Current Events > What was the reaction to Spongebob like back in 1999?

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What do you think the reaction to Spongebob was back in 1999?
"Have you heard about this new Nickelodeon cartoon called Spongebob Squarepants? I think it looks kinda stupid. I predict it'll last one season and live in obscurity forever".

It was good

Turbam posted...

It was good

I'm talking about when the first few promos aired.

We all loved it. People knew it was great right away.

VGAddict90 posted...

I'm talking about when the first few promos aired.

People were excited. The little tidbits were pretty funny.

The ads seemed dumb, but it had most people by a couple of episodes.

my dad thought it wouldn't make it.

lol he was wrong.

Beats me. 10-year-old me didnt really use the computer that much. I liked it from the beginning though.

I dont remember how I thought of the previews tbh.

It was an instant success and reminded a lot of people (myself included) of Ren and Stimpy.

I was pretty young when it came out but I remember liking it more than all the other comedy cartoons that were out at the time, though I still preferred the ones with more action. I also remember all the adults liking it and quoting it frequently.

There were some previews before like Sandy fighting the clam.

The first episode that aired was Bubble Stand and Ripped Pants. Liked it a lot.

I was on a rollercoaster and kept shouting "Just a mere warmup!" after every turn afterward lol.

I never got into it because I was at an age where I wasn't watching cartoons or Nickelodeon regularly anymore.

I remember thinking as a child that the opening was annoying and that the show was just okay. After a few episodes I figured I still didn't like the opening but the show itself was alright.

I don't remember much what adults at the time said besides pointing out some jokes were inappropriate or just maybe indifference at first.

Don't remember any previews or reactions to them, but I remember the show being universally beloved by all us kids. It's still weird it came out in 99. Just feels like something that would come out a year or two later. Don't know why.

No idea, but I liked it.

We loved it

I was a young adult then, and I was team Cartoon Network/Toonami in the 90s and Adult Swim in the 2000s

I remember not even hearing about it til maybe 2002

Surprised it debuted in 99

I thought the entire premise was stupid but my sister loved it. Later on in my life I watched it while I was stoned and ended up loving it. I was also more of the cartoon network kind of kid though

If my brain remembers correctly it premiered after one of the kids choice awards, and I loved it from the first moment I saw it.

my nine year old self was like damn Nickelodeon firing on all cylinders

I was a teenager when it came out. Perfect for watching high

It wasn't a shitshow on the level Avatar TLA was before it debuted. Spongebob just seemed like another cartoon, whereas Avatar was viewed as appropriation and trying to rip off everything and anything on Toonami.

I dont think I was even aware of it before about 2004/2005.

As someone who few you in the 90s, it was popular damn near instantly. We loved it

Never thought a show like this would go on for this long

Really good

Southernfatman posted...

Don't remember any previews or reactions to them, but I remember the show being universally beloved by all us kids. It's still weird it came out in 99. Just feels like something that would come out a year or two later. Don't know why.

They released the first season episodes sporadically from 1999 to 2001. I think that at that time production schedules for cartoons were unpredictable and wonky as hell.

I turned 13 in 1999 so my peers and I were kind of too 'old' for that stuff and I don't remember anyone really caring about it or talking about it. I was definitely more into the Cartoon Network stuff at that time.

I thought it was idiotic and annoying.

Still only seen a handful of episodes to this day, mostly when stoner friends had it on as background.

I remember it being one of the last cartoons I watched right before I 'grew' out of them. So I didn't get into it as much as I otherwise would have.

I remember liking it but not loving it or anything. Although yeah I was getting to that jaded kid stage I reckon. I live in Australia so was probably more 2000-2001 for me?

berlyman101 posted...

They released the first season episodes sporadically from 1999 to 2001. I think that at that time production schedules for cartoons were unpredictable and wonky as hell.

Ah, makes sense. I looked it up and yeah it is wonky.

I hated it back then (and still do). I found SpongeBob annoying. But tons of my classmates loved it.