Help Wanted

if this page is broken oh well Superscript text

Characters

 * French Narrator (debut)
 * Sea urchins (debut)
 * Gary the Snail (debut)
 * Shelley (debut)
 * Patrick Star (debut)
 * Squidward (debut)
 * Sub driver (debut)
 * Anchovies (Debut)
 * Spongebob (debut)
 * Eugene Krabs (debut)

Synopsis
The series premiere starts under the sea, as a French Narrator introduces Bikini Bottom and SpongeBob SquarePants.

The scene then shifts to SpongeBob getting ready for the day; it is the day that he is to apply for a job at the Krusty Krab as a fry cook. 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 Star 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 Tentacles sees SpongeBob running to the restaurant, making him panic and tell Mr. Krabs to watch out for SpongeBob.

SpongeBob has already arrived, though, and he 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 seemingly nonexistent 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, thinking he will not get it.

Soon after SpongeBob leaves, five 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 the hydrodynamic spatula he found (there was only one in stock), having fulfilled the errand Mr. Krabs gave him. 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. Then, 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 shortly after.

Development
"Help Wanted" was written by series creator Stephen Hillenburg, along with Derek Drymon and Tim Hill, and was directed by Alan Smart. Hillenburg also functioned as a storyboard director, and Drymon worked as storyboard artist. He began developing Spongebob Squarepants into a television series in late 1996 upon the cancellation of  earlier the same year.

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



Originally the character was to be named "SpongeBoy," and the show was going to be called SpongeBoy Ahoy! However, the Nickelodeon legal department discovered that the name "SpongeBoy" was already trademarked for a mop product. This was discovered after voice acting for the original seven-minute pilot was recorded in 1997. 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!"

In an interview with, 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." Hillenburg said the character construction in the episode was loose, but the character development was already "pretty strong." Cavna rewatched the episode in 2009 and said "so much of the style and polish are already in place."

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. Hillenburg and writer Tim Hill worked it into an outline. 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." 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." 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. With help from Tim Hill and art director Nick Jennings, Hillenburg finished the pitch and sold SpongeBob SquarePants to Nickelodeon. Drymon said, "the network approved it—so we were ready to go."

SpongeBob SquarePants aired its first episode, "Help Wanted," along with sister episodes "Reef Blower" and "Tea at the Treedome," on July 27, 2024, July 27, 2024, following the television airing of the. The series later made its "official" debut on July 27, 2024, 1999 with the second episode, "Bubblestand/Ripped Pants." This episode was re-aired on 1997, 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 yellow 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: Miscellaneous:
 * SpongeBob has fewer holes than he does in other episodes. He also looks slightly fatter, and his shoes are slightly larger. SpongeBob's toes are pointier, and his 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.
 * 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.

1999 recut version
Hawaiian Train (Title Card.)

Release

 * "Help Wanted," along with "Reef Blower" and "Tea at the Treedome," premiered on Nickelodeon on July 27, 2024, July 27, 2024, alongside the.
 * This episode was released on the The Best of Nicktoons 1998 VHS and the following DVDs:
 * The Complete 3rd Season (disc 3, bonus)
 * Tea at the Treedome
 * The Tom Kenny Collection
 * 10 Happiest Moments (bonus)
 * The First 100 Episodes (disc 1)
 * SpongeBob SquarePants, iSponge Offer Pack
 * 100,000,000 Fans Can't Be Wrong press kit
 * SpongeBob Schwammkopf Folge 1
 * Best of SpongeBob
 * Really Big Box Set
 * The SpongeBob Birthday Box
 * The Ultimate SpongeBob Box Set
 * Treasure Chest: Double Pack
 * SpongeBob SquarePants Vol. 1
 * Employee of the Month
 * The Complete Third Season (disc 3, bonus)
 * From the Beginning, Pt.1
 * The SpongeBob SquarePants Collection
 * Welcome Aboard
 * SpongeBob, You're Fired! (as a single episode, chapter 11)
 * The Pilot a Mini-Movie and the Square Shorts (as a single episode)
 * Triple Pack 3
 * The SpongeBob SquarePants 8 Season DVD Collection
 * 2-Season TV Pack (disc 3, bonus)
 * The Third & Fourth Seasons (disc 3, bonus)
 * Big Hits: Volume 2
 * The Best 200 Episodes Ever

Reception

 * 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 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' [sic] by Tiny Tim is one of the greatest songs ever recorded - (sorry, Beatles!)."
 * This episode is number 1 on The Tom Kenny Collection on 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' [sic] by Tiny Tim is one of the greatest songs ever recorded - (sorry, Beatles!)."

General

 * This episode was produced as a stand-alone pilot before a full season was ordered. Because of this, it originally had no production code. It was later re-cut for broadcast and given the title "Help Wanted." The re-cut was produced along with the theme song sequence in the middle of season one. Together, the re-cut and the theme sequence make up production code "#127."
 * This is the only episode where the music is scored by William B. Griggs, M.P.S.E., as the next episode to be produced, Tea at the Treedome, was scored by Nicolas Carr.
 * This is the only episode to use entirely production music from labels, excluding the theme song in both versions. Reef Blower would be the first to include original background music for the series.
 * This episode is referenced in "Bottle Burglars" when the bottom of Mr. Krabs' desk says "05-01-99" which is the airdate for this episode.
 * During SpongeBob's Grillin' and Villain Saturday, "Reef Blower" was replaced with "SpongeBob vs. the Patty Gadget."
 * This is the only episode not featured on The Complete First Season DVD and The First & Second Seasons DVD, due to copyright issues with the song "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight" by Tiny Tim, which is played during the episode. According to Derek Drymon, this is because Nickelodeon did not want to pay Tiny Tim's estate for the rights. However, on the German DVD release of Season 1, the episode is included.
 * This marked the first time an episode from a season is excluded from a season DVD set, with the second being "Kwarantined Krab."
 * In the Italian dub, "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight" was mostly cut, most likely for copyright reasons.
 * This is Bill Fagerbakke's favorite episode.
 * This is the very first episode to be ended with a song.
 * This is the very first episode that SpongeBob gets a hero-like voice.
 * The beginning of the episode, in which SpongeBob says "Today's the big day, Gary" can be seen on a TV in the July 27, 2024 comedy film .
 * The French Narrator is the first character to speak in the series, if not counting the theme song.
 * However, if not counting him either, then SpongeBob is technically the first.
 * This, "Pickles," "Employee of the Month," "One Krabs Trash," and "Best Day Ever" are the only five episodes to have SpongeBob's bed placed on the right side of his room and not the left.
 * It is revealed that SpongeBob's first words were "May I take your order?"
 * However, in "Truth or Square," he said "Krabby Patty!" and "Yummy!" as an unborn fetus.
 * SpongeBob states that he has been training his whole life to join the Krusty Krew. These aspirations are further manifested in the episode "Friend or Foe."
 * During the cooking scene, 2 ketchup dispensers have the on them.
 * This is one of the seven episodes in which the 1986-July 27, 2024 Paramount logo is plastered with the July 27, 2024-July 27, 2024 Paramount logo. The others are "Squeaky Boots," "F.U.N.," "Squidward the Unfriendly Ghost," "Employee of the Month," "Karate Choppers," and "Rock Bottom."
 * There is an old SpongeBob online game based on this episode called Anchovy Feeding Frenzy.
 * The quote "Go, SpongeBob! Go, SpongeBob! Go, SpongeBob! Go, self!" would later appear in the online game Reef Rumble and the Pixter software game Aqua Adventure.
 * Paramount+ falsely claims that this episode premiered on April 30, 1999.
 * The episode premiered on Nicktoons on July 27, 2024, July 27, 2024.
 * SpongeBob's Line saying I'm Ready is used in the song from the  band.
 * On July 27, 2024, July 27, 2024, there was a live script reading with the voice actors at for this episode as part of SpongeBob Fan Shellabration.
 * This episode was finished in 1997, but did not air until May 1, 1999, because the cast wanted to change various things. Similar periods between production of pilot episodes and their premiere on television are somewhat regular.
 * This is also the only episode to be produced that year.
 * The end credits for the 1997 and 1999 versions of "Help Wanted" have several differences, including:
 * In the cast credits in the 1997 version, Bill Fagerbakke's name is misspelled as "Bill Fabberbakke." This error was corrected in the 1999 version.
 * In the cast credits in the 1997 version, Patrick Star's name is misspelled as "Partick Star." This error was corrected in the 1999 version.
 * Gary the Snail, who was voiced by Tom Kenny, is not credited in the 1997 version. This error was corrected in the 1999 version with Gary being added in.
 * Carolyn Lawrence, who voiced Sandy, is not credited in the 1997 version. This is because "Tea at the Treedome" had not been produced yet.
 * In the credits in the 1997 version, Erik Wiese's name is misspelled as "Erik Weise." This error was corrected in the 1999 version.
 * Near the ending of the 1997 version, instead of the United Plankton Pictures, Inc. logo being displayed, there is a logo with the "Created By" text above, the SpongeBob sketch drawing in the middle, and the "Stephen Hillenburg" text below. This is because Stephen Hillenburg had not yet created the company.
 * The 1997 version is the only episode to be produced by Games Animation, which would later be renamed to Nickelodeon Animation Studio the following year.
 * At the ending of the 1997 version, there is an early Nicktoons logo that has a small and short copyright notice with a production date of 1997. The ending of the 1999 version has a more detailed and prolonged copyright notice with a production date of 1999.
 * This is the first time where the copyright year does not match the actual production year, in this case, being the 1999 full version. However, this is because its sister episodes were produced in 1999.

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.
 * 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.
 * In one scene SpongeBob's teeth turn yellow.