Nickandmore!

via Nickelodeon press release:

KIDS DECIDE THE FATE OF THEIR FAVORITE SEA SPONGE AND HIS UNDERWATER SIDEKICKS IN A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF NICKELODEON’S SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS AIRING IN PRIME-TIME ON FRIDAY, MARCH 9

Kids Vote Online or Call Toll-Free Number to Choose One of Three Endings Tom Kenny, the Voice of SpongeBob, Makes Rare On-Camera Appearance

Pasadena, CA. – January 17, 2001 – Kids will get to choose the official ending to a special prime-time presentation of SpongeBob SquarePants airing on Friday, March 9, 2001 at 8:00 PM (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. In a suspenseful half-hour special titled “You Wish,” kids will be able to vote online or call in to choose whom they would most like to see get their wish granted — SpongeBob, Patrick or Squidward — which in turn will decide the official ending of the episode. In addition, Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob, will make a rare on-camera appearance as “Patchy,” a pirate who is president of the SpongeBob fan club. “Patchy” will appear at the beginning and end of the special to help guide kids through the online and call-in voting process.

When a mysterious anchor crashes into SpongeBob’s house, SpongeBob, Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke, Coach) and Squidward (Rodger Bumpass, Rugrats) decide to investigate by climbing the attached rope. When they reach the top, they discover the ghost ship of the legendary pirate, the Flying Dutchman.

Once aboard, the trio is captured by the Flying Dutchman (Brian Doyle Murray, Saturday Night Live) who enslaves them as his crew for eternity. When the Dutchman banishes Squidward to the fly of despair (a zippered portal to a creepy place), SpongeBob and Patrick alone begin their duties as “scary and miserable crew members.” But when the Flying Dutchman sees that they are neither scary, nor miserable and in fact enjoying their chores, he sentences them to be his accomplice ghost pirates who must frighten innocent people. When SpongeBob and Patrick fail at being scary, the Dutchman informs them that he plans to eat them tomorrow.

That evening, the desperate duo overhear the Dutchman mention that he can’t eat without his dining socks and they promptly steal them. When the Dutchman finds out, he offers SpongeBob and Patrick three wishes in exchange for the socks. After blowing the first wish foolishly, they accidentally use the second to wish Squidward were there to help them. Now, with two wishes gone and Squidward unhappily back aboard, they argue over who gets the final wish. In the end, Nickelodeon viewers will decide who gets the final wish by voting for SpongeBob, Patrick or Squidward’s wish to be granted.

SpongeBob SquarePants is currently the #2 ranked television series (behind Rugrats) among Kids 2-11. During 4th Quarter 2000, Spongebob SquarePants consistently won its 8 PM slot on Thursdays, outscoring all broadcast and cable competitors. On weekends, Spongebob SquarePants has scored a 6.51 rating and 27 share, with ratings up +7% versus year-ago time period averages for the Saturday and Sunday 10 AM hour. More than 28 million people watch SpongeBob SquarePants each month, including 16.8 million Kids, 3.2 million Teens and 10.1 million adults.

Dwelling a few fathoms beneath the tropical isle of Bikini Atoll in the sub-surface city of Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob lives in a two-story pineapple. Instead of taking the logical approach to everyday challenges, SpongeBob looks at life in an unconventional way. Whether searching for the ultimate spatula to perfect his burger flipping technique at the Krusty Krab, or just hanging out with his best friend Patrick (an amiable starfish), SpongeBob’s good intentions and overzealous nature usually create chaos in his underwater world.

SpongeBob SquarePants is created and executive produced by Stephen Hillenburg, who previously worked as a writer, director and creative director on Nickelodeon’s animated series, Rocko’s Modern Life. Hillenburg graduated from the California Institute of the Arts with a master’s degree in Experimental Animation and studied marine biology and art as an undergraduate. Before beginning a career in animation, Hillenburg worked with kids as a science educator and staff artist at the Orange County Marine Institute. His independent animated films “The Green Beret” and “Wormholes” have been exhibited internationally in such festivals as Annecy, Hiroshima, Ottawa, Oberhausen and the Los Angeles Animation Celebration.

SpongeBob SquarePants is a Nicktoons Production and is produced at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, California. Stephen Hillenburg is Creator and Executive Producer. Derek Drymon is the Creative Director and Helen Kalafatic is the Line Producer.

Nickelodeon, now in its 22nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the U.S. and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, publishing and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 78 million households and has been the number-one rated cable network for more than five consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

Source: Nielsen Media Research, 6/26-11/12/00