"Help Wanted" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season one. In this episode, SpongeBob gets a job at the Krusty Krab.

Characters

Synopsis

The series starts with SpongeBob getting ready for the day; it is the day that he is to apply for a job at the Krusty Krab. Before going to the restaurant, he lifts a weight with stuffed animals on the sides to warm himself up for the application. SpongeBob starts jogging to the Krusty Krab while Patrick encourages him from his rock.

SpongeBob starts talking about what he is going to do when he reaches the Krusty Krab, but in the end, he decides he is not ready. However, Patrick stops him, encouraging him that he was born to have the job. SpongeBob eventually decides to go to the Krusty Krab to get the job. Squidward sees SpongeBob running to the restaurant, making him panic and tell Mr. Krabs to watch out for SpongeBob.

SpongeBob has already arrived though and tries to get Mr. Krabs to give him the job. He tells Mr. Krabs that Squidward will vouch for him, but Squidward tells Mr. Krabs that he does not believe SpongeBob should get the job. Mr. Krabs tells SpongeBob that if he gets a hydro-dynamic spatula, he will get the job. SpongeBob quickly runs to the Barg'N-Mart to get it, as Squidward and Mr. Krabs laugh.

A couple of buses filled with anchovies arrive at the restaurant, making Squidward and Mr. Krabs panic as the latter knows what happens when anchovies come. As the anchovies flood the restaurant, Squidward tries to get them settled, but that only angers them more. It seems as though the two are finished due to the flood of anchovies, but SpongeBob comes right on time with his hydrodynamic spatula. SpongeBob goes into the kitchen and cooks many Krabby Patties, and tosses them to all the hungry anchovies until they are all satisfied and leave the restaurant.

Much to the dismay of Squidward, Mr. Krabs decides to hire SpongeBob as a fry cook, seeing as SpongeBob brought him in lots of cash.

To close the episode, Patrick orders, causing SpongeBob to cook many Krabby Patties and toss them all at him, flinging him out of the restaurant and ending the episode.

Production

Early sketches

Development

"Help Wanted" was written by series creator Stephen Hillenburg, along with Derek Drymon and Tim Hill, and was directed by Alan Smart.[1] Hillenburg also functioned as a storyboard director, and Drymon worked as storyboard artist.[1][2] He began developing SpongeBob SquarePants into a television series in late 1996 upon the cancellation of Rocko's Modern Life earlier the same year.[3][4]

Hillenburg's original idea for the pitch was that the writers would write a storyboard for a possible episode and pitch it to Nickelodeon.[5] One of the original ideas was to write an episode with SpongeBob and Squidward on a road trip, inspired by the 1989 film Powwow Highway.[5] Even though the idea would later be substantially developed, Hillenburg gave up on the storyboard idea for the initial pitch.[5] The crew revived the road trip idea during the first season and used many of their original ideas for the episode "Pizza Delivery."[5]

Originally the character was to be named "SpongeBoy," and the show SpongeBoy Ahoy![6][7] However, the Nickelodeon legal department discovered that the name "SpongeBoy" was already trademarked for a mop product.[6][8] This was discovered after voice acting for the original seven-minute pilot was recorded in 1997.[6] Upon finding this out, Hillenburg decided that the character's given name still had to contain "Sponge" so viewers would not take the character to be a block of anthropomorphic cheese. Hillenburg ultimately decided to name the character "SpongeBob." He chose "SquarePants" as a family name, as it referred to the character's square shape, and it had a "nice ring to it." Despite the early renaming, SpongeBob would be called SpongeBoy in a few episodes such as "Squeaky Boots" and "It's a SpongeBob Christmas!."[9]

In an interview with Cyma Zarghami, she told "their [Nickelodeon executives'] immediate reaction was to see it again, both because they liked it and it was unlike anything they had ever seen before."[10] Hillenburg said the character construction in the episode was loose, but the character development was already "pretty strong."[11] Cavna rewatched the episode in 2009 and said "so much of the style and polish are already in place."[12][12]

Stephen Hillenburg and Derek Drymon were having dinner and came up with the idea for "Help Wanted" based on an experience Hillenburg had in the Boy Scouts.[5] Hillenburg and writer Tim Hill worked it into an outline.[5] In 1997, while pitching the series to Nickelodeon executives, Stephen Hillenburg donned a Hawaiian shirt, brought along an "underwater terrarium with models of the characters," and Hawaiian music to set the theme. The setup was described by Nick executive Eric Coleman as "pretty amazing."[13] When given money and two weeks to write the pilot episode "Help Wanted," Hillenburg, Derek Drymon, and Nick Jennings returned with – described by Nickelodeon official Albie Hecht – "a performance [I] wish [I] had on tape."[14] Although described as stressful by executive producer Derek Drymon, the pitch went "very well;" Kevin Kay and Hecht had to step outside because they were "exhausted from laughing," making the creators worried.[14] With help from Tim Hill and art director Nick Jennings, Hillenburg finished the pitch and sold SpongeBob SquarePants to Nickelodeon.[5] Drymon said, "the network approved it—so we were ready to go."[5]

SpongeBob SquarePants aired its first episode, "Help Wanted," along with sister episodes "Reef Blower" and "Tea at the Treedome," on May 1, 1999, following the television airing of the 1999 Kids' Choice Awards. The series later made its "official" debut on July 17, 1999 with the second episode, "Bubblestand/Ripped Pants."[15] This episode was re-aired on July 24, 1999, along with "Reef Blower/Tea at the Treedome" to consider it official.

Differences from the rest of the series

The pilot episode was made and recorded in 1997, so it has many differences to the rest of the series. However, the original version of the episode had many other minor differences corrected later. For example, this and a few other early episodes have SpongeBob's bed on the right, while the rest of the series properly has it on the left; this is also the only episode where his blanket is solid blue, as opposed to purple with flowers.

Differences in voices are another example. SpongeBob's voice is slightly lower, and Patrick's voice is even deeper than the one he would have going forward. The designs and colors for characters are also different:

SpongeBob has fewer holes than he does in other episodes. He also looks slightly fatter, and his shoes are slightly larger. SpongeBob's walking is not accompanied by any sound effects.

Mr. Krabs' eyelids are bright pink as opposed to the same shade of red as the rest of his body.

Patrick's pants are a slightly different shade of green, not to mention he looks slightly chubbier.

Squidward's complexion is paler, his laugh is different, the comedic "splat" sound is different, and his nose does not puff in and out when he laughs.

Gary's eye pupils are red dots and his irises are smaller, and he has a higher, somewhat squeakier tone of voice in the "meow" that sounds a little closer to an actual cat's meow; Tom Kenny claims to use a new "meow" for each episode where Gary is shown meowing, and the recording of this episode was much more removed from the rest of the series than consecutive episodes, even across different seasons, are from each other, explaining the more consistent "meow" throughout the rest of the series.

The characters' tongues have a black outline instead of red.

SpongeBob SquarePants Original Theme Clip 1997

Miscellaneous:

The animation used for bubble transitions is much choppier.

Squidward appears to have rows of bamboo poles behind his house, as in the concept art.

There is only one window in the front of SpongeBob's house. This was a feature of some other early episodes, such as "Boating School," but after 1999, it is almost always depicted with multiple windows on the front.

Mr. Krabs' office is on the right side of the Krusty Krab as opposed to its position the left for the duration of the series. In one shot, there is nothing visually to suggest there was a door in the usual location at all. It is unknown if this is an error, or a change made later in the show's production.

The original 1997 version uses a different intro with "SpongeBob Action Theme." It plays after Patrick says, "Go SpongeBob." The more familiar intro was used when the series officially aired.

Music

( ‣ ) Associated production music

( • ) Original music

( ◦ ) SpongeBob music



‣ Glissando (a) - Richard Myhill, Skaila Kanga [Opening to the sound of crashing waves (Original 1997 cut)]

‣ Hawaiian Train - Victor Cavini [Title card (1999 recut version)]

‣ Aloha Oe - George K, Hans Haider, Queen Lili'uokalani [The opening]

‣ Honolulu March - George K, J Dounfrey, Hans Haider ["Today's the big day, Gary."]

‣ The Land is Ours - Gregor F. Narholz [SpongeBob lifts his teddy bear weights.]

‣ Grand Orchestral Fanfare - Gregor F. Narholz [SpongeBob lifts his teddy bear weights.]

‣ Honolulu March - George K, J Dounfrey, Hans Haider ["I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready..."]

• SpongeBob Action - Brad Carow [Title sequence (1997 cut)]

‣ Next Door Neighbour - Rick Cassman, Vyvyan Hope-Scott ["The Krusty Krab, home of the Krabby Patty."]

‣ The Land is Ours - Gregor F. Narholz [Patrick encourages SpongeBob.]

‣ Grand Orchestral Fanfare - Gregor F. Narholz ["Who's a big yellow cube with holes?"]

‣ Honolulu March - George K, J Dounfrey, Hans Haider [SpongeBob runs to the Krusty Krab.]

‣ Oyster Girls - Robert Alexander White ["Permission to come aboard, captain!"]

‣ The Rake Hornpipe - Robert Alexander White [Mr. Krabs gives SpongeBob a test.]

‣ Bartmania A - Guy Moon ["That sounded like hatch doors."]

‣ Menace from the Deep - Robert Cornford ["That smell... a kind of smelly smell."]

‣ Bartmania A - Guy Moon [Anchovies rush into the Krusty Krab/Anchovies pick up the boat/"All hands on deck! Get your anchors out of your pants!"]

‣ Death Trap [#27] - Gregor F. Narholz ["Batten down the hatches, Mr. Squidward!"]

‣ Bossa Cubana - Gerhard Narholz [SpongeBob shops for a hydro-dynamic spatula at Barg-'N-Mart.]

‣ Battle at Sea - Johnny Pearson ["Climb, Mr. Squidward! Climb!"]

‣ Reach for the Stars - Richard A. Harvey [SpongeBob returns.]

‣ The Main Event - Gregor F. Narholz [The hydro-dynamic spatula is revealed.]

‣ Living in the Sunlight, Loving in the Moonlight - Tiny Tim [Montage of SpongeBob making Krabby Patties/Ending.]

• SpongeBob Closing Theme - Steve Belfer [End credits (1997 cut)]



Release

Reception

In fan-voted SpongeBob SquarePants marathons, "Help Wanted" was ranked #24 during the Best Day Ever event from November 9–10, 2006 and #6 during The Ultimate SpongeBob SpongeBash event from July 17–19, 2009.

"Help Wanted" was ranked #69 during the SpongeBob's Top 100 event in the UK and Ireland from June 4-8, 2012.

In the "Top 100 Greatest Moments in Nicktoon History," one scene of the episode was ranked #29 and again #17 in the part near the beginning where SpongeBob lifts his stuffed animal barbell.

This episode is number 1 on The Tom Kenny Collection on iTunes and Amazon.com. His description says:

"It's hard to believe that when we started work on this maybe a dozen people knew what a 'SpongeBob' was. I fell in love with the characters and drawings at first sight. 'Havin a Wonderful Time' [ ] by Tiny Tim is one of the greatest songs ever recorded - (sorry, Beatles!)."

Trivia

General

Cast credits of "Help Wanted" 1997 version. Cast credits of "Help Wanted" 1999 version. A rare early logo used in the ending of the original 1997 version of "Help Wanted," before United Plankton Pictures, Inc. was created. The United Plankton Pictures, Inc. logo used in the ending of the 1999 version of "Help Wanted." 1997 copyright of "Help Wanted." 1999 copyright of "Help Wanted."

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Errors

Stephen Hillenburg's name in the "Written By" section of the opening credits is misspelled as "Stephen Hilleburg," missing the "N" in his surname.

When SpongeBob is looking at the Krusty Krab he is on the sand. In the next shot, he's on the road.

When Patrick says, "Who's ready?" his eyelids are pink instead of the usual purple.

The last time SpongeBob says "I'm ready!" his collar turns red. The same thing happens in the final shot of making Krabby Patties for the anchovies.

After Squidward looks back to see SpongeBob, the arrow in the graffiti is gone.

When SpongeBob arrives at the Krusty Krab, the "Enter" sign in front of the Krusty Krab is on the road instead of next to it. Also, In all the over-head shots of the Krusty Krab throughout the episode, the "Enter" sign is missing.

the road instead of next to it. In one shot it shows four buses pulling up to the Krusty Krab, but a few shots later, there are five parked.

When Mr. Krabs yells "Anchovies!," the top of Squidward's mouth is separated with a line.

Whenever the anchovies say "Meep," their pupils are small, but in the next scene, their pupils are big.

When Squidward says "Quiet! Is this anyway to behave?," the Krusty Krab's side window and metal back wall are both gone.

When the anchovies are picking up the ordering boat, the "Order Here" sign is nowhere to be seen.

In the over-head shot of the Krusty Krab where the restaurant is jumping left to right, the white spots on two of the Krusty Krab's decorative flags are purple.

When Mr. Krabs and Squidward hit the pole, a frame of what looks like the alternate or inverted background for the credits appear.

When Mr. Krabs says "Climb Mr. Squidward! Climb!," Squidward's upper teeth are purple.

When Squidward says "Mr. Krabs!," the anchor illustration on his hat disappears for a split-second.

When SpongeBob asks "Did someone order a spatula?," the pole Mr. Krabs and Squidward was on had a red covering. In the other scenes, they are blue.

Every time Mr. Krabs jumps when he says "Hip, hip!" his white undershirt disappears for a split-second.





Videos

Old Promo from Kids Choice Awards - SpongeBob SquarePants (1999) Firsts from the First Episode SpongeBob SquarePants Edition Nick SpongeBob's Official Debut 🦀 The Very FIRST 5 Minutes of Help Wanted! "Help Wanted" 🍔 Animatic SpongeBob SquarePants HELP WANTED in 5 Minutes! 🐟 ft. Tiny Tim's "Living in the Sunlight" SpongeBob First Episode