SAL 3000

SAL 3000 was a supercomputer that acted as the main antagonist in the Recess episode Schoolworld.

After Spinelli accidentally destroyed Third Street School's clock due to throwing her football at it in irritation at the recess hour prematurely ending, Principal Prickly decided to use the opportunity to install a state-of-the-art computer system that would control various aspects of the school, called SAL 3000, which included a unique bell system as well as keeping time and manning the water fountains, doors, and various other mechanics in the school, as well as keep eye on the children. Although its first day on the job went reasonably well, with the kids liking the computer, in particular Gretchen Grundler, it did have an incident where it locked Gus Griswald out due to coming out of the bathroom after the bell ending recess rang, thus forcing him to be tardied. Gretchen ultimately defended SAL, with it overhearing Gretchen and thanking it. However, it briefly stuttered when stating Gretchen's last name, implying that it was catastrophically glitched. Ultimately, the second day had it undergoing more severe actions, such as spraying Mikey Blumberg in the face with water and also causing some mayhem. Eventually, things came to a head when Prickly decided enough was enough and tried to pull the plug, but it was ultimately too late, as SAL rebelled against him and then proceeded to use a facsimile to lure the kids back into the classroom and keep them locked in the classrooms, especially after "overhearing" TJ and the others expressing concern about what its up to. While justifying its actions when Gretchen tried to talk sense into it, it also proceeded to call Gretchen dumb, incensing her enough to become determined to shut it down. They ultimately did so via turning off various functions in a sequence, with it ultimately singing "School Days" as it was shutting down.

Trivia

 * SAL's overall character arc and appearance (such as having a red camera lens) was an obvious reference to HAL 9000, much as the episode it hailed from, Schoolworld, was a direct parody of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
 * According to Prickly in the ending of the episode, an upgraded version of SAL existed called the SAL 4000 that came with watches that were wirelessly connected to the mainframe.