Nickelodeon Celebrates 10 Years of SpongeBob

UNIVERSAL CITY, January 12: The hit kids’ property SpongeBob SquarePants turns ten this year, and Nickelodeon has lined up a range of events and specials to celebrate, including the launch of a new online site.

Today, the new vertical SpongeBob fan site launches in beta at spongebob.com. The website features an age-appropriate community, complete with personalized profiles, chat features and playlists; the ability to search for favorite SpongeBob moments or comment on the funniest videos; or a new mini-game every week. More than 300 searchable SpongeBob video clips from every episode of the series will be available at launch, as well as a selection of full-length episodes from each season and brand-new episodes immediately following their on-air premieres. Users can also participate in the backstage area featuring a creator’s blog and interviews; play the more than 100 SpongeBob-themed games; or subscribe to the "Daily Affirmation," providing SpongeBob’s thought of the day.

Additionally, SpongeBob SquarePants‘ voice-actors will perform a live reading of a never-before-seen episode, "SpongeBob vs. The Big One," accompanied by a visual presentation and celebrity guest appearances, for invited guests at the Village at the Yard venue in Park City, Utah, on January 18.

Also to mark the anniversary, Nickelodeon has commissioned the first full-length original TV documentary that will chronicle the character’s evolution. The documentary will air across MTV Networks’ various TV platforms to commemorate the anniversary of the series’ first episode.

Nickelodeon’s celebration will continue with new episodes throughout the year. A week of new premieres will air in March, and in April, the half-hour TV special SpongeBob vs. The Big One premieres. In November, Nick will debut an hour-long TV movie event that features the friends looking back on shared memories.

SpongeBob will also be featured as part of Nick’s ongoing pro-social campaign The Big Green Help. This year, the campaign will devote much of its time to raising awareness about the oceans and water conservation through SpongeBob and You Save the Big Blue, in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).

"SpongeBob has been a gift that keeps on giving to kids and adults alike with its infectious sense of humor, joy and boundless optimism," said Cyma Zarghami, the president of Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group. "After 10 years, the show remains on top of its game and at the top of the ratings, and we’re paying tribute with all kinds of content across our platforms to give our audience ample opportunity to enjoy SpongeBob throughout the year."

—By Kristin Brzoznowski