''SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout'' is a 2019 made-for-television live-action/animated

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

special based on the American animated television series '' SpongeBob SquarePants''. It was written by Kaz and

Mr. Lawrence Douglas Lawrence Osowski, known professionally as Mr. Lawrence, is an American voice actor, writer, animator, storyboard artist, director, and comedian. He is best known for his work as a writer and voice actor for the Nicktoons ''Rocko's Mode ...

, and was directed by Jonas Morganstein. The special, produced as part of the show's twelfth season, originally aired on

Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its networks division's Kids and Family Group. It ...

in the United States on July 12, 2019, celebrating the series' twentieth anniversary. The television series follows the adventures of SpongeBob SquarePants (voiced by

Tom Kenny Thomas James Kenny (born July 13, 1962) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for voicing the titular character in ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' and associated media. Kenny has voiced many other characters, including Heffer Wolfe in '' ...

) in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom. In the special, the citizens of Bikini Bottom plan a surprise birthday party for SpongeBob, while he and

Patrick Star Patrick Star is a fictional character in the American animated television series ''SpongeBob SquarePants''. He is voiced by actor Bill Fagerbakke and was created and designed by marine biology, marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg ...

(voiced by Bill Fagerbakke) tour the surface world and come across their real-life selves. The live-action portions of the special also feature several guest stars including Kel Mitchell, Jack Griffo,

Daniella Perkins Daniella Orion Perkins (born June 13, 2000) is an American actress and internet personality. She gained prominence through her main role as Ciara in the Nickelodeon series ''Knight Squad''. Early life Daniella Perkins was born at the Anaheim Reg ...

, and David Hasselhoff, the latter of whom starred as himself in ''

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie ''The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie'' is a 2004 American live-action/animated adventure comedy film based on the Nickelodeon animated television series ''SpongeBob SquarePants''. The film was directed, co-written, and produced by series creat ...

''. The special is dedicated to the memory of ''SpongeBob'' creator

Stephen Hillenburg Stephen McDannell Hillenburg (August 21, 1961 – November 26, 2018) was an American animator, writer, producer, director, and marine science educator. He is known for creating the Nickelodeon animated television series ''SpongeBob SquarePants' ...

, who died from complications of ALS in 2018. Upon release, it received generally positive reviews.

Plot

In Encino, California,

Patchy the Pirate The characters in the American animated television series ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' were created by artist, animator, and former marine biologist Stephen Hillenburg. The series chronicles the adventures of the title character and his various ...

attempts to get to Bikini Bottom to give SpongeBob SquarePants his birthday present. Down in Bikini Bottom,

Sandy Cheeks Sandra Jennifer "Sandy" Cheeks is a fictional character in the Nickelodeon franchise ''SpongeBob SquarePants''. She is an anthropomorphic squirrel who wears a diving suit and lives underwater. Sandy is voiced by Carolyn Lawrence and first app ...

gathers

, Old Man Walker, Mr. Krabs, Mrs. Puff,

Bubble Bass The characters in the American animated television series ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' were created by artist, animator, and former marine biologist Stephen Hillenburg. The series chronicles the adventures of the title character and his various ...

, and

Plankton Plankton are the diverse collection of organisms found in water (or air) that are unable to propel themselves against a current (or wind). The individual organisms constituting plankton are called plankters. In the ocean, they provide a crucia ...

to orchestrate a plan to get SpongeBob's house keys and decorate his house, starting with Patrick. Patrick sends SpongeBob to a bus going to the surface, with help landing by the French Narrator. At SpongeBob's house, an argument occurs about the Birthday theme. Sandy gives everyone (now joined by

Squidward Tentacles Squidward Q. Tentacles is a fictional character voiced by actor Rodger Bumpass in the Nickelodeon animated series, animated television series ''SpongeBob SquarePants''. Squidward was created and designed by marine biologist and animator Stephen ...

) a decision to divide the themes. The party goes through full swing, but chaos ensues and the house starts falling apart. Arriving at the Trusty Slab on the surface, SpongeBob notices that a customer, the cashier Manward, the owner Mr. Slabs and the Fry cook JimBob appear as respective human counterparts to Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs and himself. A lady mistakes the tour bus for an aquarium, and puts it on a shelf in a fish store. Patrick pushes the tour bus to the other side, escaping with the other fish. In Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob discovers his destroyed house and thanks everyone for celebrating his birthday, when a Box falls out of the sky. The Box is revealed to be Patchy's head, congratulating SpongeBob, leading SpongeBob's friends to sing a birthday song reminiscent of the opening theme with different celebrities congratulating him. As the song finishes, Patrick asks SpongeBob how old he is, just to be interrupted by static.

Cast

Voices

as SpongeBob SquarePants, Old Man Walker, Gary, French Narrator, SpongeBob's Dad,

Peter Lorre Peter Lorre (; born László Löwenstein, ; June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964) was a Hungarian and American actor, first in Europe and later in the United States. He began his stage career in Vienna, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, before movin ...

Fish, Grubby Grouper * Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star, Bus Passenger, Passenger, Patron #1 *

Rodger Bumpass Rodger Bumpass (born November 20, 1951) is an American actor. He is known for his long-running role as Squidward Tentacles on the American animated television series ''SpongeBob SquarePants''. He voices several other characters on the show as ...

as Squidward Tentacles, Bus Passenger, Announcer, Yellow Fish * Clancy Brown as Eugene Krabs, Unhappy Guy, Party Guest #2 *

Carolyn Lawrence Carolyn Lawrence (born February 13, 1967), is an American television, film and voice actress. She is known for her voice roles on Nickelodeon animated shows, including Sandy Cheeks on ''SpongeBob SquarePants'', Cindy Vortex on '' Jimmy Neutr ...

as Sandy Cheeks, Bus Passenger, Little Girl *

as Sheldon Plankton, Potty the Parrot, Rube, Larry, Fred *

Jill Talley Jill Talley (born December 19, 1962) is an American actress and comedian. She is a main cast member on the animated series ''SpongeBob SquarePants'', in which she voices Karen Plankton. Her other voice roles include Sarah Dubois on Adult Swim's ...

as Karen, Office Middle Management *

Lori Alan Lori Alan (born July 18, 1966) is an American actress and voice actress. She has played a long-running role as Pearl Krabs on the animated television series ''SpongeBob SquarePants''. She also voiced Diane Simmons on ''Family Guy'', the Invisible ...

as Pearl *

Dee Bradley Baker Dee Bradley Baker (born August 31, 1962) is an American voice actor. Much of Baker's work features vocalizations of animals and monsters. Baker's roles include animated series such as ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'', '' Codename: Kids Next Door'', ...

as Bubble Bass, Dog, Alarm Clock, Cow * Mary Jo Catlett as Mrs. Puff *

Sirena Irwin Sirena Irwin is an American voice director, casting director, and actress. Her career in animation casting and directing began in 2017 after a career as an actress in animation and a two-year mentorship with animation director, Andrea Romano. He ...

as SpongeBob's Mom, Gawky Female, The Kid * Frank Caeti as Gorilla Boss * Ephraim López as Monkey Middle Manager * Cory DeMeyers as Monkey Middle Manager * Lana McKissack as Monkey Middle Manager * Sydney Olson as Monkey Middle Manager

Live-action cast

as Patchy the Pirate, JimBob * Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick *

as Manward * Clancy Brown as Mr. Slabs *

as Carol *

as Charleston *

as Office Middle Management *

as Pet Shop Woman *

as Bald Guy *

as Office Worker * David Hasselhoff as himself * Kel Mitchell as Beans McBeans, himself * Dahlya Glick as Can * Jack Griffo as Contestant *

as Contestant *

JoJo Siwa Joelle Joanie "JoJo" Siwa (; born May 19, 2003) is an American dancer, singer, actress and YouTuber. She is known for appearing for two seasons on '' Dance Moms'' along with her mother, Jessalynn Siwa, and for her singles " Boomerang" and "Kid ...

as herself *

Tiffany Haddish Tiffany Sara Cornilia Haddish (born December 3, 1979) is an American stand-up comedian and actress. After guest-starring on several television series and lead role on a cable drama, Haddish gained prominence for her role as Nekeisha Williams on ...

as herself * Thomas F. Wilson as Dog Walker, Himself *

Sigourney Weaver Susan Alexandra "Sigourney" Weaver (; born October 8, 1949) is an American actress. A figure in science fiction and popular culture, she has received various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Gramm ...

as herself * Heidi Klum as herself * Kal Penn as himself * Lana Condor as herself (original airings) * John Goodman as himself (alternate airings) * Jason Sudeikis as himself * RuPaul as himself *

Vernon Davis Vernon Davis (born January 31, 1984) is a former American football tight end. He played college football at Maryland, and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers sixth overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. In 2009, Davis co-led the NFL in touchdown rec ...

as himself *

Rob Gronkowski Robert James Gronkowski (born May 14, 1989) is an American former football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. Nicknamed "Gronk", Gronkowski played nine seasons for the New England Patriots, then played h ...

as himself * Ethan Slater as himself * Danny Skinner as himself * Lilli Cooper as herself *

Gilbert Gottfried Gilbert Jeremy Gottfried (February 28, 1955 – April 12, 2022) was an American stand-up comedian and actor, known for his exaggerated shrill voice, strong New York accent, and his edgy, often controversial, sense of humor. His numerous r ...

as himself

Broadcast and reception

Viewership

''SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout'' premiered on July 12, 2019, simultaneously across

, and

Nicktoons Nicktoons is a collective name used by Nickelodeon for their original animated series. All Nicktoons are produced partly at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio and list Nickelodeon's parent company (Viacom, now known as Paramount Global) in their ...

. The three-network premiere was collectively viewed by 2.2 million people in the United States, and it posted year-to-year gains for the network across multiple demographics, most notably, kids ages 2–11 (3.3/797K, +57%). The special's premiere date is notable for taking place five days before the 20th anniversary of the series' official premiere, which took place on July 17, 1999. It aired in other territories on July 12 and July 13, 2019,

's 57th birthday.

Reception

Verne Gay from '' Newsday'' gave the episode 3.5 out of 4 stars, describing it as " n, funny, and funky".

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout SpongeBob SquarePants SpongeBob SquarePants episodes 2019 television films 2019 films 2019 animated films 2010s American animated films American fantasy comedy films American television films American children's animated adventure films American children's animated comedy films Animated films based on animated series Nickelodeon animated films Surreal comedy films American films with live action and animation Television episodes about birthdays American slapstick comedy films Anniversary television episodes 2019 comedy films