[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/help_wanted_072.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:And thus, a legend of cartoon history is born.]]
->''"Ah, the sea. So fascinating, so wonderful. Here, we see Bikini Bottom, teeming with life. Home of one of my favorite creatures, [=SpongeBob SquarePants=]. Yes, of course he lives in a pineapple, you silly!"''
-->-- '''The French Narrator'''

'''Help Wanted'''

'''Original air date:''' 5/1/1999 ''(produced in 1997)''

[[TheHero SpongeBob SquarePants]] has set off to fulfill his life's dream: A job at the Krusty Krab. He gets nervous, but with the motivation of his best friend Patrick, he goes in. But their cashier is his bitter neighbor Squidward, who tells the manager Mr. Krabs not to let him in. So Krabs [[SnipeHunt sends SpongeBob out]] to retrieve a “special” spatula for him in hopes to get rid of him. Just as he leaves though, a cluster of buses full of anchovies arrive, attacking the Krusty Krab for their food, leaving the raw recruit as their only hope for survival.
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!!"Help Wanted" contains examples of:
* AccidentalTruth: Squidward and Mr. Krabs send [=SpongeBob=] out on a SnipeHunt for a hydrodynamic spatula to shoo him away. Turns out that said spatula was real, and the Barg-n-Mart only had one in stock.
* AnchoviesAreAbhorrent: Anchovies terrorize the underwater restaurant Krusty Krab, and Mr. Krabs complains about their smell.
* BabysFirstWords: [=SpongeBob's=] were "May I take your order?", according to Patrick.
* BigDamnHeroes: [=SpongeBob=] shows up in time with the hydrodynamic spatula and saves the day.
* BitingTheHandHumor: The French Narrator's comment at the start of what [=SpongeBob=] lives in was designed to be a TakeThat at Nickelodeon executives who thought the idea of him living in a pineapple was a stupid concept.
-->'''French Narrator:''' Yes, of course he lives in a pineapple, you silly!
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment:
** First, [=SpongeBob=] arriving at the Krusty Krab.
--->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' There it is. The finest eating establishment ever established for eating.
** And then, Mr. Krabs on the smell of anchovies.
--->'''Mr. Krabs:''' That smell. A kind of a smelly smell. A smelly smell that smells... ''smelly''.
* {{Determinator}}: [=SpongeBob=]. Despite being unaware that Squidward and Mr. Krabs shooed him away with a SnipeHunt, he stops at nothing to find the hydrodynamic spatula, and once found, he uses such to please the anchovies.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Rampant, since this is the pilot episode.
** The art style is more crude and the colors are less vivid.
** The character designs are a bit more exaggerated and less refined than they would become, such as [=SpongeBob=] having a perpetually cross-eyed expression and the corners of his pants being rounded at the opposite end instead of being completely cubic.
** [[VocalEvolution SpongeBob's voice is deeper, Patrick's is more calm, and Squidward's is more nasally.]]
** The suction cups on the bottoms of Squidward's feet make a different sound when he runs into the Krusty Krab.
** Gary only exists for the gag that he's a snail who meows like a cat. He wouldn't develop a personality until much later. His meow also sounds harsher than the one in the series. His eyes also didn't have his red irises, only small pupils which gave him a blank stare look.
** The opening credits have a different water filter than every other episode of the series.
** The opening narration sounds closer to its original purpose as an AffectionateParody of Creator/JacquesCousteau documentaries.
** [=SpongeBob=] prominently has a pet scallop in a birdcage. As revealed in a bonus feature on the Season 1 DVD, her name is Shelley; she was only ever seen again for a while in the background of "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS2E13ShanghaiedGaryTakesABath Gary Takes A Bath]]", but she's made infrequent appearances in later episodes, with ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobMovieSpongeOutOfWater'' making a point to show that she escaped when [=SpongeBob=]'s house was destroyed.
** The hydrodynamic spatula does not show up again in later episodes, as instead [=SpongeBob=] uses a more conventional spatula. A deleted scene from ''Sponge out of Water'' shows it on display in his living room.
** Normally, [=SpongeBob=]'s feet make a squeaking sound when he walks; in this episode, it cannot be heard.
** Mr. Krabs and Squidward seem to get along very well. Pretty much all later episodes where they interact show a much less pleasant relationship, with Squidward disliking Krabs' greed and bossiness and Krabs disliking Squidward's laziness and egocentrism.
** The original 1997 cut of the episode [[https://youtube.com/watch?v=XjMFp474l8Q had a completely different title sequence]], which doesn't appear until midway through. However, TV airings and official DVD releases would replace it with the final show's ThemeTune, which plays at the start of the episode.
** The episode runs for 8 minutes rather than the standard 11 minutes, with "Reef Blower" filling out the missing 3 minutes.
** [=SpongeBob=]'s bedroom had a different design, with his bed being placed on the right instead of the left, and having a lot more open space than later episodes.
* EarlyPersonalitySigns: Patrick claims that [=SpongeBob's=] first words were "May I take your order?" while encouraging him to go for the job as the Krusty Krab's new fry cook.
* EarnYourHappyEnding: [=SpongeBob=] manages to fulfill the task of Mr. Krabs and get the hydrodynamic spatula, which he uses to attend to the anchovies, and for this, he finally gets his job as a fry cook.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment:
** [=SpongeBob=]'s first scene, where he excitedly wakes up and does his morning exercises, neatly establishes him as a {{keet}} young man with endless energy and childlike optimism. Later parts of the episode establish his other major character traits: he's a {{workaholic}}, incredibly talented yet humble, a bit clumsy, and [[SuperGullible quite gullible]].
** Patrick's role in this episode has him cheering on [=SpongeBob=] to get the job, showing him as [=SpongeBob=]'s supportive best friend whom he turns to for advice (the role he would play for most of season 1).
** The first thing we see Squidward doing is cleaning graffiti off the Krusty Krab which is a drawing of his face and the word "loser" pointing at it, indicating Squidward's in-universe unpopularity and his role as the series' ButtMonkey.
** Mr. Krabs is first introduced sniffing some dollars behind the cash register, an early nod to his avarice.
* ExactWords: Mr. Krabs tells [=SpongeBob=] that he won't get hired until he gets a hydro-dynamic spatula. This was just to [[SnipeHunt shoo [=SpongeBob=] away]]. When [=SpongeBob=] does get the spatula and saves Squidward and Mr. Krabs, Krabs sticks to his word and hires [=SpongeBob=] on the spot.
* FreezeFrameBonus: When Squidward convinces Mr. Krabs to secretly send [=SpongeBob=] on a SnipeHunt, [=SpongeBob=] can be seen looking completely bewildered as if he heard what they were doing and knows what he's going to face.
* GoingCommando: At the beginning of the episode, [=SpongeBob=] launches himself from his diving board and his underpants float off of him as he exclaims "Look at me, I'm NAKED!", just as he lands into his familiar square pants.
* HeelFaceTurn: Downplayed, but after seeing Spongebob's incredible cooking prowess - not to mention the young sponge having just saved his and Squidward's lives - Mr. Krabs goes from gleefully joining Squidward in mocking Spongebob, to hiring the sponge without a second thought despite the octopus' protests.
* {{Homage}}: The episode and [=SpongeBob=]'s hypercompetence therein are largely based on a scene in the Creator/JerryLewis film ''Film/TheBellboy'', in which Stanley's boss gives him a job setting up chairs in a huge ballroom to keep him out of trouble, only to come back a minute later and see every single chair set up perfectly. Just swap out "setting up chairs" with "finding a hydrodynamic spatula" and "doing it abnormally fast" with "actually finding one". [=SpongeBob=] himself is also heavily inspired by Lewis.
* IWantMyMommy: Mr. Krabs says it when he's getting attacked by anchovies:
-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' I want my mommy, Mr. Squidward!
* LaserGuidedKarma: Shortly after sending [=SpongeBob=] off on a SnipeHunt (or so they think) and laughing at his naivete, Mr. Krabs and Squidward are besieged by a horde of famished anchovies.
* LittleNo: [=SpongeBob=] insists that Squidward will vouch for him as a new employee. Mr. Krabs turns to Squidward, who takes a deep breath [[BaitAndSwitch followed with a deadpan, "No."]]
* MeaningfulEcho: "Permission to come aboard, captain!"
* OhCrap:
** Squidward, when he realizes [=SpongeBob=] wants to work at the Krusty Krab.
** This dialogue:
--->'''Mr. Krabs:''' [-Anchovies...-]\\
'''Squidward:''' [[FlatWhat What?]]\\
'''Mr. Krabs:''' '''''ANCHOVIES!'''''
** A surprising one done by Mr. Krabs and Squidward when they discover the hydrodynamic spatula is real.
* OpeningNarration: "Ah, the sea. So fascinating, so wonderful. Here, we see Bikini Bottom, teeming with life, home to one of my favorite creatures, [=SpongeBob SquarePants=]. Yes, of course he lives in a pineapple, you silly."
* OverlyLongGag: When [=SpongeBob=] first steps into the Krusty Krab, he trips on a nail and flops on the floor...then he starts bouncing more erratically all over the Krusty Krab. Mr. Krabs and Squidward share an AsideGlance as they wait for him to come to a stop.
* PastelChalkedFreezeFrame: The 1997 cut of the title sequence, which plays a few minutes into the episode, begins with [=SpongeBob=] running into frame, then freezing on a paint-and-pastel drawing; after a few more drawings with credits attached, it ends with a painted freeze frame of [=SpongeBob=] standing before the Krusty Krab, before fading into animated footage of him doing exactly that. The 1999 cut, which uses the final series' pre-show title sequence, simply jumps straight from [=SpongeBob=] leaving home to him arriving at the Krusty Krab.
* {{Pilot}}: The very first episode of ''[=SpongeBob=]''; finished in 1997, this episode serves to introduce the setting and its principal characters.
* RealAfterAll: The hydrodynamic spatula turns out to exist, and the Barg'N-Mart only had one in stock. Squidward and Mr. Krabs were completely flabbergasted at this.
* SmokingBarrelBlowout: A variation. After [=SpongeBob=] serves a Krabby Patty to the last anchovy, he blows the steam coming off his spatula.
* SnipeHunt: Krabs sends [=SpongeBob=] to find a "hydrodynamic spatula with port and starboard attachments and turbo drive" to send him away. Eventually, he ''[[RealAfterAll does]]'' [[RealAfterAll find one]] ("Can you believe they only had one in stock?") and uses it to save the day.
* SuperGullible: [=SpongeBob=] instantly believes Mr. Krabs when he makes a ridiculous request for a hydrodynamic spatula as a SnipeHunt, and sets off to go buy one immediately. Luckily, it turns out [[AccidentalTruth the spatula exists after all.]]
* ThemeTune: The original 1997 cut features the "[=SpongeBob=] Action Theme", a unique piece of incidental music inspired by '60s action media which underscores the early version of the title sequence.
* UngratefulBastard: Even after [=SpongeBob=] saves his life, Squidward tries to dissuade Mr. Krabs from hiring him.
* VisualPun: When [=SpongeBob=] says, "Look 'im straight in the eye," he presses his eye up against the camera so it's like he's looking at the audience.
* VocalDissonance: [=SpongeBob's=] voice deepens when he says, "I've been training my whole life for the day I could join the Krusty Krew."
* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Patrick's talk with [=SpongeBob=] when he doubts getting the job.
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/reef_blower_033.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"You!"'']]

'''Reef Blower'''

'''Original air date:''' 5/1/1999 ''(produced in 1998)''

Another day, [=SpongeBob=] uses his [[{{Pun}} reef blower]] to clean his lawn after Squidward kicks a clam onto it. In the end, [=SpongeBob=] [[FromBadToWorse drains the entire ocean.]]
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!!"Reef Blower" contains examples of:
* ArtEvolution: Airing straight after "Help Wanted", this is the first episode to use the proper Season 1 style.
* BottleEpisode: Only two characters ([=SpongeBob=] and Squidward) appear, and most of it takes place in one setting (their front lawns). It's here mainly because "Help Wanted" doesn't fill up the standard eleven minutes on its own.
* {{Filler}}: The short was made for the express purpose of filling out "Help Wanted"'s runtime to a full 11 minutes, to the point that its production name was "Pilot Extension".
* LaserGuidedKarma: Squidward kicking the clam onto [=SpongeBob=]'s front yard leads to [=SpongeBob=] inadvertently making a much bigger mess trying to get rid of it. To add insult to injury, the same clam falls onto Squidward's nose at the end.
* NoDialogueEpisode: Aside from one brief caption reading "[[YouExclamation You]]!". According to staff member Jay Lender, this was done to [[https://twitter.com/JayLender1/status/1535261127549939712 avoid needing to pay the voice actors another "session fee"]], since "Reef Blower" was produced later and thus counted as a separate production.
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tea_at_the_treedome_54.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"I don't need it... I don't need it..."]]

'''Tea at the Treedome'''

'''Original air date:''' 5/1/1999 ''(produced in 1998)''

The episode then goes to [=SpongeBob=] meeting a "land squirrel" named Sandy Cheeks, who maneuvers underwater with a special suit. She invites him to her underwater dome, where he slowly starts to die of dehydration. Rather than say anything about it, he decides that he [[TooDumbToLive doesn't need water]]. This doesn't end well.
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!!"Tea at the Treedome" contains examples of:
* AdaptationExpansion: The novelization of the episode expands on some parts; specifically [=SpongeBob=]'s pants ripped while trying to free Sandy from the clam, the flowers [=SpongeBob=] brought were taken from Squidward's yard, and it was shown [=SpongeBob=] had a dream where he was with his friends at Goo Lagoon when he dehydrated.
* AdaptedOut: The novelization cuts out [=SpongeBob=]'s "I don't need it!" mantra and Sandy screaming upon seeing [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick dried out.
* ArcSymbol: Raised pinky finger.
* BlatantLies: [=SpongeBob=] repeatedly tells himself that he doesn't need water while he's gasping for breath.
* ClamTrap: [=SpongeBob=] first sees Sandy fighting off a giant clam, which eventually swallows her. He tries to pry it open (and is surprised he's actually doing it), but in the end the clam is no match for Sandy.
* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: "If y'all needed water, you shoulda asked!"
* CrashIntoHello: Basically how [=SpongeBob=]'s relationship with Sandy started, when he ends up being caught by the clam attacking him and Sandy.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness:
** This is the first appearance of a jellyfish in the show, and it has some clear differences from later jellyfish such as looking somewhat transparent and lacking the spots typically seen on jellyfish. [=SpongeBob=] also says "Wow! Four Stingers" implying that four stingers is unusual for a jellyfish, but later episodes made four stingers the standard Jellyfish design.
** In this episode, the treedome is stated to be made of plastic. In later appearances, it's made of glass.
** Patrick is strangely knowledgeable about fancy manners and even knows some of the jargon, a trait that'll never come up from his character again.
** It was implied that [=SpongeBob=] had a crush on Sandy in this episode, from the way he brings her flowers to the way he was talking about her to Patrick. Nonetheless, some later installments do give [=SpongeBob=] and Sandy ShipTease, so this is downplayed.
** Sandy's diving suit has a slightly different design here and throughout the remainder of Season 1. Her tail does not protrude from her suit and the patch on the front of her suit is three dots arranged in a triangle, instead of the acorn patch she is seen with from Season 2 onwards.
** This was before Sandy was established as TheSmartGuy, so it's incredibly strange seeing her not realize sea creatures need water until [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick are nearly at Death's door.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The very first thing we see Sandy doing is fighting the giant clam, then rescuing [=SpongeBob=] from it, and then introducing herself in a friendly and casual manner while showing off her fighting ability.
* {{Fingore}}: A very mild case. When Sandy takes the flowers from [=SpongeBob=], part of his finger breaks off.
* FourthWallPortrait: [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick are turned into a real sea star and sponge when they run out of water.
* LiteralMinded: Inverted; [=SpongeBob=] says Sandy wears air around her head, which Patrick interprets as "putting on airs" (i.e., acting pretentious). It helps that, to those unfamiliar with that phrase, it sounds like it could well be Patrick just [[TheDitz being Patrick]].
* MetaphorIsMyMiddleName:
-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' "Air" is my middle name!
* MinimalistCast: Only [=SpongeBob=], Patrick and Sandy appear in this episode.
* MundaneMadeAwesome: Sandy shows off her strength to [=SpongeBob=] by breaking a large rock with one hand. [=SpongeBob=] shows off to her by making a dynamic pose...and then making an armpit fart.
* NowYouTellMe: Apparently, Patrick [[FailedASpotCheck didn't notice there wasn't any water in Sandy's treedome]] until he went into it himself.
* OhCrap:
** Patrick gets a massive one once he starts to dehydrate inside the treedome:
--->'''Patrick:''' ''WHAT KIND OF PLACE IS THIS?!?'' There's no water in here!
** Sandy when she sees [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick dehydrated.
* PoorCommunicationKills: [=SpongeBob=] does ask Sandy for water, but Sandy assumes he means water for the flowers he brought.
* PreAsskickingOneLiner: "You have fought well, giant clam. Prepare to be vanquished!"
* RescueReversal: [=SpongeBob=] tries to save Sandy from the giant clam, but when he gets eaten by it, Sandy is the one who has to rescue him.
* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: For Sandy.
* ShapedLikeItself: Sandy describes the air in her treedome as the "most [[BuffySpeak airiest]] air in the whole sea."
* SkewedPriorities: [=SpongeBob=] is devastated that he's "a quitter" for being so desperate for water, even though he literally ''can't'' live without it.
* SmashCut: When Sandy discovers that [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick have nearly dried up, there is a jarring cut to a live-action sponge and starfish.
* SurvivalMantra: [=SpongeBob=] referring to water, "I don't need it! I don't need it! I definitely don't need it." It becomes a MadnessMantra when he sees a vase of it in front of him before finally howling "I NEED IT!!!".
* TooDumbToLive: Patrick doesn't realize [=SpongeBob=] is dying inside the treedome until he goes in there himself and almost dies as a result.
* TrivialTitle: Despite the title of the episode, tea isn't served until the very end of the episode.
* TheUnreveal: We never find out how or why Sandy is living at the bottom of the ocean, because [=SpongeBob=] runs off to get some water from the bird bath just as she starts to explain. We later learn that she's there ForScience, which is further explored in "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS4E10GhostHostChimpsAhoy Chimps Ahoy]]".
* WantingIsBetterThanHaving: [=SpongeBob=] discovers too soon that air is not the best lifestyle for a sea creature, and begins to steadily dehydrate.
* WinsByDoingAbsolutelyNothing: Subverted. [=SpongeBob=] "defeats" the giant clam simply because Sandy was plenty capable of getting out of it herself. And immediately afterwards, ''she'' has to save ''him''.
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