Help Wanted

If you were looking for the article about the sign, then see Help Wanted sign.

If you were looking for the article about the Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years season 1 episode, then see "Help Not Wanted."

Help Wanted
General
Production code:	PILOT (original 1997 cut) 2515-127 (1999 recut version)
Season №:	1
Episode №:	1a
Airdate:	1998 May 1, 1999 September 18, 1999 January 3, 2000 March 6, 2000 August 1, 2006 See more... January 1, 2000 January 8, 2000 February 7, 2000 February 26, 2000 December 18, 2000 January 31, 2001 (Nederland 3) April 4, 2001 (SIC) April 7, 2001 July 2, 2001 (Новий Канал) July 4, 2001 (EBS) September 2, 2001 (Telétoon+) September 15, 2001 December 1, 2001 December 1, 2001 (Alpha Cinema 1) December 17, 2001 December 22, 2001 February 18, 2002 (VRAK.TV) April 22, 2002 April 29, 2002 (Kindernet) June 8, 2002 July 1, 2002 (TF1) August 17, 2002 (Nickelodeon) August 23, 2002 (Super RTL) October 7, 2002 (SRF ZWEI) October 14, 2002 (JEI TV) November 10, 2002 (Stöð 2) June 1, 2003 (Nickelodeon) July 1, 2003 August 21, 2003 (Nelonen) September 1, 2003 (TNT) September 20, 2003 (CNBC-e) January 12, 2004 (Orf 1) February 9, 2004 (Lativi) August 23, 2004 August 30, 2004 (Italia 1) October 1, 2004 (MTV) December 24, 2004 (Nickelodeon) 2005 (Nickelodeon) February 22, 2005 (ICTV) August 1, 2005 (Nickelodeon) September 12, 2005 (Nickelodeon) November 16, 2005 (Nickelodeon) January 29, 2006 (CCTV) February 1, 2006 (Global TV) June 24, 2006 (ETV) August 1, 2006 September 6, 2006 September 18, 2006 October 14, 2006 November 23, 2006 July 14, 2007 (TOP Channel) September 3, 2007 (Diema Family) June 15, 2008 (Boom Smarty) July 10, 2008 (Nickelodeon) July 23, 2008 June 21, 2009 August 30, 2010 (QTV) December 14, 2012 (Stöð 2 Krakkar) February 2, 2013 March 3, 2014 December 5, 2015 (Nick HD+) February 8, 2017 (Olloo TV) February 1, 2018 (PLUS PLUS) February 24, 2018 (TET) April 14, 2019 June 30, 2020 June 1, 2021 April 4, 2023
U.S. premiere time (ET):	9:30 pm
Copyright year:	1997 (1997 version) 1999 (1999 version)
U.S. viewers (millions):	2.96
Running time:	8 minutes, 16 seconds
Sister episode(s):	"Reef Blower" "Tea at the Treedome"
Credits
Guest(s):	Tiny Tim as a performer of Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight
Writer(s):	Stephen Hillenburg Derek Drymon Tim Hill
Storyboard Artist(s):	Derek Drymon
Storyboard:	Stephen Hillenburg
Animation:	Alan Smart
Creative:	Derek Drymon (uncredited)
Chronology
Next	"Reef Blower"

"Help Wanted" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season 1. In this episode, SpongeBob applies for a job at the Krusty Krab.

Characters

• French Narrator ^(debut)
• Sea urchins ^(debut)
• SpongeBob SquarePants ^(debut)
• Gary the Snail ^(debut)
• Shelley ^(debut)
• Patrick Star ^(debut)
• Squidward Tentacles ^(debut)
• Eugene H. Krabs ^(debut)
• Incidentals
  • Incidental 30s ^(debut)
  • Incidental 30As ^(debut)
• Betsy Krabs ^(mentioned)
• Fish in seafood section ^{(debut; deleted scene)}

Synopsis

"Home to one of my favorite creatures, SpongeBob SquarePants."

The French Narrator starts the series premiere by introducing both Bikini Bottom and "Home to one of his favorite sea creatures, SpongeBob SquarePants."

The scene then shifts to SpongeBob in bed before his alarm clock goes off, waking him up. He gets 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 with his iconic "I'm ready!", while Patrick Star encourages him from his rock.

SpongeBob starts talking about what job he will do when he reaches the Krusty Krab, but in the end, his reach is not ready. However, Patrick appears and stops him, encouraging him that he was born to have a job. SpongeBob eventually decides to go to the Krusty Krab to get the job. Squidward then 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 after jumping back and forth across the restaurant after stepping on a loose nail. 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 have the job.

SpongeBob prepares Krabby Patties for the crowd of anchovies.

Soon after SpongeBob leaves, five buses filled with a bunch of hungry 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 all settled, but they still crazier even more. Even though it seems the two are both finished due to the flood of anchovies, but then, SpongeBob comes right on time with the hydrodynamic spatula he found (as there was only one in stock), having fulfilled the errand Mr. Krabs gave him and leaving the two in stunned surprise. SpongeBob goes into the kitchen and cooks many Krabby Patties. "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight" is being played by Tiny Tim during the montage. SpongeBob tosses them to all the hungry anchovies until they all feel satisfied and leave the restaurant.

Mr. Krabs decides to recruit SpongeBob as a fry cook, much to Squidward's chagrin because SpongeBob brought him a lot of money. Then, Patrick walks into the restaurant and orders, prompting SpongeBob to create a slew of Krabby Patties and chuck them all at him, flinging the former out. Finally, the first episode of the series wraps up with Squidward shouting to Mr. Krabs, "Mr. Krabs! Mr. Krabs! Mr. Krabs, come see your new employee."

Production

Early sketches/Concept art

The original SpongeBob cast as shown in Stephen Hillenburg's pitch bible.

Storyboard (Rough)

Storyboard (Final)

• Boarded by Stephen Hillenburg and Derek Drymon.

SpongeBoy Ahoy Storyboards “Help Wanted” Full Episode

Cels and model sheets

Paintings

w/ foreground element

w/o foreground element

Unused Painting of the Barg N-Mart.

Deleted scene

Originally, there was a scene where SpongeBob tastes some samples from the seafood section in Barg N-Mart, saying that they're delicious

A painting of the seafood section in Barg N-Mart.

The storyboard page for the scene.

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 Rocko's Modern Life 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 Powwow Highway. 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."

Original storyboard drawn in 1997 and was titled "SpongeBoy Ahoy!"

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 pencil. 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 Cyma Zarghami, 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 Boy Scouts. 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 May 1, 1999, following the television airing of the 1999 Kids' Choice Awards. The series later made its "official" debut on July 17, 1999 with the second episode, "Bubblestand/Ripped Pants." This episode was re-aired on July 24, 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 (although a few early Season 1 episodes color it blue 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:

Squidward with pale cyan skin and Mr. Krabs with light red eyelids.

• 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. In some shots, his eyebrows closer resemble a mirrored version of their season 2-present appearance than their season 1-early season 2 form.
• Squidward's complexion is paler, his eyelids are the same color as his skin instead of darker, his laugh is different, the comedic "splat" sound is different, his legs are shorter, 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 making noises, 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.

-4K Upscaled- SpongeBob SquarePants Original 1997 Intro

1997 intro

SpongeBob SquarePants!

Miscellaneous:

• 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.
• Squidward's house has a path consisting of wooden blocks instead of stones as seen in every other episode.
• There is only one window in the front of SpongeBob's house. This was a feature in some of the other early episodes, such as "Jellyfishing" and "Boating School," but after those very early episodes, 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 "Sponge Bob Theme." It plays after Patrick says, "Go SpongeBob." The more familiar intro was used when the series officially aired.

Music

( ‣ ) Production music

( • ) Original music

( ◦ ) SpongeBob music

1997 pilot version

 ‣ Glissando (A) - Richard Myhill, Skaila Kanga [Opening to the sound of crashing waves]
 ‣ Aloha Oé - George K, Hans Haider, Queen Lili'uokalani [The opening]
 ‣ Honolulu March - George K, J Dounfrey, Hans Haider ["Today's the big day, Gary."]
 ‣ The Land Is Ours - Gregor F. Narholz [SpongeBob lifts his teddy bear weights.]
 ‣ Timpani Roll [#48] - Sammy Burdson [Overlays "The Land Is Ours."]
 ‣ Grand Orchestral Fanfare - Gregor F. Narholz [SpongeBob lifts his teddy bear weights.]
 ‣ Honolulu March - George K, J Dounfrey, Hans Haider ["I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready..."]
 • Sponge Bob Theme - Brad Carow [Title sequence]
 ‣ Next Door Neighbour - Rick Cassman, Vyvyan Hope-Scott ["The Krusty Krab, home of the Krabby Patty."]
 ‣ The Land Is Ours - Gregor F. Narholz [Patrick encourages SpongeBob.]
 ‣ Grand Orchestral Fanfare - Gregor F. Narholz ["Who's a big yellow cube with holes?"]
 ‣ Honolulu March - George K, J Dounfrey, Hans Haider [SpongeBob runs to the Krusty Krab.]
 ‣ Oyster Girls - Robert Alexander White ["Permission to come aboard, captain!"]
 ‣ The Rake Hornpipe - Robert Alexander White [Mr. Krabs gives SpongeBob a test.]
 ‣ Bartmania A - Guy Moon ["That sounded like hatch doors."]
 ‣ Menace from the Deep - Robert Cornford ["That smell... a kind of smelly smell."]
 ‣ Bartmania A - Guy Moon [Anchovies rush into the Krusty Krab/Anchovies pick up the boat/"All hands on deck! Get your anchors out of your pants!"]
 ‣ Cymbals [#85] - Mark Nolan [Plays before "Death Trap"]
 ‣ Death Trap [#27] - Gregor F. Narholz ["Batten down the hatches, Mr. Squidward!"]
 ‣ Bossa Cubana - Gerhard Narholz [SpongeBob shops for a hydro-dynamic spatula at Barg'N-Mart.]
 ‣ Battle at Sea - Johnny Pearson ["Climb, Mr. Squidward! Climb!"]
 ‣ Reach for the Stars - Richard A. Harvey [SpongeBob returns.]
 ‣ The Main Event - Gregor F. Narholz [The hydro-dynamic spatula is revealed.]
 ‣ Buffoonery - Van Phillips ["Who's hungry?"]
 ‣ Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight - Tiny Tim [Montage of SpongeBob making Krabby Patties/Ending.]

1999 recut version

 ‣ Hawaiian Train - Victor Cavini [Title card]
 ‣ Glissando (A) - Richard Myhill, Skaila Kanga [Bubble wipe]
 ‣ Aloha Oé - George K, Hans Haider, Queen Lili'uokalani [The opening]
 ‣ Honolulu March - George K, J Dounfrey, Hans Haider ["Today's the big day, Gary."]
 ‣ The Land Is Ours - Gregor F. Narholz [SpongeBob lifts his teddy bear weights.]
 ‣ Timpani Roll [#48] - Sammy Burdson [Overlays "The Land Is Ours."]
 ‣ Grand Orchestral Fanfare - Gregor F. Narholz [SpongeBob lifts his teddy bear weights.]
 ‣ Honolulu March - George K, J Dounfrey, Hans Haider ["I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready..."]
 ‣ Next Door Neighbour - Rick Cassman, Vyvyan Hope-Scott ["The Krusty Krab, home of the Krabby Patty."]
 ‣ The Land Is Ours - Gregor F. Narholz [Patrick encourages SpongeBob.]
 ‣ Grand Orchestral Fanfare - Gregor F. Narholz ["Who's a big yellow cube with holes?"]
 ‣ Honolulu March - George K, J Dounfrey, Hans Haider [SpongeBob runs to the Krusty Krab.]
 ‣ Oyster Girls - Robert Alexander White ["Permission to come aboard, captain!"]
 ‣ The Rake Hornpipe - Robert Alexander White [Mr. Krabs gives SpongeBob a test.]
 ‣ Bartmania A - Guy Moon ["That sounded like hatch doors."]
 ‣ Menace from the Deep - Robert Cornford ["That smell... a kind of smelly smell."]
 ‣ Bartmania A - Guy Moon [Anchovies rush into the Krusty Krab/Anchovies pick up the boat/"All hands on deck! Get your anchors out of your pants!"]
 ‣ Cymbals [#85] - Mark Nolan [Plays before "Death Trap"]
 ‣ Death Trap [#27] - Gregor F. Narholz ["Batten down the hatches, Mr. Squidward!"]
 ‣ Bossa Cubana - Gerhard Narholz [SpongeBob shops for a hydro-dynamic spatula at Barg'N-Mart.]
 ‣ Battle at Sea - Johnny Pearson ["Climb, Mr. Squidward! Climb!"]
 ‣ Reach for the Stars - Richard A. Harvey [SpongeBob returns.]
 ‣ The Main Event - Gregor F. Narholz [The hydro-dynamic spatula is revealed.]
 ‣ Buffoonery - Van Phillips ["Who's hungry?"]
 ‣ Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight - Tiny Tim [Montage of SpongeBob making Krabby Patties/Ending.]

Release

• This episode was released on the The Best of Nicktoons 1998 VHS and the following media:
  • 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, Part 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 fan-voted SpongeBob SquarePants marathons, "Help Wanted" was ranked #24 during the Best Day Ever event from November 9–10, 2006 and #6 during The Ultimate SpongeBob SpongeBash event from July 17–19, 2009.
• "Help Wanted" was ranked #69 during the SpongeBob's Top 100 event in the UK and Ireland from June 4-8, 2012.
• 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 iTunes and Amazon.com. His description states:

"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!)."

Trivia

General

• This episode was originally called "Sponge Overboard" when it was outlined in the 1997 pitch bible.
• 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 very first episode for a few things:
  • The very first episode of not just SpongeBob SquarePants, but also the entire SpongeBob franchise.
  • The very first episode SpongeBob, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Patrick, and Gary appear in.
  • The very first episode to show a live-action scene. The corals at the beginning are live-action.
• This is the only episode for a few things:
  • The only episode where the music is edited by William B. Griggs, M.P.S.E., as the next episode to be produced, "Tea at the Treedome," was edited by Nicolas Carr.
  • The only episode in the first three seasons to not have a creative director credited in the opening credits.
    • This does not count "Reef Blower," which does not have opening credits.
• This episode is referenced in "Bottle Burglars" when the bottom of Mr. Krabs' desk reads "05-01-99," which is the airdate for this episode.
• This episode is not included on The Complete 1st Season, The 1st Season: Volume 1, The Complete First Season, The First & Second Seasons, and Movies & TV Collection DVDs, due to a copyright claim with the song "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight" by Tiny Tim, which is played during the ending of the episode. According to Derek Drymon, this is because Nickelodeon did not want to pay Tiny Tim's estate for the rights.
  • Because of that, this is the only season 1 episode to not be featured on those DVDs.
  • However, it is included as a bonus feature on disc 3 of The Complete 3rd Season, 10 Happiest Moments, The Complete Third Season, 2-Season TV Pack, and The Third & Fourth Seasons DVDs.
    • However, on the German DVD release of season 1, the episode is included.
• Sometimes "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight" is replaced with "12th St Rag" on newer releases, most notably on the official SpongeBob SquarePants YouTube channel, which uses the same sped-up, high pitched variation as "I Was a Teenage Gary."
• During the Best Day Ever marathon, this episode was paired up with "Reef Blower" and "Your Shoe's Untied."

SpongeBob is close towards the camera and stares at it with one eye open.

• Fourth wall break: When SpongeBob is prepping himself and says, "Look 'em straight in the eye," he briefly approaches the camera and stares at it with one eye open.
• The part where SpongeBob says 'I'm ready!" is featured in the song "I'm Ready," a song from the band AJR.
• According to "The Origin of SpongeBob SquarePants," the crew had two weeks to write this episode.
• This is Bill Fagerbakke's favorite episode.
• The beginning of the episode, in which SpongeBob says "Today's the big day, Gary," can be seen on a TV in the 2002 comedy film Orange County.
• 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 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!" as a 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," where it is shown that he cooked his very first Krabby Patty with perfect results as a baby.
• During the cooking scene, two ketchup dispensers have the Flag of Japan on them.
• This is one of the seven episodes in which the 1986-2002 Paramount logo is plastered with the 2002-2011 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 online game based on this episode titled 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.
• On September 7, 2013, there was a live script reading with the voice actors at Universal Studios Hollywood for this episode as part of SpongeBob Fan Shellabration.
• SpongeBob mentions the episode's title when he says, "With a Help Wanted sign on the window."
• This episode was referenced in "Gary's Playhouse" where little buses arrived as loads to nematodes goes into the Tiny Krusty Krab as they flood it for Krabby Patties which is making a reference to the anchovies scene in this episode. BunnyKrabs also gives SpongeGary a Hydro-dynamic spatula which is referencing this episode as well.

A reference to this episode is seen as "Help Wanted" is used as a quest title.

• This episode was referenced in Nickverse as a title for a quest.
• On Apple TV listings of this episode (along with its two sister episodes), the airdate is accidentally listed as April 9, 2012 instead of the correct May 1, 1999.
• 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.
  • In the credits in the 1997 version, the song "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight" is incorrectly listed as "Living in the Sunshine, Loving in the Moonlight."_[sic] The same screen in the 1997 version also reads "written and performed by Tiny Tim (courtesy Reprise Records.)" with a period at the end. The 1999 version has the song listed as "Living in The Sunshine, Loving in The Moonlight."_[sic] The same screen in the 1999 version also reads "written & performed by Tiny Tim (courtesy Reprise Records)" without a period at the end. The word "and" is written in ampersand form instead of letter form like in the 1997 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.

Cast credits of "Help Wanted" 1997 version.

Cast credits of "Help Wanted" 1999 version.

Misspelled "Erik Weise" in the 1997 credits version.

Correctly spelled "Erik Wiese" in the 1999 credits version.

The song "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight" is incorrectly listed in the 1997 credits version.

The song "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight" is still incorrectly listed in the 1999 credits version, but with some slight grammar changes.

A rare early logo used in the ending of the original 1997 version of "Help Wanted," before United Plankton Pictures, Inc. was created.

The United Plankton Pictures, Inc. logo used in the ending of the 1999 version of "Help Wanted."

1997 copyright of "Help Wanted."

1999 copyright of "Help Wanted."

Dub facts

• In the Italian dub, "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight" was mostly cut, most likely for copyright reasons.
• In the Brazilian dub, in the early airings of the show on Globo in 2003, "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight" was replaced by an instrumental version of the CatDog theme song.

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.
• In the beginning, SpongeBob's house is missing a window.
• When SpongeBob is looking at the Krusty Krab, he is on the sand. In the next shot, he is 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 him 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 appears.
• 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 are on has 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.
• When SpongeBob says "So, uh, when do I start?," the screen shakes for a split second.
• The Chum Bucket is not across the street from the Krusty Krab in this episode. This is due to the Chum Bucket not appearing until its debut.
• When SpongeBob is heading towards the Krusty Krab saying "Go SpongeBob, Go, SpongeBob!," his mouth movements are animated incorrectly.
• SpongeBob's eyelashes disappear when he looks for a spatula in the Barg'N-Mart.

Stephen Hilleburg mistake, missing the N.

SpongeBob's house is missing a window.

SpongeBob isn't turning.

On the left, SpongeBob is seen on the sand. On the right, SpongeBob is seen on the road.

Patrick having pink eyelids instead of purple.

SpongeBob's red collar.

Another instance of SpongeBob's red collar.

Sign error.

The arrow is missing.

The screen shakes for a split second.

Four buses arrive, then it becomes five.

The top of Squidward's mouth is separated with a line (error circled).

The order here sign is missing.

White parts of the Krusty Krabs flags are purple.

Squidward's purple teeth.

Red circles are shown, however in the next frame they change to blue.

Mr. Krabs with no undershirt.

The anchor on Squidward's hat is missing.

Yellow teeth error.

Alternate/inverted credits background error.

Videos

SpongeBob SquarePants Series Premiere - "Help Wanted," "Reef Blower," and "Tea at the Treedome" Official Promo (1999)

SpongeBob SquarePants Series Premiere - "Help Wanted," "Reef Blower," and "Tea at the Treedome" Next Saturday Morning Official Promo (May 1, 1999)

SpongeBob SquarePants Original Theme Clip 1997

Old Promo from Kids Choice Awards - SpongeBob SquarePants (1999)

Firsts from the First Episode SpongeBob SquarePants Edition Nick

SpongeBob's Official Debut 🦀 The Very FIRST 5 Minutes of Help Wanted!

SpongeBob SquarePants - "Help Wanted" Animatic

SpongeBob SquarePants First Episode in 5 Minutes! 🐟 HELP WANTED

If SpongeBob was a Black & White Cartoon PART 2 - "Help Wanted" - SpongeBob- Reimagined S2

The Ugly Barnacle IRL + More Crazy Recreations! 📘 - s