Of all the series that have aired on Nickelodeon, one of the most surprisingly enduring has to be Sponge Bob Square Pants. As of 1999, the series has made hundreds of millions of dollars, seen 3 feature films, and most recently two new shows within its Spongey universe: The Patrick Star Show Y Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Minors. The Illuminerdi had the opportunity to speak with veterans sponge Bob voice actors Tom Kenny and Bill Fagerbakke on the two shows and what sponge Bob means to them.
the illuminatordi Spongebob Universe Interview with Tom Kenny and Bill Fagerbakke at SDCC
When Fagerbakke (who voices Patrick Star) was asked how he felt about taking on the legacy of sponge Bob after 23 years, he replied:
“I have so much respect for what Stephen Hillenburg created that I have truly been terrified from day one. I just want it to be as strong as possible and for the fans of sponge Bob to be able to enjoy it in a very natural organic way. That is what I expect”.
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<p>Creator Stephen Hillenburg originally envisioned <em>Sponge Bob Square Pants </em>as a series that children and their parents could watch together and enjoy equally. Especially in its early seasons, the show was known for its sly adult humor and verbal wit that would bypass children and leave adults in stitches. Among other voice credits, Fagerbakke has voiced Patrick Star from the beginning and has given the character a pleasant, somewhat subdued, but always friendly demeanor. Of course, <em>sponge Bob </em>It would be nothing without lead voice actor Tom Kenny, who expressed his own views on “handing the spotlight” to Fagerbakke for <em>The Patrick Star Show</em>:</p>
<p>“It’s great. I mean there’s plenty of room for everything in <em>sponge Bob</em> of <em>Koral Camp </em>where you have younger versions of the characters and the Patrick show that focuses on Pat and her family and Pat and her sister specifically and this guy <em>Wayne’s World </em>a little crazy cable access a little tv they do. It’s great… Each one is a different kind of comedy each of the three shows. SpongeBob can support it all, and hopefully SpongeBob fans will support it all.”</p>
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If there is anything that can be said for sponge Bob fans both old and new, is that her undying love for the franchise has helped her maintain a place in the ever-changing television landscape. As of 2019, it was the fifth-longest-running American animated series, the highest-rated series on Nickelodeon, and has generated over $13 billion in merchandise. Backpacks, t-shirts, books, video games, coloring books, you name it, there’s probably a SpongeBob-centric version out there somewhere. That continued success is what led Nickelodeon to greenlight both. Koral Camp Y The Patrick Star Showand both have had strong success rates on Nickelodeon and the streaming platform. Paramount Plus.
When asked who they would center a spin-off around, Kenny cheekily replied, “I’d have to say Fred the My Leg Show.” (referring to a character who can frequently be heard yelling “My leg!” after the explosions), while Fagerbakke said, “Well, I think Gary. He could run a show. Or maybe the French narrator.” Kenny responded, “I think they could write (Gary) a lot of great speeches.”
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Tom Kenny and Bill Fagerbakke have lent their voices to these iconic characters for 23 years as of this writing and they show no signs of losing interest or slowing down anytime soon. You can currently see Sponge Bob Square Pants, The Patrick Star ShowY Koral Camp all on Nickelodeon and ParamountPlus, and stay with The Iluminerdi for any other SpongeBob and Friends related nautical nonsense in the future.
What did you think of the interview with Bill Fagerbakke and Tom Kenny? When did you start looking? Sponge Bob Square Pants? you enjoy Koral Camp me The Patrick Star Show? Let us know in the comments below and on our Twitter.
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