Season 1

If you were looking for the article about the DVD, then see The Complete 1st Season.

If you were looking for the article about the re-release of the DVD, then see The Complete First Season.

SpongeBob SquarePantsSeason 1
General information
No. of episodes:	20
Premiere:	May 1, 1999
Finale:	March 3, 2001
DVD releases
Region 1:	October 28, 2003
Region 2:	November 7, 2005
Region 4:	November 30, 2006
Chronology
Next:	Season 2

The first season of the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, created by former marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg, aired from May 1, 1999 to March 3, 2001, and consisted of 20 episodes. The series chronicles the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. The show features the voices of Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants and Gary, Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick, Rodger Bumpass as Squidward, Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs, Mr. Lawrence as Plankton, Jill Talley as Karen, Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy, Mary Jo Catlett as Mrs. Puff, and Lori Alan as Pearl.

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. The show was originally to be called "SpongeBoy Ahoy!," but the name "SpongeBoy" was already in use for a mop product. Upon finding it out, Hillenburg decided to use the name "SpongeBob." He chose "SquarePants" as a family name, as it referred to the character's square shape and it had a "nice ring to it."

After the pilot ("Help Wanted") was produced, Hillenburg was unsure if the show would be approved for a full season. In an interview, he said how he was perfectly fine with the accomplishment of just making one episode. When the show was greenlit for a full series, Nickelodeon only ordered six episodes (twelve 11-minute segments) for the season. Both Hillenburg and the network had low expectations for the show; Hillenburg thought the crew would only "make twelve shows and get canceled." The season was extended for fourteen additional segments—starting with segment #113, "The Chaperone"—after positive reactions from the studio.

Several compilation DVDs that contained episodes from the first season were released. The SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete 1st Season DVD was released in Region 1 on October 28, 2003, Region 2 on November 7, 2005, and Region 4 on November 30, 2006. The DVD was re-released as The Complete First Season on November 13, 2012. The pilot episode "Help Wanted" was not included on the DVD due to copyright issues with Tiny Tim's song "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight," but was later released as a bonus feature on various series DVDs, including that of the third season. The season received positive reviews from media critics upon release.

Title card	#	Title	Airdate	U.S. viewers (millions)
	1a	"Help Wanted"	May 1, 1999	6.90
	SpongeBob gets a job at the Krusty Krab.
	1b	"Reef Blower"	May 1, 1999	6.90
	SpongeBob attempts to move a shell off of his lawn.
	1c	"Tea at the Treedome"	May 1, 1999	6.90
	SpongeBob meets Sandy Cheeks.
	2a	"Bubblestand"	July 17, 1999	1.90
	SpongeBob starts a bubblestand.
	2b	"Ripped Pants"	July 17, 1999	1.90
	SpongeBob rips his pants, causing everyone to laugh.
	3a	"Jellyfishing"	July 31, 1999	N/A
	SpongeBob and Patrick take Squidward jellyfishing.
	3b	"Plankton!"	July 31, 1999	N/A
	Plankton uses mind control to obtain the Krabby Patty secret formula.
	4a	"Naughty Nautical Neighbors"	August 7, 1999	2.10
	Squidward destroys SpongeBob and Patrick's friendship.
	4b	"Boating School"	August 7, 1999	2.10
	Patrick attempts to help SpongeBob pass his driving exam.
	5a	"Pizza Delivery"	August 14, 1999	N/A
	SpongeBob and Squidward deliver a pizza.
	5b	"Home Sweet Pineapple"	August 14, 1999	N/A
	SpongeBob's house is destroyed by nematodes.
	6a	"Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy"	August 21, 1999	2.20
	SpongeBob and Patrick learn that their heroes are retired.
	6b	"Pickles"	August 21, 1999	2.20
	SpongeBob loses his confidence after he forgets the pickles on a Krabby Patty.
	7a	"Hall Monitor"	August 28, 1999	2.10
	SpongeBob becomes hall monitor, resulting in chaos.
	7b	"Jellyfish Jam"	August 28, 1999	2.10
	SpongeBob brings home a jellyfish, creating chaos.
	8a	"Sandy's Rocket"	September 17, 1999	1.90
	SpongeBob and Patrick sneak onto Sandy's rocket ship.
	8b	"Squeaky Boots"	September 17, 1999	1.90
	SpongeBob buys boots from Mr. Krabs, which causes an annoying squeaky sound.
	9a	"Nature Pants"	September 11, 1999	N/A
	SpongeBob gives up a modern life to live with the jellyfish.
	9b	"Opposite Day"	September 11, 1999	N/A
	Squidward tells SpongeBob and Patrick that it is Opposite Day.
	10a	"Culture Shock"	September 18, 1999	N/A
	Squidward hosts a talent show at the Krusty Krab.
	10b	"F.U.N."	September 18, 1999	N/A
	SpongeBob befriends Plankton because he thinks he is lonely.
	11a	"MuscleBob BuffPants"	October 2, 1999	N/A
	SpongeBob orders fake arms with inflatable muscles to impress Sandy.
	11b	"Squidward the Unfriendly Ghost"	October 2, 1999	N/A
	Squidward pretends to be a ghost after SpongeBob and Patrick think he is dead.
	12a	"The Chaperone"	March 8, 2000	N/A
	SpongeBob takes Pearl to her prom.
	12b	"Employee of the Month"	March 8, 2000	N/A
	SpongeBob and Squidward compete for the Employee of the Month award.
	13a	"Scaredy Pants"	October 28, 1999	N/A
	SpongeBob becomes a ghost for Halloween.
	13b	"I Was a Teenage Gary"	October 28, 1999	N/A
	SpongeBob accidentally transforms into a snail after being injected with snail plasma.
	14a	"SB-129"	December 31, 1999	N/A
	Squidward accidentally freezes himself for 2,000 years and experiences complications while using a time machine.
	14b	"Karate Choppers"	December 31, 1999	N/A
	SpongeBob and Sandy become obsessed with karate.
	15a	"Sleepy Time"	January 17, 2000	2.00
	SpongeBob visits the dreams of others.
	15b	"Suds"	January 17, 2000	2.00
	SpongeBob catches the suds after leaving the fridge open.
	16a	"Valentine's Day"	February 14, 2000	N/A
	SpongeBob and Sandy try to give Patrick a Valentine's day gift.
	16b	"The Paper"	February 14, 2000	N/A
	SpongeBob plays with a bubble gum wrapper, and Squidward wants it.
	17a	"Arrgh!"	March 15, 2000	2.10
	SpongeBob, Patrick, and Mr. Krabs go on a treasure hunt.
	17b	"Rock Bottom"	March 15, 2000	2.10
	SpongeBob gets stuck in Rock Bottom.
	18a	"Texas"	March 22, 2000	N/A
	Sandy feels homesick and decides to return to Texas.
	18b	"Walking Small"	March 22, 2000	N/A
	Plankton tricks SpongeBob into becoming assertive so he can build his Mega Bucket.
	19a	"Fools in April"	April 1, 2000	N/A
	Squidward plays a nasty prank on SpongeBob.
	19b	"Neptune's Spatula"	April 1, 2000	N/A
	SpongeBob is challenged to a cooking competition with King Neptune.
	20a	"Hooky"	February 23, 2001 (or earlier)	N/A
	SpongeBob plays "hooky" with Patrick.
	20b	"Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy II"	March 3, 2001	N/A
	SpongeBob wins a conch shell in a contest to summon his heroes.

Trivia

Nickelodeon press release, summarizing the first four episodes in production order

• In 1999, Nickelodeon released a press statement summarizing the first four episodes. At the time, these episodes were planned to be released in production order: "Help Wanted," "Tea at the Treedome," "Squeaky Boots," and "Jellyfishing." Sometime in April 1999, Nickelodeon decided to air the episodes in a different order instead, called the "packaging order." This order does not relate to production or airing order, and it most notably moved "Squeaky Boots" (the third produced segment overall) to episode 8b, much later than it was produced.
• This is the only season to use traditional cel-animation.
• This is one of two seasons only to not have any double-length episodes, with the other being season 10.