SpngeBob - Cable TV's Most Popular Character?

Yup - I'm just as shocked as you are, but it pulls in $8B a year for Nickelodeon/MTV; its also captured 30 of the top-100 Nielsen cable weekly ratings.

7 comments:

  1. For more crazy stats and a recap of Nickelodeon's 10-year anniversary plans (yup, he's 10!), check out this article:

    http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=137866

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  2. EIGHT BILLION?!?!

    Wow... I have an autograph of SpongeBob's voice guy on a SB photo... maybe I should hang on to that thing.

    Are you a SpongeBob fan? I personally love him. Here's what I agree with from the article, talking about his appeal:

    "Even our president [Obama] mentioned him as one of his favorites. Bob is unflappable, uninhibited and unstoppably optimistic. The Sponge reaches across every audience we serve, so we're jumping at this opportunity to celebrate him across the house."

    He has no inhibitions and has just the right ratio of airheadedness-to-warmheartedness to make it fun. Plus I love the combo of cartoon slapstick and goofy wordplay. Patrick cracks me UP... like Homer Simpson and Cartman, just his voice makes me laugh.

    How about this though:

    "...stars were feted with limited-edition, 12-carat diamond SpongeBob pieces from Simmons Jewelry. The company's president, Scott Rauch, said blinged-out SpongeBob earrings, necklaces and rings will soon sell at retail for $95 to $350."

    Who is buying $350 SpongeBob bling?!

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  3. I think the SpongeBob bling was my favorite part - I have no clue who'd buy some, but I would definitely have more respect for any celebrity rolling around in SB bling.

    I, personally, only watched SB back in the day when I worked at a summer day camp. It, literally, was the highlight of the day for some kids; as soon as it came on, we'd all yell out the song, "Who lives in a pineapple under sea?", and the kids would respond in form. I could sing the first 4-5 lines, and all was good with the world.

    I never really paid much attention to see if I'd like it as an adult, but from a couple searches, SB gets around.

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  4. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS!

    Squishy(?) and yellow and porous is he. SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS.

    I really don't remember watching it all that much, and if so, it was many years ago. But as soon as Scott says the first line, I can't help but think of the song. How much of the success of a show is related to a great theme song? Or is the other way around, and great shows elevate their theme songs. Think "I'll be there for you" from Friends and "Whoooooo are you?" from CSI.

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  5. "Whooooooooooo are you?" from CSI doesn't work - that's a great all-time song from The Who. CSI just made it relevant to all of us youngin's

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  6. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

    Absorbent and yellow and porous is he!

    If nautical nonsense be something you wish -

    Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish!

    SpongeBob Squarepants, SpongeBob Squarepants...

    The West Wing absolutely KILLED with their theme song and overall score. It was the perfect match for a show about the President. Also if you've seen the Wire, that intro song is iconic for the show. But I might just be starting with great shows, and then backing into the song from there...

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  7. Haha - I love that in the "tags" for this post, you tagged SpongeBob, and Squarepants as different items

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