SpongeBob SquarePants

:This article concerns the show itself; for specific information regarding the show's title character and namesake, see SpongeBob SquarePants (character).

Popularity

SpongeBob is the first "low budget" Nickelodeon cartoon, according to the network, to become extremely popular. Low-budget cartoons had been living in the shadow of Rugrats, but SpongeBob aired in 1999 and almost immediately became more popular. SpongeBob follows some other Nickelodeon shows that have attracted "older" followers: The Ren & Stimpy Show, Rocko's Modern Life (whose executive producer was SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenburg), the Kablam! skits Action League Now!, The Angry Beavers. Other shows have followed in this trend as well: The Fairly OddParents and Invader Zim took a similar role when they aired in 2001 and the former is now second only to SpongeBob in popularity).

Related Topics:
Rugrats - The Ren & Stimpy Show - Rocko's Modern Life - Kablam! - Action League Now! - The Angry Beavers - The Fairly OddParents - Invader Zim

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Broad appeal

The cartoon is designed to appeal to older viewers as much as to children. This has a lot to do with the way underwater life and situations are represented, absurdly, as though they are almost equivalent to normal terrestrial lifestyles. Instead of cars, the residents of Bikini Bottom drive boats (with wheels). Once, while on a camping trip, Patrick questions how they could have a camp fire on the lagoon bottom—the fire is immediately extinguished with a sizzle. A flurry of bubbles accompany many actions, just to remind the viewer everything is underwater. SpongeBob lives in a pineapple, while his neighbor Squidward lives in an Easter Island head and Patrick lives under a rock. The suggestion is that both have fallen from a tropical island to become underwater habitats. Spongebob's house-pet is a snail named Gary, who meows like a cat (though characters have shown signs of being able to understand him). In relation to this, underwater worms bark like dogs. Jellyfish are the equivalent of bees (buzzing and stinging), but are collected or appreciated like butterflies and are used for their jelly.

Related Topics:
Easter Island head - Gary

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SpongeBob is one cartoon in a long line of shows to put in more "adult" references, and has become so popular with the adult crowd that it has been shown on MTV and Spike TV. A certain quote by Patrick ("It's gonna rock!") has been used as a promo for rock stations. Ren and Stimpy, among others, had followed a similar path. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, released on November 19, 2004, features a cameo appearance by actor David Hasselhoff, reprising his role from the Baywatch TV series.

Related Topics:
MTV - Spike TV - Ren and Stimpy - The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie - David Hasselhoff - Baywatch

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Merchandising and Marketing

Merchandise based on the show ranges from Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Kellogg's cereal, and video games to boxer shorts, pajamas, and t-shirts. The show also spawned a large and popular merchandise line at Hot Topic, Claire's, RadioShack, Target, Wal-Mart, and Toys "R" Us stores. There have been children's meal tie-ins at Wendy's and Burger King restaurants; in 2004, thieves stole nine-foot-high by nine-foot-wide SpongeBob inflatables from a Burger King restaurant, demanding Krabby Patties as ransom. The ransom note was signed by someone claiming to be Sheldon J. Plankton, a character from the show. SpongeBob was also featured on VH1's : 1999 as part of a commentary by Michael Ian Black. More recently, a tie-in beverage for 7-Eleven convenience stores has been created, a pineapple-flavored Slurpee. Events in the past with the SpongeBob SquarePants theme include an exhibit at Underwater Adventures Aquarium in the Mall of America called SeaCrits of Bikini Bottom during the summer of 2003. In October 2004, a NASCAR Busch Series race was named The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 300, presented by Lowe's and broadcast on TNT.

Related Topics:
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese - Kellogg's - Video game - Hot Topic - Claire's - RadioShack - Target - Wal-Mart - Toys "R" Us - Wendy's - Burger King - 2004 - Sheldon J. Plankton - VH1 - 1999 - Michael Ian Black - 7-Eleven - Slurpee - Underwater Adventures Aquarium - Mall of America - SeaCrits of Bikini Bottom - NASCAR - Busch Series - The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 300 - Lowe's - TNT

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