SpongeBob SquarePants (Irish and British Alliance)

SpongeBob SquarePants is a comedic edutainment animated kids show made originally for PBS, but would later find its way onto other CPB-affiliated networks, such as CBC, BBC, TF1, and others. It is best known for having no show like it at the time, or even now, there still aren't that many shows like it. The show ran from 1998 to 2004, and is one of the most influential cartoons ever made. It was created and directed by Stephen Hillenburg, a man famous for escaping the Republic of Viacom in 1997, so much so that the Los Angeles Times had the story on the front cover of a March newspaper, although it wasn't the centre focus.

Premise
A large majority of the show is set in the fictional city of Bikini Bottom, said to be located near and under Bikini Atoll, a series of islands now claimed by Hawaii. Although there are locations outside of Bikini Bottom in the show, such as Rock Bottom or New Kelp City, Bikini Bottom is where most of the franchise takes place. The star of the show is the titular SpongeBob SquarePants, who lives in a pineapple-styled house. He lives on Conch Street, which has a few people living there. Patrick and Squidward are introduced later as his closest neighbors. SpongeBob works at the Krusty Krab, a fast food restaurant, run by Mr. Krabs, a cheapskate crab with a lot of money from his business. Sandy, a squirrel, lives in a treedome, and is one of SpongeBob's friends. The Krusty Krab has a rival in the Chum Bucket, run by Plankton, who wants to somehow get the Krabby Patty Secret Formula.

History
The tale of SpongeBob SquarePants dates back to the 1980s, when Stephen Hillenburg created The Intertidal Zone, a predecessor to SpongeBob. The comic starred anthropomorphic sea creatures, some of which would eventually become the basis for some SpongeBob characters. In 1991, Stephen Hillenburg would be captured and enslaved to work on Viacom's idea of a propaganda cartoon named Rocko's Modern Life. The titular Rocko and his friends enjoy the lifestyle of Viacom's reign and deny any suspicion that Viacom is racist towards non-white people. Stephen Hillenburg hated working on the show, along with others such as Joe Murray. However, Stephen Hillenburg would become special. Because in March 1997, Stephen Hillenburg escaped Viacom's dictatorship, and moved to Toronto, Canada. It was here that he would pitch the idea of "SpongeBoy Ahoy!" to the Public Broadcasting Service. While pitching the idea, he donned a Hawaiian shirt, had an underwater terrarium with character models, and played Hawaiian music to set the mood. PBS wasn't too interested in the show at first, but then gave them enough money to produce the pilot, "Help Wanted". Once Stephen Hillenburg and his crew were finished with the episode, they went back to PBS to show the finished product. PBS was amazed with it, and wanted to see it again. Then PBS declared that SpongeBoy Ahoy! would be a television show on their kids block. However, PBS looked up the name SpongeBoy and found cleaning supplies with the name, so the crew decided on SpongeBob SquarePants, as they didn't want anyone mistaking the titular sponge for a "Cheese Man".

Help Wanted/Pilot Episode
Made and aired in March 1997. SpongeBob wants a job, but he isn't very skilled at some things that some jobs require him to do. He then tries to apply for a job at the Krusty Krab, a fast-food burger place. He is a bit scared to do fry-cooking, but he tries, and gets the hang of it. However, he realizes that being the fry cook takes a lot of responsibility because the customers will order pretty much anything on the menu, or even off it entirely. SpongeBob gets over it pretty quickly, and he would now work as a fry cook. Squidward applied for a job at the counter earlier, and when SpongeBob shows up, Squidward isn't too thrilled. This episode introduces SpongeBob, Mr. Krabs and Squidward. It also introduces some unnamed customers that frequently show up in Krusty Krab episodes.

Moral: Don't be afraid to try out new experiences. It can help out a lot, especially if one needs a job but would only be skilled at certain things.

Tea at the Treedome
SpongeBob meets a squirrel named Sandy, who lives in a treedome. Sandy invites SpongeBob for tea at the treedome, hence the name of the episode. SpongeBob has had no experience with treedomes before, so he assumes he'll be able to breathe in the treedome. Once inside, SpongeBob starts to dehydrate, but still thinks that he doesn't need water. It takes a while before he would ask for some water, and Sandy jumps on it almost immediately. She then decides to make little helmets so that creatures that rely on water for breathing can be in the treedome without constantly having to get water. This episode introduces Sandy, of course.

Moral: If you need something, just ask for it. It won't hurt at all.

Jellyfishing
Squidward is paralyzed because of a jellyfish accident. SpongeBob tries to cheer him up, and meets Patrick, one of his neighbors. SpongeBob gets Patrick to try and cheer up Squidward with him, and after everything the two try, Squidward still isn't happy, so SpongeBob and Patrick take Squidward to Jellyfish Fields, where they can jellyfish. Patrick hasn't been to the fields, but SpongeBob has, and knows where it is. After some jellyfishing, Squidward gets in another jellyfish accident and is even more paralyzed, to the point of being on life support. This episode introduces Patrick.

Moral: If someone isn't feeling well, don't make them do anything that will worsen the problem. Especially if they're injured, and doing the thing will get them even more injured.

Ripped Pants
SpongeBob goes to Goo Lagoon, a beach. He accidentally rips his pants, hence the name. People around him thinks it is funny. SpongeBob then rips his pants a few more times. It gets to the point of serious danger where SpongeBob is in danger just to say he ripped his pants again. This time, it is not funny, and he is ridiculed for it. Introduces Larry the Lobster.

Moral: Don't exploit comedy to the point of serious danger. It is not going to make anyone laugh.

SpongeBob vs. Patrick
Squidward is annoyed by SpongeBob and Patrick. Squidward decides to make the two of them fight, by learning how to imitate their voices, then saying negative things with their voices. It works, and the two part ways, but that would lead to the two fighting over who would be friends with Squidward. It also causes some destruction in Bikini Bottom.

Moral: Don't get two friends to fight each other. It can lead to destruction, or more annoyance.

Selling Out
Mr. Krabs sells the Krusty Krab to Bandycom Inc. who rebrands the restaurant into a totalitarian experience where workers are forced to smile and customers are fed sludge prepared on a conveyor belt. Not long after Krabs sells the Krusty Krab does he want it back, and goes through a lot to get it back. Bandycom Inc. wouldn't only appear in this episode, as they appeared in another, more well-known (and controversial) episode of the series.

Moral: Sometimes it's better if a business is independently owned, and not if a larger corporation takes over, as independently-owned businesses actually get to make their own decisions, and not be controlled by a company telling them what to do.

Pizza Delivery
A customer orders a pizza from the Krusty Krab. The Krusty Krab is not a pizzeria, and doesn't even make pizza. But SpongeBob made the pizza anyway, and with Squidward, they have to embark on a long adventure to deliver the pizza to the customer. The customer turns out to not want the pizza as they didn't bring a diet Dr. Kelp. After negotiations, the customer finally accepts the pizza without the drink, and remarks he could just buy a can or bottle from the store.

Moral: Don't be a horrible customer or even consumer, and be happy with whatever service someone provides you.

Plankton! (1999)
It turns out the the Krusty Krab has a rival business in the Chum Bucket, run by Plankton, who wants to steal the secret formula for the famous Krabby Patty. He also wants to run Mr. Krabs out of business, in case he can't steal the formula himself. But then Plankton tries to befriend SpongeBob in order to get the secret formula. SpongeBob sees behind his trick once Plankton asks for a Krabby Patty suspiciously.

Moral: Be careful with who you make friends with, as some people aren't good people.

Boating School (1999)
SpongeBob goes to boating school to learn how to drive a boat (the undersea equivalent of a car here). He keeps failing the test, and even asks help from Patrick in order to pass the test. But that would be cheating, so SpongeBob then goes to ask his boating teacher Mrs. Puff for help. SpongeBob does actually pass the test, and gets a boating license.

Moral: Don't cheat. Do ask for help, but don't do anything that would be classified as cheating according to your teacher.

Pickles (1999)
A customer shows up to the Krusty Krab and asks for a very specific order, which is described in lingo that Squidward would snark over, saying "We serve food here, sir". It turns out the customer is Bubble Bass, a former enemy of SpongeBob when he was little (and even when he was a bit older). SpongeBob is sure he did the order as described, and Bubble Bass tries the resulting burger. It turns out that SpongeBob forgot the pickles, hence the title of the episode, and that would lead SpongeBob into an existential crisis. Squidward has to replace SpongeBob as fry cook, and ends up burning patties, fries, and even a milkshake, which results in the Krusty Krab losing money fast. SpongeBob's house ends up in complete disarray, to the point that confusing perspectives appeared in SpongeBob's house, reminiscent of M.C Escher, and Mr. Krabs would have to train SpongeBob to make a Krabby Patty correctly again. It took days for SpongeBob to make a perfect one, and once that happened, they returned to the Krusty Krab. After another period of waiting, Bubble Bass shows up again. He orders the same thing as before, and SpongeBob makes the order again, this time checking thoroughly to make sure everything is done exactly as described. Bubble Bass says that SpongeBob forgot the pickles again, only for SpongeBob to open his mouth for everyone to see that Bubble Bass hid the pickles in his mouth to shame SpongeBob. Bubble Bass apparently did this to get free meals from restaurants and harass them.

Moral: Never make people believe they did something wrong when they did nothing. Ever. It can get one into a lot of trouble. However, mistakes do happen, and can be pointed out, but don't rub it in anyone's face as if it's a big problem, even when they're doing their hardest to fix it.

Not Normal (1999)
Squidward ridicules SpongeBob for not being "normal", to the point of Squidward wishing SpongeBob was normal. SpongeBob takes this to heart and tries to become normal over a montage. He does, and soon he loses his features, personality and his original home, in favour of a new home. He even ditches the old way he worked, now making Krabby Patties out of printed paper from a computer office. SpongeBob has to be fired for this, and has to get help from Patrick to become himself again. They almost succeed, but an accident causes everything they did to be rendered moot. SpongeBob cries about this, and then the duo see a "normal" Squidward that freaks out SpongeBob into being himself again.

Moral: Be yourself. Don't be "normal", as it can make you weirder than being yourself.

SpongeGuard on Duty (2000)
SpongeBob tries to be a lifeguard at Goo Lagoon. Things go wrong once SpongeBob forbids anyone from entering the water, and free ice cream is given instead. Patrick wants his share of ice cream, only for him to get into the water and start drowning. SpongeBob tries to save him without swimming, and eventually drowns himself. Larry the Lobster ends up saving them. This episode introduces some unnamed characters who would appear often when Goo Lagoon is involved.

Moral: Don't be someone you are not. Be yourself (similar to the previous episode's moral). This episode is well-known for the fact that a boy saved another boy's life by mimicking the swimming techniques of Larry in the episode, and compromising very well for not having big claws.

The Superhighway (2000)
A superhighway is planned to be built over Jellyfish Fields. SpongeBob and Patrick protest. They don't listen. Mr. Krabs is delighted about the highway, not knowing its true purpose. The highway is built, and the jellyfish are enraged. The fields themselves die off and become polluted. So the jellyfish invade Bikini Bottom. It does not go well. And it also turns out the highway ends directly at the Chum Bucket, in order for it to gain more customers. Mr. Krabs almost sells the Krabby Patty Secret Formula to Plankton, but is prevented from doing so because order eventually gets restored by customers getting angry at Plankton for causing the jellyfish to invade the city, then the highway is destroyed, which results in Jellyfish Fields being returned to normal. This episode was released to celebrate Earth Day. It was the longest episode of the season.

Moral: Not a specific moral, but is an environmentalist sort of episode, meaning it deconstructs the tearing down of nature for highways that can and will pollute the area, rendering it unusable to the locals, forcing them to move or even attack others. This episode has been controversial with conservatives, because of the environmentalist message. But other than that, it gained positive reviews with many families, critics, and even people who have had no experience with television. This episode would propel SpongeBob SquarePants into a household name.

Season D (2001)
This season is not a normal season; rather, it has episodes which contain facts about Bikini Bottom itself, and places related to it. These episodes do not appear on broadcast television; but they do often appear online on YouTube or through a home video release, such as a Paramount DVD or VHS release.

Krusty Krab Training Video
A training video for how one would apply for a job at the Krusty Krab, how one would work there, and maybe the Krabby Patty Secret Formula would be revealed as well....

Ugh
An episode detailing prehistoric life in Bikini Bottom.