SpongeBob SquarePants (series)

SpongeBob SquarePants (or simply known as SpongeBob) is an Emmy award-winning American animated comedy series and media franchise. It's one of Nickelodeon's Nicktoons show and is currently the most watched show on Nickelodeon. In 2007, it was named by TIME magazine as one of the greatest television shows of all time, it also broke a record for the amount of episodes aired in one year, with 47. 2003 broke a record for least episodes aired in one year, with only 6.

Even though its original network is Nickelodeon, SpongeBob is now broadcast across the world, and appeared on MTV2 for a short time in 2006. It was created by former marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg and is produced through his production company, United Plankton Pictures, Inc. and Friends Academy Television, Inc. The series is set in the Pacific Ocean, in the city of Bikini Bottom and on the surrounding lagoon floor. The pilot episode first aired along with two other episodes in the United States on Nickelodeon after the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards on May 1, 1999. The "official" series premiere followed on July 17, 1999, after a short hiatus, with two episodes, "Bubblestand/Ripped Pants". Then more episodes aired throughout the rest of 1999.