Life won’t be the same in Bikini Bottom
November 27, 2018 7:17 PM Subscribe
‘SpongeBob Squarepants' creator Stephen Hillenburg dies at 57 The cause of death was ALS, which Hillenburg revealed he had been diagnosed with in March of last year. “Steve imbued 'SpongeBob SquarePants' with a unique sense of humor and innocence that has brought joy to generations of kids and families everywhere. His utterly original characters and the world of Bikini Bottom will long stand as a reminder of the value of optimism, friendship and the limitless power of imagination."
I unironically loved every single thing he ever did.
Did you know he designed the spongebob theme song to be as annoying as possible to parents? that they did everything possible to encourage children to scream along with it?
he did that. I'm sorry, parents. I'm sorry I find your suffering amusing. but, damn, did I love that show and that theme song. it was carefully crafted to help turn children into exactly the right sort of hellions.
may he be reincarnated as a swarm of yellies. a swarm of happy yellies.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 7:27 PM on November 27, 2018 [43 favorites]
Did you know he designed the spongebob theme song to be as annoying as possible to parents? that they did everything possible to encourage children to scream along with it?
he did that. I'm sorry, parents. I'm sorry I find your suffering amusing. but, damn, did I love that show and that theme song. it was carefully crafted to help turn children into exactly the right sort of hellions.
may he be reincarnated as a swarm of yellies. a swarm of happy yellies.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 7:27 PM on November 27, 2018 [43 favorites]
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I didn't know he'd been sick.
Spongebob always put a smile on my face; I was inspired by the idea of Hillenburg's successful career change towards being an artist. But since I was a grownup when the show came along and I never had kids, I drifted away from watching it. To my own bewilderment, I have found that the musical was actually really good. Try it; it'll warm your heart.
posted by Countess Elena at 7:33 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
I didn't know he'd been sick.
Spongebob always put a smile on my face; I was inspired by the idea of Hillenburg's successful career change towards being an artist. But since I was a grownup when the show came along and I never had kids, I drifted away from watching it. To my own bewilderment, I have found that the musical was actually really good. Try it; it'll warm your heart.
posted by Countess Elena at 7:33 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Lives in Pineapple under the Seaaaaa?
SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS!
....
Gonna miss your work, you magnificent bastard...
posted by FleetMind at 7:37 PM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS!
....
Gonna miss your work, you magnificent bastard...
posted by FleetMind at 7:37 PM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
Goddammit. Did he take the recipe for crabby patties with him?
posted by loquacious at 7:48 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by loquacious at 7:48 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
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posted by Joey Michaels at 7:49 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:49 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
The first words out of my mouth at seeing this post were so blue I shall not repeat them here.
What an incredible artist. Loved his work.
posted by darkstar at 8:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
What an incredible artist. Loved his work.
posted by darkstar at 8:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
One of my former neighbors has ALS. It’s a dreadful disease. I love SpongeBob. It’s still quoted heavily in my house. Even the mister fell victim to its charm. What a legacy. I tip my spatula to you, good sir.
posted by Ruki at 8:08 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Ruki at 8:08 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints. And take it AROUND TOWN!
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:32 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:32 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
My five year old son recently discovered Spongebob, which has led to me rediscovering it. Unapologetically sincere, it’s a worthy successor to his previous favorite, Peppa Pig. The world is full of people who have taken the easy, cynical way out, but I prefer that my son’s role models be kind and enthusiastic, if a little naive. There are worse things to be.
posted by slmorri at 8:48 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by slmorri at 8:48 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Also, is this the thread where I mention that my dad named his sheep Spongebob Nopants?
posted by slmorri at 8:49 PM on November 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by slmorri at 8:49 PM on November 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
Did you know he designed the spongebob theme song to be as annoying as possible to parents?
Heh...I was on BART the other day watching the obligatory trio of youths dancing acrobatically for tips, and their soundtrack of choice was the "I Wanna Rock" parody from the first Spongebob movie.
Thanks for the laughs, Mr. Hillenburg.
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posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 9:05 PM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
Heh...I was on BART the other day watching the obligatory trio of youths dancing acrobatically for tips, and their soundtrack of choice was the "I Wanna Rock" parody from the first Spongebob movie.
Thanks for the laughs, Mr. Hillenburg.
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posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 9:05 PM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
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posted by vespertinism at 9:10 PM on November 27, 2018
posted by vespertinism at 9:10 PM on November 27, 2018
The first pilot episode was amazing and made me feel so new. First few seasons is some truly incredible work!
posted by yueliang at 9:12 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by yueliang at 9:12 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
F is for friends who do stuff together
U is for you and me
N is for anywhere and any time at all
Right here in the deep blue sea. ♡
posted by lunastellasol at 9:23 PM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
U is for you and me
N is for anywhere and any time at all
Right here in the deep blue sea. ♡
posted by lunastellasol at 9:23 PM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
I hope an entire generation grew up thinking that snails meow, the same way mine grew up thinking rabbits carried carrots around in slim, silver cases. Also I still cannot believe that Clancey Brown can be the Kurgan, Lex Luthor, and Mr Krabs.
Thanks for everything, I really loved the first SpongeBob movie's use of a larger-than-life Hasselhoff.
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posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 9:39 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Thanks for everything, I really loved the first SpongeBob movie's use of a larger-than-life Hasselhoff.
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posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 9:39 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Clancey Brown
That’s a weird name to bring into th
Mr Krabs
what
posted by curious nu at 10:09 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
That’s a weird name to bring into th
Mr Krabs
what
posted by curious nu at 10:09 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
My kids grew up on Spongebob, so naturally I was heavily exposed and loved it. It reminded me a lot of Ren & Stimpy, and I already loved Tom Kenny on Mr. Show with Bob & David. Several years ago I had the strangest conversation with my LDS cousin. She said she would never let her twins watch something like Spongebob. I can't recall hearing a more dumbfounding statement. What was wrong with Spongebob? He's a bundle of pure love and innocence. He gives everything he has and more to his friends, family, and customers. Ah well. Poor kids.
posted by Brocktoon at 10:48 PM on November 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Brocktoon at 10:48 PM on November 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
> Several years ago I had the strangest conversation with my LDS cousin. She said she would never let her twins watch something like Spongebob. I can't recall hearing a more dumbfounding statement. What was wrong with Spongebob? He's a bundle of pure love and innocence. He gives everything he has and more to his friends, family, and customers. Ah well. Poor kids.
It's absolute poison to people who don't want their kids to be inventive little anarchists, likewise to organizations that can't abide inventive anarchy.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 10:53 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
It's absolute poison to people who don't want their kids to be inventive little anarchists, likewise to organizations that can't abide inventive anarchy.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 10:53 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
let's all listen to spongebob and ween totally fail to teach kids to tie their shoes
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 10:56 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 10:56 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
like they might have well just said "and then a miracle occurs!" between "over and under again" and "make a loop dee loop and pull" because uh unless I'm mistaken there is absolutely zero information about shoe-tying in there.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 10:58 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 10:58 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
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posted by Faintdreams at 12:26 AM on November 28, 2018
posted by Faintdreams at 12:26 AM on November 28, 2018
Spongebob made no sense whatsoever and was therefore completely excellent. RIP.
posted by GallonOfAlan at 12:49 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by GallonOfAlan at 12:49 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
▫︎
posted by fairmettle at 1:31 AM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by fairmettle at 1:31 AM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
A former colleague of mine refused to let his kids watch Spongebob as he felt in encouraged 'balktalk'... which baffled me and made me feel sorry for them all. I didn't get around to seeing the show until my early forties, but then, even though I'm rather more of a Squidward than a Spongebob, I soon grew to love it.
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posted by misteraitch at 2:26 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by misteraitch at 2:26 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
This tribute medley to Hillenburg by YouTuber Gus Johnson is rather nice.
posted by jklaiho at 4:00 AM on November 28, 2018
posted by jklaiho at 4:00 AM on November 28, 2018
SpongeBob made me happy without guilt or demands that I do more than I enjoy it.
It also provided a running personal gag in which I wave my hands and say
you have such an... Imagination
With my best SpongeBob grin.
I do so in honor both of SpongeBob and the reaction of a friend, who years ago gave me the side-eye and stated the above in a concerned manner after I thoughtlessly let out some particularly silly utterance.
Thanks Stephen. I'll miss you and your heartfelt silliness.
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posted by allium cepa at 4:01 AM on November 28, 2018
It also provided a running personal gag in which I wave my hands and say
you have such an... Imagination
With my best SpongeBob grin.
I do so in honor both of SpongeBob and the reaction of a friend, who years ago gave me the side-eye and stated the above in a concerned manner after I thoughtlessly let out some particularly silly utterance.
Thanks Stephen. I'll miss you and your heartfelt silliness.
.
posted by allium cepa at 4:01 AM on November 28, 2018
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I'd like to thank Stephen for creating the best cartoon hero of all time. Squidward Tentacles, the reasonable person who just wants to be left alone in quiet dignity, only to see society aggressively shove inanity and stupidity in his face at every turn.
posted by stevis23 at 5:11 AM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
I'd like to thank Stephen for creating the best cartoon hero of all time. Squidward Tentacles, the reasonable person who just wants to be left alone in quiet dignity, only to see society aggressively shove inanity and stupidity in his face at every turn.
posted by stevis23 at 5:11 AM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
Hah, stevis23! I identify so much with his put-upon-ness that I have to periodically remind myself to stop being such a Squidward and loosen up.
posted by whuppy at 5:53 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by whuppy at 5:53 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
For my novel with a strong female police detective, I made her a SpongeBob fan. Because.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:01 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:01 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
remind myself to stop being such a Squidward
no no no
every day there are thousands of voices telling you not to be squidward
the true test of any person is to be told at every moment of your life not to be squidward
and to remain squidward and unbowed
posted by murphy slaw at 7:29 AM on November 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
no no no
every day there are thousands of voices telling you not to be squidward
the true test of any person is to be told at every moment of your life not to be squidward
and to remain squidward and unbowed
posted by murphy slaw at 7:29 AM on November 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
dances_with_sneetches, did you name her Sandy? Does she know karate?
posted by whuppy at 8:14 AM on November 28, 2018
posted by whuppy at 8:14 AM on November 28, 2018
In an episode where SpongeBob is blowing fancy bubbles, he does a little dance we call the bring it around town, and everyone in my family says "bring it around town" any time we are following a set of long instructions.
Great show. I don't even find the theme song annoying. I think the second line "absorbent and yellow and porous is he" is great to teach kids fast speaking enunciation. Pulling it off is actually a real challenge, even for adults.
RIP.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:29 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Great show. I don't even find the theme song annoying. I think the second line "absorbent and yellow and porous is he" is great to teach kids fast speaking enunciation. Pulling it off is actually a real challenge, even for adults.
RIP.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:29 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
. Still watch it every night, still never fails to make me laugh.
posted by cass at 8:29 AM on November 28, 2018
posted by cass at 8:29 AM on November 28, 2018
because uh unless I'm mistaken there is absolutely zero information about shoe-tying in there.
Which, of course, is why it's the greatest song about shoe-tying ever made. SpongeBob is one of the few shows that genuinely shares Monty Python's love of silliness and absurdity, which is wonderful and a more effective reminder to me than any religious or philosophical text, not to take all of this too seriously, to embrace the simple delight of existence whenever possible, in whatever mundane ways occur in daily life.
Stephen Hillenburg made a thing that will continue to bring joy, make people laugh with delight, and help show kids how to be good people long, long after the span of his life. What an amazing legacy. I'm grateful to him for his work, and wish strength to his loved ones.
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posted by LooseFilter at 8:57 AM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Which, of course, is why it's the greatest song about shoe-tying ever made. SpongeBob is one of the few shows that genuinely shares Monty Python's love of silliness and absurdity, which is wonderful and a more effective reminder to me than any religious or philosophical text, not to take all of this too seriously, to embrace the simple delight of existence whenever possible, in whatever mundane ways occur in daily life.
Stephen Hillenburg made a thing that will continue to bring joy, make people laugh with delight, and help show kids how to be good people long, long after the span of his life. What an amazing legacy. I'm grateful to him for his work, and wish strength to his loved ones.
.
posted by LooseFilter at 8:57 AM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
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posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:20 AM on November 28, 2018
posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:20 AM on November 28, 2018
Last Exit to Springfield as pro-union propaganda affected late Gen-ers and Millennials but the Krusty Krab Funfair generation will finally achieve victory for the working class.
posted by Space Coyote at 9:27 AM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Space Coyote at 9:27 AM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
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posted by the sobsister at 10:04 AM on November 28, 2018
posted by the sobsister at 10:04 AM on November 28, 2018
🍍
posted by bonobothegreat at 10:23 AM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by bonobothegreat at 10:23 AM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
The episode where Patrick talks Spongebob through his driving test over the radio I think is the perfect example of simple premise TV comedy. If you don't laugh your ass off at least once during that episode, I will negatively judge your entire existence.
posted by Brocktoon at 12:51 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Brocktoon at 12:51 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
I remain convinced that "Band Geeks", the one episode in which Squidward is given a straightforward win, is one of the 10 greatest moments of television ever. The closing musical number is never not funny.
posted by Ipsifendus at 1:34 PM on November 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Ipsifendus at 1:34 PM on November 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
Oh man this was such a great show. I loved watching it with my kid. So sweet and innocent and also clever and hilarious. So quotable. So sad.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:24 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:24 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
My kids were nine and five when Spongebob premiered. Everyone in the family loved it then and loves it still.
And yes, Ipsefendus, "Band Geeks" is indeed one of the best pieces of television ever.
"Thrrree howerrrs laytehrrr" is a watchword in our house.
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posted by lhauser at 7:29 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
And yes, Ipsefendus, "Band Geeks" is indeed one of the best pieces of television ever.
"Thrrree howerrrs laytehrrr" is a watchword in our house.
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posted by lhauser at 7:29 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
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posted by tychotesla at 10:27 PM on November 28, 2018
posted by tychotesla at 10:27 PM on November 28, 2018
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