford ad. Visit the site and have a look at 'em all. If the Spongmonkeys' Moon song freaks you out, then don't watch the following: vines_kittens.swf In that one, a kitten's eyes bug out. It made me jump when I forst saw it. Wait for it.... BOO!! Look at Mr. Veitch's other works. The one called "chillout4.swf" absolutely rocks. I've burned a dozen Video CDs of it, and am sticking it in any DVD player I come across, it is so nice to watch. Unfortunately for Joel Vietch, the Spongmoneys seem to be a "one-trick-pony" He's got something good going on there with the chillout4.swf The kitten could be in an ad for one of those rice rockets. If you're addicted to freaky flash files, check out Neil Cicierega's works: Hyakugojyuuichi.swf funk.swf wizard.swf Hyakugojyuuichi has middle fingers flashing, so watch it outside of school or work. Niel's cleanest and latest works would be the Potter Puppet Pals, at http://www.potterpuppetpals.com None of his stuff would make it to the viral levels, as he just animates clips to Japanese music- he does it to break the doldrums of the family cattery he works in.

    Robert Roehm - 28th August 2004 04:08 - #

  62. Wow they are so cool i mean they just get stuck in my head and it will never leave and in a way i have to sing it in class all day and tikk off my teachers. THANKYOU SO MUCH.

    Jame - 15th March 2005 15:42 - #

  63. Heyy ther fellow Spongemonkey lovers (there are some haters of the Spongemonkeys but im not talking to them now am I?)!!! I found out about them at school. Every one was talking about them and I didn't know what in the world they were talking about. Ever since then i was determined to see that comercial. I never actualy saw it on T.V. to this day (it sucks that they took it off the air) but in school we had some free time (I was in 6th grade at the time but now im in 7th)and looked it up on the computer. A boy named Bryan was actualy on the computer and me and my friend Carly were looking on. When it came on Carla and I were laughing uncontrolobly (did I spell that right?). I was trying to stop drooling but it was pretty much physicly inposible at the time!!!! We love the Spongemonkeys(and the subs and the moon)!!!!:)

    Erica - 22nd March 2005 20:01 - #

  64. o like cheese

    Tom b - 21st April 2005 13:30 - #

  65. I just found out what these weird little things were called! Spong Monkeys, how wonderful! I always loved the commercials, because they're so twisted. Who needs Jared when you can have Spong Monkeys. They don't make me want to buy a sandwich, but they disturb the h--l out of me in a very harmless and fun way and that's not something I take lightly in today's world. I would envision them as being something one might see while detoxing from a several week bender. Sweet.

    Jon Eisel - 7th July 2005 04:11 - #

  66. HAHAA i laughed so hard but i was creeped out at the same time, i thought they were dead rats singing and i really believed they were dead by the sound of there voices, omgosh its so creepy but now i love it!

    Danielle - 28th August 2005 05:29 - #

  67. The most troubling thing about the Sponge Monkey phenomenon was that people were actually troubled and offended by the ads. Do these folks have a sense of humour? Have they no appreciation of bizarre, unadulterated creativity? Why does modern culture have to be passed through some conservative, "offend no one", groupthink filter before it's safe to be consumed? Thankfully there seems to be just enough bizarre art, thought and philosophy situated at the extremes of the bell curve to balance the mundane, whitebread world of the herd that we call humanity.

    AgainstTheSpin - 26th September 2005 21:23 - #

  68. This country is lossing its sense of humor. Being branwash by corperations and Pop idols. SNL is telling people on what is funny and what is not.

    Jason - 19th February 2006 07:30 - #

  69. WE LIKE THE MOON COZ IT IS CLOSE TO US WE LIKE THE/\/\()()|\| BUT NOT AS MUCH AS A SPOON

    i like the moon - 25th April 2006 20:32 - #

  70. wow how boss is the we like the moon woz lafin so hard!!! you guys are boss!!!

    laura - 3rd May 2006 12:47 - #

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