History WhatCouldHaveBeen / SpongeBobSquarePants

%% Image kept per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16961203230.12034700

* Nick actually wanted the cast to be grade-schoolers who lived with their parents instead of independent adults, due to the success of ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold''. Hillenburg was so opposed to this that he nearly abandoned the series, until he put [=SpongeBob=] in boating school[[note]]This is where the development of Mrs. Puff comes in, as she wouldn't exist without the compromise[[/note]], and had [=SpongeBob's=] parents make occasional guest appearances as a compromise.

* According to Vincent Waller, one [[https://mobile.twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/734493734499450880 of]] Stephen Hillenberg's original ideas for the series was to have Sandy be [=SpongeBob's=] girlfriend. The pitch bible even refers to her as the "apple of [=SpongeBob's=] eye" and that he is willing to be physically harmed just to be next to her. Though they've been [[ShipTease ship teased]] at times, the show [[TheNotLoveInterest ultimately leaves them as really good friends]].

[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_2093_1.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:Very early concept art of the main leads, when the show was called "[=SpongeBoy=]"]]

* According to Vincent Waller, one [[https://mobile.twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/734493734499450880 of]] Stephen Hillenberg's original ideas for the series was to have Sandy be [=SpongeBob's=] girlfriend. The pitch bible even refers to her as the "apple of [=SpongeBob's=] eye" and that he is willing to be physically harmed just to be next to her. Though they've been [[ShipTease ship teased]] at times, the show ultimately leaves them as really good friends.

* Nick actually wanted the cast to be grade-schoolers who lived with their parents instead of independent adults, due to the success of ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold''. Hillenburg was so opposed to this that he nearly abandoned the series, until he put [=SpongeBob=] in boating school, and had [=SpongeBob's=] parents make occasional guest appearances as a compromise.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spongeboy.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Early ConceptArt for [=SpongeBob=] (then named [=SpongeBoy=])]]

* Some of the drafts to ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOutOfWater'' originally had either [=SpongeBob=] teaming up with Patrick on his apocalyptic adventure, or [=SpongeBob=] could've done it alone.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobMovieSpongeOnTheRun'' had two storylines that did not make the cut.

* Some of the drafts to ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobMovieSpongeOutOfWater'' originally had either [=SpongeBob=] teaming up with Patrick on his apocalyptic adventure, or [=SpongeBob=] could've done it alone.

* The stop-motion models of Mrs. Puff and Pearl from ''WesternAnimation/ItsASpongeBobChristmas'' were originally going to appear in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfBooKiniBottom'', but their scenes had to be cut from the final episode for time.

* Some of the drafts to ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOutOfWater'' originally had either [=SpongeBob=] teaming up with Patrick on his apocalyptic adventure, or [=SpongeBob=] could've done it alone.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOnTheRun'' had two storylines that did not make the cut.

* ''VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsSuperSponge'' has [[WhatCouldHaveBeen/SpongeBobSquarePantsSuperSponge its own page]].
* ''VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsBattleForBikiniBottom'' has a theater in-game for viewing ConceptArt, some of which shows off concepts that were never in the game proper. One such idea is a Robo-Squidward boss, to go along with Robo-Sandy, Robo-Patrick, and [[spoiler:[=SpongeBot SteelPants=]]]. Robo-Squidward would [[RefittedForSequel eventually appear in]] ''VideoGame/SpongeBobsTruthOrSquare'' and in a side mode of the ''Rehydrated'' remake of ''BFBB''.

* [=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 "[=SpongeBoy=] Ahoy!" concept art in which he is always seen wearing the hat.
* Stephen Hillenburg created Plankton and Karen as potential villains for the series, but he decided in 1997 that they didn't have much potential and that the "Plankton wants to steal a Krabby Patty" plot would become stale after a while. He wanted to have them be one-off characters, and Nickelodeon suggested [[StuntCasting hiring a one-time guest star]] like Creator/BruceWillis for the voice of Plankton. However, staff writer Mr. Lawrence (who became the voice of Plankton) was convinced that his character had untapped potential; he gave Hillenburg a set of episode outlines about Plankton and Karen, many of which were used throughout the first three seasons. The episodes were popular with the writing team, and Plankton and Karen officially became main characters in the credits of [[WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie the first movie]]. Lawrence considers season three as the first season where Plankton is part of the main cast.

* In one draft of ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie'', while on their journey to retrieve the crown, [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick were to encounter the ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' cast scuba diving. There is also an animatic on the DVD with Sandy appearing on the surface, having her own adventure.

[[caption-width-right:350:Early concept art for [=SpongeBob=] (then named [=SpongeBoy=])]]

* ''VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsBattleForBikiniBottom'' has a theater in-game for viewing concept art, some of which shows off concepts that were never in the game proper. One such idea is a Robo-Squidward boss, to go along with Robo-Sandy, Robo-Patrick, and [[spoiler:[=SpongeBot SteelPants=]]]. Robo-Squidward would [[RefittedForSequel eventually appear in]] ''VideoGame/SpongeBobsTruthOrSquare'' and in a side mode of the ''Rehydrated'' remake of ''BFBB''.

* ''VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsBattleForBikiniBottom'' has a theater in-game for viewing concept art, some of which shows off concepts that were never in the game proper. One such idea is a Robo-Squidward boss, to go along with Robo-Sandy, Robo-Patrick, and [[spoiler:[=SpongeBot SteelPants=] ]]. Robo-Squidward would [[RefittedForSequel eventually appear in]] ''VideoGame/SpongeBobsTruthOrSquare'' and in a side mode of the ''Rehydrated'' remake of ''BFBB''.

* ''VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsSuperSponge'' has [[WhatCouldHaveBeen/SpongeBobSquarePantsSuperSponge its own page]].

* ''VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsBattleForBikiniBottom'' has a theater in-game for viewing concept art, some of which shows off concepts that were never in the game proper. One such idea is a Robo-Squidward boss, to go along with Robo-Sandy, Robo-Patrick, and [[spoiler:[=SpongeBot SteelPants=] ]].

* According to Vincent Waller, one [[https://mobile.twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/734493734499450880 of]] Stephen Hillenberg's original ideas for the series was to have Sandy be [=SpongeBob's=] girlfriend. The pitch bible even refers to her as the "apple of [=SpongeBob's=] eye" and that he is willing to be physically harmed just to be next to her. Though they've been ship teased at times, the show ultimately leaves them as really good friends.

* In one draft of ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie'' originally [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick on their journey to retrieve the crown were to encounter the ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' cast scuba diving. There is also a storyboard on the DVD with Sandy appearing on the surface having her own adventure.

* Barnacle Boy was originally a character called "Barnacle Bill", a salty old sailor whose body is a piece of log with his head sticking out, similar to Seamus from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. While he never appears in the show, he's the titular character of the two-part comic "The Ballad of Barnacle Bill" in the [=SpongeBob=] comic.

* Nick actually wanted the cast to be grade-schoolers who lived with their parents instead of independent adults, due to the success of ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold''. Hillenburg was so opposed to this that he nearly abandoned the series, until he put [=SpongeBob=] in boating school and had [=SpongeBob's=] parents make occasional guest appearances as a compromise.
* According to [[https://mobile.twitter.com/JayLender1/status/1216791864335953920 Jay Lender]], the episode "Rock a Bye Bivalve" was originally going to focus more on [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick trying to care for the baby, including showing him how to eat. They then decide to change it so that it focuses on poking fun at marriage.
* Storyboard artist Adam Paloian mentioned one episode that had some storyboards, but was ultimately never [[https://mobile.twitter.com/adampaloian/status/1259963453550161920 made]]. It's called "A Day In The Life Of Plankton", a 4-5 minute short with minimal dialogue that would've focused on Plankton when he isn't stealing the formula, just doing mundane things.

* During the scene in [[https://mobile.twitter.com/LukeVaughnV5_/status/1348411171511050242 "Patrick's Tantrum"]], where Patrick gets slapped by the referee for touching him, he says [[https://mobile.twitter.com/scottdiggs62/status/1350265797885583363 "And In Pain-o-vision"]]. It ended up cut from the episode.
* During the auditioning process, Mr. Lawrence auditioned to be the voice of [=SpongeBob=] giving him a voice he described as a combination of Creator/GregoryPeck and Creator/ThurlRavenscroft. The voice was rejected, but would later be repurposed for Plankton.

** Teamwork song was originally more detailed.

** The first draft involved Gary being kidnapped and taken to Atlantis instead of Atlantic City, where King Neptune and his guards were played by actors instead of being animated.

* [=SpongeBob=]'s spot in the Nicktoons roster was originally meant for another cartoon, one that never happened due to the creator leaving Nickelodeon over office politics. That cartoon? ''Sniz and Fondue'' of ''WesternAnimation/KaBlam''.

[[caption-width-right:350:Early concept art for [=SpongeBob=] (then-named [=SpongeBoy=])]]

* Hillenburg also wanted to call him [=SpongeBoy=], and the show ''[=SpongeBoy=] Ahoy'', until he learned the name [=SpongeBoy=] might be trademarked by either a cleaning product or a themed pencil. This appears in a [[DevelopmentGag gag]] where Mr. Krabs addresses [=SpongeBob=] with "[[{{Spoonerism}} Sponge boy, me Bob]]!"

[[folder: The licensed games]]

* Hillenburg also wanted to call him [=SpongeBoy=], and the show ''[=SpongeBoy=] Ahoy'', until he learned the name [=SpongeBoy=] was trademarked by a cleaning company. This appears in a [[DevelopmentGag gag]] where Mr. Krabs addresses [=SpongeBob=] with "[[{{Spoonerism}} Sponge boy, me Bob]]!"

--->'''Creator/ClancyBrown:''' [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan Ron Reagan]] almost had Creator/HumphreyBogart's role in ''Film/{{Casablanca}}'', and Plankton almost was playing [=SpongeBob=]!

* The creator also wanted to call him [=SpongeBoy=], and the show ''[=SpongeBoy=] Ahoy'', until he learned the name [=SpongeBoy=] was trademarked by a cleaning company. This appears in a [[DevelopmentGag gag]] where Mr. Krabs addresses [=SpongeBob=] with "[[{{Spoonerism}} Sponge boy, me Bob]]!"

* Stephen Hillenburg created Plankton and Karen as potential villains for the series, but he decided in 1997 that they didn't have much potential and that the "Plankton wants to steal a Krabby Patty" plot would become stale after a while. He wanted to have them be one-off characters, and Nickelodeon suggested [[StuntCasting hiring a one-time guest star]] like Creator/BruceWillis for the voice of Plankton. However, staff writer Mr. Lawrence (who became the voice of Plankton) was convinced that his character had untapped potential; he gave Hillenburg a set of episode outlines about Plankton and Karen, many of which were used throughout the first three seasons. The episodes were popular with the writing team, and Plankton and Karen officially became main characters in the credits of the first theatrical movie. Lawrence considers season three as the first season where Plankton is part of the main cast.