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Help Wanted

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SpongeBob SquarePants episode
Help Wanted
Information
Season №: 1
Episode №: 1a
Airdate: May 1, 1999 (original)
July 17, 1999 (official)
Sister episode(s): Reef Blower
Tea at the Treedome
Best Day Ever Rank: #24
SpongeBash Rank: #6
Credits
Cast: Tom Kenny as (SpongeBob/Gary/Narrator/Sub Driver)
Rodger Bumpass (Squidward Tentacles/Anchovies)
Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick Star)
Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs)
Guest(s): Tiny Tim (musical performer)
Writer(s): Stephen Hillenburg[1]
Derek Drymon
Tim Hill
Storyboard Artist(s): Derek Drymon
Storyboard: Stephen Hillenburg
Animation: Alan Smart
Chronology
Next: 1b. Reef Blower
Episode List
Select show to expand.

Help Wanted is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season one. In this episode, SpongeBob perserves in getting a job at the Krusty Krab, despite of the obstacles he has to face (ex. finding a non-existent spatula).

Plot

The Krusty Krab.

A narrator with a French accent introduces SpongeBob SquarePants, a sponge who lives in a pineapple in the city of Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob’s foghorn alarm clock rings, waking him up in the morning. He tells his pet, Gary the Snail that he must be in good shape because this particular day is important. He jumps off of his diving board and lands in his pants. He goes to his exercise room and lifts a bar-weight (which is actually two stuffed animals). Afterwards, SpongeBob exclaims that he is ready.

He runs outside and down the street to the Krusty Krab, repeatedly saying, “I’m ready” while his neighbor and best friend, Patrick Star, cheers him on. SpongeBob sees the “Help Wanted” sign on the Krusty Krab window. He then declares that he is ready to obtain the job, which he has been dreaming of for years; however, he loses his confidence. Patrick convinces him to apply for the job, and so SpongeBob does, thereby declaring he is ready three more times. Squidward Tentacles, the head cashier, is cleaning the window (above his head the word “loser” is written on the glass pane). Squidward sees that SpongeBob wants the job, and so he tells the restaurant owner Eugene H. Krabs that SpongeBob does not qualify for the job. SpongeBob walks into the Krusty Krab and asks for the job. To get rid of him, Mr. Krabs tells SpongeBob that he can join the “Krusty Krew” if he passes a “test”--which is to obtain a “Hydrodynamic Spatula with Port and Starboard Attachments and Turbo-Drive”.

As soon as SpongeBob leaves, six buses drop off a large crowd of hungry anchovies. They barge into the Krusty Krab, demanding Krabby Patties. Attempting to keep things in order, Squidward complains about their behavior, and then requests that there be a single-file line in front of the cash register. But the anchovies vehemently protest, forming a riot of angry anchovies set to resemble a stormy sea. This forces Squidward and Mr. Krabs to climb up the “mast”. Thinking that it is the end for them, they say their goodbyes. Suddenly, SpongeBob arrives, flying by with his “Hydrodynamic Spatula with Port and Starboard Attachments and Turbo-Drive” (according to SpongeBob, the Barg’n Mart only had one in stock). Mr. Krabs is flabbergasted at the fact that SpongeBob actually passed the “test”. SpongeBob flies into the kitchen and as fast as he can, satisfies the needs of the angry anchovies. SpongeBob made a Krabby Patty before he was hired and it is assumed that he did not know the Krabby Patty secret formula.

When the last anchovy gets their Krabby Patty, Mr. Krabs is delighted. He hires SpongeBob, by welcoming him to the Krusty Krew and giving him a name tag. Then, Mr. Krabs calls for three cheers for SpongeBob. Even though Squidward is upset, Mr. Krabs does not listen to him because he wants to go and count the wheelbarrow of money he just made in his office. At the end, Patrick walks in and asks for a Krabby Patty. SpongeBob races into the kitchen and makes a huge stream of Krabby Patties, which then hits Patrick and sends him flying out of the restaurant. Worried, Squidward calls Mr. Krabs to come see his new employee.

Transcript

Main article: Help Wanted (transcript)

Quotes

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Music

APM music identification

  • Hawaiian Train - Title card
  • Aloha Oe - First shots of Bikini Bottom and SpongeBob's house.
  • Honolulu March - "I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready."
  • Next Door Neighbour - "...ever established for eating. The Krusty Krab: home of the Krabby Patty. With a 'Help Wanted' sign in the window! For years, I've been dreaming of this moment! I'm gonna go in there, march straight to the manager, look him straight in the eye, LAY HIM ON THE LINE AND I CAN'T DO THIS!!"
  • Oyster Girls - "I've been dreaming my entire life of joining the Krusty Krew and now I'm ready!"
  • The Rake Hornpipe - "Well lad, it seems like you don't even have your sea legs."
  • Bartmania A - The anchovies invade the Krusty Krab.

Reception

{{{reception}}}

Production

Animation style

Mr. Krabs and Squidward's animation style differs greatly.

This episode is the first, 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 is the only episode where SpongeBob’s bed is on the right (excluding Pickles and Employee of the Month), and 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 is deeper. Designs and colors are also different. For example, SpongeBob has fewer holes than in newer episodes, Mr. Krabs’ eyelids are bright pink opposed to red, Patrick’s pants are in a slightly different color, 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 and irises are smaller, he lacks eyelashes, and he has a lower tone of voice in the “meow” (although Tom Kenny claims to use a new “meow” for each episode (where Gary is shown meowing). Squidward also appears to have rows of bamboo poles behind his house. Differences in SpongeBob’s house are also present in this episode, but not in others, such as there is only one window in the front. Also, SpongeBob’s alarm clock has a different ship horn sound than his alarm clock in later episodes. The changes were made when the series officially aired.

Episode statistics

Locations
Time/Date
  • 7:00 a.m.: SpongeBob wakes up
Title cards shown

Characters present

Cultural References

  • In the 2002 movie Orange County, Jack Black's character Lance is seen watching and laughing at this episode.
  • The music playing when SpongeBob reaches the Krusty Krab is similar to what you'd hear on either The Price is Right, or Wheel of Fortune

Trivia/Goofs

  • Stephen Hillenburg in the "Written By" section of the title card was incorrectly spelled as "Stephen Hilleburg".
  • Tiny Tim's "Living in the Sunlight, Loving in the Moonlight" is featured in the episode.
  • During "Living in the Sunlight, Loving in the Moonlight", Tiny Tim sings "Just take it from me, I'm just free as any daughter", but the captions sang, "Just take from me, I'm just free as any brother".
  • These were the first appearances of SpongeBob, Gary, Patrick, Squidward, and Mr. Krabs.
  • SpongeBob had a pet scallop that he kept in a birdcage.
  • SpongeBob's collar turns red the last time he says, "I'm ready!" after being prompted by Patrick.
  • Despite the fact that Mr. Krabs was shown with a wheelbarrow of money, the anchovies were never shown paying for the Krabby Patty

References

  1. ^ Stephen Hillenburg in the “Written By:” section of the title card was mistakenly spelled as “Stephen Hilleburg."
  2. ^ Initially, this episode was not included on the SpongeBob season one DVD set, presumably because of music licensing issues involving the aforementioned song. However, the episode has since been made available on the DVD release of the third season as a bonus feature.

External links

Retrieved from "http://spongebob.wikia.com/wiki/Help_Wanted"
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