The first seasons of Spongebob are some of the finest and funniest television I've ever watched. Ever since I was practically a toddler I've been a fan, and as I've matured over the years I've begun to appreciate some of the wittier, earlier Spongebob episodes much more. This pilot is the classic that started it all (I use the term "classic" loosely, as this episode isn't even 20 years old yet, but the fact that it is approaching that age is kind of incredible to me, especially since the show, no matter how much it has decreased in quality, is still going on), an episode filled with memorable, funny, and creative moments, this is as enjoyable as any cartoon I have ever had the pleasure of laughing along with. Below are my reviews for the episode's individual parts (which, in the future, will be how my reviews of this show will be structured from this point onward): Help Wanted-an introduction to many of the show's most essential and memorable characters that is a quick but entertaining mix of wacky slapstick, hilarious dialogue, and absurdist humor. Reef Blower-this is the shortest section of the episode, and it is also the weakest, but that doesn't mean it isn't great, because is it! It's a silent comedy that recalls everything from Buster Keaton to Looney Tunes. It's very cartoonish, but in a good way; it's not laugh out loud funny per se, but it's charming enough to make me smirk at the very least. Tea at the Treedome-definitely my favorite of the pilot's three, brief parts. The opening is purely physical comedy, while the rest is mostly situational and conversational humor, and the mix is pulled off quite well. Patrick steals the show as he always does (or, more appropriately now that modern Spongebob has sort of crushed his likable legacy) as he tries his best to help his friend out, but ultimately is stupid enough to nearly get him killed. He's the classic lovable idiot and has many side splitting comical lines in the episode, many of which I still quote today in "mundane" conversation
SpongeBob SquarePants (TV Series)
Help Wanted/Reef Blower/Tea at the Treedome (1999)
User Reviews
Review this title24 Reviews
A Great Pilot
TVGuy326 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I'm reviewing every single episode in order. This was a great pilot episode but they really didn't need Reef Blower. If it wasn't in this episode, the score would have been 10/10. But Help Wanted is easily one of the best episodes of season 1 and Tea at the Treedome is brilliant and has that 'pinky' joke throughout the whole episode. My favorite moment from this episode is from Help Wanted:
(SPOILERS HERE) SpongeBob: 1 Hydrodynamic spatula with port and something attachments! And turbo drive! Can you believe they only had 1 in stock? Hilarious. 10/10 for Help Wanted.
Reef Blower was unnecessary but good. 7/10 Tea at the Treedome was an excellent introduction to Sandy. Also, as stated earlier, the 'pinky' gag is the best thing about the episode. I also like how the field guide said 'Land Squirrel.' Are there even squirrels underwater? 10/10
10+7+10=27/3=9 9/10
(SPOILERS HERE) SpongeBob: 1 Hydrodynamic spatula with port and something attachments! And turbo drive! Can you believe they only had 1 in stock? Hilarious. 10/10 for Help Wanted.
Reef Blower was unnecessary but good. 7/10 Tea at the Treedome was an excellent introduction to Sandy. Also, as stated earlier, the 'pinky' gag is the best thing about the episode. I also like how the field guide said 'Land Squirrel.' Are there even squirrels underwater? 10/10
10+7+10=27/3=9 9/10
Started a Great Cartoon On Nick!
ShelbyTMItchell12 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This started the beginning of a great cartoon series. As it was both for the young and old. And the adults and children alike. Love the adventures and mis-adventures of a lovable sponge named SpongeBob Squarepants.
We learn how he got his job at the Krusty Krab as the cook and that he had to get confidence from his best friend, lovable yet empty headed Patrick Starfish.
And also meets the karate loving Sandy Squirrel who lives in a bio dome with air and also dresses like an astronaut. Despite the fact she misses TX, she learns to live with the others in peace later on.
Still a great start to a great series that has lasted more than any other Nick cartoons and still going strong!
We learn how he got his job at the Krusty Krab as the cook and that he had to get confidence from his best friend, lovable yet empty headed Patrick Starfish.
And also meets the karate loving Sandy Squirrel who lives in a bio dome with air and also dresses like an astronaut. Despite the fact she misses TX, she learns to live with the others in peace later on.
Still a great start to a great series that has lasted more than any other Nick cartoons and still going strong!
pilot
juliussimmons2 December 2018
This pilot is a fantastic opener to one of the greatest animated series of all time. it's humor is very vibrant and really shows huge potential for the series. there's a gag about a pinky, there's mr krabs and squidward trying to evade from anchovies, there's a literal silent episode, there is so much to this pilot to love and definitely one of the best animated pilots there are.
The start of a legendary cartoon
Ukn02-The-Critic6 June 2020
A Great Start to a Great Show
Kilmern-9331920 March 2021
Where to start, where to start...
This is the first episode of the show, released 22 years ago, and features 3 segments packed into one.
Help Wanted at a brief glimpse looks okay, nothing special, just your average Nickelodeon show, but the true greatness is in the characters, humor, and the writing. All the characters in this episode went on to become some of the most well known characters in cartoon history. However, I will say Help Wanted is far from the best in the series, but it's still a far cry from the worst. Even in the first episode, the characters have lots of dimension and personality in them. The episode was a strong premiere for the series.
Now on to Reef blower, it has a cool concept represented in a nice way, and as far as I know, it's the only episode in the entire show that has no words, and thats part of the reason why I like it so much. I can already say the animation has gotten better. It has a strange concept of SpongeBob sucking up the ocean, but hey it's a cartoon! My least favorite out of the 3 but still great.
And finally, Tea at the Treedome. This episode has the first appearance of Sandy, a squirrel in a rocket suit and features SpongeBob having tea with her (hence the title). This is my favorite episode of the bunch because of the story and a introduction to one of the most interesting characters in the show.
Overall the episode that started it all is great, and enjoyable enough to recommend to any demographic. It set the bar high with it's vibrant characters and humorous jokes.
9.5/10.
This is the first episode of the show, released 22 years ago, and features 3 segments packed into one.
Help Wanted at a brief glimpse looks okay, nothing special, just your average Nickelodeon show, but the true greatness is in the characters, humor, and the writing. All the characters in this episode went on to become some of the most well known characters in cartoon history. However, I will say Help Wanted is far from the best in the series, but it's still a far cry from the worst. Even in the first episode, the characters have lots of dimension and personality in them. The episode was a strong premiere for the series.
Now on to Reef blower, it has a cool concept represented in a nice way, and as far as I know, it's the only episode in the entire show that has no words, and thats part of the reason why I like it so much. I can already say the animation has gotten better. It has a strange concept of SpongeBob sucking up the ocean, but hey it's a cartoon! My least favorite out of the 3 but still great.
And finally, Tea at the Treedome. This episode has the first appearance of Sandy, a squirrel in a rocket suit and features SpongeBob having tea with her (hence the title). This is my favorite episode of the bunch because of the story and a introduction to one of the most interesting characters in the show.
Overall the episode that started it all is great, and enjoyable enough to recommend to any demographic. It set the bar high with it's vibrant characters and humorous jokes.
9.5/10.
LOL
ndwelecruell9 July 2019
He Lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea, Obviously
injury-654472 June 2020
Cute little trio of shorts to start off the legend that is Spongebob Squarepants. They get better as they go along with Tea at the Treedome being the clear standout here.
Help Wanted is a nice backstory to how SS got his dream job at the KK. Introduces how skilful and competent he is at crafting Krabby Patties. Decent.
Reef Blower serves as a few minute interlude to establish the neighbourly rivalry that exists between poor put upon Squidward and the overly zealous & oblivious Spongebob.
Tea at the Treedome is hilarious as SS tries to be strong while his body withers away without moisture. Patrick has a fantastic line about how Sandy is "putting on airs" which he interprets as trying to be fancy.
Overall it's a great intro to the series and promises great things, memorable characters and wacky situations to come.
Help Wanted is a nice backstory to how SS got his dream job at the KK. Introduces how skilful and competent he is at crafting Krabby Patties. Decent.
Reef Blower serves as a few minute interlude to establish the neighbourly rivalry that exists between poor put upon Squidward and the overly zealous & oblivious Spongebob.
Tea at the Treedome is hilarious as SS tries to be strong while his body withers away without moisture. Patrick has a fantastic line about how Sandy is "putting on airs" which he interprets as trying to be fancy.
Overall it's a great intro to the series and promises great things, memorable characters and wacky situations to come.
The foundation for meme culture and Generation Z comedy
jtricome10 July 2020
For what this show is (a simple comedic cartoon), it achieves basic perfection in its goal for the first few seasons. At 22 years old, I still rewatch scenes and episodes and laugh out loud. Some episodes can be analyzed for deeper meaning, themes, and a message to be said. But that's not really the point of the show. It's meant to tell a self contained story in each episode in a satisfying manner, and it does so. Characters do change from episode to episode, and it is the moments that we see sides of their characters that we did not expect that we begin to appreciate the care and attention given by the creators.
This show has definite attention to detail behind it, and is very self aware of it's non-realism, flaunting it as another arm of its comedy. Unforgettable, and I know that it has affected our senses of humor in ways that we do not even perceive. Memes would not be exactly the same without the comedic foundation this show has given to people.
This show has definite attention to detail behind it, and is very self aware of it's non-realism, flaunting it as another arm of its comedy. Unforgettable, and I know that it has affected our senses of humor in ways that we do not even perceive. Memes would not be exactly the same without the comedic foundation this show has given to people.
Help Wanted/Reef Blower/Tea at the Treedome Brief Reviews
peanutbutter-0525823 April 2019
Help Wanted: 7/10
Good Episode. I like the jokes and the montage. Not the best from Season 1 but I enjoyed it.
Reef Blower: 5/10
This was okay, I guess. I just didn't find this episode funny. Since this was so short I can't really say it was an outright bad episode, but I didn't care for it.
Tea at the Treedome: 8/10
This was great. This had some great jokes like SpongeBob saying "I NEED IT!" And I found this to be a great introduction episode for Sandy.
The start of something great!
iratecartoons10 April 2021
A great start tom one of the best cartoon series ever
rhy-9597017 June 2023
These three episodes were the start of one of the most iconic and most hilarious cartoon shows ever. Help wanted is an excellent start to the season. It has tons of hilarious jokes and visual gags, and an iconic story. The episode has lots of memorable one liners and some great animation. Really a great episode! Reef blower is a unique episode, mainly because the characters don't speak aside from a few subtitles. So this episode's only way of telling jokes is visual gags. It has a lot of funny moments. Since this episode is only a few minutes long it packs a lot into the short time frame and does so very well. I don't think this episode would have worked as a full eleven minute episode. Overall a very entertaining minisode. Tea at the treedome was the introduction to a series mainstay, sandy. It has a great opening with some really funny animation. This episode has a lot of iconic moments, like Patrick saying "WHAT KINDA PLACE IS THIS", and spongebob needing water, its great stuff! Sandy is a great character, and the first episode is a great introduction to her character.
These three episodes are great, i would totally recommend!
These three episodes are great, i would totally recommend!
A Perfect Premiere
plushuniverse16 June 2023
Help Wanted: My god. What a great first episode. It's got some really funny jokes and immediately establishes the characters, and tells you all you need to know about them. The episode doesn't overwhelm you with things that you need to remember, but it gives you just enough to make for a fantastic episode and a great introduction to the characters. 9/10.
Reef Blower: This episode is shorter than most episodes in the show, and the episode also doesn't have any spoken words, which means most of the jokes are told visually, which isn't a bad thing, because the jokes are hilarious, and it is just an overall classic episode. 8/10.
Tea at the Treedome: Once again, this episode is VERY funny, it has a lot of classic jokes that really make the episode very great, as well as being an amazing introduction to Sandy. 8/10.
Overall, this is an incredibly great bunch of episodes, with a lot of classic jokes that make this bunch of episodes into an amazing premiere.
Reef Blower: This episode is shorter than most episodes in the show, and the episode also doesn't have any spoken words, which means most of the jokes are told visually, which isn't a bad thing, because the jokes are hilarious, and it is just an overall classic episode. 8/10.
Tea at the Treedome: Once again, this episode is VERY funny, it has a lot of classic jokes that really make the episode very great, as well as being an amazing introduction to Sandy. 8/10.
Overall, this is an incredibly great bunch of episodes, with a lot of classic jokes that make this bunch of episodes into an amazing premiere.
A great start to a incredible show
Holmoo929 April 2023
So we be doing every episode of each paring and we will start with Help Wanted
This is one of my faves of this season it builds up the intensity and has great jokes like Squidward asking for a neat line, only for the anchovies to just become a literal ocean
9.2/10 Reef Blower. I used to think this one was boring, but this one is quite entertaining! It is very in character for SpongeBob to do this and it makes the best out of a bad situation with the episode's production
8/10.
Tea Of The Treedome. Again, this is a great episode with loads of fantastic jokes but Sandy is a bit stupid.
9/10.
This is one of my faves of this season it builds up the intensity and has great jokes like Squidward asking for a neat line, only for the anchovies to just become a literal ocean
9.2/10 Reef Blower. I used to think this one was boring, but this one is quite entertaining! It is very in character for SpongeBob to do this and it makes the best out of a bad situation with the episode's production
8/10.
Tea Of The Treedome. Again, this is a great episode with loads of fantastic jokes but Sandy is a bit stupid.
9/10.
Whimsical fun/eh/hilarious and cute
sevskirita22 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Help Wanted isn't that funny, but it's so whimsical and cute that I think it's a 4/5 short. /Reef Blower isn't too great to me. It's a little fun, yes, but mostly just the irony of the last scene. 2/5 imo. /Tea at the Treedome goes above and beyond the others. It's whimsical, cute, and really funny. Patrick's childlike advice, Spongebob's childlike adherence to social rules, and Sandy's charm are excellent. 5/5.
Altogether, I think this makes a wonderful pilot episode, but could improve on the weak middle short.
Altogether, I think this makes a wonderful pilot episode, but could improve on the weak middle short.
The three that started it all
coolsshofficial22 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Help Wanted - It's the big day that Spongebob has been preparing for what can be assumed his entire life: the day to apply for a job at the Krusty Krab! As the very first episode, it does a great job setting up the four most important characters, those being Spongebob, Patrick, Squidward, and Mr. Krabs. It also has plenty of good gags and quotes, especially from Mr. Krabs. For a 7-minute pilot episode, it does its job well and it's worth checking out. (8/10)
Reef Blower - This is one of exceptionally short 4-minute episodes. There's not much to this episode, honestly. Spongebob finds a "Reef Blower" (which is a pun on leaf blower if you couldn't tell already) and plays around with it; all the while, Squidward is trying to enjoy his afternoon regardless of issues. This episode's note-worthy for being one of a small handful of episodes where no one talks, and it is done better later on, this is still a nice sit-down for a quick chuckle. (7/10)
Tea at the Tree Dome - Now for the actual first full-length episode! When Spongebob meets a butt-kicking squirrel named Sandy, he joins her for tea only to realize that her home has absolutely zero water. Patrick provides moral support throughout the entirety of Spongebob's visit and eventually he faces the same problems that Spongebob has. Right out of the gate, we see that even as a newborn, this show has a wealth of quotable lines, like the now infamous "I don't need it... I don't need it..." and my personal favorite "WHAT KIND OF PLACE IS THIS?!" The characterizations are also solid and the ending makes perfect sense. Easily the best of the three. (9/10)
Overall - These three episodes are each good at different things and, especially for the pilot episode, hold up very well all these years later.
Score: 8 + 7 + 9 = 24/30 -> 8/10 Would recommend.
Reef Blower - This is one of exceptionally short 4-minute episodes. There's not much to this episode, honestly. Spongebob finds a "Reef Blower" (which is a pun on leaf blower if you couldn't tell already) and plays around with it; all the while, Squidward is trying to enjoy his afternoon regardless of issues. This episode's note-worthy for being one of a small handful of episodes where no one talks, and it is done better later on, this is still a nice sit-down for a quick chuckle. (7/10)
Tea at the Tree Dome - Now for the actual first full-length episode! When Spongebob meets a butt-kicking squirrel named Sandy, he joins her for tea only to realize that her home has absolutely zero water. Patrick provides moral support throughout the entirety of Spongebob's visit and eventually he faces the same problems that Spongebob has. Right out of the gate, we see that even as a newborn, this show has a wealth of quotable lines, like the now infamous "I don't need it... I don't need it..." and my personal favorite "WHAT KIND OF PLACE IS THIS?!" The characterizations are also solid and the ending makes perfect sense. Easily the best of the three. (9/10)
Overall - These three episodes are each good at different things and, especially for the pilot episode, hold up very well all these years later.
Score: 8 + 7 + 9 = 24/30 -> 8/10 Would recommend.
The start of something special
aspieducklover-023048 February 2023
The first episode of spongebob serves as a brilliant introduction to the series, even though it's not amazing.
Help wanted (7) It's a great introduction to the characters and it has some great visual gags, though the dialogue is a bit stiff.
Reef blower (5) Personally, I don't think this episode has aged that well. The visuals are well done though it seems overly subdued and slightly bland. It's a good benchmark for some of the experimental and animation focused episodes later on though it doesn't stand up to well on it's own.
Tea at the treedome (8) It's a charming and funny episode with some great visuals and witty dialogue, plus Sandy is an amazing character. The running gags are well paced and they all hit the mark. The pinky finger jokes are a perfect mix of stupid yet endearing.
It's a very good introduction to the series, even if it is still an obvious pilot.
Help wanted (7) It's a great introduction to the characters and it has some great visual gags, though the dialogue is a bit stiff.
Reef blower (5) Personally, I don't think this episode has aged that well. The visuals are well done though it seems overly subdued and slightly bland. It's a good benchmark for some of the experimental and animation focused episodes later on though it doesn't stand up to well on it's own.
Tea at the treedome (8) It's a charming and funny episode with some great visuals and witty dialogue, plus Sandy is an amazing character. The running gags are well paced and they all hit the mark. The pinky finger jokes are a perfect mix of stupid yet endearing.
It's a very good introduction to the series, even if it is still an obvious pilot.
A great way to start this show
eastonnelson9 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Help wanted: I think this is a great start. It shows us how SpongeBob got his job and what we will see for the rest of the show. The episode is also really funny and overall just a great time.
Reef blower: This episode is a short with no dialogue! Theirs not much I can really say about this one, it's just a enjoyable fun time.
Tea at the treedome : Out of all of three episodes this one is my favorite. It show us how SpongeBob met Sandy cheeks. Sandy is a really good and likable character and Patrick in this episode is just so good, in the later seasons he's just a dumb, annoying and something mean friend, but here he's acts like a normal person helping his friend. This episode is great.
Reef blower: This episode is a short with no dialogue! Theirs not much I can really say about this one, it's just a enjoyable fun time.
Tea at the treedome : Out of all of three episodes this one is my favorite. It show us how SpongeBob met Sandy cheeks. Sandy is a really good and likable character and Patrick in this episode is just so good, in the later seasons he's just a dumb, annoying and something mean friend, but here he's acts like a normal person helping his friend. This episode is great.
Amazing Paring (10/10).
rylandixon0714 October 2023
Well, Where Do I Began? These Episodes Of Paring Are Amazing Starts To This Show. Help Wanted Is About SpongeBob Being Hired At The Krusty Krab, Reed Blowers Is About SpongeBob Messing With A Blowing Utensil With No Dialog (Also, Kinda Like A Pixar Short), & Tea At The Treedome Is About SpongeBob Meeting Sandy (As An Adult) Where They Go For A Cup Of Tea. & The Reason What I Said In Parentheses, Is Because In Case Anyone Forgetting About The Spin-Off, Kamp Koral & SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 3: Sponge On The Run, They Met Each-Other As Kids. Anyways, Here's My Ratings To These Episodes.
HELP WANTED: Amazing Episode (100/100).
REEF BLOWERS: Alright Episode (60/100).
TEA AT THE TREEDOME: Good Episode (75/100).
HELP WANTED: Amazing Episode (100/100).
REEF BLOWERS: Alright Episode (60/100).
TEA AT THE TREEDOME: Good Episode (75/100).
Great start to the series!
killyourself-5633419 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Help Wanted is a good introduction to this show and its humor and some characters (SpongeBob, Gary, Patrick, Squidward and Mr. Krabs). I love the montage of SpongeBob making the Krabby Patties for the first time. The episode just has a lot of charm to it, but being the first episode of the series it's nowhere near as fast paced or funny as the show would later become. Still a really enjoyable watch.
Reef Blower is, in addition to being the shortest episode of the entire series, also the only episode to not have any talking at all! It could've been boring and annoying if the episode weren't so short and sweet, which makes it really funny! The funniest part is when the shell lands on Squidward's nose. It doesn't overstay its welcome and it feels very classic cartoon-like. What I love about this episode though is how it perfectly introduces the relationship between Squidward and SpongeBob, and their personalities with the ways both of them try to get rid of the shell. Great episode!
Tea at the Treedome is the first full 11 minute episode, with Help Wanted being 8 minutes and Reef Blower being 3 minutes. It is a really good introduction to the character of Sandy. It shows how good a friend she is and SpongeBob's freak-out was hilarious! Not much else to say, it's good.
Reef Blower is, in addition to being the shortest episode of the entire series, also the only episode to not have any talking at all! It could've been boring and annoying if the episode weren't so short and sweet, which makes it really funny! The funniest part is when the shell lands on Squidward's nose. It doesn't overstay its welcome and it feels very classic cartoon-like. What I love about this episode though is how it perfectly introduces the relationship between Squidward and SpongeBob, and their personalities with the ways both of them try to get rid of the shell. Great episode!
Tea at the Treedome is the first full 11 minute episode, with Help Wanted being 8 minutes and Reef Blower being 3 minutes. It is a really good introduction to the character of Sandy. It shows how good a friend she is and SpongeBob's freak-out was hilarious! Not much else to say, it's good.
Solid start
UltimateGoblin61621 July 2023
This first episode actually makes a really solid start for the series. In the "Help Wanted" we see Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob, his friend Patrick, Squidward, Mister Krabs and Krusty Krab for the first time. We know that Squidward for some reason doesn't like Bob and we could already guess why, but a short "Reef Blower" story makes an awesome explanation without even any words at all!
Actually, "Reef Blower" is a filler, but it has a lot of simple (but good!) gags and it is a good addition to the episode.
As I remember, "Help Wanted" was a pilot episode and you can really see how different even Squidward's house in this story in comparison with the next one. I love "Help Wanted", from the very beginning it makes you understand what SpongeBob series actually is. The characters didn't get their depth yet, but the foundation was set. The choice of music is especially awesome, by the way!
Visually these first episodes might look really old, especially by today's animation standards and standards of today's episodes of SpongeBob and I personally don't really like the colors, I prefer the brighter visuals, but the animation itself is really spectacular. All the characters are alive, they are different in every scene and each expression feels fresh and cool. I guess it was pretty innovative at the time.
"Tea at the Treedome" also introduces Sandy Cheeks and the story itself is really good. It's funny, a bit unexpected even. I can even hardly find anything to not like here. The story flows naturally and every scene feels necessary.
So yeah, for me the first episode is a pure classics of the show and it's an outstanding introduction of the world of SpongeBob. And it's only the beginning! I really love how ALL iconic SpongeBob characters were made by the original creators.
I grew up with this series and stopped watching it after the terrible modern seasons, but now I want to rewatch and review every single episode and actually refresh my memories.
Actually, "Reef Blower" is a filler, but it has a lot of simple (but good!) gags and it is a good addition to the episode.
As I remember, "Help Wanted" was a pilot episode and you can really see how different even Squidward's house in this story in comparison with the next one. I love "Help Wanted", from the very beginning it makes you understand what SpongeBob series actually is. The characters didn't get their depth yet, but the foundation was set. The choice of music is especially awesome, by the way!
Visually these first episodes might look really old, especially by today's animation standards and standards of today's episodes of SpongeBob and I personally don't really like the colors, I prefer the brighter visuals, but the animation itself is really spectacular. All the characters are alive, they are different in every scene and each expression feels fresh and cool. I guess it was pretty innovative at the time.
"Tea at the Treedome" also introduces Sandy Cheeks and the story itself is really good. It's funny, a bit unexpected even. I can even hardly find anything to not like here. The story flows naturally and every scene feels necessary.
So yeah, for me the first episode is a pure classics of the show and it's an outstanding introduction of the world of SpongeBob. And it's only the beginning! I really love how ALL iconic SpongeBob characters were made by the original creators.
I grew up with this series and stopped watching it after the terrible modern seasons, but now I want to rewatch and review every single episode and actually refresh my memories.
good start to the series
projectsgamer10 September 2021
See also
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