83 / 102back next View All

All-TIME 100 TV Shows

"I apologize. I know I left some of your favorite shows off this list. How do I know that? Because I left some of my favorite shows off this list. The happy and unfortunate fact is that there are far more than 100 great shows, and more created every year. Lists are incredibly important: they are how we define what matters to us, what we want entertainment and art to do, what we expect of our culture." —TIME TV critic James Poniewozik

SpongeBob SquarePants

By James Poniewozik | September 6, 2007 | +

Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon

Cast: Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Tom Kenny

Get this tv series

Since its founding in 1979, Nickelodeon has developed many good-for-you programs—Blues Clues, Dora the Explorer—aimed at spurring kids’ education and development. SpongeBob is not one of those shows. But it’s the most funny, surreal, inventive example of the explosion in creative kids’ (and adult) entertainment that Nick, Cartoon Network and their ilk made possible. Animator and marine-biology teacher Stephen Hillenburg translated the objects of his study in to the Dadaist world of Bikini Bottom, where the title character flips Krabbie Patties, creates disasters and gets by on good-natured innocence. SpongeBob may not have a spine, or much of a brain, but he’s all heart.

Next: SportsCenter

Related Topics: Animated, Children, Comedy, Nickelodean, Spongebob Squarepants

Latest on Entertainment

Cannes Film Festival May 25, 2012

Pretty Boys Gone Wild, Part 2: Robert Pattinson in Cosmopolis

The Twilight star plays a young billionaire on a crosstown death ride in David Cronenberg’s bland denunciation of wretched excess
From our Partners
Surprise! The Lowest-Rated Show in Broadcast History Is Actually GreatSlate

Town Made Infamous By Ali G Changes Its NameHuffington Post
Critics Consensus: Battleship Is All WetRotten Tomatoes
Cannes Film Festival May 25, 2012

Pretty Boys Gone Wild, Part 1: Zac Efron in The Paperboy

The tweens’ dreamboat gets down and dirty in this lurid, racially charged melodrama

blog comments powered by Disqus

Cannes Film Festival

Pretty Boys Gone Wild, Part 2: Robert Pattinson in Cosmopolis

The Twilight star plays a young billionaire on a crosstown death ride in David Cronenberg’s bland denunciation of wretched excess

Pretty Boys Gone Wild, Part 1: Zac Efron in The Paperboy

Second Annual Edition: If I'd Been Tweeting from Cannes...

Kerouac's On the Road Comes to Cannes: Where's the Beat?
Populist

E.T. at 30: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Our Favorite Extraterrestrial

TIME celebrates the anniversary by presenting some little-known facts about Steven Spielberg’s film

Movies

Rock and Role: Top 10 Memorable Movie Performances by Music Stars

Movies

Rethinking the Movie Masterpieces: Richard Corliss Expands TIME’s List of Cinematic Greats

Movies

The 10 Greatest Movies of the Millennium (Thus Far)
Photos

Remembrance

Robin Gibb, 1949-2012: Remembering the Bee Gees Co-Founder

The Bee Gees founding member died Sunday after a long battle with cancer. He was 62.

More Galleries

Miscellany

The Night Marilyn Sang to JFK: Rare Photos

Cannes Film Festival

The Best Fashion Moments from the 2012 Cannes Film Festival

Music

The Life and Career of Adam 'MCA' Yauch, 1964-2012
Full ListMost Popular
Entertainment

TIME.COM

E.T. at 30: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Our Favorite Extraterrestrial
Exodus 23:1: The Bible Verse Inspiring Rap Lyrics—and a Rap Feud
All-TIME 100 Novels
Star Wars Turns 35: How TIME Covered the Film Phenomenon
Pretty Boys Gone Wild, Part 2: Robert Pattinson in Cosmopolis
Pretty Boys Gone Wild, Part 1: Zac Efron in The Paperboy
Top 10 Novels of the 2000s
All-TIME 100 Movies
The 30 All-TIME Best Music Videos
The 10 Greatest Movies of the Millennium (Thus Far)

E.T. Turns 30: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Our Favorite Extraterrestrial

How Cash Keeps Poor People Poor

15-Year-Old Creates Test for Pancreatic Cancer

Nevada Ghosts: Rare Photos From an A-Bomb Test

Euro Crisis: Why A Greek Exit Could Be Much Worse Than Expected

Could a Fertility Gene Discovery Lead to New Male Contraception?

10 Dangerous Products You Might Have in Your Home

Obama Stumbles? Why the President's Right to Talk About Bain

Star Wars Turns 35: How TIME Covered the Film Phenomenon

Fourth Flesh-Eating-Bacteria Case Confirmed in Georgia, Possible Fifth
Movie Reviews

The Intouchables: France's Biggest Hit Dares You to Resist Its Charms

This fact-based fable of a rich white guy who can’t move and the black ex-con who cares for him is ready to conquer America

Men in Black 3: Somebody Get Tommy Lee Jones a Gold Watch Already

What to Expect When You're Expecting: An Ensemble Film That Doesn't Deliver

Moonrise Kingdom: Escapees from a Doll House
TV Recaps

Dancing with the Stars: Season 14, Episode 17

Dancing with the Stars Watch: The Last Dance

Kelly Clarkson and Gladys Knight perform before the winner of the 14th season of Dancing with the Stars is announced

Dancing with the Stars: Season 14, Episode 16

Dancing with the Stars Watch: The Final Performances

The Bachlorette: Season 8, Episode 2

The Bachelorette Watch: The Muppets Make a Move on Emily

Mad Men: Season 5, Episode 10

Mad Men Watch: Lane, Joan and Harry Dance the "Christmas Waltz"
More on TIME.com

Political Picures of the Week, May 18-25

10 Dangerous Products You Might Have in Your Home

Memorial Day Tributes Around the World