Since its debut on May 1, 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has aired over 200 episodes. Like many long-running shows, several episodes of the series entered production but were never completed. This is a list of unproduced episodes.
Pearl's origin[]
An untitled special episode about Pearl's origin and the identity of her mother, Mrs. Krabs, was written at one point.[1] The details of the pitch for the episode are unknown, aside from that Pearl was intended to be a foundling, indicating that Mr. Krabs found her somewhere.[2] An outline was made, but before the episode got produced, Stephen Hillenburg vetoed the episode; one of his main rules for the show was to never reveal Pearl's mother.
On June 3, 2015, Vincent Waller said on Twitter: "We tried [to make the episode], but the story idea was nixed by Steve. He liked to keep it a mystery."[3]
On July 16, 2015, he elaborated: "Do you mean the truth of her origin? An outline was written once, but it was set aside. Never approved."[1] When a fan suggested possible origins, he said: "You're not the first to try, including writing staff. Steve says NO to any and all explanations [of] Pearl's origin stories."[4]
On December 30, 2016, he confirmed that the episode would never be made.[5]
SpongeBob's origin[]
In a Q&A, Richard Pursel revealed that he wrote origin stories for SpongeBob and Pearl, but both were rejected by Stephen Hillenburg. The origin story of SpongeBob was supposed to explain his square shape, with SpongeBob starting life as a natural yellow sponge, until he was taken out of the water into a factory on land, where his head was carved into his signature square shape by the Cyclops.[6][7]
SpongeBob's Birthday[]
An unproduced episode for Season 2 had the working title of "SpongeBob's Birthday." The basic plot was SpongeBob thinking his friends forgot about his birthday and getting sad, until it turns out they were planning a surprise party for him.[8] Jay Lender hated the idea and turned the premise down, telling Steve that the show would be over if they produced such a cliche idea. He recalls the premise being given to some other members of the team, but thinks they did not want to do it either, leading the episode to be scrapped altogether. Later, in Season 12, an episode celebrating SpongeBob's birthday titled "SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout" would be produced for the 20th anniversary.
"Krab's Army"[]
This episode entered production during Season 9. This episode was originally paired with "Company Picnic" but due to the episode got scrapped, this, got replaced with "Pull Up a Barrel" and "Company Picnic" got re-written. This episode, "Company Picnic," and "SpaceBob InvaderPants" were announced on January 10, 2014.[9]
The plot for this episode: "Mr. Krabs thinks that the boys are slacking on the job and puts them through his personal boot camp."[9]
On September 4, 2015, Vincent Waller said that this was real but that they would not be completed.[10] He explained that the crew felt that their plots were not good enough to be made into finished episodes.[11]
"SpongeBob InvaderPants"[]
Concept art for aliens characters (left).
The plot for this episode: "SpongeBob and Patrick become obsessed with making contact with extraterrestrial life, they ask Sandy to build a device that transmits the luring smell of Krabby Patties."[9]
This episode entered production during season 9. This, along with "Company Picnic" (listed as Dueling Picnics), and "Krab's Army" were announced on January 10, 2014.[9] When the writing staff moved to work on The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, This episode was "shelved."[12] This means they were put aside and never revisited.
On September 4, 2015, Vincent Waller said that this was real but that they would not be completed.[10] He explained that the crew felt that their plots were not good enough to be made into finished episodes.[11]
On July 19, 2017, Waller confirmed that "SpongeBob InvaderPants" did not make it past storyboards.[13] He also said that the storyboards were "locked away" and would not be revealed to the public or remade into a modern episode.[14] On July 5, 2018, he confirmed that voices for the episodes were never recorded.[15]
Dave Cunningham addressed issues surrounding these episodes in a Q&A with Encyclopedia SpongeBobia, saying the episodes "just don't exist" as far as he was aware.[16]
Casey Alexander later revealed in a Q&A that "SpongeBob InvaderPants" was about Space Aliens finding themselves at the Krusty Krab and asking for lunch. But Mr. Krabs doesn't accept their currency and so they take the Krusty Krab up into space and demand SpongeBob to cook a Krabby Patty.[17]
"Krusty Krab Bed 'N' Breakfast"[]
This episode title was listed on Nickelodeon Poland's sitemap. When asked about it, Vincent Waller said it was going to be produced, just under a different title. However, no episode about a bed-and-breakfast has been made since. He said: "That is an old working title, it has been renamed, but I am sworn to secrecy as to its new title....for now."[18]
"My Pet Pat"[]
In July 2022, the premise outline for an episode called "My Pet Pat" was listed on eBay. The episode was to be produced in season 7, and outlined by Derek Iversen on March 13, 2009.
"Red Riptides"[]
In July 2022, the premise outline for a 4-minute short episode called "Red Riptides" was listed on eBay. The episode was to be produced in season 5, and outlined by Richard Pursel on December 14, 2005. This episode was likely an earlier version of "Boat Smarts."
"Camp Headtrauma"[]
In July 2022, the premise outline for a 7-minute episode called "Camp Headtrauma" was listed on eBay. The episode was to be produced in season 5, and outlined by Dani Michaeli on September 1, 2006. It was supposedly shelved for "The Inmates of Summer" (then called "Camp Incarceration"), which was outlined just 28 days later on September 29, 2006.
"Sponge Sprite"[]
In July 2022, the premise outline for an episode called "Sponge Sprite" was listed on eBay. The episode was to be produced in season 7, and outlined by Dani Michaeli presumably around 2009. It was supposedly shelved for "The Bad Guy Club for Villains," which has the same runtime.
"Surf N' Turf"[]
In July 2022, the premise outline for an episode called "Surf N' Turf" was listed on eBay. The episode was to be produced in season 8, and outlined by Richard Pursel on August 4, 2010. The previous suggested titles for the episode were "Sea Treats: From The Sea To Your Tummy!," "Locals Only," and "Wacko Tacos." The episode's title was later repurposed for an unrelated episode in Season 11.
"Pineapple Panic"[]
According to Vincent Waller, an episode titled "Pineapple Panic" was shelved.[19] The basic plot of this episode went as follows: "The citizens of Bikini Bottom panic when SpongeBob's pineapple begins to grow over the entire town!"
"Pineapple Princess"[]
In July 2022, the premise outline for an episode called "Pineapple Princess" was listed on eBay. The episode was to be produced in season 8, and outlined by Richard Pursel on July 19, 2010.
The episode's plot follows SpongeBob meeting the Pineapple Princess of Bikini Top and her minions while out blowing bubbles. SpongeBob invites the princess over to his house, causing her old minions to leave, while she renovates the pineapple look more like a palace. Patrick visits, and is hired as one of her guards. The two take her to the Krusty Krab, where she eats a large amount of Krabby Patties.
Meanwhile, SpongeBob finds out that the Pineapple Princess has left against the King's will, and sees "missing" posters of her outside the Krusty Krab. He finds the princess at his house, and suggests that she go back to her father. However, the princess throws a tantrum, being made to eat nothing but pineapple-based foods at home.
Patrick gets hungry and takes the three of them back to Bikini Top. There, it turns out that the princess's "home" is the Bikini Top Grocery Store; the "King," an overweight man laying in a lawn chair, is just an actor in their commercials. However, he is grateful for SpongeBob and Patrick, and has the Princess make them pineapple lattes. She gets upset and threatens to run away again, to which the King replies, "No attitude from you, little lady!"
"Best Friends for Never"[]
On December 2022, a promotional image for this episode was released on Discord. The basic plot of this episode went as follows: "SpongeBob & Patrick learn that sponges and sea stars aren't normally friends, which tears their friendship--and then, all of Bikini Bottom--apart."
This episode was to be produced as the 29th and 30th segments of season 9 (prod. codes #325-929 and #325-930) and was originally going to be packaged and advertised as the 200th episode special, but was scrapped following production of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water and later replaced with "Goodbye, Krabby Patty?"
"Village Idiots"[]
This episode was originally produced for season 11 with a production code #325-1128. But was confirmed from a tweet from Vincent Waller on November 12, 2018.[20] Confirming that the episode is in the place-holder for a future season 12 episode with a different title, referring that the episode has been scrapped in favor for that said episode.
Pitch bible outlines[]
The 1997 pitch bible for SpongeBob included several stories that were never made into episodes.
Salty Sodas[]
The episode's outline
This untitled episode was one of the supposed proposals for the pilot episode.[21] The episode involves SpongeBob secretly drinking Krusty Krab sodas when Mr. Krabs tells him not to do. SpongeBob begins to bloat and then hovers around the Krusty Krab, causing damage to the structure. Now Squidward must hide the floating SpongeBob from Mr. Krabs and Pearl, who are visiting the Krusty Krab.
The Krusty Mobile[]
The episode's outline
This untitled episode was one of the supposed proposals for the pilot episode.[21] The episode involves Mr. Krabs transforming the Krusty Krab into a giant ship that shoots Krabby Patties (then called Barnacle Burgers). While they go around town selling the burgers, Plankton creates a Chum Bucket submarine to drive Mr. Krabs out of business. The two later start a battle in their vehicles by shooting each other's food items at their enemies. In the end, Plankton surrenders, as he has run all out of Chum ammo. The concept of a mobile Krusty Krab and Chum Bucket would later be used in "20,000 Patties Under the Sea." The Krusty Krab as a ship would later appear in "Grandpappy the Pirate."
Overbite[]
The episode's outline
This untitled episode was one of the supposed proposals for the pilot episode. The episode is involves SpongeBob being selfconscious of his teeth and trying to change his appearance. When no one notices SpongeBob at the beach, he goes back to Patrick who trys inflating his lips even greater and they explode. In the end, SpongeBob ends up in the hospital and Sandy visits him. SpongeBob would eventually get self conscious about his teeth and change his appearance in "Mind the Gap," though it was because of Squidward's influence.
Patrick in the Chum Bucket[]
The only known image from the episode
This untitled episode was one of the supposed proposals for the pilot episode.[21] The episode involves Patrick joining the Chum Bucket due to him envying SpongeBob and Squidward's uniforms. Plankton then uses Patrick as the way to obtain the Krabby Patty secret formula. This causes Mr. Krabs to tell his employees not to mention Patrick Star at all, even after work. This causes SpongeBob and Patrick's friendship to be ruined. The SpongeBob-Patrick misunderstanding plot caused by another person would later be used in "Naughty Nautical Neighbors," and Patrick's envy of SpongeBob would later be used in "Big Pink Loser" and "No Hat for Pat." Patrick working for Plankton would later be utilized in "Chum Bucket Supreme."
Ren & Stimpy short with SpongeBob[]
Ren & Stimpy SpongeBob Short
This untitled short was a cancelled project by John Kricfalusi that was originally meant to be released as part of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. The short was not finished, but artwork from it was included as a special feature on Kricfalusi's Cans Without Labels DVD.
The short involved Svën and Stimpy having a good time watching SpongeBob SquarePants on TV, which angers Ren, who thinks adult cartoons like "The Stimpsons" are smarter. SpongeBob then makes an announcement on television that this Christmas, he will star in his upcoming movie The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. During the Christmas season, Ren, Stimpy, and Svën all watch Sponge Out of Water in a movie theater, and when the movie is over, Ren starts to cry, saying it was a beautiful cartoon, finally making him realize that even adults can find fun in children's media. Stimpy gives Ren a sponge bath, which he is happy about, until he finds out Svën has farted in his tub.
Other[]
"Mussel Beach," which became "Ripped Pants" and "MuscleBob BuffPants."
- The pitch bible also included a page for an episode called "Mussel Beach." The episode was not made as a singular story; rather, its elements were reworked into two separate episodes: "Ripped Pants" and "MuscleBob BuffPants."
- Adam Paloian, a former storyboard artist for the series, had an episode idea titled "A Day in the Life of Plankton" that he never ended up pitching. However, he drew some artwork for the story. The episode would revolve around Plankton and what he does when he is not trying to steal the Secret Formula.[22]
References[]
- ^ a b https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/621880509635784704
- ^ https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/1243184882513141762
- ^ https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/606253008775569408
- ^ https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/621876844288081923
- ^ https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/814888428563099649
- ^
- ^
- ^ https://www.hoganmag.com/blog/the-oral-history-of-spongebob-squarepants
- ^ a b c d New Episodes Airing in Australia - SBMania
- ^ a b Vincent Waller on Twitter
- ^ a b Vincent Waller on Twitter
- ^ https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/1028049183175892992
- ^ https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/887677006329950208
- ^ https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/887715042723938304
- ^ https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/1014914844452007936
- ^ https://discord.com/channels/342280693596028929/787398095855812648/787805207495966722
- ^
- ^ https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/1054499566119149568
- ^ https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/1229787115296190469
- ^ https://twitter.com/VincentWaller72/status/1061986447903735811
- ^ a b c https://www.scribd.com/document/520748698/SpongeBob-Bible-1997
- ^ https://twitter.com/adampaloian/status/1259963453550161920
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