Help Wanted (Episode)

Help Wanted
Episode No.:	1b
Season/Year:	1/1999
Airdate:	May 1, 1999
Previewed Episode:	--
Next Episode:	Reef Blower
Characters - Portayer
SpongeBob	Tom Kenny
Gary the Snail	Tom Kenny
Matthew	Tom Kenny
Patrick	Bill Fagerbakke
Mr. Krabs	Clancy Brown
Squidward	Rodger Bumpass
No Image © Nickelodeon

"Help Wanted" is the opening SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season one, usually referred to as the first of three SpongeBob pilot episodes. Template:Spoiler Brief summary: SpongeBob gets a job at the Krusty Krab.

Time/Date:

7:00 a.m.: SpongeBob wakes up

Time cards shown: None

Characters Present:

SpongeBob SquarePants (debut)
Squidward Tentacles (debut)
Eugene Krabs (debut)
Patrick Star (debut)
Anchovies (debut)
Gary the Snail (debut)
French Narrator (debut)

Songs:

Barg'N-Mart, performed by SpongeBob SquarePants
Livin' the Sunlight, Lovin' the Moonlight, performed by Tiny Tim<ref>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.</ref>
Livin' the Sunlight, Lovin' the Moonlight Reprise, performed by Tiny Tim

Plot

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 declares that he is ready.

The Krusty Krab is first seen on this episode.

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 dreamed of for years; however, he loses his confidence. Patrick convinces him to go for the job, and so SpongeBob does so, thereby declaring he is ready three more times.<ref>SpongeBob says "I'm ready" at the Krusty Krab three times. The last time he says it, his collar turns red.</ref> Squidward Tentacles, the head cashier, is cleaning the window (his head is drawn and loser is written above it). Squidward sees that SpongeBob wants the job, and so he tells 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 a Turbo-Drive' (essentially sending SpongeBob on a form of snipe hunt).

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,<ref>After Squidward said to all the anchovies, "Is this any way to behave?", one of the anchovies "meeped", but the closed captions did not show that it made that sound.</ref> then requests that there be a single-file line in front of the cash register. But the anchovies angerly 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 good-byes. Suddenly, SpongeBob arrives, flying with his 'hydrodynamic spatula with port and starboard attachments and a 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.<ref>SpongeBob made a Krabby Patty before he was hired and it is assumed that he did not know the Krabby Patty secret formula.</ref>

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 nametag. 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 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 hit Patrick and send him flying out of the restaurant. Worried, Squidward calls Mr. Krabs to come see his new employee.

Template:Endspoiler

Animation style

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. 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, Squidward's complexion is more pale, 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 & irises are smaller with 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 sticks behind his house. In addition, the animation was not as high quality compared to the following episodes, as the rapid movement made by SpongeBob when he was bouncing off the walls, roof, and floor of the Krusty Krab showed just a yellow square with very few features. When the anchovies were jumping up and down they were just blue and brown (mostly blue) finger-shaped ovals. 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. SpongeBob's alarm clock has a different ship horn sound than his alarm clock in later episodes. Also, SpongeBob has a pet scallop that he kept in a bird cage in his room. The changes were made when the series officially aired.