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"Help Wanted" is the series premiere episode of the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. It originally aired on Nickelodeon in the United States on May 1, 1999, following the television airing of the 1999 Kids' Choice Awards. The episode follows the main protagonist, an anthropomorphic sponge named SpongeBob SquarePants attempts to get a job at the local restaurant called the Krusty Krab, but is tasked to find a seemingly non-existent high-caliber spatula because the owner, Mr. Krabs, considers him unqualified for the position. Series creator Stephen Hillenburg initially conceived the show in 1984 and began to work on it shortly after the cancellation of Rocko's Modern Life in 1996. To voice the character of SpongeBob, Hillenburg approached Tom Kenny, who had worked with him on Rocko's Modern Life. For the series pitch, Hillenburg originally wanted the idea of having SpongeBob and Squidward on a road trip, inspired by the 1989 film Powwow Highway. Hillenburg gave up the idea, and started anew with the idea he and Derek Drymon came up for "Help Wanted" based on an experience Hillenburg had in the Boy Scouts. The episode was written by Hillenburg, Derek Drymon, and Tim Hill, and the animation director was Alan Smart. "Help Wanted" features a musical performance from Tiny Tim (pictured) singing his song called "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight". "Help Wanted" was excluded in the series first season DVD release because Nickelodeon did not want to pay Tim's estate for the DVD rights. It had since been released as a bonus feature to various series DVDs. "Help Wanted" gained an average of 6.9 million views, receiving positive reviews from media critics.
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