HELP WANTED

Episode Title: "Help Wanted"

Episode Airing Number: 1

Episode Production Number: 1

Original Airdate: May 1, 1999

Season: 1

On DVD: "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete Third Season"

On VHS: (none)

Aired With Episode: "Reef Blower" and "Tea at the Treedome"

Running Time: 8:18

Storyboard Director: Stephen Hillenburg

Storyboard Artist: Derek Drymon

Writers: Stephen Hillenburg, Derek Drymon and Tim Hill

Animation Director: Alan Smart

In Brief: SpongeBob tries to get a job at the Krusty Krab in the pilot episode.

Story: SpongeBob wakes up one morning, excited about his big day ahead. He plans on getting a job at the Krusty Krab, which he believes is the finest restaurant in Bikini Bottom. Right before he goes in, he chickens out, but Patrick convinces him to keep going. Squidward is horrified to discover SpongeBob coming for a job, so he runs to warn Mr. Krabs but doesn't in time. SpongeBob gets off to a rocky start by tripping on a nail and flying all over when he steps in, but then he tells Mr. Krabs he wants to be on the Krusty Krew. Squidward tells Mr. Krabs not to hire him. To make sure SpongeBob never gets hired, Krabs tells him to go buy him a hydrodynamic spatula with port and starboard attachments and turbo-drive, and not to come back until he finds one.

While SpongeBob's out, a swarm of hungry anchovies come to the Krusty Krab. They go crazy, throwing Squidward and Krabs around the restaurant like a tidal wave and trapping them at the top of the crow's nest. SpongeBob suddenly flies in with the spatula they asked for, stumping the two on how he actually found one like that. SpongeBob zooms into the kitchen and whips up tons of patties with his super spatula, feeding every anchovy and clearing out the Krusty Krab.

Mr. Krabs is very amazed with SpongeBob's first frycooking impression (and at all the money he made). To Squidward's dismay, he hires the new guy. Then, Patrick walks in and asks for a Krabby Patty, so SpongeBob flings out a huge number at once like earlier, causing havoc in the restaurant.

Song: "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight" (sung by Tiny Tim)

Things that bother you never bother me

I feel happy as pie, a-ha!

Living in the sunlight, loving in the moonlight

Having a wonderful time

Haven't got a lot, I don't need a lot

Coffee's only a dime

Living in the sunlight, loving in the moonlight

Having a wonderful time

Just take it from me, I'm just as free as any daughter

I do what I like, just when I like, and how I love it!

I'm right here to stay, when I'm old and gray

I'll be right in my prime

Living in the sunlight, loving in the moonlight

Having a wonderful time

Quotes:

Patrick: Whose first words were, 'May I take your order?'

SpongeBob: Mine were.

Patrick: Who made a spatula out of toothpicks in wood shop?

SpongeBob: I did.

Patrick: Who's... *struggles for words* ...who's...who's the big yellow cube with holes?

SpongeBob: I am!

Patrick: Who's ready?

SpongeBob: I'm ready!

Patrick: Who's ready?

SpongeBob: I'm ready!

Patrick: Who's ready?

SpongeBob: I'm readdddy!

SpongeBob: I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready! Go SpongeBob! Go SpongeBob! Go SpongeBob! Go Self!

SpongeBob: Mr. Krabs, please. I'll prove I'm frycook material. Ask Squidward, he'll vouch for me.

Squidward: *walks away to talk with Mr. Krabs secretly; takes a deep breath* No.

Mr. Krabs: Do you smell it? That smell...the kind of smelly smell...the smelly smell that smells...smelly.

Mr. Krabs: *thrown up and down in boat by wild anchovies* Button down the hatches, Mr. Squidward! *tossed down and back up* We're taking on water, Mr. Squidward! *tossed down and back up, now Krabs holds Squidward* I want my mommy, Mr. Squidward!

Observations:

Misspelling In the opening credits, Stephen Hillenburg's name is spelt 'Stephen Hilleburg' under his writer's credit. It is spelt correctly under his storyboard director's credit, however.

Bamboo Posts Squidward's house has bamboo posts in the backyard. These aren't in any other episode.

Forgetting Something? SpongeBob lands in his pants without underwear when he dives off his board.

Forgetting Something...again? SpongeBob runs off to the Krusty Krab without closing his door.

Sound of Tentacles A sucking sound can be heard when the suction cups of Squidward's feet hit the floor as he runs to Mr. Krabs.

Nobody Following Orders Every window on the bus has pairs of anchovy hands sticking out when they're told to stay seated and keep hands in the window.

Twitch Mr. Krabs' right eyelid twitches when he's talking about the "smelly smell" (anchovies).

Blink! Whenever an anchovy blinks, a "ching" sound is heard.

Temporary Wallpaper During the "Livin' in the Sunlight" sequence, in shots of SpongeBob whipping out patties with his spatula, floral wallpaper is seen behind him. The Krusty Krab kitchen doesn't have wallpaper.

DVD Problem For an unknown reason, this episode didn't appear on the season 1 SpongeBob DVD set. Eventually, it was released as a special feature on the season 3 DVD set. It has been speculated that perhaps there were once problems with the musical rights to "Livin' in the Sunlight."