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What a silly notion for a show, on the surface, a sponge, starfish and squid as the residents of a fictional undersea town. But Stephen Hillenburg used this unlikely premise to provide Nickelodeon, the prime adolescent peddler of programming, with a flagship that defies modern television history with its appeal. Not only does Spongebob clean up in the kiddies, college students and adults (don't expect any self respecting adult to admit to it) revel in the exploits of this odd ball crew as they weave their way through hilarious adventures each episode. We cannot help but tune it to see just how simple the porous one and his buddies truly are.

The title character is of course the star. Spongebob is such a sweet simple, unassuming character that I doubt anyone can find a reason not ot root for him. His simple, fun loving, job obsessed nature is a caricature of the modern philosophy of greed. His unwavering loyalty to his friends is a fresh view as opposed to the conflict ridden rants of most television characters to their next door neighbors.

Patrick, deftly voiced by one of the former stars of the ABC series Coach, Bill Fagerbakke, is a perfect complement to SB. He is even simpler, if possible, than the sponge and perfectly plays off Spongebob in their ever so funny interactions. I am at times put in the mind of an Abbott and Costello type of interaction and just hang on Patrick's every word to try to catch the subtle jokes. Patrick can always find a funny vein in every situation to provide laughs.

Probably one of the more challenging characters is Squidward. This wanna be snooty neighbor is plagued with the exploits of his pair of simple minded compatriots in the land of Bikini Bottom. Squidward aspires to a level of society that Patrick and Spongebob would consider too high for perception. His constant grumbling at the cash register in the Krusty Krab is a microcosm of every shift workers life.

Eugene Krabs, the tightwad owner of Spongebob and Squidward's monetary lifeline is superbly voiced by Clancy Brown. I easily see him as a career sea man and ruthless business man, as far as keeping his money and secret recipe his and only his. The fact that he can be so easily duped into Spongebob's machinations is part of the charm of the show. Having him be totally above it all would rob us of gallons of giggles.

Less involved is the brains of the operation, one Sandy the Squirrel. This Texas transplant, with her glass squirrel dome, seems to have the most sense of the posse. She explains quite a bit to Spongebob and Patrick, but even she is sometimes on the receiving end of the hilarity. She is joined in the lesser reaches of screen time by Plankton, Krab's main competitor and an endearing little cell of a man. The constant schemes to overtake Krabs for Bikini Bottom's stomach are too much fun.

Other characters are frequently sprinkled in such as Mrs. Puff, Mermaid Man and Barbnacle Boy and Larry the Lobster, but the stars are Spongebob, Patrick, Squidward and Mr. Krabs. Here is hoping for another deacde with the KK crew.

Learn more about this author, Joe Owens.
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