Nickelodeon has taken the plunge, ordering 20 new episodes of SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, one of the most popular kids' shows in television history, adventures to premiere on in 2005.
Series creator Stephen Hillenburg will continue to exec produce the all-new nautical and nonsensical episodes featuring the original voice cast including Tom Kenny as SpongeBob, Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick, Rodger Bumpass as Squidward, Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs and Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks.
Launched in July 1999, the series quickly became a favorite of viewers of all ages and has held rank as the number-one kids' show on broadcast and cable television for almost three years.
"What could be better than announcing that the world's most beloved and optimistic sea sponge is coming back with 20 new episodes," said by Cyma Zarghami, president, Nickelodeon Television. "SPONGEBOB is the most successful property in our 25-year history, and we're thrilled to bring his fans more adventures from Bikini Bottom. And maybe he'll finally get his driver's license."
"While I'm completing the day-to-day production of the SPONGEBOB feature film, I am also looking forward to overseeing the creation of these new SPONGEBOB episodes for television," said creator Hillenburg,
On Nov. 19, 2004, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS and his gang take their undersea antics to the big screen in the upcoming Nickelodeon Movies Paramount Pictures theatrical release, THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE. SpongeBob and his faithful friend Patrick go on a heroic, comedic quest that takes them to new and unexplored territory. Scarlett Johansson, Jeffrey Tambor and Alec Baldwin star in the feature alongside the original cast.
Paul Tibbitt will helm the day-to-day production of the new episodes. He has served as a director and writer on SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS for all three current seasons. He wrote some of the show's most memorable episodes such as "Ripped Pants" and "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy." Tibbitt is a co-writer and storyboard artist on THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE.
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS is a Nicktoons Production, with Hillenburg's United Plankton Pictures, and is produced at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, California.
Nickelodeon (www.nick.com) is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the U.S. and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 86 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than eight consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
