This episode aired on November 10, 2006 during a 24-hour marathon, in which Patchy the Pirate counted down the top 100 SpongeBob episodes, while on a boat in the New York City harbor. Fans voted weeks prior to the marathon on an online poll. The marathon started on November 9, 2006, and ran through November 10, 2006 and ended with the network premiere of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. The marathon raised Nickelodeon's ratings to an average of over 6.7 million viewers and became the network's most highest-rated day ever.[1]
During the Best Day Ever marathon for 24 hours, starting at 8 p.m. on November 9. During the marathon at 9 p.m., the logo in the right bottom corner changed from Nick, to the Nick at Nite logo. At 6:00 a.m. it went back from the "Nick at Nite" logo to the "Nick" logo. If one were to look for episode information in their cable guide during the countdown, the message "A yellow sponge lives in subterranean Bikini Bottom" would appear in the "Info" box so as not to give away the rankings. During the 24 hour marathon, regular Nick at Nite programming and Nick Jr. programs were not broadcast.
Repeats of the top 10 episodes (referred to as "The Best 10 Ever") were shown on November 22, November 25, December 9, December 29, and January 12. The marathon (lasting for 1 day (or 24 hours)) and the episode are both called "Best Day Ever". In Australia, the marathon (lasting for 4 days (or 96 hours)) has another version called "Non-Stop SpongeBob" which premiered on December 23, 2006. In February 1–2, 2008, the "Best Day Ever" will premiere on Nickelodeon in Australia.
When the Best Day Ever countdown started, Patchy's hook was on his left side. After the next commercial, his hook was on the right side. It has since been relocated to his left hand. Patchy's hosting supposedly took place in real time alongside the marathon. A few times during the Best Day Ever marathon in the day, the Patchy commercials would take place at night. Some segments were shown several times. Before Squid on Strike, Patchy is seen reading a men's magazine on Jessica Alba. As Patchy reads a NYC guide book he can remember only two of the seven seas.
Patchy fell asleep at midnight and woke up at 8:00 a.m., because he can't remember anything between #85, Shell of a Man (shown at midnight) and #43, Nature Pants (shown at 7:45 a.m.). However, in the middle of the night, Patchy woke up (he lost track of what episode was next) to announce #61, "Suds" and came up with the excuse that he was "resting his eyes". However, he was stumbling over his words in the process, showing that he was half-asleep and, ironically, skipped numbers 62-73. After that he went back to sleep.
A giant, sequined SpongeBob over New York Harbor was lowered as the #1 episode drew closer and closer, a la the famous New Years' Ball in Times Square.
Film Premiere
Several promotional advertisements for the airing of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie showed the film in its original widescreen aspect ratio, however, the airing of the film at 8:00 p.m. EST was in a cropped full screen aspect ratio/pan and scan version of the film.
Patchy the Pirate's hook changes hands throughout the marathon. Also for some odd reason when it aired, Best Day Ever aired before Karate Island in a rerun.
