History Trivia / SpongeBobSquarePants

*** A reference to the infamous "Squidward's Suicide"/"Red Mist" {{creepypasta}} in "Squidward in Randomland" was removed in UK airings, US repeats, and all home media releases of the episode, with the footage instead being replaced with a baby version of Squidward.

** It would happen again on January 15, 2021 on NHK E-Tele, this time during the episode "Sandy's Nutty Nieces", with the news story in question being the eruption of a volcano in Tonga that lead to tsunami warnings being issued.

* ActorExistenceLimbo: Since Ernest Borgnine's death in 2012 and Tim Conway succumbing to dementia in 2018 and his subsequent death in 2019, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy now just appear on pictures or as toys, or make silent cameos. Per Vincent Waller, they have been [[DemotedToExtra permanently retired from frontline appearances]] out of respect for their original actors, and they will not be replaced by soundalikes[[note]]''VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsBattleForBikiniBottom'', ''VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsLightsCameraPants'' and ''VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsCreatureFromTheKrustyKrab'' did replace Borgnine with Joe Whyte and Creator/JoeAlaskey respectively, though presumably because he was unavailable; a similar case occurred with Mr. Krabs in Battle For Bikini Bottom, also played by Whyte in place of Creator/ClancyBrown[[/note]].

** [=SpongeBob=] originally wore his Krusty Krab employee hat at all times, even when he was not working, which can be seen in all of the early "Sponge Boy Ahoy!" concept art in which he is always seen wearing the hat.

* AdoredByTheNetwork: Very much so, to the point that it's one of four animated series to have [[AdoredByTheNetwork/SpongeBobSquarePants its own page]].[[note]]The other three being fellow [[Franchise/{{Nicktoons}} Nicktoon]] ''AdoredByTheNetwork/TheLoudHouse'', and Creator/CartoonNetwork's ''[[AdoredByTheNetwork/TeenTitansGo Teen Titans Go!]]'' and ''AdoredByTheNetwork/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball''.[[/note]]
** Despite it airing late at night, it is worth noting that [=SpongeBob=] not only airs in primetime on Nicktoons, but it airs a '''7-8 hour''' marathon every night. Yes, you read that correctly. However, as of 2021, it gained some extra timeslots on 8-11AM and 9-10 PM. On Sundays, it airs from 8- 9 PM and again from 10PM until 6 AM.

* CowboyBebopAtHisComputer: Has [[CowboyBebopAtHisComputer/SpongeBobSquarePants its own page]].

-->"Saying the 'I don't see any spin-offs.' is in no way saying 'I would never do a spin off!!' Just like when he said he had no interest in doing [[WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobSquarepantsMovie a movie]]. Yet lo and behold. Not only did he make a movie, but he took part [[WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobMovieSpongeOutOfWater in 3]] [[WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobMovieSpongeOnTheRun of them]]. So can we give a rest the 'He would nevers...'?"

** In Germany, the series shares the same level of popularity as America, [[GermansLoveDavidHasselHoff but to a much larger degree.]] Beginning in the early 2010s, Nickelodeon's German branch decided to release annual Spongebob Squarepants albums that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFEwlem_r2w covers popular songs]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4thxGmdDl4 but make them related to the series]]. [[ImageSong Each performed by Spongebob, Mr Krabs, Patrick, and the other main characters of the series.]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3i5Le87KH8 The music videos]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmvkw1c5dhs were originally uploaded to]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvXSCPWgvDkb Sony Music Germany Youtube channel]], before creating an [[https://www.youtube.com/user/MusikSpongeBob official Youtube channel called "MusikSpongebob"]] alongside [[http://www.spongebob-musik.de/ an official website]]. As of 2021, there are 14 Spongebob albums that had been released exclusively in Germany with some albums containing an original story. They even got popular German singers and musicians (such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZpsZ7Fihp8 Markus Becker]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz7tLnr56Ns MC Fitti]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36_erskj0wI Roland Kaiser]]) to perform alongside Spongebob.

* PromotedFanboy: Adam Paloian, one of the supervising directors, grew up watching the series as a child. He was around 8 years old when the show started airing and started working on the show right after he finished college.

* UrbanLegendOfZelda: The claim that "Reef Blower" was recorded silently because the audio equipment broke is false. The episode's storyboards are completely dialogue-free. Jay Lender, writer and storyboard artist in seasons 1-3, confirmed that [[https://twitter.com/JayLender1/status/1535261127549939712 "Reef Blower" was produced as an extension piece to "Help Wanted" so it could fill 11 minutes.]] Since they would still have to pay the actors a second "session" fee, it was cheaper to just have the episode be silent.

** Creator/TomKenny doing many additional voices can usually result in this. The episode "Gary Takes a Bath" is basically 11 minutes of Tom Kenny talking to himself.

** During the show's peak, one couldn't go anywhere in America without seeing something [=SpongeBob=] related. He's spawned hundreds of [[http://www.animationshops.com/sponge-bob.html T-shirts]], [[http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=YSSBW0200A#.WFh0_lMrKpo action]] [[https://www.amazon.com/Spongebob-Squarepants-Bikini-Squidward-Patrick/dp/B00417S8D4 figures]], [[http://www.karenandjay.com/trips/pkd702/pkd-8.jpg stuffed animals]], [[http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/spongebob/_/N-8q8;jsessionid=52FF3D11D0DB47D1C1B988D550E3CB1A.prodny_store02-atgap06 books]], [[VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsBattleforBikiniBottom video games]], [[https://www.amazon.com/SpongeBobs-Greatest-Hits-SpongeBob-Squarepants/dp/B002935GLY soundtracks]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbQcBeIx5Zg DVD collections]], every food item you can think of, [[https://www.google.com/search?q=spongebob+burger+king+toys&newwindow=1&safe=active&biw=1538&bih=742&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiQqsLnwYHRAhWD7oMKHRo4DFUQ_AUICSgC#imgrc=t0pVYG-LzHdA1M%3A kids meal toys]], [[http://www.funkidslive.com/events/theatre-spongebob-squarepants-the-sponge-who-could-fly-may-dates/ a touring stage show in the UK]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1yGmJsipqg amusement]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpongeBob_SquarePants_Rock_Bottom_Plunge park]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhc05wsScb8 rides]], [[http://lego.fandom.com/wiki/SpongeBob_SquarePants_(Theme) LEGO sets]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9qe4HPeHlA a balloon in the Macy's Parade]] that shows up almost as much as [[Franchise/{{Peanuts}} Snoopy]] does.

** During the show's peak, you couldn't go anywhere in America without seeing something [=SpongeBob=] related. He's spawned hundreds of [[http://www.animationshops.com/sponge-bob.html T-shirts]], [[http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=YSSBW0200A#.WFh0_lMrKpo action]] [[https://www.amazon.com/Spongebob-Squarepants-Bikini-Squidward-Patrick/dp/B00417S8D4 figures]], [[http://www.karenandjay.com/trips/pkd702/pkd-8.jpg stuffed animals]], [[http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/spongebob/_/N-8q8;jsessionid=52FF3D11D0DB47D1C1B988D550E3CB1A.prodny_store02-atgap06 books]], [[VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsBattleforBikiniBottom video games]], [[https://www.amazon.com/SpongeBobs-Greatest-Hits-SpongeBob-Squarepants/dp/B002935GLY soundtracks]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbQcBeIx5Zg DVD collections]], every food item you can think of, [[https://www.google.com/search?q=spongebob+burger+king+toys&newwindow=1&safe=active&biw=1538&bih=742&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiQqsLnwYHRAhWD7oMKHRo4DFUQ_AUICSgC#imgrc=t0pVYG-LzHdA1M%3A kids meal toys]], [[http://www.funkidslive.com/events/theatre-spongebob-squarepants-the-sponge-who-could-fly-may-dates/ a touring stage show in the UK]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1yGmJsipqg amusement]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpongeBob_SquarePants_Rock_Bottom_Plunge park]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhc05wsScb8 rides]], [[http://lego.fandom.com/wiki/SpongeBob_SquarePants_(Theme) LEGO sets]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9qe4HPeHlA a balloon in the Macy's Parade]] that shows up almost as much as [[Franchise/{{Peanuts}} Snoopy]] does.

* WordOfDante: For several years the [=SpongeBob wiki=] identified numerous background characters with not only names, but also identifieble personalities and relationship based on how they appear on the show. Behind the scene however, these background characters are explicitly nameless blanks with their only "identity" being their number on the extras model sheet. Structured as "Incidental [numbers/letters]", these character have no set personality and are used by the production crew as they wished. This have a large effect on the fanbase as several notable incidentals such as "Fred" (Incidental 1, brown fish with trousers) or "Harold" (Incidental 40, blue fish with white shirt) gained popularity and are often reffered to with those names. After the fandom became more in touch with the production crew and the fact about Incidentals becomes well-known, the wiki underwent a massive reform and scrubbed off all the fanon names in favor of the Incidental code. However with the large popularity of some of the characters, it leads to some [[AscendedFanon fanon ascencion]] as "Fred" officially gained the name in the episode "My Leg!", while "Harold" is called that in several videos on the official [=SpongeBob=] youtube channel.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Three episodes had scenes removed that are only viewable today through reuploads of VCR and/or DVR recordings of them from when they first aired:
** The uncut version of "Just One Bite" (which includes the deleted scene of the burglar alarm). It aired uncut for a while, but it was censored after a few reruns in 2002/2003 due to complaints from MoralGuardians. It hasn't aired uncut on American television (be it Nickelodeon or Nicktoons) for almost 15 years. Don't push your luck trying to find it on VHS and DVD, as all releases have the censored version. The only way to see it uncut is if you live in Canada or if you own an old [=VideoNow=] release of the episode.[[note]]... Or you can find it on [=YouTube=].[[/note]]
** Likewise, the uncut version of "Procrastination" remains unavailable on both reruns and home media releases of the series. This episode actually had two scenes cut: one where [=SpongeBob=] sees his friends having fun without him, with Patrick asking him to join them while getting ready to rub sunscreen on Sandy's back, and another scene where [=SpongeBob=] fantasizes about being able to obtain his driver's license, only for the episode to cut to stock footage of a racecar crash. The former got axed due to complaints about the AccidentalInnuendo of a man rubbing sunscreen on a woman, while the latter got cut out due to concerns about violent content.
** A reference to the infamous "Squidward's Suicide"/"Red Mist" {{creepypasta}} in "Squidward in Randomland" was removed in UK airings, US repeats, and all home media releases of the episode, with the footage instead being replaced with a shot of Baby Squidward from the earlier episode "Goo Goo Gas".

** Burger King loves selling [=SpongeBob=] toys. They often sold toys to promote the various ratings trap specials such as ''Atlantis Squarepantis'' and ''Truth or Square?''. They even sold toys for ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie''. In fact, there was an incident where people stole the [=SpongeBob=] inflatables intended to promote the movie. There was also a 2009 incident where MoralGuardians protested a [=SpongeBob=]/BK commercial that had women twerking to "Baby Got Back".

* ImageSource: Has [[ImageSource/SpongeBobSquarePants its own subpage]].

* QuoteSource:
** BadGuyBar
** BeingWatched
** BirthdayEpisode
** BlazingInfernoHellfireSauce
** ClothesMakeTheSuperman
** HighPressureEmotion
** IWillTearYourArmsOff
** InanimateCompetitor
** NoMatterHowMuchIBeg
** PowerPincers
** TastesLikeDiabetes
** TemporarilyExaggeratedTrait
** TransformationHorror

* WordOfDante:
** For several years the [=SpongeBob wiki=] identified numerous background characters with not only names, but also identifieble personalities and relationship based on how they appear on the show. Behind the scene however, these background characters are explicitly nameless blanks with their only "identity" being their number on the extras model sheet. Structured as "Incidental [numbers/letters]", these character have no set personality and are used by the production crew as they wished. This have a large effect on the fanbase as several notable incidentals such as "Fred" (Incidental 1, brown fish with trousers) or "Harold" (Incidental 40, blue fish with white shirt) gained popularity and are often reffered to with those names.
*** After the fandom became more in touch with the production crew and the fact about Incidentals becomes well-known, the wiki underwent a massive reform and scrubbed off all the fanon names in favor of the Incidental code. However with the large popularity of some of the characters, it leads to some [[AscendedFanon fanon ascencion]] as "Fred" officially gained the name in the episode "My Leg!", while "Harold" is called that in several videos on the official [=SpongeBob=] youtube channel.

* WriterRevolt: According to [[WordOfDante Mr. Lawrence]], the show was at least partially conceived out of Stephen Hillenburg's frustration over having several gags and stories he'd come up with during his tenure on ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' get vetoed.

* "Chimps Ahoy" has the same basic premise as "Texas", as in [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick must stop Sandy from leaving Bikini Bottom. However in the latter where Sandy tries to leave out of homesickness, the former has Sandy having to leave against her will because of her almost losing her job. There's even a song Sandy sings that makes [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick cry in both episodes, but while in the latter episode it's about how much she wants to leave Bikini Bottom and return to Texas, in the former episode the song is about how she ''doesn't'' want to leave Bikini Bottom.

** In the Brazilian dub, Pearl’s voice actress from Season 4 onwards, Creator/AngelicaSantos, was married to Wendel Bezerra, [=SpongeBob’s=] voice actor. The two have since divorced.

** Ernest Borgnine was known for playing villainous roles. Here, he played the role of the famous aquatic superhero Mermaidman.

** ''Graveyard Shift'' was released on “Nautical Nonsense” 6 months before airing.
** ''Club [=SpongeBob=]'' was released on “Sponge Buddies” 4 months before airing.
** ''Gary Takes a Bath'' was released on “Sea Stories” 8 months and 24 days before airing.
** ''I Had an Accident'' was released on “Bikini Bottom Bash” and “Tales from the Deep” 8-9 months before airing. The same goes for ''Born Again Krabs'' on “Deep Sea Sillies” and “Tales from the Deep”.
** ''The Sponge Who Could Fly'' was released on the aptly-named VHS and “Lost at Sea” a mere 17 days before airing.
** ''[=SpongeBob=] Meets The Strangler/Pranks A Lot'' were released on “The Seascape Capers” 9 months before airing.
** ''New Leaf'' was released on "Karate Island" DVD 2 months before airing.
** ''Wigstruck'' and ''That's No Lady'' were released on "Whale of a Birthday" DVD a month before airing
** ''Episodes 76-80 [[note]]except for 80a which premiered on Nickelodeon in November 10, 2006)[[/note]] were all released on disc 2 of "Season 4, Volume 2" 1 to 6 months before airing.
** ''The Original Frycook, Night Light, Fungus Among Us'' and ''Spy Buddies'' were all released on the “Friend or Foe?” DVD 3 to 5 months before they aired.
** ALL of the episodes featured on the "Bikini Bottom Adventures" DVD [[note]]''Boat Smarts, Good Ol' Whatshisname, New Digs, Krabs à la Mode, Roller Cowards, Bucket Sweet Bucket'' and ''Breath of Fresh Squidward''[[/note]] were released a month before they aired.
** ''Goo Goo Gas'' was released on "[=WhoBob WhatPants?=]" 9 months before it aired.
** ''[=SpongeBob SquarePants=] vs. The Big One'' was released on the DVD of the same name a month before it aired.
** ''[=SpongeBob’s=] Last Stand'' was released on the DVD of the same name a month before it aired.
** Every episode on the ''Legends of Bikini Bottom'' DVD [[note]]''The Monster Who Came to Bikni Bottom, Welcome to the Bikni Bottom Triangle, The Main Drain, Trenchbillies, Sponge-Cano!, The Curse of the Hex''[[/note]] was released two months before they aired.
** The episodes on the ''[=SpongeBob’s=] Runaway Roadtrip'' DVD [[note]]A [=SquarePants=] Family Vacation, Patrick’s Staycation, Walking the Plankton, Mooncation, Mr. Krabs Takes a Vacation[[/note]] were released 2 months before they aired.
** ''It's a [=SpongeBob=] Christmas!'' was released on the DVD of the same name a month before it aired.
** A large chunk of season 12[[note]]with the exception of the episode "Kwarantined Krab" due to similarities to the UsefulNotes/Covid19Pandemic[[/note]][[note]]''My Two Krabses, Knock Knock Who’s There, Lighthouse Louie, Pat Hearts Squid, Hiccup Plague, Plankton’s Intern, Patrick’s Tantrum, Bubble Bass’s Tab'' and ''Kooky Cooks''[[/note]] was released on the Season 12 DVD set well before any of the episodes aired. Though they did air earlier in other regions.

* OldShame: Casey Alexander has stated that, guest-animated numbers aside, [[https://twitter.com/_dolza_/status/499599205581586432 "Atlantis SquarePantis" was his least favorite episode out of all the ones he worked on]], due to how overly complicated the story became with having to service six character arcs and musical numbers due to ExecutiveMeddling.

-->"The secret Krabby Patty formula is an idea, it isn't a thing."

* CharacterSpecificPages:
** [[Characters/SpongeBobSquarePantsSpongeBobSquarePants SpongeBob SquarePants]]
** [[Characters/SpongeBobSquarePantsPatrickStar Patrick Star]]
** [[Characters/SpongeBobSquarePantsSquidwardTentacles Squidward Tentacles]]
** [[Characters/SpongeBobSquarePantsMrKrabs Mr. Krabs]]
** [[Characters/SpongeBobSquarePantsSheldonPlankton Plankton]]

** In the Brazilian dub, Pearl’s voice actress from Season 4 onwards, Creator/AngelicaSantos, was married to Wendell Bezerra, [=SpongeBob’s=] voice actor. The two have since divorced.

** In the Brazilian dub of the show, Pearl’s current voice actress, Creator/AngelicaSantos, was married to Wendell Bezerra, [=SpongeBob’s=] voice actor. The two have since divorced.