Splashy News Makes Waves on Dry Land!

Splashy News Makes Waves on Dry Land!

Twenty New Episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants to Premiere on Nickelodeon Beginning in 2006

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Emmy-nominated hit Nickelodeon series, SpongeBob SquarePants, has been picked up for 20 additional episodes to premiere on Nickelodeon in 2006, it was announced today by Marjorie Cohn, Executive Vice President, Development and Original Programming, Nickelodeon. Executive produced by creator Stephen Hillenburg, the new order will bring the total number of episodes for the series to 100, and will feature the original voice cast including Tom Kenny as SpongeBob, Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick, Rodger Bumpass as Squidward, Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs and Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks.

"We're happy to be announcing the pick up of 20 all new SpongeBob episodes," said Cohn. "The series continues to be number one with kid audiences and SpongeBob and the gang from Bikini Bottom have many adventures ahead."

Launched in July 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has since emerged as a pop culture phenomenon and one of the most popular series in kids' television history. The Saturday morning play of the series currently ranks as the number-one rated program among Kids 2-11. Nearly 53.7 million viewers tune into the show each month, including 22.1 million Kids 2-11, 12.7 million Tweens 9-14 and 12.9 million Adults 18+. (Source: Nielsen Cume Data -May 2005). Adult viewers also continue to tune-in and have increased by 31% since the premiere of the show. SpongeBob SquarePants is syndicated with 171 broadcasters around the world, airing in every major market across Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America and seen in 25 languages.

Next up for the series, "Where's Gary?," a half-hour special event premiering on Nickelodeon this Friday, November 11 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). It's a sad day in Bikini Bottom when SpongeBob learns that his beloved pet snail Gary is missing and that he may be at fault in the mollusk's disappearance. In "Where's Gary," Gary runs away from home after feeling neglected by SpongeBob and is "adopted" by a new owner. After realizing the error of his ways, SpongeBob sets out with his best friend Patrick to search high and low for his adored pet and bring him back to his rightful home.

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. Hillenburg created and executive produced The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie which hit theaters in November 2004.

Paul Tibbitt served as a director and writer on SpongeBob SquarePants for all three seasons and is executive producer of the fourth. He wrote some of the show's most memorable episodes such as "Ripped Pants" and "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy." Tibbitt is one of the co-writers and storyboard artists on The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. SpongeBob SquarePants is a Nicktoons Production and is produced at the Nicktoons Studio in Burbank, CA.

Nickelodeon, now in its 26th 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 United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 89 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for more than nine consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Nicole Parker, +1-818-736-3613, for Nickelodeon

Web site: http://www.nick.com/

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