Since debuting again in 1999, I believe it’s protected to say that SpongeBob SquarePants has change into the company mascot for Nickelodeon a lot in the identical approach as Bugs Bunny for Warner Bros. or Mickey Mouse for Disney. Spawning numerous media tie-ins and increasing into two spinoff sequence, the franchise exhibits no indicators of slowing down anytime quickly.
Fans can stay up for “The Tidal Zone,” an upcoming one-hour particular encompassing all three animated sequence inside the SpongeBob Universe, SpongeBob SquarePants, the Paramount+ unique sequence Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years and The Patrick Star Show. Originally slated to premiere this month, the particular has been rescheduled for someday in the first quarter 2023.
At NYCC final month, The Beat had the probability to take a seat down with SpongeBob SquarePants co-executive producers Vincent Waller and Marc Ceccarelli in addition to voice actors Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick) Jill Talley (Squidina Star and numerous), and Dana Snyder (GrandPat) talk about the expertise engaged on the present in addition to what’s to come back together with teases for the 25th anniversary in 2024!
Taimur Dar: During lockdown I acquired actually into Monty Python and it dawned on me that the stream-of-consciousness move of the sketches very a lot informs The Patrick Show. But is it protected to say even from the very starting that Monty Python influenced SpongeBob and nonetheless continues?
Marc Ceccarelli: Definitely. Most of our writers are guys in their ‘40s and ‘50s. That’s the stuff that we grew up on.
Vincent Waller: It’s the present that I watched with a blanket over my head as a result of my Jehovah’s Witness mom was sleeping 4-feet away and she or he couldn’t know what I used to be watching
Ceccarelli: I do know Steve was actually into the present too and it was certainly one of his influences.
Dar: How did the “Tidal Zone” crossover develop?
Ceccarelli: We had been in a novel state of affairs the place we had three exhibits going concurrently with characters throughout the exhibits. So we thought it could be an ideal alternative whereas we’re producing all three exhibits to do some type of crossover.
Waller: We’ve continually gotten followers saying, “When are you going to do a crossover with Fairly Oddparents?” Steve Hillenburg at all times mentioned, “That’s never going to happen!” This one felt like we may truly cross paths.
Bill Fagerbakke: That was at all times a hideous factor on live-action. Every as soon as in awhile the networks would do a crossover between the totally different exhibits. We did one on Coach and it was simply so lumpy. We went to Vegas to shoot it and certainly one of the different present’s stars didn’t need to come all the way down to the set so we needed to rewrite it on the fly.
Jill Talley: Those issues at all times really feel very pressured as a result of they don’t belong collectively.
Waller: It’s a pleasure to see GrandPat rolling by means of Kamp Koral!
Dana Snyder: It is the Sponge-verse!
Dar: Obviously you’ve been recording the present remotely throughout the pandemic. Are you continue to recording remotely or have you ever been ready to enter the studio?
Snyder: I’m the least concerned with all of this so I’ve solely handled these folks by means of Zoom. I didn’t know that they had legs. I barely knew that they had fingers! I didn’t know if I used to be in some fever dream hooked as much as tubes like in The Matrix or one thing.
Fagerbakke: You thought I used to be 5’7”!
[Laughter]
Snyder: I’ve met all of them twice in individual. At the Rose Bowl and right here. It’s very unusual to be a part of this wonderful factor. I’m a tiny, bizarre a part of it. But it’s all been on Zoom for me. I’ve not had years of understanding everybody. But all these guys are so good that they make really feel like I’ve been introduced into the fold.
Waller: That mentioned, we love them once they’re in an ensemble. And in the event you’ve ever seen them working you’ll see why we love them once they’re truly in the identical room with one another. One day you’ll get to expertise it!
Fagerbakke: One factor that’s been useful for the Zoom course of is our session director [and the voice of SpongeBob] Tom Kenny. You have this individual so ingrained into each fiber of this present. It’s not stagnant as a result of in any other case it’s a must to create in your head what’s occurring. So you continue to have that move of interplay. I miss being with my fellow actors as a result of all that feeds what you’re doing.
Dar: On the animation facet, I really like the use of blended media which like I discussed earlier than may be very Monty Python-esque. A latest episode of The Patrick Star Show had musician Bootsy Collins seem in live-action.
Fagerbakke: That was such an ideal episode! I simply watched it the different night time. It’s hilarious.
Waller: Bootsy was in Atlanta and we had been in Los Angeles. Tom [Kenny] was directing him however another man was holding the cellphone that Tom was speaking to who would then say the issues to Bootsy. It all labored out very nice.
Dar: I additionally love when the actors seem in live-action segments like having Bill Fagerbakke as a cave man. Dana, you’ve completed on-camera work so I’m curious would you be sport to do something live-action for SpongeBob?
Snyder: Running round in a rag with no footwear carrying a membership? Who am I to say no? I do no matter they inform me!
[Laughter]
Dar: I’ve solely not too long ago seen the timelessness of SpongeBob largely as a consequence of the lack of recent conveniences that don’t date the present. Episodes from 20 years in the past nonetheless maintain up extremely effectively in the present day. Is that an intentional side for the storytelling for SpongeBob?
Waller: We strive. Shellphones have slipped in however solely as a result of it’s a play on phrases that makes it enjoyable.
Ceccarelli: We are inclined to keep away from present popular culture references. We’ll make type of veiled references to issues that are so previous that they change into type of timeless.
Talley: The factor is that SpongeBob is timeless. So in the event you put in references that are of a particular time in popular culture you then are going thus far this factor. Like you mentioned, you’ll be able to watch this anytime down the line.
Ceccarelli: It works with the idea of Bikini Bottom being a cargo hub the place it’s all these previous objects which have floated to the backside of the ocean.
Dar: What have been the highlights in your profession engaged on SpongeBob?
Waller: For Marc and I, it’s been from Season 10 ahead that we’ve been calling the photographs. It opened up a whole lot of new roads. It was once in the event you had been away from SpongeBob for greater than two scenes folks would go, “Where’s SpongeBob?” We realized in spite of everything these years the whole solid all has [a] following. The very first one was “Mall Girl Pearl” the place we actually simply had SpongeBob going by means of the background in a shot following Squidward. That was a present that we allow us to do this. It’s not that we need to do issues with out SpongeBob but it surely’s good to have some moments the place the different guys and gals get to shine.
Talley: In the Broadway present the place Squidward has a bit dance quantity, the viewers went so loopy. And you notice they’ve been watching this wannabe star have his second and all people loves him. It was such an ideal feeling that they actually love this character.
Waller: And then in fact we inform them that it’s only a dream!
[Laughter]
Dar: You’ve just about have a set established solid but it surely’s nice to see actors come into the fold like not solely Dana but additionally others like Kate Higgins and Carlos Alazraqui. Even The Simpsons in the previous few years has been bringing in new actors to play common reoccurring roles. Can you speak about bringing in new expertise to play in the pool?
Waller: Recently Gary Anthony Williams has been added as our supervisor character.
Snyder: Like I mentioned, it looks like I gained the lottery. I bear in mind shifting to L.A. and considering, “Maybe one day I’ll be in a Tidy Cats commercial but you’re not touching SpongeBob!” I do not forget that Tom known as me and advised me I used to be in the working for GrandPat. It’s all been a present. Every day is Thanksgiving!”
Talley: Is this a nasty time to inform you that your character has been killed off?
[Laughter]
Dar: Finally, trying ahead into the future for 2023 and past what are you able to tease followers?
Snyder: Look for motion and journey.
Fagerbakke: Romance!
Waller: On Kamp Koral we had the crash cart derby which I liked doing.
Ceccarelli: In a few years it’s going to be SpongeBob’s 25th anniversary and we’ve already began growing stuff for that.
Dar: I gotta ask how are you guys topping the 20th anniversary?
Waller: We can’t say something however there shall be a whole lot of cool particular stuff.
Dar: Now I can’t wait for that in 2024!
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